University of Virginia Library

July 14th Satturday 1804—

Some hard Showers of rain this morning prevented our
Setting out untill 7 oClock, at half past Seven, the atmispr.
became Sudenly darkened by a black and dismal looking
Cloud, at the time we were in a Situation (not to be bettered,)
near the upper point of the Sand Island, on which we lay, and
the opposit Shore, the bank was falling in and lined with snags
as far as we could See down, in this Situation the Storm
which passd. over an open Plain from the N. E. Struck the our
boat on the Starbd. quarter, and would have thrown her up on
the Sand Island dashed to pices in an Instant, had not the
party leeped out on the Leward Side and kept her off with
the assistance of the ancker & Cable, untill the Storm was
over, the waves washed over her windward Side and she
must have filled with water if the Lockers which is [had not
been—Ed.] covered with Tarpoling & threw of the Water &
prevented any quantity getting into Bilge of the Boat In this
Situation we Continued about 40 Minits. when the Storm
Sudenly Seased and the river become Instancetaniously as
Smoth as Glass.

The two perogu[e]s dureing this Storm was in a Similar
situation with the boat about half a mile above. The wind
shifted to the S. E. & we Sailed up passed a Small (1) Isld
Situated on the S. S. and Dined & continued two hours, men
examine their arms about a Mile above this Island, passed a
Small Tradeing fort on the S. S. where, Mr. Bennet of St. Louis
Traded with the Otteaus & Panis two years. I went on
Shore to Shoot Some Elk on a Sand bar to the L. S. I fired
at one but did not get him, Went out into a large extensive
bottom the greater part of which over flows, the part that
dose not over flow, is rich and well timbered, Some Small

open Praries near the hills, the Boat passed the lower part
of a large Island Situated on the S. S. above the Lower
point of this Island on the S. S. a (2) large Creek Coms into
the river called by the Maha's [Mahar] Indians Neesh-nah-ba-to-na
(Neĕsh-năh-bă-to-na) 50 yds. this is a Considerable
Creek, nearly as large as the Mine River, and runs parrilel
with the Missouri, the Greater part of its course. In those
small Praries or Glades I saw wild Timothy, lambs-quarter,
Cuckle burs,[69] & rich weed. on the edges Grows Sumr. Grapes,
Plum's, & Goose berries. I Joined the boat which had Came
to and Camped[70] in a bend opposd. the large Island before mentioned
on the L. S. Several men unwell with Boils, Felons,
&c. The river falls a little.

Course Distance & Reffers. July 14th

           

N. 70°. W.	2	Ms. to a point on S. S. a Sml. Isd. S. S. (1)
N. 22°. W	2	Ms. to a pt. L. S. wind Shift N. W. by N.
N. 30° W.	1	Ml. on the L. S.
N. 50 W	2 1/2	Ms. to Lowr. pt. of an Isd. S. S.
N. 87 W	1 1/2	Ms. to a pt. on S. Side of Isd. psd. a Creek (2)
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