University of Virginia Library

July 4th.. Wednesday,—

ussered in the day by a discharge of one shot from our Bow
piece, proceeded on, passed the Mouth of a (1) Bayeau
l[e]ading from a large Lake on the S. S. which has the appearance
of being once the bend of the river & reaches parrelel for
Several Miles Came to on the L. S. to refresh our selves &.
Jos. Fields got bit by a Snake, which was quickly doctered
with Bark by Cap Lewis[63] (2) Passed a Creek 12 yds. wide
on L. S. comeing out of an extensive Prarie reching within
200 yards of the river, as this Creek has no name, and this
being the 4th.. of July the day of the independance of the
U S. call it 4th of July 1804 Creek, we dined (on Corn)
Capt. Lewis walked on Shore above this Creek and discovered
a high Mound from the top of which he had an extensive
View, 3 paths Concentering at the moun Saw great numbers
of Goslings to day which Were nearly grown, the before
mentioned Lake is Clear and contain great quantities of fish
and Gees & Goslings, The great quantity of those fowl in
this Lake induced me to Call it the Gosling Lake, a Small
Creek & several Springs run in to the Lake on the East Side
from the hills the land on that Side verry good. (3) We came
to and camped in the lower edge of a Plain where the 2d. old

Kanzas village formerly Stood, above the mouth of a Creek
30 yds wide this Creek we call Creek Independence as we
approached this place the Prarie had a most butifull appearance
Hills & Valies interspsd. with Coops [Copses] of Timber
gave a pleasing deversity to the Senery. the right fork of
Creek Independence Meandering thro: the Middle of the
Plain a point of high Land near the river givs an ellivated
Situation. at this place the Kanzas Indians formerly lived,
this Town appears to have covd. a large Space, the Nation must
have been noumerous at the time they lived here, the Cause
of their moveing to the Kanzas River, I have never heard,
nor can I learn; war with their neghbors must have reduced
this nation and Compelled them to retire to a Situation in the
plains better Calculated for their defence, and one where they
may make use of their horses with good effect, in persueing
their enemey, we closed the [day] by a Descharge from our
bow piece, an extra Gill of whiskey.

Course & Distance, refrs. July 4th 1804

             

N. 70° W.	1	Ml. on L. S. passd. a Bayo: S. S. (1)
S. 45° W.	3	Ms. to a pt. on S. S. a sml. Isd. on L. S.
N. 75° W.	1/4	Ml. on S. S.
N. 40° W.	6	Mis. on S. S. psd. a prarie & Creek (2)
N. 12° E.	2 3/4	Ms. to pt. on L. S. psd. a Sml. Isd. L. S.
N. 10° E.	2	Ms. to pt. on S. S. opsd. old vilg. (3) psd. Creek L.S.
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