University of Virginia Library

13th.. June Wednesday 1804—

We Set out early passed a round bend to the S. S. and
two Creeks Called the round bend Creeks between those two
Creeks and behind a Small Willow Island in the bend is a
Prarie in which the Missouries Indians once lived and the
Spot where 300 [200] of them fell a sacrifise to the fury of
the Saukees, this nation (Missouries) once the most noumerous
nation in this part of the Continent now reduced to about
30 fes [fires, i. e., families —Ed.] and that fiew under the
protection of the Otteaus[44] [Ottoes] on R Platt who themselves
are declining, passed some willow Isds. and bad Sand bars,
Took Medn. Altitude with Octent back observation it gave
for altd. on its Low L. 36° 58′ 0″ the E [Error] Enstrement
2° 00′ - 00″ +. the Hills or high land for Several days past or
above the 2 Charletons does not exceed 100 foot, passed a
Batteau on Sand rolling where the Boat was nearly turning
over by her Strikeing & turning on the Sand. we came too
in the mouth of Grand River on S. S. and Camped for the
night, this River is from 80 to 100 yards wide at its mouth
and navagable for Perogues a great distance, this river heads
with the R. Dumoine, below its mouth is a butifull Plain of
bottom land, the hills rise at 1/2 a mile back, the lands
about this place is either Plain or over flown bottom. Capt
Lewis and myself walked to the hill, from the top of which we
had a butifull prospect of Serounding countrey, in the open

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Course & Distance 13th. June 1804