July 30th. Monday
1804—
Set out this morning early proceeded on to a clear open
Prarie on the L. S. on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the
bottom which is also a Prarie (both forming Bluffs to the river)
of
High Grass & Plumb bush Grapes &c. and situated above
high water,
in a small Grove of timber at the foot of the
Riseing Ground between those
two preraries, and below the
Bluffs of the high Prarie we Came too and
formed a Camp[7]
,
intending to waite the return of the frenchman
& Indians,
the white horse which we found near the Kanzus river, Died
Last night
Course Distance &c.
July 30th.
| S 82°
W. |
2 |
Ms. to a point of wood on the
L. S. above a pt on the
L. S. and opsd. one on S. S. |
| West |
1
1/4 |
Ms. to the lower part of a Bluff & High
Prarie on L. S. |
|
3 1/4 |
came
too. |
posted out our guard and sent out 4 men,
Captn. Lewis & [I]
went up the Bank and walked a
Short Distance in the high
Prarie this Prarie is Covered with Grass of 10
or 12 inches
in hight, Soil of good quality & at the Distance of about
a
mile still further back the Countrey rises about 80 or 90 feet
higher, and is one Continued Plain as fur as Can be seen,
from the
Bluff on the 2d. rise imediately above our Camp, the
most butifull prospect of the River up & Down and the
Countrey Ops
d. prosented it Self
which I ever beheld; The
River meandering the open and butifull Plains,
interspursed
with Groves of timber, and each point Covered with Tall
timber, Such as Willow Cotton sum Mulberry, Elm, Sucamore
Lynn & ash (The Groves contain
Hickory, Walnut,
coffee nut & Oake in addition) Two ranges of High
Land
parrelel to each other, and from 4 to 10 Miles Distant, between
which the river & its bottoms are
Contained. (from 70
to 300 feet high)
Joseph Fields Killed and
brought in an Anamale Called by
the French Brarow.[8]
and by the Panies Cho car tooch
this
Anamale Burrows in the Ground and feeds on Flesh, (Prarie
Dogs)
Bugs & Vigatables "his Shape & Size is like that of
a Beaver, his
head mouth &c. is like a Dogs with Short Ears,
his Tail and Hair like
that of a Ground Hog, and longer;
and lighter. his Interals like the
interals of a Hog, his Skin,
thick and loose, his
Belly is White and the Hair Short, a white
Streek
from his nose to his Sholders. The toe nails of his
fore feet is one Inch
& 3/4 long, & feet large; the nails of his
hind feet 3/4 of an
Inch long, the hind feet Small and toes
Crooked, his legs are short and
when he moves Just sufficent
to raise his body above the Ground He is of
the Bear
Species. We have his skin stuffed.
Jo. & R. Fields did
not return this evening, Several men
with verry bad Boils. Cat fish is cought in any part of the
river
Turkeys Geese & a Beaver Killed & Cought every
thing in prime
order men in high Spirits. a fair Still evening
Great no. Musquitors this
evening
