University of Virginia Library

[Lewis:[27] ]

Sunday, September 16th, 1804.

This morning set out at an early hour, and come too at 1/2
after 7 A. M. on the Lard. shore 1 1/4 miles above the mouth
of a small creek which we named Corvus,[28] in consequence of
having kiled a beatiful bird of that genus near it. we concluded
to ly by at this place the ballance of this day and the
next, in order to dry our baggage which was wet by the heavy
showers of rain which had fallen within the last three days,
and also to lighten the boat by transfering a part of her lading
to the red perogue, which we now determined to take on with
us to our winter residence wherever that might be; while
some of the men were imployed in the necessary labour others
were dressing of skins washing and mending their cloaths &c.
Capt. Clark and myself kiled each a buck immediately on
landing near our encampment; the deer were very gentle and
in great numbers in this bottom which had more timber on it
than any part of the river we had seen for many days past,
consisting of Cottonwood Elm, some indifferent Ash and a
considerable quan[ti]ty of a small species of white oak which
[was][29] loaded with acorns of an excellent flavor [having][29] very
little of the bitter roughness of the nuts of most species of
oak, the leaf of this oak is small pale green and deeply
indented, (not copied for Dr. Barton) it seldom rises higher
than thirty feet is much branched, the bark is rough and thick
and of a light colour; the cup which contains the acorn is
fringed on it's edges and imbraces the nut about one half;
the acorns were now falling, and we concluded that the number
of deer which we saw here had been induced thither by the
acorns of which they are remarkably fond. almost every
species of wild game is fond of the acorn, the Buffaloe Elk,
Deer, bear, turkies, ducks, pigians and even the wolves feed
on them; we sent three hunters out who soon added eight
deer and two Buffalo to our strock of provisions; the Buffaloe

were so pour that we took only the tongues skins and marrow
bones; the skins were particularly acceptable as we were in
want of a covering for the large perogue to secure the baggage;
the clouds during this day and night prevented my making
any observations. Sergt. Gass and Reubin Fields whom we
had sent out yesterday to explore the White river returnd at
four oclock this day and reported that they had followed the
meanders of that stream about 12 miles it's general course
[is] West, the present or principal channel 150 yards wide;
the coulour of the water and rapidity and manner of runing
resembled the Missouri precisely; the country broken on the
border of the river about a mile, when the level planes commence
and extend as far as the eye can reach on either side;
as usual no timber appeared except such as from the steep
declivities of hills, or their moist situations, were sheltered
from the effects of the fire. these extensive planes had been
lately birnt and the grass had sprung up and was about three
inches high. vast herds of Buffaloe deer Elk and Antilopes
were seen feeding in every direction as far as the eye of the
observer could reach.

White River 17th. Sept. Plomb Camp.
Course Distance & refferrence
[Not given.—Ed.]

17th. of September Monday 1804—

Dried all our wet articles, this fine Day, Capt. Lewis went
out with a View to See the Countrey and its productions, he
was out all day he killed a Buffalow and a remarkable Bird
(Magpy) of the Corvus Species long tail the upper part of the
feathers & also the wings is of a purplish variated Green, the
back & a part of the wing feathers are white edged with black,
white belly, while from the root of the wings to Center of the
back is White, the head nake [neck—Ed.] breast & other
parts are black the Beeke like a Crow, abt. the Size of a large
Pigion. a butifull thing.

I took equal altitudes and a meridian altitude. Capt. Lewis
returned at Dark, Colter Killed a Goat like the one I killed
and a curious kind of Deer (Mule Deer) of a Dark gray Colr.
more so than common, hair long & fine, the ears large & long,
a Small reseptical under the eyes; like an Elk, the Taile about
the length of Common Deer, round (like a Cow) a tuft of
black hair about the end, this Spec[i]es of Deer jumps like a
goat or Sheep

8 fallow Deer 5 Common & 3 Buffalow killed to day.
Capt Lewis saw a hare & killed a Rattle snake in a village of
B.[arking—Ed.] Squarels the wind from S. W. Dryed
our provisions, Some of which was much Damaged.