Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806 ::

Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806

printed from the original manuscripts in the library of the American Philosophical Society and by direction of its committee on historical documents

Lewis, Meriwether (1774-1809)

[book-plate]

ORIGINAL JOURNALS of the LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 1804–1806

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Original Journals of Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VI. Meteorology

VII.

VII. Astronomy

VIII.

VIII. Miscellaneous Memoranda

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

165

VI. Meteorology

Lewis and Clark kept careful record of the weather
and of various meteorological phenomena. Their data
under this head appear scattered through various
codices, having apparently been at different times written up
from original memoranda. Seeking to avoid undue repetition,
the Editor has combined all this material into one
consecutive account, in form as nearly like the original as
practicable. The accompanying notes explain the essential
changes and combinations.—Ed.]

Thermometrical observation [s][1] shewing also the rise and fall of the
Mississippi, appearances of weather winds &c at the mouth of the river
Dubois commencing 1st. Jany 1804. in Longitude 89°. 57′ 45′. W. Latitude
38° 55′ 19". 6. N. Thermometer on the N. Side of a large tree in
the woods

Explanations

In the Miscellanious column or column of remarks are noted, the
appearance quantity and thickness of the floating or stationary ice, the
appearance and quantity of drift-wood, the appearance of birds, reptiles
and insects in the spring disappearance in the fall, leafing flowering and
seeding of plants, fall of leaf, access and recess of frost, debth of snows,
their duration or disappearance.

Notation of the 'weather

f. means fair
c. "Cloudy
r. "Rain
s. "Snow
h. "Hail

166

t. means Thunder
1. "Lightning
a. "after—as f.a.r. means that it is fair after rain which has intervened
since the last observation.
c.a.s.—Cloudy after Snow intervening
c.a.r.s.—cloudy after rain & snow.

Notation of the River
R. means risen in the last 24 Hours ending at ☉ rise
F. "fallen in the same period.
Notation of Thermometer a. o means above naught & b. o visa versa

REMARKS on the Thermometer[2]

1t.—By two experiments made with Ferenhiets Thermometer which
was used in these observations, I assertained it's error to be 8°. too
low or additive I tested it with water and Snow mixed for the
friezing point, and boiling water for the point marked boiling
water.

Note when there is not room in the column for the necessary
remarks it is transfired by the refference of numbers to an adjoining
part of this book.[3]

Diary of the weather for January, 1804.[4]

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 o'Clock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
Jany 1	. . .	Cloudy	. . .	. . .	c	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 2	. . .	c.a.s	. . .	. . .	c	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 3	. . .	. . .	. . .	2 1/2 a.	f.	N. W. by W	. . .	. .	. . .
" 4	II. a.	f.	W.	. . .	. . .	W	. . .	. .	. . .
" 5	. . .	f.	W.	. . .	f.	W.	. . .	. .	. . .
" 6	. . .	f.	W N W	30°. a	f.	W. N. W	. . .	. .	. . .
" 7	. . .	h.	S. W.	. . .	c. a. r. h.	S. W	. . .	. .	. . .
" 8	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W	. . .	. .	. . .
" 9	. . .	f.	W. N. W.[5]	1°. b.	c.	N. W. by W.	. . .	. .	. . .
" 10	. . .	f.	. . .	. . .	f.	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .

167

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 o'Clock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
Jany. 11	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 12	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 13	. . .	c.s.	S.W	. . .	r & s.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
" 14	. . .	f.a.s.	. . .	. . .	f.	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 15	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 16	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 17	8.b.	f.	N. W.	1 1/2	f.	N. W	f.	. .	6
" 18	1.b.	c.	N. W. W.	1.a	f.a.s	N W. W.	f.	. .	. . .
" 19	13.a	c.	N. W.	11.a	c.	N. W.	f.	. .	. . .
" 20	5.b.	f	N. W.	8.a	c.	N. W.	f.	. .	. . .
" 21	7.a	c.s.	N. E.	17.a	s.h.	N. E.	f.	. .	. . .
" 22	11.a	s.	shifting	13.a.	s.	N. W.	f.	. .	. . .
" 23	11.a	c.	N. E.	17.a.	c.	N	f.	. .	. . .
" 24	4.a	c.	N. W.	11.a.	c.	W	f.	. .	. . .
" 25	2.b	f.	W. N. W.	16.a.	f.	W	f.	. .	. . .
" 26	. . .	c	S W	. . .	c	S W	f	. .	. . .
" 27	. . .	f	. . .	. . .	f	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
" 28	5.a	c.s	N W	18.a	c.a.s	N W	r	. .	. . .
" 29	16.a	f	W	23.a	f	. . .	r	. .	. . .
" 30	22.a	c. & s	N	16.a	f.a.s	. . .	r	. .	. . .
" 31	10.a	f	S W by W	15.a	f.	W.	r	. .	. . .

Remarks for January, 1804.[6]

1st

Snow one Inch Deep

2nd.

Some Snow last night

3rd.

hard wind

4th.

River covered with ice out of the Missouri

5th.

River Dubois rise

6th.

do do do snow

7th.

do do do

8th.

Ice run down River Dubois

9th.

Some Snow last night

10th.

Missouri rise

13th.

Snow'd last night Ice 5 In thick

14th.

do do do.

17th.

River Covered With Ice Some 5 1/2 In: thick

19th.

No ice running

20th

No ice passing to day snow 2 1/2 hrs.

21st

Ice running out of the Missoury 9 In. thick Snow 2 1/2 Inches deep

168

22nd

Ice running out of the Missouri, Snow 5 3/4 In Deep.

23rd

Ice Stoped

24th

The Trees covered with ice

26th

worm day

27th

28th.

ice running, cold &c.

26th

worm [warm] day.

28th.

cold and Ice running

29th

no Ice running

31st

ice running

Diary of the weather for February, 1804.[7]

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
Feby 1	10.a	f.	S. W.	20.a	f.	S.W.S	r.	. .	1 1/2
2	12.a	f.	N. W.	10.a	f.	N.W.	r.	. .	1 1/2
3	12.a	f.	S. W.	19.a	f.	W.	. . .	. .	. . .
4	17.a	f.	S. W.	28.a	f.	S.	r.	. .	1/2
5	18.a	f.	S. E.	31.a	c.a.f.	S.E.S.	r.	2	6 1/2
6	19.a	f.	N. W.	15.a	c	S.	. . .	. .	. . .
7	29.a	r.a.c	S. E.	30.a	r & c.	S. E.	f.	. .	8
8	22.a	c.a.r	N. W.	20.a	c.a.s.	N.	r.	1	. . .
9	10.a	f.a.s	N. N. E.	12.a	c	N. E.	r.	2	. . .
10	3.a	f.	N. E.	17.a	f.	S. W.	r.	1	4
11	18.a	c.a.h.	S. E.	31.a	s.a.h.f	S. E.	r.	1	. . .
12	15.a	f.	S. S. E	25.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	2
13	12.a	f.	N. W.	20.a	f.	W.	r. & f.	. .	1
14	15.a	f.	S. W.	32.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
15	18.a	f.	S. W.	32.a	f.	W.	. . .	. .	. . .
16	28.a	c.	S. E.	30.a	c.a.r.	S. E.	r.	. .	2 1/2
17	15.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	32.a	f.	W.	r.	. .	2
18	10.a	f.	N. W.	. . .	. . .	. . .	r.	. .	7 1/2
19	10.a	f.	N. W.	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. .	. . .
20	10.a	f.	N. W.	28.a	. . .	S. W.	f.	. .	2 1/2
21	20.a	f.	N. W.	34.a	. . .	N. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
22	14.a	f.	N. E.	26.a	. . .	N. E.	r.	. .	1 1/2
23	6.a	f.	N. W.	24.a	. . .	N. W.	r.	. .	1
24	6.a	f.	N. E.	26.a	. . .	N. E.	f.	. .	2
25	20.a	f.	N. E	28.a	. . .	S. S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
26	16.a	f.	N. E.	30.a	. . .	N. E.	f.	. .	1/2
27	4.a	c.	N. E.	24.a	r. & s.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
28	4.a	c.s.	N. W.	6.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	f.	. .	2
29	8.a	h.s.	N. W.	12.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	f.	. .	2 1/2

169

[Remarks for February, 1804.][8]

Feby. 1st

the wind blew hard, no frost, snow disapearing fast

2nd

Frost this morning, the Snow has disapeared in Spots.

3rd

Frost this morning, the Snow thaws considerably raised
the Boat &c.

4th.

Frost, number of Swan & Gees from N. & S.

5th.

emmence quantity of ice running, some of Which is 11
Inches thick

6th.

a quantity of soft ice running white frost, the snow disappeared
Swans passing.

7th.

a Small quantity of floating ice passing Swans passing.

8th.

Many Swans from N W. Creek rose & took of[f] the
water mark.

9th.

The River rose 2 feet large quantity of drift ice from the
Missouri.

10th.

Ice Still drifting in considerable quantities Some Gees pass
from the S.

11th.

The Sugar Maple runs freely, Swans pass from the North.

12th.

Pigeons Gees & Ducks of Various kinds have retd.

13th.

the first appearance of the blue crain.

14th.

but little drift ice the Mississippi is not broken up. Sugar
trees run

15th.

emmence quantity of Swan in the mars[h].

21st.

in the evening the river began to rise 1/2 Inch.

23d.

[river] fall in the evening 1/2 Inch.

25th

River on a stand.

27th.

The River rose 3 inches and fell imediately

28th.

began to Snow and continued all day

29th.

Snow all night & untill 11 oClock a.m. & Cleared away
the weather had been clear since Capt Lewis lef[t] Camp
untill this.[9]

170

Diary of the weather for March, 1804.[10]

								River
Day of the month	Them :[11] at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them :[11] at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
March 1	20 b	f.	N. W.	4.b	. . .	N. W.	f.	. .	9
2	19. b	f.	N. W.	14.a	. . .	E.	f.	. .	3
3	18. b	f.	E.	10.a	. . .	S. W.	f.	. .	6 1/2
4	4. b	f.	N. E.	12.a	. . .	E.	f.	. .	5
5	2. a	f.	N. W.	12.a	. . .	N. W.	f.	. .	3
6	4. b	f.	N. W.	2.a	. . .	N. W.	f.		3
7	16. b	c & s.	N. W.	10.a	s.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
8	2. b	c & s	N. W.	12.a	s.	N. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
9	10.a	c.	N. W.	20.a	c.	N. W.	r.	. .	2
10	6.a	c & f.	N. W.	24.a	f.	N. W.	r.		2 1/2
11	12.a	f.	E.	20.a	f.	S. W.	f.		2 1/2
12	14.a	f.	N. E.	16.a	f.	N. E.	r.	. .	1 1/2
13	8.a	f.	N. W.	12.a	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
14	4.a	f.	N. E.	10.a	f.	N. E.	f.	. .	4 1/2
15	6.b	c & s	N. W.	40.a	r.a.s	N. E.	r.	. .	5
16	2.b	f.	E.	40.a	f.	S. S. W.	r.	. .	11
17	12.a	f.	N. E.	38.a	f.	N. E.	r.	. .	7
18	2.a	f.	E.	44.a	f.	N. E.	f.	. .	3
19	2.a	f.	N. E.	52.a	f.	S. S. W	f.	. .	2 1/2
20	4.a	f.	E.	60.a	f.	S. S. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
21	26.a	f.	S. S. W.	46.a	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	2
22	22.a	f.	N. W.	40.a	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	2
23	14.a	f.	N. E.	44.a	f.	N. E.	r.	. .	4
24	6.a	f.	E.	52.a	f.	S. S. W.	r.	1	5 1/2
25	16.a	f.	S. S. W.	46.a	f.	E.	r.	2	. . .
26	18.a	f.	E.	44.a	f.	E.	r.	. .	10
27	34.a	r & t.	E.	42.a	f. a. r.	N. E.	r.	. .	7
28	34.a	c.	N. E.	44.a	c.	E.	r.	. .	5 1/2
29	20.a	r. a. t	N. E.	30.a	h. r.	N. E.	r.	. .	1
30	. . .	c. a. r	N. W.	. . .	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	2
31	. . .	f.	N. W.	. . .	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	2

[Remarks for March, 1804.][12]

March 7th

Saw the first Brant return.

8th

Rain Suceeded by Snow & hail

9th

Cloudy in the morning and cleared up.

171

20th.

The Weather has been generally fair but verry cold, the
ice run for Several days in such quantities that it was
impossible to pass the River. Saw the 1st. Snake which
was the kind usially tirmed the Garter Snake, saw also
a Beatle of black colour with two red stripes on his back
passing each other Crosswise, from the but of the wing
towards the extremity of the Same.

20th.

Heard the first frogs

25th.

Saw the 1st White Crains return

26th

the weather warm and fair.

27th.

The buds of the Spicewood appeared, and the tausels of the
mail Cotton wood were larger than a large mulberry, and
Which [were] the Shape and colour of that froot, Some
of them had fallen from the trees. the grass begins to
Spring. The weather has been warm, and no falling
weather untill this time tho the atmispere has been verry
Smokey and thick, a heavy fall of rain commenced
which continued untill 12 at night, attended with thunder,
and lightning. Saw large insects which resembled musquitors,
but doubt whether they are really those insects or
the fly which produces them, they attemped to bite my
horse, but I could not observe that they made any impression
with their Beaks.

28th.

day cloudy and warm.

31st.

Windey.

Diary of the weather for April, 1804.[13]

								River
Day of the month	Them: [14] at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: 2 at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
April I	...	f.	N.E.	...	f.	N.E.	r.	..	2 1/2
2	8.a.	f.	...	...	f.	N.E.	r.	..	3 1/2
3	42.a	f.	N.E.	...	r.	N.E.	r.	..	3 1/2
4	44.a	c.a.r	N.W.	...	...	...	r.	..	11
5	24.a	c.a.r.	N.E.	...	t.a.r.	...	r.	..	2
6	18.a	c.a.r.	N.W.	...	s.a.r.	...	f.	.	4 1/2

172

								River
Day of the month	Them: at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
April 7	10.a	f. a. c.	N. W.	. . .	c.	. . .	f.	..	2
8	10.a	c.	N. E.	. . .	c.r.	. . .	f.	..	2 1/2
9	18.a	f.a.c.	N. E.	. . .	c.	. . .	f.	..	2
10	10.a	f.	N. W.	. . .	f.	. . .	f.	..	6 1/2
11	10.a	f.	N. E.	. . .	f.	. . .	f.	..	7 1/2
12	16.a	c.	N.W.	. . .	f.a.c.	. . .	f.	..	7
13	26.a	c.	N. E.	. . .	c.	. . .	f.	..	6 1/2
14	22. a	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	. . .	f.	..	5
15	22.a	f.	N.W.	. . .	. . .	. . .	f.	..	6 1/2
16	36.a	c.	N. W.	. . .	f.a.c.	. . .	f.	..	5 1/2
17	26.a	f.a.c	N.W.	. . .	f.	. . .	f.	..	5
18	16.a	f.a.c	N. N. W.	. . .	c.	. . .	f.	..	3
19	34.a	r.	S. S. E.	. . .	...	. . .	f.	..	4
20	34. a	c.r.	S. E.	37.a	r.	S. E.	f.	..	3 1/2
21	31.a	r.	S. W.	42. a	f.a.r.	W.	r.	1	2
22	28 .a	c.	N.W.	34.a	c.	N. W.	r.	1	6
23	22.a	f.	N. W.	64. a	f.	W.	f.	..	1
24	36. a	f.	N. W.	44.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	8
25	26.a	f.	N. W.	38. a	c.	N.W.	r.	..	2 1/2
26	16.a	f.	N. W.	58.a	f.	N.W.	f.	..	6
27	28.a	c. & r.	W.	62.a	f.	S. W.	f.	..	8
28	30.a	f.	N.W.	64. a	f.	N.W.	f.	..	7
29	32.a	f.	N.W.	52.a	f.	S. E.	f.	..	7
30	18.a	f.	S. E.	56. a	f.	N. E.	f.	..	6

[Remarks for April, 1804.][15]

April 1st

The Spicewood is in full bloe, the dogs tooth violet, and
may apple appeared above ground, a northern light appeared
at 10 oClock P.M. verry red.

3d.

a cloudy day.

5th

the buds of the peaches, apples & Cherrys appear

6th

A large flock of Pellicans appear.

7th

the leaves of some of the Apple trees have burst their coverts
and put forth, the lieves of the green wood bushes have
put foth. Maney of the wild plants have Sprung up and
appear above ground. Cold air.

9th

Windey

10th

no appearance of the buds of the Osage apple, the Osage
Plumb has put forth their leaves and flower buds : tho it is
not yet completely in bloe.

173

13th

The peach trees are partly in blume the brant, Geese, Duck,
Swan, Grain and other aquatic birds have disappeared verry
much, within a fiew days and have gorn further North I
prosume. the Summer duck raise their young in this neighbourhood
and are now here in great numbers

17th

Wind verry high every day since the 3rd instant. Some frost
today. Peach trees in full Bloome, the Weaping willow
has put forth its leaves and are 1/5 of their size, the violet
the doves foot,& cowslip are in bloe, the dogs tooth violet is
not yet in blume. The trees of the forest particularly the
Cotton wood begin to obtain from their Size of their buds a
Greenish cast at a distance the Gooseberry which is also
in this countrey and lilack have put forth their leaves.

18th

Windey Day

26th

The White frost Killed much froot near Kahokia, while that
at St. Louis escaped with little injurey.

30th

White frost, Slight did but little injurey.

Diary of the weather for May, 1804.[16]

Day of the month	Them: [17] at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: 2 at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind		River
							rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
May 1st	20. a	f.	S. E.	54.a	f.	N. E.	f.	..	4 1/2
2	19. a	f.	S. E.	68.a	f.	S. S. E	f.	..	6
3	24. a	f.	S. S. E.	72. a	f.	S. S W	f.	..	4 1/2
4	40. a	t.l.c.r	S.	56.a	c.a.r.	S.	r.	..	2
5	42. a	t.l.r.	W.	58.a	c.a.r	W.	r.	..	2 1/2
6	34. a	f.	S.W.	70.a	f.	S. W.	f.	..	2 1/2
7	38. a	f.	S.E.	52.a	f.	S. S. W.	f.	..	4 1/2
8	44. a	f.	N. E.	62. a	f.	S. W.	f.	..	4
9	42.a	f.	E.	76. a	f.	S. W.	f.	..	2
10	46.3	c.	N. E.	67.a	f.	N. W.	f.	..	3 1/2
11	40. a	f.	E.	70. a	f.	S. W.	f.	..	2 1/2
12	36. a	f.	E.	72. a	f.	W.	f.	..	3
13	42.a	c.a.r.	W.	40. a	c.a.r.	N.W.	f.	..	2
14	34.a	c.	S.E.	56.a	f.	N.	...	..	...

174

[Remarks for May, 1804.][18]

May 5th

Thundered & lightened excessively this morning

10th

distant Thunder, Sultrey this evening.

12th

the wind at 4 was uncommonly hard.

14th.

Set out from the River Dubois up the Missouri

25th

Strawberries in the Praries ripe & abundant

27th.

Survis berries or wild currents ripe & abundant.

30th

Mulberries begin to ripen, abundant in the Bottom of the
river.

Remarks for June and July 1804.[19]

June 10th.

Perple Rasberreis ripe & abundant

11th.

many Small birds are now setting. Some have young, the
whipper Will Setting.

16th

The Wood Duck now have it's young, this Duck is
abundant, and except one solitary Pelican and a fiew
gees, these ducks were the only aquatic fowls we have
yet seen.

July 1st"

Saw Some Geese With their young, caught Several, they
are not yet feathered nor can they fly. the old geese are
in the same Situation at this season.

4th"

a great number of young geese and Swan in a lake opposit to
the mouth of the 4th. of July Creek, in this lake there is
also an abundance of fish of various Species, the pike,
perch, carp, or buffaloe fish cat. Sunperch &c. &c.

12th.

The Deer and Bear begin to get scearce and the Elk begin
to appear

23rd.

Cat fish is verry Common and easy taken in any part of
this river. Some are nearly White perticilarly above the
Platte River.

175

Diary of the weather for September, 1804.[20]

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them : at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise of fall	Feet	In.
1804
Sept 19	46.a	f.	S. E.	71.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
20	51. a	f.	S. E.	70.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
21	58. a	f.	S. W.	88.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
22	52. a	f.	E.	82.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
23	50.a	f.	S. E.	86.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
24	54. a	f.	E.	82.a	f.	W.	...	..	...
25	50.a	f.	S. W.	79.a	f.	W.	...	..	...
26	54.a	f.	W.	78.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
27	52.a	f.	W.	86.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
28	45.a	f.	S. E.	80.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
29	45.a	f.	S. E.	67.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
30	42.a	c.a.r.	S. E.	52.a	c.a.r.	S. E.	...	..	...

Remarks for September, 1804.[21]

September 19th"

The leaves of Some of the Cottonwood begin to fade,
yesterday saw the Ist brant passing from the N. W.
to S.E.

20th

The Antilope is now ruting, the swallow has disapeared
12 days.

21st"

The Elk is now ruting the Buffalow is nearly ceased
the latter Commence the latter end of July or 1st. of
August.

22nd

a little foggy this morning, a great number of green
leged plover passing down the river, also some Geese
& Brant.

23rd

The Aire remarkably dry. plumbs & grapes fully ripe.
in 36 hours two Spoonfuls of water aveporated in a
Sauser.

27th.

Saw a large flock of white gulls with wings tiped with
black

176

Diary of the weather for October, 1804.[22]

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1804
Oct. 1	40.a	c.	S. E.	46.a	c.	S. E.	...	..	...
2	39.a	f.	S. E.	75.a	c.	N.W.	...	..	...
3	40.a	c.	N.W.	45.a	c.a.r.	N.W.	...	..	...
4	38.a	c.a.r.	N.W.	50. a	c.	N. W.	...	..	...
5	36.a	f.	N.W.	54.a	f.	N.W.	...	..	...
6	43.a	f.	N.W.	60.a	f.	N.W.	...	..	...
7	45.a	c.	S. E.	58.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
8	48. a	f.	N.W.	62.a	f.	N.W.	...	..	...
9	45. a	c.	N. E.	50.a	c.a.r.	N.	...	..	...
10	42. a	f.a.r.	N.W.	67.a	f.	N.W.	...	..	...
11	43. a	f.	N.W.	59.a	f.	N.W.	...	..	...
12	42. a	f.	S.	65.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
13	43.a	f.	S. W.	49. a	c.a.r.	S. E.	...	..	...
14	42.a	r.	S. E.	40.a	r.	S. E.	...	..	...
15	46.a	r.	N.	57.a	f.a.r.	N. W.	...	..	...
16	45.a	c.	N.E.	50.a	f.	N. E.	...	..	...
17	47.a	f.	N.W.	54.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
18	30.a	f.	N.W.	68. a	f.	N.W.	...	..	...
19	43.a	f.	S. E.	62.a	f.	S.	...	..	...
20	44.a	f.	N. W.	48.a	f.	N.	...	..	...
21	31.a	s.	N. W.	34. a	s.	N.W.	...	..	...
22	35. a	c.a.s.	N.E.	42.a	c.	N. E.	...	..	...
23	32.a	s.	N.W.	45. a	c.	N. E.	...	..	...
24	33.a	s.a.f.	N.W	51. a	c.a.s	N.W.	...	..	...
25	31.a	c.	S.E.	50.a	c.	S. E.	...	..	...
26	42.a	f.	S. E.	57.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
27	39.a	f.	S.W.	58.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
28	34.a	f.	S. W.	54.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
29	32.a	f.	S. W.	59.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
30	32.a	f.	S. W.	52.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
31	33.a	f.	W.	48.a	f.	W.	...	..	...

Remarks for October, 1804.[23]

October 1st.

The leaves of the ash, poplar and most of the shrubs begin
to turn yellow and decline.

3rd

The earth and sand which forms the bars of the river are
so fully impregnated with salt that it shoots and adhers

177

to the little sticks which appear on the surface, it is
pleasent & seems niterous.

5th"

Slight white frost last night Geese & Brant passing
South.

6th

frost as last night saw teal, mallards & Gulls large.

9th.

Wind blew hard this morning drove the boat from her
ancker, came to Shore, Some Brant & Gees passing
to the South.

11th.

no fogg or dew this morning nor have we seen either for
many days (i. e.) since the 21st. of Septr.

14th

Cotton wood all yellow, and the leaves bigin to fall,
abundance of Grapes & red berries. the leaves of all
the trees as Ash, elm, &c except the Cotton wood is
now fallen.

17th

saw a large flock of White Brant with Black wings,
Antelopes are passing to the Black mountains to winter
as is their custom.

18th.

Hard frost last night, the clay near the water edge was
frozen as was the water in the vessels exposed to
the air.

19th

No mule Deer Seen above the Chyanne R. none at the
Recares

20th..

Much more timber than usual. Saw the first black haws
that we have seen for a long time.

21st.

The snow fall 1/2 inch deep.

25th

this evening passed a rapid and shole place in the river
were obliged to get out and drag the boat. all the
leaves of the trees have now fallen. the snow did
not lye.

28th.

Wind so hard that we could not go into council.

29

We Spoke to the Indians in Council tho' the winds was
so hard that it was extreemely disagreeable, the Sands
was blown on us in clouds.

30

Examoned the Countrey in advance for Several Leagues
for a place for winter encampment without finding a
Spot Calculated for one

178

Diary of the weather for November, 1804[24]

								River
Day of the month	Them: at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
Novr. 1	31.a	f.	N. W.	47.a	f.	N. W	...	..	...
2	32. a	f.	S. E.	63.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
3	32. a	f.	N. W.	53. a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
4	31.a	f.	N. W.	43. a	c.	W.	...	..	...
5	30. a	c.	N. W.	58.a	c.	N. W.	...	..	...
6	31.a	c.	S. W.	43.a	c.	W.	...	..	...
7	43.a	c.	S.	62. a	c.	S.	...	..	...
8	38.a	c.	S.	39.a	c.	W.	...	..	...
9	27.a	f	N. W.	43.a	f.	N.W.	...	..	...
10	34. a	f.	N. W.	36. a	c.	N. W.	...	..	...
11	28.a	f.	N. W.	60. a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
12	18.a	f.	N.	31.a	f.	N. E.	...	..	...
13	18.a	s.	S. E.	28. a	c.a.s.	S. E.	f.	..	1 1/2
14	24. a	s.	S. E.	32.a	c.a.s	S. E.	r.	..	1
15	22.a	c.	N. W.	31.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	r.	..	1/2
16	25.a	c.	N. W.	30.a	f.	S. E.	r.	..	1/4
17	28.a	f.	S. E.	34. a	f.	S. E.	r.	..	1/4
18	30. a	f.	S. E.	38.a	f.	W.	r.	..	1/4
19	32. a	f.	N. W.	48.a	f.	N.W.	r.	..	1
20	35.a	f.	N. W.	50. a	f.	W.	r.	..	1 1/4
21	33.a	c.	S.	49. a	f.	S. E.	r.	..	...
22	37.a	f.	W.	45.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1/2
23	38. a	f.	W.	48.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
24	36.a	f.	N. W.	34.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
25	34.a	f.	W.	32.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
26	15.a	f.	S.W.	21.a	f.	W.	...	..	...
27	10.a	f.	S. E.	19.a	c.	S.E.	f.	..	3
28	12.a	s.	S. E.	15.a	s.	E.	f.	..	4
29	14.a	c.a.s	N. E.	18.a	f.	W.	f.	..	2 1/2
30	17.a	f.	W.	23.a	f.	W.	f.	2	...

Remarks for November, 1804.[25]

Nov. 1st

The winds blew so hard to day that we could not decend
the river to a proper place to Camp, untill after 5 P.M.
when the Boat droped down

3rd.

Wind blew hard all day

4th.

Wind hard this evening.

179

6th.

Some little hail about noon.

7th"

a fiew drops of rain this evening saw the Arrora. boriales at
10 P.M. it was very brillient in perpendicular Columns
frequently Changeing position.

8th.

Since we have been at our present Station the River has
fallen about 9 inches

9th.

verry hard frost this morning.

10th.

maney Gees passing to the S. saw a flock of the crested
Cherry birds passing to the South

13th.

large quantity of drift ice running this morning the river
haveing appearancies of closing for the winter.

16th.

very hard frost this morning attached to the limbs and
boughs of the trees.

17th.

The frost of yesterday remained on the trees untill 2 P.M.
when it decended like a Shower of Snow, Swans passing
from the N.

20th.

little soft ice this morning, that from the board[er] of the
river came down in such manner as to endanger the
boat.

26th.

wind blew verry hard.

27th.

much drift ice running in the river.

29th.

the snow fell 8 inches deep, it drifted in heaps in the open
ground.

30th.

the indians pass over the river on the ice. Capt. Clark
returned in the evening on the ice.

Diary of the weather for December, 1804.[26]

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them : at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
Dec. 1	10b.	f.	E.	6.a	f.	S. E.	r.	1	...
2	33.a	f.	N. W.	36.a	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	1
3	26. a	f.	N. W.	30.a	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	1
4	18.a	f.	N.	29.a	f.	N.	r.	. .	1
5	14.a	c.	N. E.	27.a	s.	N. E.	...	. .	...
6	10.a	s.	N. W.	11.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	...	. .	..
7	0.	f.	N. W.	1.b	c.	N. W.	r.	2	1/2
8	12. b	s.	N. W.	5.b	f.a.s.	N. W.	...	..	..
9	7.a	f.	E.	10.b	f.	N. W.	...	..	..
10	10.b	c.	N.	11.b	c	N.	r.	..	1 1/2

180

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
Dec. 11	21. b	f.	N.	18.b	f.	N.	f.	. .	1/2
12	38.b	f.	N.	16.b	f.	N.	...	. .	...
13	20.b	f.	S.E.	4.b	c.	S. E.	...	. .	...
14	2.b	c.	S.E.	2. a	s.	S. E.	f.	. .	1
15	8.b	c.a.s.	W.	4.b	c.a.s.	W.	...	. .	...
16	22.b	f.	N.W.	4.b	f.	N.W.	f.	. .	1
17	43.b	f.	N.	28. b	f.	N.	r.	. .	3
18	32.b	f.	W.	16.b	f.	S. W.	r.	. .	1
19	2.b	c.	S. W.	16.a	f.	S.	r.	. .	1
20	24.a	c.	N.W.	37.a	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	3 1/2
21	22.a	f.	N. W.	22.a	c.	N. W.	r.	. .	2
22	10.a	f.	N.W.	23.a	f.	N. W.	r	. .	2 1/2
23	18.a	c.	S. W.	27.a	c.	W.	f	. .	1
24	22.a	s.	S. W.	31.a	c.a.s.	W.	f.	. .	2 1/2
25	15.a	s.	N. W.	20.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
26	18.a	c.	N. W.	21.a	f	N. W.	...	. .	...
27	4.b	c.	N. W.	14.a	c.	N. W.	...	. .	...
28	12.a	f.	N.	13.a	f.	N.W.	r.	. .	2 1/2
29	9.b	f.	N.	3.a	f.	N.	r.	. .	1
30	20.b	f.	N.	11.b	f.	N.	r.	. .	1/2
31	10.b	f.	S. E.	12.a	c.	S. W.	r.	. .	1 1/2

Remarks for December, 1804.[27]

Dec. 1st.

Ice thick.

2nd

wind hard

Dec. 5th.

Wind blew excessively hard this night from the NW.

7th.

last night the river blocked up with ice which was 1 1/2 inches
thick in the part that had not previously frozen. The
Buffaloe appear Capt. Lewis go out with a party in quest
of them kill 14. the Mandanes take two.

8th.

Capt. Clark was hunting the Buffaloe this day with 16 Men.
severall of the men frosted killed 3 buffaloe himself and
the party killed 5 others.

9th.

[Capt. Lewis] went hunting with a party of fifteen men killed
10 Buffaloe and 1 deer staid out all night. no blanket

14th.

Capt. Clark sets out with a hunting party on the ice with
three small sleds.

15th.

Snow fall 1/2 inch, visited by the big man & the big white
inform me that many buffaloe have visited the Grosventers

181

on the opposite side of the river they came from the
west.

17th.

this evening the Ther. tr stood at 42 b. o

24th.

Snow verry considerable

26th.

Much frost

27th.

The trees are all white with frost which attached itself to
their boughes

28th.

It blew verry hard last night the frost fell like a Shower of
Snow

Diary of the weather for January, 1805.[28]

								River
Day of the month	Them: at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1805
Jany 1	18.a	s.	S. E.	34.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1
2	4. b	s.	N. W.	8.b	f.a.s.	N.	...	..	...
3	14. b	c.	N.	4.b	s	S. E.	...	..	...
4	28. a	c.a. s.	W.	4.b	c.	N. W.	r.	..	2 1/2
5	20. b	c.	N. W.	18.b	s.	N.E.	r.	..	2
6	11. b	c.a.s.	N. W.	16.b	f.	N. W.	r.	..	3
7	22. b	f	N. W.	14.b	f.	W.	f.	..	1
8	20. b	f.	N. W.	10.b	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1
9	21. b	f.	W.	18.b	f.a.c.	N. W.	...	..	...
10	40. b	f.	N. W.	28.b	f.	N. W.	r	..	1
11	38. b	f.	N. W.	14.b	f.	N. W.	f.	..	1/2
12	20. b	f.	N. W.	16.b	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1
13	34. b	f	N. W.	20.b	f.	N. W.	r	..	2
14	16.b	S.	S E.	8.b	c.a.s.	S. E.	...	..	...
15	10. b	f.	E.	3.a	c.	S. W.	r.	..	1
16	36. a	c.	W.	16.a	f.	S. W.	r.	..	2 1/2
17	2.b	c.	W.	12.b	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
18	1.b	f.	N. W.	7.a	f.a.c.	N.W.	f.	..	1
19	12. a	c.	N.E.	6.b	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1
20	28. a	f.	N. E.	9.b	c.	S. E.	r.	..	1/2
21	2.b	c.	N.E.	8.a	f.	S. E.	...	..	...
22	10. a	f.a.h.	N. W.	19.a	c.	N. W.	r.	..	1 3/4
23	21. b	s.	E.	2.b	c.a.s.	N.	f.	..	2 1/2
24	12.b	c.	N. W.	2.b	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1/4
25	26.b	f.	N. W.	4.b	f.a.c.	W.	...	..	...
26	12. a	c.	N. E.	20. a	f.a.c.	S. E.	...	..	...
27	20. a	c.	S. E.	16.a	c.	N.W.	r.	..	2
28	2.b	f.	N. W.	15.a	f.	S. W.	...	..	...
29	4.a	f.	S. W.	16.a	f.	W.	r.	..	1/2
30	6.a	c.	N. W.	14.a	c.	N.W.	r.	..	1
31	2.b	c.a.s.	N. W.	8.a	f.a.c.	N.W.	f.	..	1

182

Remarks for January, 1805.[29]

January 3rd.

the Snow is 9 Inches Deep

6th

at 12 oClock to day two Luminous Spots appeared on
either side of the Sun extreemely bright.

8th

The Snow is now ten inches deep accumolateing by
frosts

12th

Singular appearance of three distinct Halo or luminus
rings about the moon, appeared this evening at 1/2 after 9
P. M. and continued one hour. the moon formed the
center of the middle ring, the other two which lay N. &
S. of the moon & had each of them a limb passing
through the Moons Center and projecting N. & S. a
Simidiamiter beyond the middle ring to which last they
were equal in Dimentions, each ring appearing to subtend
an angle of 15 degrees of a great Circle.

15th

a total eclips of the moon last night visible here, but
partially obscured by the clouds.

18th.

at Sun rise 12° below 0.

19th

Ice now 3 feet thick on the most rapid part of the river.

22nd.

mist the afterno[o]n observation.

23rd"

The Snow fell about 4 inches deep last night and continues
to Snow.

25th.

it frequently happens that the ☉ rises fair and in about 15
or 20 minutes it becomes suddenly turbid, as if the ☉
had some chimical effect on the atmosphere.

31st"

The Snow fell 2 inches last night.

Diary of the weather for February, 1805.[30]

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them : at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
Feby 1st.	6.a	c.	N. W.	16.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	2 1/2
2	12.b	f.	N. W.	3. a	f.	S.	f.	..	1
3	8.b	f.	S. W.	2.a	f.	W.	...	..	...
4	18.b	f.	N. W.	9.b	f.	W.	...	..	...
5	10.a	f.	N. W.	20.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1
6	4.b	f.	N. W.	12. a	f.	W.	r.	..	1/2

183

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them : at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
Feby 7	18.a	f.	S. E.	29.a	c.	S.	r.	..	1/2
8	18.a	f.	N. W.	28.a	c.	N. E.	f.	..	1
9	10.a	f.	S. E.	33.a	c.	S. E.	...	..	...
10	18.b	c.a.s.	N. W.	12.a	c.	N. W.	...	..	...
11	18.b	f.	N. W.	2.b	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
12	4.b	f.	S. E	2.a	f.	W.	...	..	...
13	12.a	c.	S. E.	10.a	c.	N. W.	f.	..	1
14	2.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	2.b	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
15	16.b	f.	S. W.	6.b	f.	W.	...	..	...
16	2.a	f.	S. E.	8.a	f.	W.	f.	..	1
17	4.a	c.	S. E.	12.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
18	4.a	s.	N. E.	10.a	f.	S.	...	..	...
19	4.a	f.	S. E.	20.a	f.	S.	...	..	...
20	2.a	f.	S.	22.a	f.	S.	...	..	...
21	6.a	f.	S.	30.a	f.	S.	...	..	...
22	8.a	c.	N.	32.a	c. r & s.	N. W.	...	..	...
23	18.a	f.	N. W.	32.a	f.	W.	r.	..	1/2
24	8.a	f.	N. W.	32.a	f.	W.	...	..	...
25	16.a	f.	W.	38.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
26	20.a	f.	N. E.	31.a	f.	N.	...	..	...
27	26.a	f	S. E.	36.a	f.	E.	f.	..	1/2
28	24.a	f.	E.	38.a	c.	S. E.	...	..	...

Remarks for February, 1805.[31]

Feby. 8th

The Black & white & Speckled woodpeckers has returned.

14th.

The Snow fell 3 Inches deep last night

23d.

got the poplar perogue out of the ice.

24th.

loosed the boat & large perogue from the ice.

27th.

got the Boat and Perogues on the bank.

Diary of the weather for March, 1805.[32]

								River
Day of the month	Them : at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them: at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
March 1	28.a	c.	W.	38.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
2	28.a	f.	N. E.	36.a	f.	N. E.	r.	..	1 1/2
3	28.a	c.	E.	39.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
4	26.a	f.	N. W.	36.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...
5	22.a	f.	E.	40.a	f.	N. W.	...	..	...

184

								River
Day of the month	Them: at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind	Them : at 4 oClock	Weather	Wind	rise or fall	Feet	In.
1805
March 6	26.a	c.	E.	36.a	f.	E.	r.	..	2
7	12.a	f.	E.	26.a	c.	E.	r.	..	2
8	7.a	c.	E.	12.a	f.	E.	r.	..	2 1/2
9	2.a	c.	N.	18.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	2
10	2.b	f.	N. W.	12.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	3 1/2
11	12.a	c.	S. E.	26.a	f. a. c.	N. W.	r.	..	4 1/2
12	2.b	f. a. s.	N.	10.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	5
13	1.b	f.	S. E.	28.a	f.	S. W.	r.	..	3 1/2
14	18.a	f.	S. E.	40.a	f.	W.	...	..	...
15	24.a	f.	S. E.	38.a	f.	W.	f.	..	1
16	32.a	c.	E.	42.a	c.	W.	f.	..	3
17	30.a	f.	S. E.	46.a	f.	S. W.	r.	..	2
18	24.a	c.	N.	34.a	c.	N.	f.	..	1
19	20.a	c. a. s.	N.	31.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	1
20	28.a	c.	N. W.	28.a	f.	N. W.	r.	..	3
21	16.a	c.	E.	26.a	s. & h.	S.	...	..	...
22	22.a	f. a. s.	S.	36.a	f.	S. W.	f.	..	4
23	34.a	f.	W.	38.a	c. a. r.	N. W.	f.	..	4
24	28.a	c. a. s.	N. E.	30.a	c. a. s.	N.	r.	..	1
25	16.a	f.	E.	32.a	f.	S.	r.	..	5
26	20.a	f.	S. E.	46.a	f.	W.	r.	..	4 1/2
27	28.a	f.	S. E.	60.a	f.	S. W.	r.	..	9
28	40.a	f.	S. E.	64.a	f.	S. W.	r.	..	1
29	42.a	f.	N. W.	52.a	f.	N. W.	f.	..	11
30	28.a	f.	N. W.	49.a	f.	N. W.	r.	1	1
31	35.a	c. a. r.	S. E.	45.a	c.	S. E.	r.	..	9

Remarks for March, 1805.[33]

March 2d.

The Snow has disappeared in many places the river partially
broken up.

3rd.

a flock of Ducks passed up the river this morning.

9th.

wind hard all day.

12th.

Snow but Slight disappeared to day

18th.

collected Some roots, herbs & plants in order to Send by the
boat perticularly the root said to cure the bites of a mad
dog and rattle snake.

19th

But little snow not enough to cover the Ground

20th.

The Indians raise a kind of artechokes which they Say is
[now] common in the praries. well tasted

21st.

Some Ducks seen to light in the river opposit the fort.

23d

but little rain.

185

24th.

but little Snow.

25th.

a gang of Swan return to day the ice in the river has given
way in maney places, and it is with Some difficulty it can
be passed.

26th

The ice gave way in the river abt. 3 P.M. and came down
in emence sheets verry near Distroying our new Canoes
Some Geese pass to day.

27th.

The first insect I have seen was a large black knat to day.
the ice drifting in Great quantities.

28th.

ice abates in quantity wind hard river rise 13 inches &
fall 12 inches.

29th.

a variety of insects make their appearance, as flies bugs &c.
the ice ceases to run Supposed to have formed an
obstruction above

30th

The ice Come down in great quantities the Mandans take
Some floating Buffalow.

31st.

Ducks and Gees passing the ice abates in quantity.

Thermometrical observations

Showing also the rise and fall of the Missouri, appearances of
Weather Wind &c. &c. assending above Fort Mandan In Latitude
47°.—12′—47″. North & Longitude 99°. 24′. 45″ 1/10 West

Diary of the weather for April, 1805.[34]

								State of the river.
Days of the month	State of the thermometer at Sun rise	Weather	Winds at Sun rise	State of the thermometer at 4 oClock P. M.	Weather	Winds at 4 oClock P.M.	raised or fall	feet	Inches
april
1st.	33.a	c.	N. W.	43.a	c.a.t.	W.	f.	..	11
					l.r & h
2nd.	28.a	c. a. r.	N. W.	38.a	f.a.c	W.	f.	..	5
3rd.	24.a	f.	N.	44.a	f.	N.	f.	..	4
4th.	36.a	f.	S.	55.a	f.	N. W.	f.	..	4
5th.	30.a	f.	N. W.	39.a	f.	N.	f	..	2
6th.	19.a	f.	N.	48.a	c.	N. W.	f.	..	1
7th.	28.a	f.	W.	64.a	f.	S. W.	r.	..	2
8th.	19.a	f.	N. W.	56.a	f.	N. W.	f.	..	2

186

Days of the month	State of the thermometer at Sun rise	Weather	Winds at Sun rise	State of the thermometer at 4 oClock P. M.	Weather	Winds at 4 oClock P.M.		State of the river.
							raised or fall	feet	Inches
april
9th.	38.a	f.	S. E.	70.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
10th.	42.a	f.	E.	74.a	f.	S. W.	r.	. .	1/8
11th.	42.a	f.	N. W.	76.a	f.	W.	f.	. .	1/2
12th.	56.a	f.	N. W.	74.a	c.a.r.t.&l	W.	r.	. .	1/8
13th.	58.a	f.	S. E.	80.a	f.	S. E.	f.	. .	1
14th.	52.a	c.	S. E.	82.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	3/4
15th.	51.a	f.	E.	78.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
16th.	54.a	f.	S. E.	78.a	f.	S.	f.	. .	1/2
17th.	56.a	f.	N. E.	74.a	c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
18th.	52.a	f.	N. E.	64.a	c.	N.	. . .	. .	. . .
19th.	45.a	c.	N. W.	56.a	c.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
20th.	40.a	c.	N. W.	42.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
21st.	28.a	f.	N. W.	40 a	c.	N. W.	f.	. .	1/2
22nd.	34.a	f.a.c.	W.	40. a	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	2
23rd.	34.a	f.	W.	52 a	c.	N. W.	r.	. .	2
24th.	40.a	f.	N.	56.a	f.	N.	r.	. .	1
25th.	36.a	f.	N.	52 a	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	2
26th.	32.a	f.	S.	63.a	f.	S. E.	r.	. .	3
27th.	36.a	f.	S. W.	64.a	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	2
28th.	44.a	f.	S. E.	63.a	f.	S. E.	f.	. .	1 1/2
29th.	42.a	f.	N. E.	64.a	f.	E.	f.	. .	1 1/2
30th.	50.a	f.	N. W.	58.a	f.	S. E.	f.	. .	1/2

Remarks for April, 1805[35] .

April 1st

but little ice, put our Boat Perog[ue]s & canoes in the water.
A fine refreshing shower of rain fell about 2 P. M. this
was the first shower of rain that we had witnessed since the
fifteenth of September 1804. tho' it several times has
fallen in very small quantities, and was noticed in this diary
of the weather. the cloud came from the west, and was
attended by hard thunder and Lightning. I have observed
that all thunder clouds in the Western part of the continent,
proceed from the westerly quarter, as they do in the
Atlantic States. the air is remarkably dry and pure in this
open country, very little rain or snow e[i] ther winter or
summer. the atmosphere is more transparent than I ever
obse[r]ved it in any country through which I have passed.

2nd.

rained hard and without intermission last night.

187

3rd.

a white frost, Some ice attached to the edges of the water

4th.

Observed a flock of brant passing up the river today, the wind
blew very ha[r]d as it dose frequently in this quarter; there
is scarcely any timber to brake the wind from the river, & the
country on both sides being level plains, wholy destitute of
timber, the wind blows with astonishing violence. in this
open country the winds form a great obstruction to the navigation
of this river particularly with small vessels, which can
neither ascend or decend should the wind be the least violent.

6th.

This day a flock of cherry or cedar birds were seen, one of the
men killed several of them which gave me an opportunity
of examining them. they are common in the United
States; usually ascociate in large flocks and are freequently
distructive to the chery orchards, and in winter in the lower
parts of the states of Virginia & Maryland feed on the
buries of the Cedar. they are a small bluish brown bird,
crested with a tuft of dark brown feathers. with a narrow
black stripe passing on each side of the head underneath
the eye from the base of the upper beak to the back of the
head. it is distinguished more particularly by some of the
shorter feathers of the wing, which are tiped with a red
spots that have much the appearance at a little distance
of sealing wax. All the birds that we believe visit this
country have now returned.

7th.

wind very high. Set out on our voyage at 5 P. M.

8th.

the Kildee, and large Hawk have returned. the only birds
that I obse[r]ved during the winter at Fort Mandan was
the Missouri Magpie, a bird of the Corvus genus, the
raven in immence numbers, the small woodpecker or sapsucker
as they are sometimes called, the beautifull eagle, or
calumet bird, so called from the circumstance of the natives
decorating their pipe-stems with it's plumage, and the
Prairie Hen or grouse.

9th.

the Crow has also returned saw the first today. the Musquitoes
revisit us, saw several of them. Capt. Clark brought
me a flower in full blo. it is a stranger to me.

10th.

The Prarie lark, bald Eagle, & the large plover have returned.
the grass begins to spring, and the leaf buds of
the willow to appear. Cherry birds disappear

11th.

The lark woodpecker, with yellow wings, and a black spot
on the brest common to the U' States has appeared, with

188

sundry small birds, many plants begin to appear above the
ground. saw a large white gull today the Eagle is now
laying their eggs, and the gees have mated. the Elm, large
leafed, willow and the bush which bears a red berry, called
by the engages greas de buff are in blume.

12th

small shower from the W. [est] attended with hard wind.

13th.

The leaves of the Choke cherry are about half grown; the
Cotton wood is in blume the flower of this tree resembles
that of the aspen in form, and is of a deep perple colour.

15th.

several flocks of white brant with black wings pass us today,
their flight was to the N. W. the trees now begin to assume
a green appearance, tho' the earth at the debth of
about three feet is not yet thawed, which we discovered by
the banks of the river, falling in and disclosing a strata
of frozen earth.

16th.

saw the first leather winged bat. it appeared about the size
of those common to the U' States.

18th.

a heavy dew this morning. which is the first and only one
we have seen since we passed the council bluffs last summer.
there is but little dew in this open country. saw a
flock of pillecan pass from S. W. to N. E. they appeared
to be on a long flight. wind very violent.

19th.

The trees have now put forth their leaves. the goosbury,
current, servisbury, and wild plumbs are in blume. wind
violent.

20th.

wind violent.

21st.

white frost last night. the earth friezed along the water's
edge. wind violent

22nd.

wind very hard greater part of the day.

23d.

do do do do do do saw the first robbin.
also the brown Curloo.

24th.

wind very hard this morning.

25th.

do do do until 5 oClock P. M.

27th.

wind very hard from 11 to 4 oClock.

28th.

Vegetation has progressed but little since the 18th, in short
the change is scarcely perceptible.

189

Diary of the Weather for the Month of May, 1805[36]

Day of the Month	State of the thermometer at Sun rise	Weather	Winds at Sun Rise	State of the thermometer at 4 oClock P. M.	Weather	Wind at 4 oClock P.M.		State of the River
							raised or fallen	Feet	Inches
1st.	36.a	c.	E.	46.a	c.a.f.	N. E.	f.	. .	1 1/2
2nd.	28.a	s.	N. E.	34.a	c.a.s.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
3rd.	26.a	f.	W.	46.a	c.	W.	f.	. .	1/4
4th.	38.a	c.	W.	48.a	f.a.c.	W.	. . .	. .	. . .
5th.	38.a	f.	N. W.	62.a	f.a.r.	S. E.	r.	. .	1
6th.	48.a	f.	E.	61.a	c.a.r.	S. E.	r.	. .	2
7th.	42.a	c.	S.	60.a	f.	N. E.	r.	. .	1 1/2
8th.	41.a	c.	E.	52.a	c.a.r.	E.	f.	. .	1/4
9th.	38.a	f.	E.	58.a	f.	W.	r.	. .	3/4
10th.	38.a	f.a.c.	W. N. W.	62.a	c.a.r.	N. W.	f.	. .	3/4
11th.	44.a	f.	N. E.	60.a	c.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
12th.	52.a	f.	S. E.	54.a	c.a.r.	N. W.	r.	. .	2
13th.	52.a	c.a.r.	N. W.	54.a	f.a.c.	N. W.	f.	. .	2 1/4
14th.	32.a	f.	S. W.	52.a	c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1 3/4
15th.	48.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	54.a	c.	N. W.	f.	. .	3/4
16th.	48.a	c.	S. W.	67.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
17th.	60.a	f.	N. E.	68.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
18th.	58.a	f.	W.	46.a	c.a.r.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
19th.	38.a	f.	E.	68.a	f.a.c.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
20th.	52.a	f.	N. E.	76.a	f.	E.	f.	. .	1
21st.	50.a	f.	S. W.	76.a	f.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
22nd.	46.a	c.	N. W.	48.a	c.	N. W.	f.	. .	1/2
23rd.	32.a	f.	S. W.	54.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
24th.	32.a	f.	N. W.	68.a	f.	S. E.	r.	. .	3 1/2
25th.	46.a	f.	S. W.	82.a	f.	S. W.	r.	. .	2
26th.	58.a	f.	S. W.	80.a	f.	S. W.	r.	. .	1/2
27th.	62.a	f.	S. W.	82.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
28th.	62.a	c.	S. W.	72.a	c. & r.	S. W.	r.	. .	1/2
29th.	62.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	67.a	r.	S. W.	r.	. .	1
30th.	56.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	50.a	r.	S. W.	r.	. .	5
31st.	48.a	c.a.r.	W.	53.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	r.	. .	1 1/2

Remarks for May, 1805.[37]

1st.

wind violent from 12 oC. to 6 P.M.

2nd.

the wind continued so high from 12 oClock yesterday, untill 5
this evening that we were unable to proceed. the snow which
fell last night and this morning one inch deep has not yet

190

disappeared, it forms a singular contrast with the trees which
are now in leaf.

3.d

hard frost last night. at 4 P. M. the snow has not yet entirely
disappeared. the new horns of the Elk begin to appear.

4.

the snow has disappeared. saw the first grasshoppers today.
there are great quantities of a small blue beatle feeding on the
willows. the black martin makes its appearance.

5.th

a few drops of rain only.

6.th

rain very inconsiderable as usual.

8.th

rain inconsiderable. a mear sprinkle the bald Eagle, of which
there are great numbers, now have their young. the turtledove
appears.

9th.

The choke Cherry is now in blume.

10th.

rain but slight a few drops.

11th.

frost this morning

12th.

rain but slight.

13th.

do do do

14th.

white frost this morning

15th.

slight shower.

17th.

the Gees have their young; the Elk begin to produce their young,
the Antelope and deer as yet have not. the small species of
Goatsucker or whiperwill begin to cry the blackbirds both
small and large have appeared. we have had scarcely any
thunder and lightning. the clouds are generally white and
accompanyed with wind only.

18th.

saw the wild rose in blume. the brown thrush or mocking bird has
appeared. had a good shower of rain today, it continued about
2 hours; this is the first shower that deserves the appellation
of rain, which we have seen since we left Fort Mandan. no
thunder or lightning

19th.

heavy fog this morning on the river.

22th.

the wind excessively hard all night. saw some particles of snow
fall today it did not lye in sufficient quantity on the ground to
be perceptible.

23rd.

hard frost last night; ice in the eddy water along the shore, and
the water friezed on the oars this morning. Strawburies in
bloom. saw the first king fisher.

24th.

frost last night ice 1/8 of an inch thick.

25th.

saw the king bird, or bee martin; the grouse disappear. killed
three of the bighorned antelopes.

26th.

The last night was much the warmest we have experienced, found

191

the covering of one blanket sufficient. the air is extreemly dry
and pure.

27th.

wind so hard we are unable to proceed in the early part of
the day

28th.

a slight thunder shower; the air was turbid in the forenoon and
appeared to be filled with smoke; we supposed it to proceed
from the burning of the plains, which we are informed are
frequently set on fire by the Snake Indians to compell the
antelopes to resort to the woody and mountanous country
which they inhabit. saw a small white and black woodpecker
with a red head; the same which is common to the Atlantic
states.

29th

rained but little, some dew this morning

30th.

the rain commenced about 4 Oclock in the evening, and continued
moderately through the course of the night; more rain
has now fallen than we have experienced since the 15th. of
September last.

31st.

The Antelope now bring forth their young. from the size of
the young of the bighorned Antelope I suppose they bring
forth their young as early at least as the Elk. but little rain.

Diary of the Weather for the Month of June, 1805[38]

192

								State of the River:
Day of the Month	State of the thermometer at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind at Sun rise	State of the thermometer at 4 o'clock P.M.	Weather at 4 oClock	Winds at 4 oClock P. M.	raised or fallen	Feet	Inches
1st.	50. a	c.	S. W.	62. a	c.	S. E.	r.	. .	1 1/2
2nd	56. a	c.a.r	S. W.	68. a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
3rd.	46. a	f.	S. W.	60. a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
4th.	48. a	f.a.c.	N E.	61. a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	3/4
5th.	40. a	r.	S. W.	42. a	c.a.r.	N. E.	f.	. .	3/4
6th.	35.a	c.a.r.	N. E.	42.a	r.a.r.	N. E.	f.	. .	1 1/2
7th.	40.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	43.a	r.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
8th.	41.a	r.a.r.	S. W.	48.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	1 1/4
9th.	50.a	f.	S. W.	52.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1
10th.	52.a	f.	S. W.	68.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	r.	. .	2
11th.	54.a	f.	S. W.	66.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
12th.	54.a	f.	S. W.	64.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
13th.	52.a	f.	S. W.	72.a	f	S. W.	r.	. .	3/4
14th.	60.a	f.	S. W.	74.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	3/4
15th.	60.a	f.	S. W.	76.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
16th.	64.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	58.a	f.	S. W.	r.	. .	1/2
17th	50.a	c.	S. W.	57.a	c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
18th.	48.a	c.	S. W.	64.a	f.a.c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
19th.	52.a	f.	S. W.	70.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
20th.	49.a	C.	S. W.	74.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
21st.	49.a	f.	S. W.	70.a	c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
22nd.	45.a	c.	S. W.	54.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
23d.	48.a	f.	S. E.	65.a	c.	S. E.	f.	. .	1/4
24th.	49.a	c.a.r.	S. E.	74.a	f.a.c.	S. W.	f.	. .	. . .
25th.	47.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	72.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
26th.	49.a	f.	S. W.	78.a	f.	S. W.	r.		1/2
27th.	49.a	f.	S. W.	77.a	f.a.r.h.t.&l.	S. W.	r.		1 1/4
28th.	46.a	f.	S. W.	75.a	c.a.f.	S. W.	r.		2
29th.	47.a	r.t.l.	S. W.	77.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	r.		4 1/2
30th.	49.a	f.	S. W.	76.a	f.	S. W.	r.		2 1/4

Remarks for June, 1805.[39]

2nd.

rained a few drops only

3rd.

cought the 1st. White Chub, and a fish resembling the Hickory
Shad in the clear stream.

5th.

rained considerably some snow fell on the mounts. great numbers
of the sparrows larks, Curloos and other small birds common
to praries are now laying their eggs and seting, their nests
are in great abundance. the large batt, or night hawk appears.
the Turkey buzzard appears, first saw the mountain cock
near the entrance of Maria's river.

6th.

rained hard the greater part of the day.

7th.

rained moderately all day.

8th.

cleared off at 10 A. M.

13th.

some dew this morning.

15th.

The deer now begin to bring forth their young the young
Magpies begin to fly. The Brown or grizzly bear begin to
coppolate.

16th.

some rain last night

17th.

the thermometer placed in the shade of a tree on the north side at
the foot of the rappids.

19th.

wind violent all day

20th.

wind still violent rain slight.

193

21st

wind not so violent.

22d.

Thermometer removed to the head of the rappid and placed in
the shade of a tree.

24th.

slight rain last night & a heavy shower this evening

27th.

At 1 P M a black cloud which arose in the S. W. came on
accompanied with a high wind and violent thunder and Lightning;
a great quantity of Hail also fell during this storm which lasted
about two hours and a half the hail which was generally
about the size of pigions eggs and not unlike them in form,
covered the ground to one inch and a half. for about 20
minutes during this Storm hail fell of an inno[r]mus size driven
with violence almost incredible, when they struck the ground
they would rebound to the hight of 10 to 12 feet and pass 20
or 30 before they touched again. during this emence Storm I
was with the greater part of the men on the portage the men
saved themselves, Some by getting under a canoe others by
putting Sundery articles on their heads two was k[n]ocked
down & Sever[al] with their legs & thighs much brused Cap. t
Lewis weighed one of those hail Stones which weighed 3 ozs
and measured 7 Inches in secumfrance; they were generally
round & perfectly Solid. I am Convinced if one of those had
Struck a man on naiked head [it] would certainly [have] fractured
his Skull, young blackbirds which are abundant in these
Islands are now beginning to fly

28th.

cat fish no higher.

29th.

heavy gust of rain this morning & evening.

Diary of the Weather for July, 1805.[40]

194

								State of the Rivet
Day of the month	State of the thermometer at ☉ rise	Weather	Winds at Sun rise	State of the thermometer at 4 oClock P.M.	Weather	Winds at at 4 P.M.	raised or fallen	feet	Inches
1st.	59.a	f.	S. W.	74.a	f.	S. W.	r.	. .	1/2
2nd.	60.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	78.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
3rd.	56.a	f.	S. W.	74.a	c.a.f. & r.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
4th.	52.a	f.	S. W.	76.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
5th.	49.a	f.a.h. & r.	S. W.	72.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
6th.	47.a	c.a.h.r.t.& l.	S. W.	74.a	f.a.c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
7th.	54.a	c.a.f.	S. W.	77.a	r.a.c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
8th.	60.a	f.	S. W.	78.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
9th.	56.a	f.	N. W.	76.a	c. a. r.	N. W.	f.	. .	1/4
10th.	52.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	66.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
11th.	46.a	f.	S. W.	70.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
12th.	50.a	f.	S. W.	74.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
13th.	42.a	f.	S. W.	76.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/4
14th.	45.a	f.	S. W.	78.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
15th.	60.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	76.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
16th.	53.a	f.	S. W.	80.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	3/4
17th.	58.a	f.	S. W.	81.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
18th.	60.a	f.	S. W.	84.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
19th.	62.a	f.	S. W.	68.a	c.a.h. & r.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
20th.	59.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	60.a	f.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
21st.	60.a	f.	N. W.	67.a	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1/2
22nd.	52.a	f.	N. W.	80.a	f.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
23rd.	54.a	f.	S. W.	80.a	c.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
24th	60.a	f.	S. W.	90.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	3/4
25th	60.a	f.	S. W.	86.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
26th	60.a	f.	S. W.	82.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	3/4
27th	52.a	c.	S. W.	80.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	3/4
28th	49.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	90.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
29th	54.a	f.a.r.	N.	82.a	f.	N. E.	r.	. .	1/2
30th	50.a	f.	S. E.	80.a	f.	S. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
3lst.	48.a	f.	S. W.	92.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .

Remarks for July, 1805.[41]

1st.

wind hard during part of the day.'

2nd.

some rain just before sunrise.

3d.

slight rain in the evening.

4th.

heavy dew this morning. slight sprinkle of rain at 2 P.M.

5th.

heavy shower of rain and hail at 9 P.M. some thunder &
L[ightning].

6th

a heavy wind from the S. W. attended with rain about the middle of
the last night. about day had a violent thunderstorm attended
with hail and rain the hail covered the ground and was near the
size of Musquet balls. one black bird was picked up killed with
the hail. I am astonished that more have not suffered in a
Similar Manner as they are abundant and I should suppose the
hail suffciently heavy to kill them. wind high all day.

195

7th.

a shower at 4 P. M.

10th.

wind hard all day.

11th.

wind hard all day

12th.

wind violent all day.

13th.

wind violent in the latter part of the day.

19th.

Thunder storm 1/2 after 3 P. M.

25th.

Snow appears on the mountains ahead.

27th.

a considerable fall of rain unattended with Lightning.

Diary of the weather for the month of August, 1805.[42]

								State of the River
Day of the month	State of the thermometer at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind at ☉ rise	State of the thermometer at 4 P. M.	Weather	Winds at 4 P. M.	risen or fallen	feet	Inches
1st.	54.a	f.	S. W.	91.a	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1/2
2nd.	48.a	f.	N. W.	81.a	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1/2
3rd.	50.a	f.	N. E.	86.a	f.	N. E.	f.	. .	1/2
4th.	48.a	f.	S.	92.a	f.	S.	f.	. .	1/2
5th.	49.a	f.	S. E.	79.a	f.	S. E.	. . .	. .	1/4
6th.	52.a	f.	S. W.	71.a	c.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
7th.	54.a	c.a.r.	S. W.	80.a	c.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
8th.	54.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	82.a	c.a.f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
9th.	58.a	f.	N. E.	78.a	c.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
10th.	60.a	c.a.r.t.&l.	S. W.	68.a	t.l.&r.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
11th.	58.a	c.a.r.&h	N. E.	70.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
12th.	58.a	f.a.r.&h.	W.	72.a	f.a.r.&h.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
13th.	52.a	c.a.f.	N. W.	70.a	f.a.r.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
14th.	51.a	f.a.r.	N. W.	76.a	f.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
15th.	43.a	f.	S. E.	74.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
16th.	48.a	f.	S. W.	70.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
17th.	42.a	f.	N. E.	76.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
18th.	45.a	c.	S. W.	78.a	r.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
19th.	30.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	71.a	f.a.r.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
20th.	32.a	f.	S. W.	74.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
21st.	19.a	f.	S. E.	78.a	f.	E.	. . .	. .	. . .
22nd.	22.a	f.	E.	70.a	f.	E.	. . .	. .	. . .
23rd.	35.a	f.	E.	72.a	f.	S. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
24th.	40.a	f.	S. E.	76.a	f.a.r.	S. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
25th.	32.a	f.a.r.	S. E.	65.a	c.	S. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
26th.	31.a	f.	S. E.	45.a	f.	S. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
27th.	32.a	f.	S. E.	56.a	f.	S. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
28th.	35.a	f.	S. W.	66.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
29th.	32.a	f.	S. W.	68.a	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
30th.	34.a	c.	N. E.	59.a	c.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
31st.	38.a	c.a.r.	N. E.	58.a	c.a.r. &h.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .

196

Remarks for August, 1805.[43]

7th.

Thunder shower last evening from the N.W. the river which we
are now ascending is so inconsiderable and the current so much
of a stand that I relinquished paying further attention to it's state.

8th..

a thunder shower last evening.

10th..

rain commenced at 6 P.M. and continued showery through the
night. Musquetors very bad.

11th.

heavy dew last evening killed a long tailed grouse.

13th.

very cold last night.

15th.

remarkably cold this morning

19th.

ice on standing water 1/8 of an inch thick.

20th.

hard frost last night.

21st

ice 1/2 an inch thick on standing water. Most astonishing difference
between the hight of the Murcury at ☉ rise and at 4
P. M. today there was 59°. and this in the Space of 8 hours,
yet we experience this wonderfull transicion without feeling it
near so sensibly as I should have expected.

22nd.

snow yet appears on the summits of the mountains.

25th..

white frost this morning

26th.

hard white frost and some ice on standing water this morning.

27th.

hard frost white this morning.

Diary of the weather for the month of September, 1805[44]

197

								State of the river
Day of the month	State of the thermometer at ☉ rise	Weather	Wind at ☉ rise	State of the thermometer at 4 P. M.	Weather	Winds at 4 P. M.	fallen or raised	feet	Inches
1st.	38.a	c.	N. W.	67.a	c.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
2nd.	36.a	c.a.r.	N. E.	60.a	c.a. r.h.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
3rd.	34.a	c.a.r.	N. E.	52.a	c.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
4th.	19.a	r. a. s.	N. E.	34.a	c.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
5th.	17.a	c. a. s.	N. E.	29.a	c.a.r. &s.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
6th[45]	. . .	c.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	r.	N. E.	. . .	. . .	. . .
7th.	. . .	c.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	c.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	. . .	. . .
8th.	. . .	c.	N. E.	. . .	c.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
9th.	. . .	c.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	f.a.r.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
10th.	. . .	f.	N. W.	. . .	f.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
11th.	. . .	f.	N. W.	. . .	f.	N. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
12th.	. . .	f.	N. W.	. . .	f.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
13th.	. . .	c.	N. E.	. . .	r.	N. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
14th.	. . .	c. a. r.	S. W.	. . .	c.a.r.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
15th.	. . .	c.a.s.	S. W.	. . .	s.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
16th.	. . .	c. a. s.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
17th.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
18th.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
19th.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
20th.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
21st.	. . .	f.	S. E.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
22nd.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
23rd.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
24th.	. . .	f.	S. E.	. . .	f.	S. E.	. . .	. .	. . .
25th.	. . .	f.	E.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
26th.	. . .	f.	E.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
27th.	. . .	f.	E.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
28th.	. . .	f.	E.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
29th.	. . .	f.	E.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .
30th.	. . .	f.	E.	. . .	f.	S. W.	. . .	. .	. . .

Remarks for September, 1805[46]

2nd.

Service berries dried on the bushes abundant and very fine. black
colour.

3d.

Choke Cherries ripe and abundant.

4th.

ice one inch thick.

5th.

Ground covered with snow.

6th.

Thermometer broke by the Box striking against a tree in the Rocky
mountains.

8th.

Mountains covered with Snow to the S. W. a singular kind of
Prickly Pears.

12th.

Mountains to our left covered with snow.

14th.

snowed rained & hailed today.

16th

[Lewis :] Snow commenced about 4 oClock A. M. and continued
untill night. it is about 7 inches deep. ice one inch thick.
[Clark :] the snow fell on the old Snow 4 inches deep last
night.

198

18th.

black frost this morning.

19th.

Snow is about 4 Inches deep. rose respberry ripe and abundant.

24th.

a thunder cloud last evening.

25th.

warm day.

27th.

day very warm

29th

Day very hot

30th

Great numbers of small Ducks pass down the river. hot day.

Diary of the Weather for October, Novr. & December, 1805[47]

	October			November			December
Day of the month	Wind	State of the Weather	Day of the month	Wind	State of the Weather	Day of the month	Wind	State of the Weather
1st.	E.	f.	1st.	N. E.	f.	1st.	E	c.a.r.
2nd.	N.	f.	2nd.	S. W.	f.	2d.	S. W.	c.a.r.
3rd.	E.	f.	3rd.	N. E.	f.a fog	3rd.	E.	f.a.r.
4th.	E.	f.	4th.	W.	c.a.r.	4th.	S. E.	r.
5th.	E.	f.	5th.	S. W.	r.c.r.	5th.	S. W.	r.
6th.	E.	f.	6th.	S. W	r.a.r.	6th.	S. W.	r.
7th.	E.	f.	7th.	S. W.	r.a. fog	7th.	N. E.	f.a.r.
8th.	E.	f.	8th.	S. W.	f.a.r.	8th.	N. E.	c.a.r.
9th.	S. W.	c.	9th.	S.	r.	9th.	N. E.	c. r.
10th.	N. W.	f.	10th.	N. W.	r.a.r.	10th.	N. E.	r.
11th.	E. & S. W.	c.	11th.	S. W.	r.	11th.	S. W.	r.
12th.	E. & S. W.	f.	12th.	S. W.	h.r.t.&l.	12th.	S. W.	r.
13th.	S. W.	f.a.r.	13th.	S. W.	r.	13th.	S. W.	r.
14th.	S. W.	f.	14th.	. . .	r.	14th.	S. W.	r.
15th.	S. W.	f.	15th.	S. E.	f.a.r.	15th.	S. W.	c.a.r.
16th.	S. W.	f.	16th.	W. S. W.	f.	16th.	S. W.	r.
17th.	S. E.	f.	17th.	E.	c.a.f.	17th.	S. W.	f.a.r. &h.
18th.	S. E.	f.	18th.	S. E.	f. a. c.	18th.	S. E.	c.a.r.s. &h.
19th.	S. E.	f.	19th.	S. E.	c.a.r.	19th.	S. W.	h. r. & c.
20th.	S. W.	f.	20th.	S. E.	f.a.r.	20th.	S. W.	f.a.r. &h.
21st.	S. W.	f.	21st.	S. E.	c.a.r.	21st.	S. W.	r.
22nd.	S. W.	f.	22d.	S. S. E.	r.	22d.	S. W.	r.
23rd.	S. W.	f.	23rd.	S. W.	c.a.r.	23rd.	S. W.	r.h. &1.
24th.	W.	f.	24th.	W.	f.a.r.	24th.	S. W.	r.
25th.	W.	f.	25th.	E. S. E.	c.a.r.	25th.	S. W.	c.r
26th.	W.	f.	26th.	E. N. E.	r.	26th.	S. W.	r.a.t. &1.
27th.	W.	f.	27th.	S. W.	r.	27th.	S. W.	r.
28th.	N. W.	r.a.f.	28th.	S. W. & N. W.	r.	28th.	S. E.	r.
29th.	W.	f.a.r.	29th.	S. W.	r.	29th.	S. E.	c.a. r.
30th.	S. E.	r.a.r	30th.	S. W.	f.a.r. &h.	30th.	S. E.	f.a. r.
31st.	S. W.	f.a.r.				31st.	S. W.	r.

199

Note

from the 1st. to the 7th. of October we were at the mouth of
Chopunnuish river makeing canoes to Decend the Kooskooske.

Note

from the 7th. to the 16th. octr.we were decending Kooskooske &
Lewises river, the 17th. 18[th]. at the mouth of Lewis River.

Note

from the 18th. to the 22d. of octr. decending the Great Columbia
to the falls.

Note

from the 22d. to the 29th. about the great Falls of the Columbia
river.

note

from the 29th. of Octr. to the 3d. of Novr. in passing through the
western mountains below falls.

note

the balance of Novr. and December betwen the Mountains &
Pacific ocean.

Remarks for October, 1805.[48]

3d.

The easterly winds which blow imediately off the mountains are
very cool until! 10 A. M. when the winds shift about to different
points and the latter part of the days are worm.

13th.

rained moderately from 4 to 11 A. M. to day.

28th.

a violent wind a moderate rain commenced at 4 oClock P. M.
and continued untill 8 P. M. first Vulture of the Columbia
seen today.

29th.

rained moderately all day I shot at a vulture

30th.

rained moderately all day. Saw a different Species of ash. to
any I have ever seen. arrived at the grand rapids.

31st.

Some rain last night and this morning.

Remarks for the Month of November, 1805[49]

3rd.

a thick fog which continued untill 12 oClock at which time it
cleared off and was fair the remainder of the day.

5th.

Comenced raining at 2 P.M. and continued at intrvales all day.
Saw 14 Striped Snakes to day

6th..

rained the greater part of the day moderately.

7th.

a thick fog this morning which continued untill 1 1 A.M at which
it cleared off and continued fair until meridian, and began to
rain. Several heavy Showers dureing the evening

8th..

rained moderately

200

9th..

rained all day with wind

10th..

do do

11th.

do do

12th.

Violent wind from the S.W. accompanied with Hail Thunder and
lightning, the Claps of Thunder excessively loud and continued
from 3 to 6 A.M. when it cleared off for a short time, after a
heavy rain suckceeded which lasted untill 12 oClock when it
cleared off for an hour and again became cloudy, the rain has
been pretty generally falling sinc the 7th. inst.

14th..

a blustering rainey day

15th.

The after part of this day is fair and calm for the first time since
the 5th. instant. and no rain. move our encampment.

18th.

Cloudy R. Field killed a Vulture

20th.

rained moderately from 6 oClock A.M. on the 20th. untill 1 P M
on the 22ed. after which it became cloudy without rain

22d.

The wind violent from the S.S.E. throwing the water of the R
over our camp and rain continued all day

23rd.

rained all last night to day cloudy

24th.

rained moderately for a short time this morning

25th.

some showers of rain last night

26th.

rained all day, some hard showers wind not so hard as it has been
for a fiew days past

27th.

rained moderately all day a hard wind from the S. W. which
compelled us to lie by on the isthmus of point William on the
south side

28th.

The wind which was from the S.W. Shifted in the after part
of the day to the N. W. and blew a Storm which was
tremendious. rained all the last night and to day without
inter mission

29th.

rained all last night hard, and to day moderately

30th.

rained and Hailed at intervales throughout the last night, Some
thunder and lightning.

Remarks for December, 1805[50]

1st.

rained last night and some this morning

2nd.

rained all the last night. and untill meridian cloudy the remainder
of the day

3rd.

fair from 12 to 2 P M. rained all the last night & this morning.

201

rained at intervales the night of the 2d. instant with constant
hard and sometimes violent winds.

5th.

rained yesterday, last night, and moderately today all day wind
violent in the after part of the day.

6th.

rained all last night and to day untill 6 oClock at which time it
clear'd away and become fa[i]r. the winds also Seased to
blow violent.

7th.

raind from 10 to 12 last night fair day a hard wind from the
N W and a Shower of rain at 2 P M

8th

cloudy after a moderate rain last night

9th.

cloudy and rained moderately untill 3 P.M.

10th.

Rained all day and the air cool a violent wind last night from
the S W.

15th.

rained a[t] Short intervales from the 10th. instant untill 8 A. M.
today after which it was cloudy all day.

16th.

rained all the last night. cold wind violent from the S. W.
accompanied with rain.

17th.

rained all the last night and this morning untill 9 oClock when
we had a Shower of Hail which lasted about an hour, and then
Cleared off.

18th.

rained Snowed and hailed at intervales all the last night, several
showers of Hail and Snow untill Meridian

19th.

rained last night and several showers of hail and rain this evening.
the air cool.

20th.

Some rain and Hail last night, rain Continu[e]d untill 10 A. M.

21st.

rained all last night and today

22nd.

do do

23d.

rained all last night and moderately all day with Several showers
of Hail accompanied With hard claps of thunder and sharp
lightning

24th.

rained at intervales last night and today.

25th.

do do do

26th.

raind and blew hard all last night and today som hard claps of
Thunder and Sharp Lightning.

29th.

rained moderately without much intermittion from the 26th. untill
7 a M. this morning hard wind from S. E.

30th.

hard wind and Some rain last night to day tolerably fair.

31st.

rained last night and moderately all day to day.

202

Fort Clatsop 1806
Diary of the Weather for the month of January.[51]

Day of the Month	aspect of the Weather at ☉ rise	Wind at ☉ rise	Weather at 4 oClock	Wind at 4 oClock
1st.	c.a.r.	S. W.	r.a.c.	S. W.
2nd.	c.a.r	S. W.	r.	S. W.
3rd.	c.a.r.h.t.l	S. W.	c.a.r.h.f.	S. W.
4th.	c.a.r. &h.	S. W.	r.a.f. &r.	S. E.
5th.	r.	S. E.	r.	S. E.
6th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.	E.
7th.	f.	N. E.	c.a.f.	S. E.
8th.	f.	N. E.	c.a.f.	S. E.
9th.	f.	S. W.	c.a.f.	S. W.
10th.	f.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.f.	S. W.
11th.	c.	S. W.	c.a.r.	S. W.
12th.	f.a.c.	N. W.	c.	N. W.
13th.	r.	S. W.	r.	S. W.
14th.	f.a.r.	N. W.	c.a.f.	S.
15th.	r.a.c. & r.	S. E.	r.a.r.	S.
16th.	r.a.r.	S. W.	r.a.r.	S. W.
17th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c.	S. W.
18th.	r.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.r.	S. W.
19th.	c.a.r.	S.	c. a. r.	S. W.
20th.	r.a.r.	S. W.	r. a. r.	S. W.
21st.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c. a. r.	S. W.
22nd.	r.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.r.	S. W.
23rd.	c.a.r.h.t. &1.	S. W.	c.a.f.	S. W.
24th.	c.a.r. &s.	S. E.	c.a. r.h. &s	E.
25th.	h.a.r.h. &s.	N. E.	c.a.r. h. &s.	N. E.
26th.	c.a.h. &s.	N. E.	c.a.s.	N. E.
27th.	f.a.s.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
28th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
29th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
30th.	s.a.s.	N.	c.a.s.	W.
31st.	f.a.c.	N. E.	f.	N. E.

Remarks for January, 1806.[52]

1st.

sun visible for a few minutes about 11 A M. the changes of the
weather are exceedingly sudden, sometimes tho' seldom the sun
is visible for a few moments the next it hails & rains, then

203

ceases, and remains cloudy the wind blows and it again rains;
the wind blows by squalls most generally and is almost invariably
from S.W. these visicitudes of the weather happen
two three or more times a day. snake seen 25th. December

3d.

the sun visible for a few minutes only. The thunder and lightning
of the last evening was violent. a singular occurrence for
the time of year. the loss of my thermometer I most sincerely
regret. I am confident that the climate here is much warmer
than in the same parallel of Latitude on the Atlantic Ocean
tho' how many degrees is now out of my power to determine.
since our arrival in this neighbourhood on the 7th. of November,
we have experienced one slight white frost only which happened
on the morning of the 16th. of that month. we have yet
seen no ice, and the weather so warm that we are obliged to
cure our meat with smoke and fire to save it. we lost two
parsels by depending on the air to preserve it, tho′ it was cut
in very thin slices and sufficiently exposed to the air.

4th.

the sun visible about 2 hours

6th.

the sun shown about 5 hours this evening & it continued fair
during the night.

7th.

it clouded up just about sunset, but shortly after became fair.

8th.

lost my P. M. obsn. for Equal Altitudes.

9th.

began to rain at 10 P. M. and continued all night.

10th.

Various flies and insects now alive and in motion.

12th.

the wind from any quarter off the land or along the N.W. Coast
causes the air to become much cooler. every species of waterfowl
common to this country at any season of the year still
continue with us. cool this morning but no ice nor frost at
miday sand flies and insects in motion.

14th.

weather perfectly temperate, I never experienced a winter so warm
as the present has been.

15th.

saw several insects, weather warm, we could do very well without
fire. I am satisfied that the murcury would stand at 55 a. o.

16th.

wind hard this morning rained incessently all night.

17th.

rained incessantly all night, insects in motion.

18th.

rained very hard last night.

19th.

rained the greater part of last night.

20th.

raind greater part of night wind hard.

21st.

wind hard this morning cont[in]ued all day.

22nd.

wind violent last night & this morning.

23d.

the sun shown about 2 h. in the forenoon. when the sun is said

204

to shine or the weather fair it is to be understood that it barely
casts a shaddow, and that the atmosphere is haizy of a milkey
white colour.

24th.

this morning the Snow covered the ground and was cooler than
any weather we have had but no ice.

25th

the ground covered with snow this morning 1/2 inch deep ice on
the water in the canoes 1/4 of an inch thick. it is now preceptably
coulder than it has been this winter.

26th.

the snow this evening is 4 3/4 inches deep, the icesickles of 18
inches in length continued suspended from the eves of the houses
during the day. it now appears something like winter for the
first time this season.

27th.

the sun shone more bright this morning than it has done since our
arrival at this place. the snow since 4. P. M. yesterday has
increased to the debth of 6 Inches. and this morning is perceptibly
the couldest that we have had. I suspect the Murcury
would stand at about 20°. above naught; the breath is perceptible
in our room by the fire.

28th.

last night exposed a vessel of water to the air with a view to discover
the debth to which it would freiz in the course of the
night, but unfortunately the vessel was only 2 inches deep and
it f[r]eized the whole thickness; how much more it might
have frozen had the vessel been deeper is therefore out of
my power to decide. it is the couldest night that we have
had, and I suppose the murcury this morning would have stood
as low as 15°. above 0.

29th.

not so could, water in a vessel exposed to the [air] during the
night freized 3/8ths. of an inch only.[53]

30th

the weather by no means as could as it has been snow fell about
an inch deep.

31st.

this morning is pleasant, the night was clear and cold. notwithstanding
the could weather the Swan white Brant geese & ducks
still continue with us; the sandhill crain also continues. the
brown or speckled brant are mostly gone some few are still to
be seen the Cormorant loon and a variety of other waterfowls
still remain. The Winds from the Land brings us could and
clear weather while those obliquely along either coast or off the
Ocean bring us warm damp cloudy and rainy weather. the
hardest winds are always from the S.W. The blue crested

205

Corvus bird has already began to build it's nest. their nests
are formed of small sticks; usually in a pine tree.

Great numbers of Ravens, and a small black Crow are continually
about us. The pale yellow Streiked and dove coloured
robin is about, also the little brown ren or fly-catsch which is a
little larger than the humming bird.

Diary of the weather for the month of February, 1806.[54]

Day of Month	aspect of the weather at ☉ rise	wind at ☉ rise	aspect of the weather at 4 OCl P. M.	wind at 4 O'Clock P. M.
1st.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
2nd.	f.	N. E.	c.a.s.	S. W.
3rd.	c.a.s. & r.	N. W.	c.a.f.	N. E.
4th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
5th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
6th.	f.	N. E.	c.	S. W.
7th.	c.	S. W.	c.	S. W.
8th.	c.a.s.r. & h.	S. W.	c.a.f.r.h. & s.	S. W.
9th.	c.a.r. & h.	S. W.	c.a.r. & h.	S. W.
10th.	c.a.r.h. & s.	N.	c.a.f. & c.	S. W.
11th.	c.a.f. & c.	S. W.	r.a.f. & r.	S. W.
12th.	r.a.r. & c.	S. W.	r.a.c. & r.	S. W.
13th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.r.	S. W.
14th.	c.a.f. & s.	S. W.	r.a.r.f. & r.	S. W.
15th.	c.a.r. & f.	S.	c.a.r. & f.	S. W.
16th.	r.a.s. & r.	S. W.	r.a.f. & r.	S. W.
17th.	c.a.r.h. & s.	S. W.	r.a.f.h.s. & r.	S. W.
18th.	c.a.r. & h.	S. W.	r.a.r. & h.	S. W.
19th.	r.a.r.	S. W.	r.a.r.	S. W.
20th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.r.	S. W.
21st.	r.a.c. & r.	S. W.	r.a.c. & r.	S. W.
22ed.	f.a.r.	N. E.	c.a.f.	N. E.
23rd.	f.	S. W.	c.a.f.	S. W.
24th.	c.a.f. & c.	S. W.	r.a.c. & r.	S.
25th.	r.a.r.	S.	r.a.r.	S.
26th.	f.a.r.	N. E.	c.a.f. & r.	S.
27th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	r.a.r.	S. W.
28th.	r.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.c. & f.	S. W.

Remarks for February, 1806.[55]

1st.

the weather by no means as cold as it was tho' it freized last
night.

206

2nd.

the bald Eagle still remains.

3d.

the snow fell about half an inch, but the rain which succeded
soon melted it at 9 A. M. the sun shone. the rain which
fell in the latter part of the night freized and formed a slight
incrustation on the snow which fell some days past, and also
on the boughs of the trees &c. yesterday it continued fair
until 11. A.M. when the wind vered about to S.W. and the
horizon was immediately overcast with clouds, which uniformly
takes place when the wind is from that point.

4th.

the last night clear and cold the Netul frozen over in several
places. All the waterfowls before innumerated still continue
with us. the bird which resembles the robbin have now visited
us in small numbers saw two of them yesterday about the
fort; they are gentle.

6th.

very cold last night think it reather the coldest night that we have
had. cloudy at 9 A. M.

7th.

continued cloudy all night a little snow at 10 A. M.

8th.

it was principally rain which fell since 4 P. M yesterday and has
melted down the snow w[h]ich has continued to cover the
ground since the 24th. of January; the feeling of the air and
other appearances seem to indicate, that the rigor of the winter
is passed; it is so warm that we are apprehensive that our
meat will spoil, we therefore cut it in small peices and hang
it seperately on sticks. Saw a number of insects flying about.
the small brown flycatch continues with us. this is the smallest
of all the American birds except the humming bird.

9th.

principally rain which has fallen.

10th.

snow covered the ground this morning disappeared before evening.
sun shown 2 hours.

12th

it rained the greater part of last night

13th.

Wind very hard last evening and all night.

14th.

very small quantity of snow fell last night not enough to cover
the ground somewhat colder this morning. the sun shown
only a few moments.

15th.

fair most of last night hard frost this morning. the ground
white with it.

The robbin returned and were singing which reminded me
of spring. some other small birds passed on their flight from
the South, but were so high that we could not distinguish of
what kind they were. the robbin had left this place before
our arrival in November.

207

16th.

but a small quantity of snow nearly all disolved by morning with
the succeeding rain. at 11. A.M. it became fair and the
insects were flying about. at 1/2 after 12. O′Ck. it again
clouded up and began to rain.

17th.

the hail and snow covered the ground this morning.

18th.

wind violent greater part of the day and all night.

19th.

wind violent all day.

20th.

wind violent all night and the greater part of the day.

21st.

the wind continues high this morning & untill evening.

22nd.

the wind scarcely perceptable

23d.

heavy white frost this morning. at eleven A. M. it c[l]ouded up
and continued so all day.

24th.

much warmer this morning than usual. the aquatic and other
birds heretofore enumerated continue with us still. the Sturgeon
and a small fish like the Anchovey begin to run. they
are taken in the Columbia about 30 or 40 mils. above us. the
anchovey is exquisitely fine. the wind became hard this
evening.

25th.

the wind violent all night and this morning continued untill late
in the evening when it c[e]ased.

26th.

at 9 A.M. it clouded up again.

28th.

it rained constantly during the last night. the sun shown about
9 A. M. partially a few minutes.

saw a variety of insects in motion this morning some small bugs
as well as flies. a brown fly with long legs about half the
size of the common house fly was the most common. this has
been the first insect that appeared. it is genrally about the
sinks, or filth of any kind. the yellow and brown flycatch has
returned. it is a very small bird with a tail as long proportiably
as a Sparrow.

208

Diary of the weather for the month of March, l806.[56]

Day of the month	aspect of the weather at sun rise	wind at ☉ rise	aspect of the weather at 4 O'Ck P. M.	wind at 4. OCk P.M.
1st.	f.a.r. & c.	S. W.	r.a.c. & r.	S. W.
2nd.	r.a.c. & r.	S.	r.a.c. & r.	S.
3rd.	c.a.r.	S.	c.a.r.	S.
4th.	r.a.c. & r.	S.	r.a.r.	S.
5th.	c.a.r.	N. E.	c.a.r.	S.
6th.	f.a.r.	S. E.	c.a.f.	S. E.
7th.	r.a.r. & h.	S. E.	r.a.f.r.h.c & f.	S. E.
8th.	h & r.a.h.r. & s.	S.	r.a r. & h.	S. E.
9th.	s. & h.a.r.s & h.	S. W.	r.a.h. & r.	S. W.
10th.	s. & r.a.h.r. & s.	S. W.	f.a.r.h. & s.	S. W.
11th.	f.a.r.h. & s.	S. E.	f.a.r. & h.	S. E.
12th.	f.a.c.	N. E.	c.a.f.	N. E.
13th.	f.a.r.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
14th.	c.a.f.	N. E.	c.	N. E.
15th.	c.a.c.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
16th.	r.a.f. & c.	S. W.	c.a.f.c.r.	S. W.
17th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	r.a.f.h.s. & r.	S. W.
18th.	r.a.c. & r.	S. W.	r.a.f.r. & h.	S. W.
19th.	r. & h.a.c.r. & h.	S. W.	r.a.f.r. & h.	S. W.
20th.	r.a.r. & h.	S. W.	r.	S. W.
21st.	r.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.r.	N. E.
22ed	r.a.r.	S. W.	r.a.c. & r.	S. W. or N. W. & N. E.
23rd	r.a.r.	S. W.	f.a.c. & r.	S. W.
24th.	r.a.c. & r.	S. W.	f.a.c.	N. W. a S. W.
25th.	c.a.f.	S. E.	r.a.c. & r.	S. E.
26th.	c.a.r.	N. W.	c.a.f. & c.	S. E.
27th.	r.a.c.	S. E.	r.a.c. & r.	S. E.
28th.	c.a.r.	N.	f.a.f. & r.	S. W.
29th.	c.a.r. & f.	S.	c.a.r.	S. W.
30th.	c.	S.	f.a.c.	S. W.
31st.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.

Remarks for March 1806.[57]

1st.

a great part of this day was so warm that fire was unnecessary,
notwithstanding it's being cloudy and raining. The clouds
interfered in such manner that no observations could be made
this morning.

3d.

rained and the wind blew hard all night. air perfectly temperate.

209

4th.

rained constantly most of the night, saw a Snail this morning,
they are very large.

5th.

the air is considerably colder this morning but nothing like
freizing.

6th.

altho' it is stated to be fair this morning the sun is so dim that no
observations can be made. Saw a spider and an insect resembling
a Musquetoe this morning, tho' the air is perceptably
colder than it has been since the 1st. inst. at 9 A.M. it clouded
up and continued so the ballance of the day. even the Easterly
winds which have heretofore given us the only fair weather
which we have enjoyed, seem now to have lost their influence
in this respect.

7th.

Sudden changes & frequent, during the day, scarcly any two
hours of the same discription. the Elk now begin to shed
their horns. a bird of a scarlet colour as large as a common
pheasant with a long tail has returned, one of them was seen
today near the fort by Capt. Clark's black man, I could not
obtain a view of it myself.

8th.

the ground covered with hail and snow this morning, air cool but
not freezing.

9th.

snow and hail i inch deep this morning air still cold more so
than yesterday but not freezing.

10th.

snow nearly disappeared by this morning. the air considerably
warmer.

11th.

snow 1 inch deep this morning air cold, but no ice. some insects
seen in the evening in motion. I attem[p]ted to make an
observation for Equal Altitudes but the P.M. Obserth. was lost
in consequence of clouds. it became cloudy at 10 A.M. and
rained attended with some hail at six it P.M. it became fair
and the wind changing to N. E. it continued fair during the
night. the snow had all disappeared by 4. P.M. this evening.

12th.

white frost this morning and ice in the pools of standing water.
it being fair in the morning I again attempted Equal Altitudes
but it became cloudy at 3. P.M. and continued so during the
day, without any rain

13th.

slight frost this morning a little rain fell in the latter part of
the night. saw a number of insects in motion; among others
I saw for the fi[r]st time this spring and winter a downey black
fly about the size of the common house fly. the plants begin
to appear above the ground, among others the rush of which
the natives eat the root. and the plant, the root of which

210

resembles in flavor the sweet potato also eaten by the natives.
it is small.

14th

yesterday and last night were the most perfectly fair wether we
have seen at this place.

15th.

the temperature of the air is perfectly pleasant without fire.
became fair at 8 A. M. the sorrel with an oval obtuse and
ternate leaf has now put forth it's leaves. some of them have
nearly obtained their growth already.[58] the birds were singing
very agreably this morning particularly the common robin.

16th.

wind hard greater part of the day. The Anchovey has ceased
to run; the white salmon trout have succeeded them. the
weather so warm that the insects of various speceis are every
day in motion.

17th.

rained all night. air somewhat colder this morning. frequent
and sudden changes in the course of the day.

18th.

frequent showers through the day.

19th.

frequent and sudden changes during the day wind not so hard
as usual.

20th

rained all day without intermission.

21st

rained all night at 9 A. M. wind changed to N. E. and the rain
ceased. cloudy the ballance of the day.

22nd.

rain continued without intermission greater part of the night. air
temperate. the leaves and petals of the flowers of the green
Huckleburry have appeared. some of the leaves have already
obtained 1/4 of their size.[59]

23d.

it became fair at 12 OCk. and continued cloudy and fair by
intervales without rain till night.

24th.

at 9 A.M. it became fair and continued fair all day and greater
part of the night. the brown bryery shrub with a broad
pinnate leaf has began to put fourth it's leaves.[60] the polecat
Colwort, is in blume. Saw the blue crested fisher. birds are
singing this morning. the black Alder is in blume.

25th.

cold this morning but no ice nor frost. the Elder, Gooseberry, &
Honeysuckle are now putting forth their leaves. the nettle[61]
and a variety of other plants are now springing up. the flower
of the broad leafed thorn is nearly blown. several small plants
in blume.

211

26th.

cold and rainy last night. wind hard this morning fair at 9
A.M. cloudy at 1 P.M. The humming bird has appeared.
killed one of them and found it the same with those common
to the United States.

27th.

blew hard about noon. rained greater part of the day. the small
or bank martin appeared today, saw one large flock of them.
waterfowl very scarce, a few Comorant, geese, and the redheaded
fishing duck are all that are to be seen. the red flowering
currant are in blume, this I take to be the same speceis I first
saw in the Rocky Mountains; the fruit is a deep purple berry
covered with a gummy substance and not agreeably flavored.
there is another speceis uncovered with gum which I first
found on the waters of the Columbia about the 12th. of August
last.[62]

28th

rained by showers greater part of last night frequent showers in
the course of the day. this evening we saw many swan passing
to the North as if on a long flight. vegitation is not by
several days as forward here as at Fort Clatsop when we left
that place. the river rising fast, the water is turbid; the tide
only swells the water a little, it dose not stop the current.
it is now within 2 feet of it's greatest hight, which appears to
increase as we assend.

29th

frequent showers through the night. very cold this morning.

30th.

at 10 A. M. it became fair and continued so weather moderately
warm. Saw a leather winged bat. the grass is about 16
Inches high in the river bottoms. the frogs are now abundant
and are crying in the swamps and marshes.

31st.

The Summer Duck has returned. I saw several to day in a small
pond. This evening the Musqueters were verry troublesom
this evening, it is the first time they have been so this spring.
The waterfowls are much plentyer about the enterance of quick
sand river than they were below. observed a species of small
wild onion growing among the moss of the rocks, they resemble
the Shives of our gardens and grow remarkably close together
forming a perfect tuft, they are quite as agreeably flavoured as
the shives.

212

Diary of the Weather for the month of April, 1806.[63]

						State of the Columbia River
Days of the month	State of the weather at ☉ rise	Wind at ☉ rise	State of the Weather at 4 P. M.	Wind at 4 P.M.	raised or fallen	Feet	Inches & parts
1st.	c.a.f.	S. E.	c.a.f.	S. E.	r.	..	1.
2ed.	c.	S. E.	c.a.f	S. E.	f.	..	1/8
3rd.	c.a.r	S. W.	c.a.r	W.	f.	..	3 1/2
4th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	4 1/2
5th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.f. & c.	S. W.	f.	. .	2 1/2
6th.	f.a.c.	S. W.	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1.
7th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.	r.	. .	1/2
8th.	f.	E.	f.	E.	r.	. .	1 1/2
9th.	f.	W.	f.	W.	. . .	. .	. . .
10th.	c.a.r.	W.	c.a.r.	S. W.	r.	. .	1.
11th.	r.a.r.	W.	c.a.r.	S. W.	r.	. .	2
12th.	c.a.r.	W.	r.a.c. & r.	W.	r.	. .	2
13th.	r.a.c. & r.	W.	c.a.r. & f.	W.	r.	. .	2 1/2
14th.	f.	W.	f.	W.	r.	. .	1
15th.	f.	W.	f.	W.	. . .	. .	. . .
16th.	f.a.c.	S. W.	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	2.
17th.	f.	N. E.	c.a.f.	S. W.	f.	. .	2
18th.	f.a.r.	S. W.	f.	S. W.	f.	. .	1
19th.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c.	S. W.	f.	. .	3
20th.	f.a.r.	S. W.	c.a.r.	S. W.	f.	. .	2 1/2
21st.	f.	N. E.	f.	E.	f.	. .	2
22nd.	f.	N. W.	f.	W.	f.	. .	1
23rd.	f.	E.	f.	N. E.	f.	. .	4
24th.	f.a.c.	N. W.	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	2
25th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.	f.	. .	2
26th.	f.a.c.	N. W.	f.	N. E.	f.	. .	2 1/2
27th.	f.a.r.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1 1/2
28th.	f.a.t.	S. W.	f.	N. E.	f.	. .	2
29th.	f.a.c.	N. W.	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
30th.	c.a.r.	N. W.	f.a.c.	N. W.	f.	. .	2

Remarks for April, 1806.[64]

1st.

at 6 P. M. last evening it became cloudy. Cotton wood in blume.
From the best opinion I could form of the state of the Columbia
on the 1st of April it was about 9 feet higher than when we
decended it in the begining of November last. the rising and
falling of the river as set down in the diary is that only which
took place from sunseting to sunrise or thereabouts it being the
time that we usually remain at our encampments.

2nd.

heavy dew last night. cloudy all night.

213

3d.

a slight rain about day light this morning.

4th.

the rains have been very slight.

5th.

rain but slight, air colder than usual this morning.

6th.

this is the most perfectly fair day that we have seen for a Some
time musquetoes trouble some this evening in the bottoms
the cottonwood has put forth its leaves and begin[s] to assume
a green appearance at a distance. the sweet willow has not
yet generally birst its budscales while the leaves of the red and
broad leafed willow are of some size; it appears to me to be
the most backward in vegetating of all the willows. the narrow
leafed willow is not found below tide water on this river.

7th.

the air temperate, birds singing, the pizmire, flies, beetles, in
motion.

8th.

wind commenced at 5 A. M. & continued to blow most violently
all day air temperate. the male flowers of the cottonwood
are falling. the goosburry has cast the petals of it's flowers,
and it's leaves obtained their full size. the Elder which is
remarkably large has began to blume. some of it's flowerets
have expanded their corollas. the serviceburries, chokecherries,
the growth which resembles the beach, the small birch and grey
willow have put forth their leaves.[65]

9th.

the wind lulled a little before day, and became high at 11 A. M.
continued till dark. the vineing honeysuckle, has put forth
shoots of several inches the dogtoothed violet is in blume as
is also both the speceis of the mountain holley, the strawburry,
the bears claw, the cowslip, the violet, common striped; and
the wild cress or tongue grass.[66]

10th.

some snow fell on the river hills last night. morning cold, slight
showers through the day.

11th.

cold raining night the geese are yet in large flocks and do not
yet appear to have mated. what I have heretofore termed the
broad leafed ash is now in blume. the fringe tree has cast
the corolla and it's leaves have nearly obtained their full size.[67]
the sacacommis is in blume.

214

12th.

cold snowed on the mountains through which the river passes
at the rapids. the duckinmallard which bread in this neighbourhood,
is now laying it's eggs,—vegetation is rapidly progressing
in the bottoms tho' the snow of yesterday and to day
reaches within a mile of the base of the mountains at the rapids
of the Columbia.

13th.

cold rainy night. rained by showers through the day. wind
hard.

14th.

wind arrose at 8 A.M. and continued hard all day service berries
in blume.

15th.

wind blew tolerably hard to day after 10 A.M. observed the
Curloo and prairie lark.

16th.

morning unusually warm. vegitation rapidly progressing. at the
rock fort camp saw the prarie lark, a species of the peawee, the
blue crested fisher, the partycoloured corvus, and the black
pheasant. a species of hiasinth native of this place blumed to
day, it was not in blume yesterday.

17th.

weather warm; the sweet willow & white oak begin to put forth
their leaves.

18th.

rain but slight. wind very hard all day.

19th.

raind. moderate showers, very cold snow on the tops of the
low hills.

20th.

weather cold rain slight snow on the hills adjacent wind violent.
some frost this morning.

21st.

heavy white frost this morning. remarkably cold last night.

22nd.

night cold the day warm.

26th.

the last evening was cloudy it continued to threaten rain all night
but without raining. the wind blew hard all night. the air
cold as it is invariably when it sets from the westerly quarter.
the sweet willow has put forth its leaves.

27th.

had a shower of rain last night.

30th.

rain slight.

215

Diary of the Weather for the month of May, 1806.[68]

						State of the Kooskooskee
Days of the month	State of the Weather at ☉ rise	Wind at ☉ rise	State of the Weather at 4 P. M.	Wind at 4 P.M.	rased or fallen	Feet	Inc. & parts
1st.	c.a.r.	S. W.	c.	S. W.
2d.	f.a.c.	N. E.	f	S. W.
3rd.	c.a.h.r. & s.	S. W.	c.a.r.h. & s.	S. W.
4th.	f.a.h.	S. W.	c.a.r. & h.	S. W.
5th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
6th.	r.a.c. & r.	N. E.	f.a.r.	N. E.
7th.	f.a.c.	N. E.	f.	S. W.
8th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
9th.	f.	S. W.	f.a.c.	W.
10th.	c.a.r. & s.	S. W.	f.a.s.	S. W.
11th.	f.a.r.	S. W.	f.a.c.	S. W.
12th.	f.	E.	f.	S. W.
13th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
14th.	f.	S .W.	f.	S. W.
15th.	f.	N.	f.a.c.	N. W.
16th.	c.	S. E.	c.a.r.	S. E.	r.	. .	6
17th.	r.a.r.	S. E.	c.a.r.	S. E.	r.	. .	10 3/4
18th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	c.	S. E.	r.	. .	2
19th.	r.a.r.	S. E.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.	. .	4
20th.	r.a.r.	N. W.	c.a.r.	S. E.	r.	. .	2
21st.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.a.c.	S. E.	f.	. .	1
22nd.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	f.	. .	2
23rd.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W. & S. E.	f.	. .	1 1/2
24th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
25th.	c.a.r & t.	N. W.	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	9 1/2
26th.	f.a.r.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	6
27th.	c.	S. E.	r.a.f.r. & t.l.	S. E.	r.	. .	6 1/2
28th.	c.a.r.t.l.	S. E.	c.a.f.r.t. & 1.	S. E.	r.	. .	11
29th.	c.a.r. &t.	S. E.	c.a.r	N. W.	r.	1	5
30th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	f.	. .	6
31st.	c.a.f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	r.	1	1

Remarks for May, 1806.[69]

1st.

had a pretty hard shower last night. cold morning. having left
the river we could no longer observe it's state; it is now declining
tho' it has not been as high this season by five feet as
it appears to have been the last spring. the indians inform us
that it will rise higher in this month, which I presume is caused
by the snows of the mountains.

2ed.

cold this morning, some dew.

216

3rd.

the mountains to our right seem to have experienced an increase
of their snow last evening. rained last night and snowed &
hailed this morning. the air cold and wind hard.

4th

heavy white frost this morning ice 1/6 of an inch thick on
standing water.

5th.

hard frost this morning ice 1/8 of an inch thick on vessels of water.

7th.

the Kooskooske is rising water cold and clear.

9th.

Musquetors troublesom

10th.

it began to rain and hail about sunseting this evening which was
shortly after succeeded by snow. it continued to fall without
intermission untill 7 A.M. and lay 8 inches deep on the plain
where we were. the air was very keen. a suddon transition this.
yesterday the face of the country had every appearance of summer.
after nine A.M. the sun shown but was frequently obscured by
clouds which gave us light showers of snow. in the after part
of the day the snow melted considerably but there was too great
a portion to be disipated by the influence of one day's sun.

11th.

the Crimson haw is not more forward now at this place than it
was when we lay at rock fort camp. in April.

12th.

the natives inform us that the salmon have arrived at the entrance
of the Kooskooske in great numbers and that some were caught
yesterday in Lewis's river opposite to us many miles above the
entrance of that river. from this village of the broken arm
Lewis's river is only about 10 miles distant to the S. W. the
natives also inform us that the salmon appear many days sooner
in Lewis's river above the entrance of the Kooskooseke than
they do in that stream.

15th.

the Kooskooske rising fast, the water is clear and cold.

16th.

last night was uncommonly warm river rising fast. say 9 Inches.

17th.

rained hard the greater part of the night wet the Chronometer
by accedent. river rise 11 inches the indians caught 3 salmon
at their village on the Kooskooske above our camp some
miles. they say that these fish are now passing by us in great
numbers but that they cannot be caught as yet because those
which first ascend the river do not keep near shore; they
further inform us that in the course of a few days the fish run
near the shore and then they take them with their skimming
netts in great numbers.[70] rained untill 12 Ock. by intervails.

217

19th.

rained hard last night and untill 8 A. M.

20th.

rained violently the greater part of the night. air raw and cold.
a nest of the large blue or sand hill crain was found by one of
our hunters. the young were in the act of leaving the shell.
the young of the partycoloured corvus begin to fly.

22nd.

air colder this morning than usual white frost tho' no ice. the
air is remarkably dry and pure it has much the feeling and
appearance of the air in the plains of the Missouri. since our
arrival in this neighbourhood on the 7th. inst. all the rains noted
in the diary of the weather were snows on the plain and in
some instances it snowed on the plains when only a small mist
was perseptable in the bottoms at our camps. (The high plains
are about 800 feet higher than the small bottoms on the river
and creeks.)

23d.

the air is cold in the morning but warm through the day. some
dew each morning.

24th.

air remarkably pleasant all day.

25th.

rained moderately the greater part of last night and to day nearly
all day. Thunder.

26th.

the sun shone warm today, but the air was kept cool by the
N. W. breezes.

27th.

the dove is cooing which is the signal as the indians inform us of
the approach of the salmon. The snow has disappeared on the
high plains and seems to be diminishing fast on the spurs and
lower region of the Rocky Mountains.

28th.

had several heavy thunder showers in the course of the last
evening and night. the river from sunrise yesterday to sun
rise this morning raised 1 ft. 10 Incs. d[r]ift wood runing in
considerable quantities and current incredibly swift tho' smooth.

29th.

frequent and heavy showers attended by distant thunder through
the night. the river raised 6 inches in the course of yesterday
and 1 foot 5 I. in the course of the last night. it is now as
high as there are any marks of it's having been in the spring
1805. at 10 A.M. it arrived at it's greatest hight having
raised 1 1/2 inches from sunrise to that time. in the ballance of
the day it fell 7 inches. the natives inform us that it will take
one more rise before it begins finally to subside for the season
and then the passage of the mountains will be practicable.

30th.

rain slight last night. the river continued to fall untill 4 A.M.
having fallen 3 Inches by that time since sunrise. it now was
at a stand untill dark after which it began again to rise.

218

31st.

within 3 Inches of its greatest hight on the 29th. inst. and fell a
little after which it rose again. The river rose 13 inches last
night and continues to rise fast. from sunset on the 31st. of May
untill sun rise on the 1st of June it rose Eighteen inches and is
now as high as any marks of it's having been for several years
past. a heavy thunder cloud passed around us last evening about
sunset. Some rain fell in the fore part of the night only.

Diary of the weather for the Month of June, 1806.[71]

						State of the Koskooske at ☉ rise
Day of the Month	State of the weather at ☉ rise	Wind at ☉ rise	State of the weather at 4 P. M.	Wind at 4 P.M.	raised or fallen	Feet	Inches and parts
1st.	f.a.r.t. & 1.	S. E.	f.a.c.	N. W.	r.	I	6
2ed.	c.a.c.	N. W.	f.a.c.	S. E.	r.	. .	8
3rd.	c.a.f. &c.	S. E.	c.a.f.	S. E.	r.	. .	6
4th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.a.c.	N. W.	r.	. .	1–1/2
5th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	r.	. .	4
6th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
7th.	c.a.r.	N. W.	c.a.f.r. & h.	N. W.	f.	. .	3
8th.	c.	S. E.	c.a.f.	N. W.	f.	. .	7
9th.	c.	S. E.	f.a.c.	N. W.	f.	. .	3–1/2
10th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	f.	. .	1
11th.	f	S. E.	f.l	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
12th.	f.a.r.t. l.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
13th.	c.	S. E.	c.a.f.	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
14th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
15th.	c.	N. W.	r.a.f. & r.	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
16th.	f.a.c.	S. E.	c.a.f.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
17th.	c.a.r.	E.	c.a.f. & r.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
18th.	c.a.r.	E.	c.a.r. & h.	S. W.	. .	. .	. .
19th.	f.a.c.	S. E.	f.	N.W.	. .	. .	. .
20th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N.W.	. .	. .	. .
21st.	f.	S. E.	f.	N.W.	. .	. .	. .
22ed.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
23rd.	f.	N. W.	f.	N.W.	. .	. .	. .
24th.	f.	N. W.	f.a.c.	N.W.	. .	. .	. .
25th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	c.a.r.	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
26th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
27th.	f.a.r. St.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
28th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
29th.	f.	S. E.	f.a.r.h. & t.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
30th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N W.	. .	. .	. .

219

Remarks far June, l806.[72]

1st.

about dark last evening had a slight rain from a heavy thunder
cloud which passed to the E. & N. E. of us.

2nd.

have slept comfortably for several nights under one blankett only.
The river from sunrise untill 10 A. M. yesterday raised 1 1/2
inches; from that time untill dark fell 4 1/2, and in the course
of the last night raised again 8 Inches as stated in the diary.
the Indians inform us that the present rise of the river is the
greatest which it annually takes, and that when the water now
subsides to about the hight it was when we arrived here the
mountains will be passable. I have no doubt but that the melting
of the mountain snows in the begining of June is what
causes the annual inundation of the lower portion of the Missouri
from the Ist. to the Middle of July.

3d.

The weather has been much warmer for five days past than previously,
particularly the mornings and nights.

4th.

rained greater part of last night but fell in no great quantity.
yesterday the water was at it's greatest hight at noon, between
which and dark it fell 15 inches and in the course of the night
raised 1 1/2 inches as stated in the diary. from the indian information
the river will now subside and may therefore be said
to have been at it's greatest annual hight on the 3rd. inst. at noon.

5th.

last night was colder than usual but no frost. the river fell 3 1/2
inches in the course of the day and raised 4 I. last night as
[s]tated in the diary. this fluctuating state of the river no doubt
is caused by the influence of the sun in the course of the day
on the snows of the mountains; the accession of water thus
caused in the day does not reach us untill night when it produces
a rise in the river. The wild rose is in blume.[73] the
river fell 10 Ins. in the course of this day.

6th.

in the course of the last night the river raised a little but fell by
morning 1 inch lower than what it stood at last evening. the
seven bark and the yellow vining honeysuckle are just in blume.
a few of the does have produced their young. strawberries ripe
near the river. hot sultery day.

7th.

rain but slight both last evening and today. but little hail tho'

220

large. The river fell three inches last night and 7 yesterday.
The goose berries fully grown also the servis berry.

8th.

river fell 8 in. in the course of yesterday. 7 last night [as entered
in the diary].

9th.

river fell 9 In. yesterday

10th.

river fell 5 1/2 in. in course of yesterday. having left the river today
I could not longer keep it's state; it appears to be falling fast
and will probably in the course of a few days be as low as when
we first arrived there. it is now about 6 feet lower than it has
been.

12th.

slight sprinkle of rain in the fore part of the night.

13th.

The days for several past have been warm, the Musquetoes
troublesome.

15th.

it began to rain at 7 A. M. and continued by showers untill 5 P. M.

16th.

on the tops of the hills the dog tooth violet is just in bloom, grass
about 2 inches high, small Huckleberry just putting fourth it's
leaves &c.[74]

17th.

rained slightly a little after sunset air cool. rained from 1 to 3
P. M.

22nd.

hard frost this morning tho' no ice. Strawberries ripe at the
Quawmash flats, they are but small and not abundant.

23d.

hard frost this morning ice one eighth of an inch thick on standing
water.

25th.

rained a little last night; some showers in the evening.

26th.

Slight rain in the fore part of last evening in the snowey region.

27th.

Thunder shower last evening some rain a little before dark last
evening.

28th.

nights are cool in these mountains but no frost.

29th.

night cold hard frost this morning. the quawmash and Strawberries
are just begining to blume at the flatts on the head of the
Kooskooske. The sun flower also just beginning to blume,
which is 2 months later than those on the Sides of the Western
Mountains near the falls of Columbia.[75]

30th.

night cold hard frost this morning. We are here Situated on
Clarks river in a Vally between two high mountains of Snow.[76]

221

[Lewis:] Diary of the weather for the Month of July, 1806[77]

Day of the Month	State of the weather at ☉ rise	Wind at ☉ rise	State of the weather at 4 P. M.	Wind at 4 P. M.
1st.	c.a.f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.
2ed.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
3rd.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.
4th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.
5th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. W.
6th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. W.
7th.	c.a.r.t. &1.	S. W.	c.a.f. &r.	W.
8th.	f.	S. W.	f.	W.
9th.	c.a.r.	N. E.	r.	N. E.
10th.	f.a.r.	N. W.	f.	W.
11th.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.
12th.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.
13th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
14th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
15th.	f.	S. W.	f.	E.
16th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
17th.	f.a.t.l.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
18th.	f.	S. W.	f.	N. E.
19th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. E.
20th.	f.	E.	f.	N.
21st.	f.	N.	f.	N. E.
22ed.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. E.
23rd.	f.a.t & l.	S. E.	f.	S. W.
24th.	c.a.r.t. & l.	N. W.	c.a.r.t. & l.	N. W.
25th.	c.a.r.	N. W.	c.a.r.	N. W.
26th.	c.a.r.	N.	f.	N. W.
27th.	f.	N. W.	f.	S. W.
28th.	f.a.r.t. & l.	N. E.	c.a.f.h.r.t. & l.	N.E.
29th.	r.a.r.t. & l.	S. W.	c. a. r.	N. E.
30th.	r.a.r.	N. E.	r.	N. E.
31st.	c.a.r.	N. E.	r.	N. W.

[Lewis:] Remarks for July, 1806.[78]

1st.

a speceis of wild clover with a small leaf just in blume.

3rd.

the turtle dove lays it's eggs on the ground in these plains and is
now seting, it has two eggs only and they are white.

5th.

a great number of pigeons breeding in this part of the mountains.
musquetoes not so troblesome as near Clark's river. some ear
flies of the common kind and a few large horse flies.

6th.

the last night cold with a very heavy dew

222

7th.

a cloud came on about sunset and continued to rain moderately all
night. rained at 3 P. M.

8th.

heavy white frost last night. very cold.

9th.

rained slightly last night. air cold. it began to rain about 8 A. M.
and continued with but little intermission all day in the evening
late it abated and we obtained a view of the mountains we
had just passed they were covered with snow apparently several
feet deep which had fallen during this day. air extremly cold.

11th.

wind very hard in the latter part of the day

12th.

wind violent all last night and today untill 5 P. M. when it ceased
in some measure

16th.

saw the Cookkoo or rain crow and the redheaded woodpecker.
the golden rye now heading. both species of the prickly pare
in blume. the sunflower in blume.

17th.

wind violent all day. distant thunder last evening to the West.

23d.

a distant thundercloud last evening to the west. mountains covered
with snow.

24th.

a violent gust of thunder Lightning last evening at 6 P. M. rain
and wind all night untill this evening with some intervales.

25th.

rained and wind violent all day and night.

26th.

wind violent rain continues.

28th.

a thunder shower last night from N. W. but little rain where we were.
heavy hail storm at 3 P. M. The prickly pear has now cast it's blume.

29th.

heavy rain last night, continued with small intervales all night.

30th.

rained almost without intermission

31st.

do do do do

[Lewis:] Diary of the weather for the month of August, 1806.[79]

day of the month	State of the weather at ☉ rise	Wind at ☉ rise	State of the weather at 4 P.M.	Wind at 4 P.M.
1st.	r.a.r.	N. E.	r.a. r.	N. W.
2ed.	f.a.r.	N. W.	f.	N. W.
3rd.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
4th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
5th.	c.a.f.	N. W.	f.	S. E.
6th.	f.a.r.t. & l.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
7th.	r.a.r.	N. E.	c.a. r.	N. E.
8th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N, E.
9th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. E.
10th.	f.	N. E.	c.a.r.	N. E.
11th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. W.
12th.	f.	N. W.

223

[Lewis:] Remarks for August, 1806.[80]

2nd.

it became fair soon after dark last evening and continued so.

6th.

a violent gust of Thunder Lightning wind and hail last night.

7th.

rained from 12 last night untill 10 A. M. to day.

8th

wind hard but not so much so as to detain us.

9th.

heavy dew last night. air cold.

10th.

a slight shower about 3 P. M. wind hard.

11th.

air cool this evening wind hard.

12th.

wind violent last night.

[Clark:] Diary of the Weather for the Month of July, 1806[81]

Day of the month	State of the weather at Sun rise	Wind at sun rise	State of the weather at 4 P. M.	Wind at 4 P. M.
1st.	c.a.f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.
2nd.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.
3rd.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. W.
4th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
5th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. W.
6th.	f.	S. W.	c.a.r.t.l.	S. W.
7th.	c.a.r.	W.	f.a.r.	S. W. by W.
8th.	f.a.r.	W.	f.	S. W.
9th.	c.	S. W.	f.	S.W.
10th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. W.
11th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. N. E.
12th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.
13th.	f.	S. S. E.	f.	N. E.
14th.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.
15th.	f.	S. E. by E.	f.	N. E.
16th.	c.	N. E.	c.	N. E.
17th.	f.a.r.h.t. & l.	S. E.	f.	S. W.
18th.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. E.
19th.	f.	N. W.	f.	S. E.
20th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.
21st.	f.	N. E.	c.	N. E.
22nd.	f.a.t.l. &r.	N. E.	c.	N. E.
23rd.	f.	N. E.	c.	S. E.
24th.	f.	S. W.	r.	S. W.
25th.	c.	E.	c.a.r.	S. W.
26th.	c.	S. S. W.	f.a.r.	N. W.
27th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. W.
28th.	c.a.r.	N. E.	f.	N. W.
29th.	c.a.r.t. & l	N. E.	f.	N.
30th.	f.a.r.t.l	N. W.	f.a.r.	S. E.
31st.	f.	N. W.	c. a. r.	N. E.

224

[Clark:] Remarks for July, l806.[82]

1st.

a species of wild clover in blume.

2nd.

Musquetors very troublesom.

3d.

Capt L. & myself part at Travellers rest.

4th.

a worm [warm] day. I saw a species of Honey suckle with a
redish brown flower in blume.

5th.

cool night. Some dew this morning. the nights are cool. the
musquetors are troublesom untill a little after dark when the
air become cool and Musquetoes disappear.

6th.

cold night with frost. I slept cold under 2 blankets on head of
Clarks river. I arived in an open plain in the middle of which
a violent Wind from the N. W. accompanied with hard rain
which lasted from 4 untill half past 5 P.M. quawmash in
those plains at the head of wisdom River is just begining to
blume and the grass is about 6 inches high.

7th.

a small Shower of rain at 4 this morning accompanied with wind
from the S.S.W. saw a blowing snake.

8th.

a heavy Shower of rain accompanied with rain from the S.W
from 4 to 5 P M. passed the boiling hot Springs emerced 2
peces of raw meat in the Spring and in 25 Minits the Smallest
pece was sufficiently cooked and in 32 the larger was also sufficently
cooked. A small shower of rain a little after dark.

9th.

Hard frost. Some ice this morning. last night was very cold
and wind hard from the N. E. all night. The river is 12
inches higher than it was last summer when we made the deposit
here and portage from this place. More Snow on the
adjacent mountains than was at that time.

10th.

a large white frost last night. the air extreemly cold. Ice 3/4
of an inch thick on Standing water. grass killed by the frost.
river falling proceviable.

11th.

a Slight frost last night. the air cool, the Musquetors retired a
little after dark, and did not return untill about an hour after
Sun-rise. goslins nearly grown fishing hawks have their
young. The yellow current nearly ripe.

12th.

Wisdom river is high but falling. Prickly pears in blume.

14th.

Saw a Tobaco worm shown me by York.

15th

Struck the river Rochejhone 120 yds. wide water falling a little.

16th.

Saw the wild indigo & common sunflower.

225

17th.

a heavy Shower of rain accompanied with hail Thunder and Lightning
at 2 a.m. with hard wind from the S.W. after the
Shower was over it cleared away and became fair.

18th.

yellow, purple, & black currents ripe and abundant.

19th.

Saw the 1st. Grape vine of the dark purple kind the grape nearly
grown.

20th.

The River Rochejhone falls about 1/2 an inch in 24 hours and
becoms much clearer than above. The Grass hoppers are
emencely noumerous and have distroyed every Species of grass
from one to 10 Miles above on the river & a great distance
back.

21st.

river falls a little and the water is nearly clear.

22nd.

a fiew drops of rain last night at dark, the cloud appd. to hang to
the S W, wind blew hard from different points from 5 to 8
P M which time it thundered and Lightened. The river by
11 a. m. to day had risen 15 inches, and the water of a milky
white colour.

23rd.

The river has fallen within the last 24 hours 7 inches. the wind
was violent from the S W for about 3 hours last night from
the hours of 1 to 3. A.M.

24th..

river falling a little it is 6 feet lower than the highest appearance
of it's rise. since the last rise it has fallen 13 inches. Rained
from 3 to 4 P M but Slightly. the wind violent from the S. W.

25th.

Several Showers of rain with hard winds from the S and S W the
fore part of the day. the brooks on each Side are high and
water Muddye.

26th.

a slight shower this morning with hard wind from the S. W. The
river falling, but very slowly 1 inch in 24 hs.

27th.

Saw a flight of gulls, a small rattle snake, Several flocks of crows
& black burds.

28th.

a fiew drops of rain this morning a little before day light. river
still falling a little Bratten coet [caught] a beaver. Labeech
shot 2 last evening. I saw a wild cat lying on a log over the
water.

29th.

a fiew drops of rain accompanied with hard claps of Thunder and
Sharp lightning last night wind hard from the N.E.

30th.

a slight Shower of rain accompanied with thunder and lightning.
Several Showers in the course of this day. it cleared away in
the evening and became fair river falling a little. Great
quantities of coal appear in the bluffs on either Side. Some
appearance of Burnt hills at a distance from the river. Great

226

number of swallows, they have their young. Killed black tail
deer. young gees beginning to fly.

31st.

rained only a few drops last night. The wind blew hard and it
was Showery all day tho' not much rain. the clouds came up
from the W. and N W frequently in course of the day.

[Clark:] Diary of the Weather for the Month of August, 1806.[83]

						State of river
day of the month	State of the weather at sun rise	State of wind at Sunrise	State of the weather at 4 P.M.	wind at 4 P. M.	rise or fall	Inches &c.	part of Inches
1st.	c.a.r.	N. W.	r.	N.	ris.	5	1/2
2nd.	c.a.r.	N.	f.a.r.	N.	r.	3	. .
3rd.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.	rise	2	1/4
4th.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. E.	fal.	6	1/2
5th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.	fal.	7	. .
6th.	c.a.r.t. & l.	S. W.	f.	N. E.	fall	2	1/4
7th.	r.	N. E.	c.a.r.	N.	fall	2	1/2
8th.	f.	N.	f.	N. W.	fall	2	. .
9th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. E.	fall	1	1/4
10th.	f.	E.	c.	E.	fall	. .	3/4
11th.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.	fall	2	. .
12th.	f.	S. W.	c.	S. W.	fall	2	1/4
13th.	f.a.r.	S. W.	f.	S. W.	fall	2	1/2
14th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. W.	fall	3	1/2
15th.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.	f.	2	. .
16th.	f.	N. W.	f.	N. W.	f.	3	1/2
17th.	c.	S. E.	c.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
18th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	f.	1	1/2
19th.	t.l. & r.	S. E.	c.	S. E.	f.	. .	3/4
20th.	c.a.t.l. & r.	S. W.	f.	N. W.	f.	1	1/4
21st.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	f.	2	1/2
22d.	c.a.r.	S. W.	f.	S. E.	f.	4	. .
23rd.	c.	S. E.	r.	N. W.	f.	1	1/2
24th.	f.	N. E.	f.	N. W.	f.	2	. .
25th.	f.	S. W.	f.	N. W.	f.	1	1/4
26th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	f.	. .	3/4
27th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	f.	1	1/4
28th.	f.	S. E.	f.	N. W.	. .	. .	. .
29th.	c.	N. W.	f.a.r.	S. E.	f.	. .	1/2
30th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .
31st.	c.a.r.t & l. & w.	S. E.	c.a.r.	S. E.	. .	. .	. .

227

Remarks for August, 1806.[84]

1st.

rained last night and all day today at intervales.

2nd.

rained a little last night and several showers this morn [in]g.

3d.

Musquetors troublesom. heavy dew.

4th.

Rochejhone falling much faster than the Missouri.

5th.

Musquetors excessively troublesom both rivers falling.

6th.

rained hard last night with Thunder Lightning & hard wind from
S. W. killed a white Bear & Bighorn.

7th.

commenced raining at daylight and continued at intervals all day
air cool.

8th.

air cool.

9th.

a heavy dew. air cool and clear found red goose berries and a
dark purple current & Service's.

10th.

found a Species of Cherry resembling the read Heart cherry of
our country.

11th.

sarvis berries in abundance & ripe.

13th.

a fiew drops of rain last night at 8 P.M. with hard S.W. wind

14th.

Mandan corn now full and beginning to harden

16th.

Northern lights seen last night which was in streaks

18th.

rained moderately last night in forpart of the night.

19th.

comenced raining at 5 A.M. and continued with a hard wind
untill [blank space in MS.].

21st.

rained a little in the course of the night. at day a violent hard
Shower for 1/2 an hour.

22nd.

rained the greater part of last night. Grape and plums ripe. The
rains which have fallen in this month is most commonly from
flying clouds which pass in different directions, those clouds
are always accompanied with hard winds, and sometimes accompanied
with thunder and lightning The river has been
falling moderately Since the third of the month. the rains
which has fallen has [made] no impression on the river [other]
than causing it to be more muddy and probably prevents its
falling fast.

23d.

rained at 10 A.M. & 4 P.M. hard wind.

24th.

wind blew hard all day grapes in abundance.

26th.

Heavy dew this morning. Saw a pilecan.

27th.

first Turkeys at Tylor River above the big bend

29th.

Some rain this morning only a fiew drops, and at 10 A.M.

228

30th.

a new drops of rain last night.

31st.

rained most of last night with T. Li. & a hard wind from the
S.W. some rain to day.

Diary for the Month of September, 1806.[85]

Day of the month	State of the weather at Sun rise	Course of the wind at Sun rise	State of the weather at 4 Clock	Course of the wind at 4 P. M.
1st.	fog	S. E.	f.a.r.	S. E.
2nd.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
3rd.	f.	S. W.	f.	S. W.
4th.	f.a.r.t. & l.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
5th.	f.	S. E.	c.	S. W.
6th.	c.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
7th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
8th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
9th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
10th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
11th.	c.a.r.	S. E.	f.a.r.	S. E.
12th.	f.	S. E.	c.a.r.	S. E.
13th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
14th.	f.	S. E.	c.	S. E.
15th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
16th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
17th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
18th.	f.	S. E.	c.	S. E.
19th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E
20th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. E.
21st.	c.a.r.	S. E.	c.	S. E.
22	r.a.t.l. & r.	S.	c.a.r.	S.
23	c. & r.	N. E.	c.a.r.	N. E.
24	r	. .	c.a.r.	. .
25th.	c.	N. E.	f.	. .
26th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
27th.	f.	N. E.	f.	S. E.
28th.	f.	S. E.	f.	S. E.
29th.	f.	S.	f.	S. E.
30th.	f.	S. E.	f.	E.

Remarks for September, 1806.[86]

1st.

a thick fog untill 8 A.M. a fiew drops of rain about 1 P. M.

2nd.

Hard wind all day. Saw the prarie fowl common in the Illinois
plains. Saw Linn and Slipery elm.

3d.

a stiff breeze from S.E. untill 12 at night when it changed to S. W.
and blew hard all night.

229

4th.

at 6 P. M. a violent Storm of Thunder Lightn'g and rain untill
10 P. M. when it ceased to rain and blew hard from N. W.
untill 3 A. M.

6th.

Heard the whipperwill common to the U. States at Soldier's river.

7th.

Saw the whiperwill and heard the common hooting owl Musquetors
very troublesom. killed 3 Elk.

8th.

warmest day we have experienced in this year.

11th.

a new drops. of rain only a little before day. and some rain at
2 P. M.

12th

Heavy dew this morning and fog. Some rain from 12 to 4 P.M.

15th.

day very worm Smokey and worm.

16th.

this day very Sultry and much the hotest which we have experienced.

17th.

day worm, but fiew Musquitors.

19th.

saw a green Snake as high up as Salt Rivr on the Missouri. the
limestone bluffs commence below Salt river on S. side

21st.

a slight shower of rain a little before day light this morning.

22nd.

at St Charles the raine commencd about 9 P. M. and was moderate
untill 4 A. M when it increased and rained without intermition
untill 10 A. M : Some Thunder and lightning about
daylight. it continued cloudy with small showers of rain all
day.

23rd.

at St. Louis Several light Showers in the course of this day.

24th.

rained moderately this morning and continued Cloudy with moderate
rain at intervales all day.

26th.

fair and worm.

27th.

emencely worm.

28th.

29th.

30th.

[1]

The following explanations, in Lewis's handwriting, are found in a small blank-book
which he had previously used in 1800, when paymaster in the army. They
are also found (abridged) in Clark's handwriting, Codex C, p. 245; and repeated
by Clark in Codex I, p. 13, where he arranges the weather diary from Fort
Mandan.—Ed.

[2]

This was entered in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations under caption
"Notes of reference for Jany 1804," and is all that is entered thereunder. It is
found in Clark's Codex C, p. 246.—Ed.

[3]

This note is found at the head of the column "Remarks" in Lewis's book of
thermometrical observations. Clark placed it in Codex C, p. 246.—Ed.

[4]

This table was begun by Lewis in his book used for that purpose; but after
January 1 the handwriting is all Clark's, as Lewis was absent in St. Louis. Clark
also copied this in his own set of tables, Codex C, p. 244, and in Clark-Voorhis notebook
No. 4.—Ed.

[5]

The absence of entries for January 10, 11, 12, 15, and 16, is explained by the
note "W. C. very sick."

[6]

These remarks are found in Codex C, p. 231. All remarks regarding events
have been transferred to text of journals, vol. i, pp. 4, 5, ante.—Ed.

[7]

The weather diary for February is found in the same places as that for January.
Lewis made his own entries until the 15th; the rest of the month is in Clark's handwriting.
—Ed.

[8]

See note for January, 1804.—Ed.

[9]

This note is found in Clark's Codex C, p. 230, and in Lewis's Codex P, flyleaf.
—Ed.

[10]

The diary of the weather for March, 1804, is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical
observations (chiefly in Clark's handwriting) and in Clark's Codex C,
p. 242.—Ed.

[11]

The thermometer having been tested and found 8° too low (see previous note),
that amount was added to the records by Lewis in his diary, but not by Clark. Clark's
figures are here given.—Ed.

[12]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's handwriting on the fly-leaf and p. 1
of Codex P; Clark's handwriting, in Codex C, pp. 228, 229. The references to
events have been transferred to text of journal, volume i, p. 4, ante.—Ed.

[13]

The diary of the weather for April, 1804, is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical
observations (chiefly in Clark's handwriting) and in Clark's Codex C,
p. 241.—Ed.

[14]

The thermometrical notations should be amended here by the addition of 8°, as
explained in note for March diary.—Ed.

[15]

The following remarks are found partly in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations

and partly in Codex C, pp. 227, 228. The references to events have
been transferred to our volume i, pp. 4, 7, ante.—Ed.

[16]

The diary for May is found in the same places as that for April. For some
unexplained reason no notations were kept after leaving River Dubois, until September
19, 1804.—Ed.

[17]

Lewis's diary adds 8° to each figure in these columns, as previously explained.

—Ed.

[18]

Combined from Lewis's book of thermometrical observations and Clark's
Codex C, pp. 226, 227.—Ed.

[19]

Combined from Lewis's book of thermometrical observations and Clark's
Codex C, p. 226.—Ed.

[20]

The weather diary for this portion of September, 1804, is found in Lewis's book
of thermometrical observations and Clark's Codex C, p. 239.—Ed.

[21]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, p. 225. References to events described in text of
journals are here omitted.—Ed

[22]

The following table is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations and
Clark' s Codex C, pp. 238, 239.—Ed.

[23]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark' s Codex C, pp. 222–224. References to events described in text of
journals are here omitted.—Ed.

[24]

The following table is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and in Clark's Codex C, pp. 238, 239.—Ed.

[25]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, pp. 220,221. References already entered in text of journals
are here omitted.—Ed.

[26]

The following table is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, pp. 236, 237, and Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 4.—Ed.

[27]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and 'Clark's Codex C, pp. 219, 220, also Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 4.
Such records of events have been retained as indicate features of the weather.—Ed.

[28]

The following table is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, pp. 235, 236, also Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 4.—Ed.

[29]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations,
Clark's Codex C, pp. 218, 219, and Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 4.—Ed.

[30]

The following table is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, pp. 234, 235.—Ed.

[31]

The remarks for February are found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, p. 218. Lewis's are chiefly in regard to events, and are
omitted here, unless having some relation to weather conditions.—Ed.

[32]

The following table is found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, pp. 233, 234.—Ed.

[33]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's book of thermometrical observations
and Clark's Codex C, pp. 217, 218.—Ed.

[34]

Lewis's book of thermometrical observations and Clark's weather entries in
Codex C end with the departure of the expedition from Fort Mandan, April 7, 1805.
Lewis's diary of the weather for April, 1805, is found in Codex Fe, and Clark's in
Codex I, p. 14. As before, the items in the column of "Remarks" have been
transferred to the "Remarks" for the month, following the notation.—Ed.

[35]

The following remarks are compiled from Lewis's book of thermometrical observations,
Lewis's Codex Fe, Clark's Codex C, pp. 216, 217, and Clark's Codex I,
pp. 14–17.—Ed.

[36]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex Fe, and Clark's Codex I,
p. 18.—Ed.

[37]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's Codex Fe, and Clark's Codex I,
pp. 18–20. They are compiled from column of "Remarks," and data following
the table of weather notations.—Ed.

[38]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex Fe and Clark's Codex 1,
p. 21.—Ed.

[39]

The remarks for June are found in Lewis's Codex E, p. 140, and in Clark's
Codex I, pp. 21–23, combined with those from the column of remarks that refer to
meteorological matters. References to events described in text of journals are here
omitted.—Ed.

[40]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex Fe and Codex P, p. 131, and in
clark's Codex I, p. 23.—Ed.

[41]

The remarks for July, 1805, have been compiled from the column of remarks in
the tables, and those following in Lewis's Codex Fe; Codex P, pp. 130, 131; and
Clark's Codex I, pp. 23, 24. Lewis's original entries appear to have been made in
Codex P; those in Codex Fe are in Clark's handwriting after July 5. Events described
in text of journal are here omitted.—Ed.

[42]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex Fe; Codex P, p. 128 and in
Clark's Codex I, p. 25.—Ed.

[43]

The following data are compiled from the tables and remarks found in
Lewis's Codex P, pp. 127, 128 Codex Fe—entries in Clark's writing until August
23, the rest in Lewis's; and Clark's Codex I, pp. 25, 26. The remarks on events
described in text of journal are here omitted.—Ed,

[44]

The following table is found in Codex P, p. 125, in Lewis's writing; in Codex
Fe, partly in Lewis's, and partly in Clark's writing; in Codex I, p. 27, in Clark's
writing.—Ed.

[45]

The absence of further thermometrical entries is explained by note of Sept. 6.—Ed.

[46]

The following remarks are compiled entirely from the columns of remarks in the
tables. References to events recorded in text of journals are here omitted.—Ed.

[47]

The following table is found in Clark's Codex I, p. 29, and in Clark-Voorhis
note-book No. 4. The succeeding notes have been retained in order that by marking
the locality the table can be more readily studied.—Ed.

[48]

The following remarks for October are found in the column of remarks of the
preceding table, Codex I, p. 29, and Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 4.—Ed.

[49]

The following remarks for November are found in Codex I, p. 30, and in
Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 4. Events recorded in text of journals are here
omitted.—Ed.

[50]

The following remarks are found in Clark's Codex I, p. 28, and in Clark-Voorhis
note-book No. 4. Events mentioned in text of journal are here omitted.—Ed.

[51]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex J, p. 152, and Clark's Codex 1, p. 31.—Ed.

[52]

The following remarks are compiled from those found in the column of "Remarks,"
and the notes following in In Lewis's Codex J, pp. 150–152; and Clark's
Codex I, pp. 31–33. Notes on events described in text of journals are here
omitted.—Ed.

[53]

We infer that this note was intended for January 29; but it may have been
written for the preceding day.—Ed.

[54]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex I, p. 149, and Clark-Voorhis
note-book No. 2.—Ed.

[55]

The following remarks are combined from the column of remarks in the preceding
table, and those succeeding in Lewis's Codex J, pp. 148, 149, and the last pages
of Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 2.—Ed.

[56]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex J, p. 147, and in Clark-Voorhis
note-book No. 2.—Ed.

[57]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's Codex J, pp. 145–149, and in
Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 2.—Ed.

[58]

Oxaliu oregana Nutt.—C. V. Piper.

[59]

This is probably the huckleberry known as Vaccinium parvifolia.—C. V. Piper.

[60]

Probably this is Fatsia horrida.—C. V. Piper.

[61]

The nettle is Urtica lyallii Wats.—C. V. Piper.

[62]

The red-flowering currant is Ribes sanguineum. The Rocky Mountain species
referred to is Ribes Viscossissimum, similar in foliage but not in flowers. Lewis
brought back types of both.—C. V. Piper.

[63]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex K, p. 150, and in the Clark-Voorhis
note-book No. 3.—Ed.

[64]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's Codex K, pp. 150–152.—Ed.

[65]

Most of these plants have been identified in the text of journals. The small birch
is not the species mentioned April 30, 1806, but Betula glandulosa Mx.—C. V. Piper.

[66]

The honeysuckle, dogtooth violet, mountain holly, and strawberry have been
identified in text of journals. The "bear's claw" is some species of Delphiniums
the cowslip, Dadecaltheon sp.; the violet is probably Viola sp.; and the cress or
tongue grass, Cardamine sp.—C. V. Piper.

[67]

The "fringe-tree" is probably Nuttallia cerasi formis.—C. V. Piper.

[68]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex K, p. 149, and in the Clark-Voorhis
note-book No. 3.—Ed.

[69]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's Codex K, pp. 147–149, and in the
Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 3.—Ed.

[70]

This information in regard to the salmon is not found in text of journal and
seems somewhat inconsistent therewith. See text of journal for May 14, 18, 22, 25,
26, and June 2 and 3.—Ed.

[71]

The following table is found in Lewis's Codex L, p. 149; and in Clark's Codex
M, p. 152. The latter has no notation for the river.—Ed.

[72]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's Codex L, pp. 148, 149; and in
Clark's Codex M, pp. 150–152. References to events mentioned in text of journal
are here omitted.—Ed.

[73]

Rasa nutkana.—C. V. Piper.

[74]

This species of huckleberry is Vaccinium caespitosum.—C. V. Piper.

[75]

The sunflower is Balsamorrhiza sagittata Nutt., of which Lewis brought back
types that were collected, however, at another date and place.—C. V. Piper.

[76]

A long note by Clark following the remarks for June, 1806, in reference to
crossing the mountains is transferred to text of the journal, vol. v, p. 175.—Ed.

[77]

Since Lewis and Clark took different routes in July, 1806, their weather diaries
for that period differ, and are here reproduced separately. The following table is
found in Lewis's Codex L, p. 147.—Ed.

[78]

The following remarks are found in Lewis's Codex L, pp. 146, 147.—Ed.

[79]

The following table completes Lewis's separate itinerary, as he rejoined clark,
on August 12, 1806. It is found in Lewis's Codex L, p. 145.—Ed.

[80]

The following remarks are those included in the table given above.—Ed.

[81]

The following table is for Clark's separate itinerary, and is found in his Codex M,
p. 149.—Ed.

[82]

The following remarks are compiled from the column of remarks in the table,
and the notes following in Codex M, pp. 147–149.—Ed.

[83]

The following table is found in Clark's Codex M, p. 146. As Clark reached
the Missouri River, August 3, the references thereafter apply to that river.—Ed.

[84]

The following remarks are found in Clark's Codex M, pp. 146, 147. References
to events described in text of journals are here omitted.—Ed.

[85]

The following table is found in Clark's Codex N, p. 152.—Ed.

[86]

The following remarks are found in Clark's Codex N, pp. 151, 152. References
to events mentioned in text of journal are here omitted.—Ed.

	VI. Meteorology Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806

University of Virginia Library

VI. Meteorology

Notation of the 'weather

Diary of the weather for January, 1804.[4]

Remarks for January, 1804.[6]

1st

2nd.

3rd.

4th.

5th.

6th.

7th.

8th.

9th.

10th.

13th.

14th.

17th.

19th.

20th

21st

22nd

23rd

24th

26th

27th

28th.

26th

28th.

29th

31st

Diary of the weather for February, 1804.[7]

[Remarks for February, 1804.][8]

Feby. 1st

2nd

3rd

4th.

5th.

6th.

7th.

8th.

9th.

10th.

11th.

12th.

13th.

14th.

15th.

21st.

23d.

25th

27th.

28th.

29th.

Diary of the weather for March, 1804.[10]

[Remarks for March, 1804.][12]

March 7th

8th

9th

20th.

20th.

25th.

26th

27th.

28th.

31st.

Diary of the weather for April, 1804.[13]

[Remarks for April, 1804.][15]

April 1st

3d.

5th

6th

7th

9th

10th

13th

17th

18th

26th

30th