University of Virginia Library

[Clark:]

9th.. of April Tuesday 1805.—

Set out this morning verry early under a gentle breeze from
the S.E. at Brackfast the Indian deturmined to return to his
nation. I saw a Musquetor to day great numbers of Brant
flying up the river, the Maple, & Elm has buded & cotton
and arrow wood beginning to bud. I saw in the prarie an
animal resembling the Prarie dog or Barking Squirel & burrow
in the same way, this animal was about 1/3 as large as the
barking Squirel. But fiew resident birds or water fowls which
I have Seen as yet at 6 miles passed an old hunting camp of
Menitarres on the S. S. 2 1/2 miles higher passed the mouth
of Miry Creek on the S.S. passed a hunting camp of Menetarees
on the S.S. waiting the return of the Antilope, Saw
Great numbers of Gees feedin in the Praries on the young
grass, I saw flowers in the praries to day, juniper grows on
the Sides-of the hills, & runs on the ground all the hills
have more or Less indefferent coal in stratas at different hites
from the waters edge to 80 feet. those stratias from 1 inch to
5 feet thick we campd. on the S.S. above some rocks makeing
out in the river in a butifull ellivated plain.

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Course distance & refferences for the 9th.