University of Virginia Library

[Clark:]

5th of May Sunday 1805

We set out verry early and had not proceeded far before
the rudder Irons of one of the Perogus broke which detained
us a short time Capt Lewis walked on shore this morning
and killed a Deer, after brackfast I walked on shore Saw
great numbers of Buffalow & Elk Saw also a Den of young
wolves, and a number of Grown Wolves in every direction,
the white & Grey Brant is in this part of the Missouri I shot
at the white brant but at so great a distance I did not kill,
The Countrey on both sides is as yesterday handsom & fertile.
The river rising & current Strong & in the evening we saw a
Brown or Grisley beare on a sand beech, I went out with one
man Geo Drewyer & Killed the bear, which was verry large
and a turrible looking animal, which we found verry hard to

kill we Shot ten Balls into him before we killed him, & 5 of
those Balls through his lights. This animal is the largest of
the carnivorous kind I ever saw we had nothing that could
way him, I think his weight may be stated at 500 pounds, he
measured 8 feet 7 1/2 Ins. from his nose to the extremity of the
Toe, 5 feet 10 1/2 Ins. arround the breast, 1 feet 11 Ins: around
the middle of the arm, 3 feet 11 Ins. arround the neck his
tallents was 4 Inches & 3/5 long, he was [in] good order,
and appeared verry different from the common black bear in
as much as his tallents (talon or nail) were blunt, his tail short,
his liver & lights much larger, his maw ten times as large and
contained meat or flesh & fish only. we had him skined and
divided, the oile tried up & put in Kegs for use. we camped
on the Stad Side, our men killed three Elk and a Buffalow
to day, and our Dog cought an antilope a fair race, this animal
appeared verry pore & with young.

Course & Distance 5th. of May

             

S. 70°. W.	3	miles to the willows on the lower point of an Island near the Sd. Side opposit a low bluff.
S. 72°. W.	2 1/2	miles to some high timber on a projecting point on the Stad. Side opsd. a pt L.S., passed the Isds. at 2 miles
S. 30°. W.	2 1/2	miles to a point of wood land on the Stard Side opsd. a low Bluff L. Side
N. 48°. W	2 1/4	miles to a point of wood land on the Lard Side
N. 45°. W.	1 3/4	miles to the extremity of the sand bar from the Lard point
South	5	miles to a willow point on the Stard Side short of which we encamped
miles	17