[Clark:]
Tuesday February 11th.. 1806
This morning Serjt. Gass R. Field and J. Thompson passed
the Netul opposit to us on a hunting expedition. Sent Serjeant
Natl. Pryor with 4 men in a canoe to bring gibson to the
Fort. also sent Colter & P. Wiser to the salt works to carry
on the business with Jos. Field; as bratton is also sick we
directed that he should return to the fort if he continued
unwell;
There is Shrub which grows commonly in this neighbourhood
which grows on the steep sides of the hills and also in
low moist grounds, and rise to the hight of 5 or 6 feet with a
large peteolate, spreading plain crenate and somewhat woolly
leaf like the rose raspberry. it is much branched the bark of
a redish brown colour and is covered with a number of short
hooked thorns which renders it extreamly disagreeable to pass
among, it does not cast its foliage untill about the 1st. of
December.
There is a Species of bryor which is common in this neighbourhood
of a green colour which grows most abundant in the
rich dry lands near the water courses, but is also found in small
quantities in the piney lands at a distance from the water
courses in the former situations the stem is frequently the
size of a mans finger and rise perpendicularly to the hight of 4
or 5 feet when it descends in an arch and becomes procumbent
or rests on some neighbouring plant or srubs; it is simple
unbranched and celindric; in the latter situation it is much
smaller, and usially procumbent. the stem is armed with sharp
and hooked bryors. the leaf Is peteolate, ternate and resembles
in shape and appearance that of the purple Raspberry common
to the atlantic states. The frute is a berry resembling the
Blackberry in every respect and is eaten when ripe and much
esteemed by the nativs but is not dryed for winters consumption.
in the Countrey about the enterance of the quick sand
river I first discovered this bryor, it grows so abundantly in
the fertile Vally of Columbia and on the Islands in that part
of the river, that the Countrey near the river is almost impenistrable
in maney places. This green Bryor retains its leaf or
foliage and verdue untill late in December. The Briory bush
with a wide leaf is also one of its ascosiates.
