April 8th.
Set out early
this morning, the wind blew hard against us,
from the N.W. we therefore
traveled very slowly. I walked
on shore, and visited the black Cat, took leave of him after
smoking a pipe as is
their custom, and then proceeded on
slowly by land about four miles where
I wated the arrival of
the party, at 12 Oclock they came up and informed
me that
one of the small canoes was behind in distress. Capt. Clark
returned fou[n]d she had filled with water and
all her loading
wet. we lost half a bag of bisquit, and about thirty
pounds
of powder by this accedent; the powder we regard as a serious
loss, but we spread it to dry immediately and hope we shall
still be
enabled to restore the greater part of it. this was the
only powder we had
which was not perfectly secure from geting
wet.
we took dinner at this place, and then proceed on
to oure encampment,
which was on the N. side opposite to
a high bluff.[14]
the Mandan man
came up after we had encamped
and brought with him a woman who was extreemly
solicitous to accompany one of the men of our party, this
however we
positively refused to permit.
Courses distances and references for Apl. 8th.
From the upper point on an island (being the point to which Capt.
Clark took his
last course when he assended the river in surch of a
place for winter
quarters 1st November last) to a point of wood land
Star'd side, passing a high bluff on the Lar'd. N40°. W. 3 1/2°
