11th. of April Thursday 1805.
Set out verry early I walked on Shore, saw fresh bear
tracks, one deer & 2 beaver killed this morning in the after
part of the day killed two gees, saw great numbers of Gees
Brant & Mallard Some White Cranes Swan & guls, the
plains begin to have a green appearance, the hills on either
side are from 5 to 7 miles asunder and in maney places have
been burnt,
appearing at a distance of a redish brown choler,
containing Pumice Stone
& lava, some of which rolin down to
the base of
those hills. In many of those hills forming bluffs
to the river we
prosieve Several Stratums of bituminious substance
which resembles coal; thoug[h] Some of the pieces
appear to be excellent coal, it resists the fire for some [time],
and consumes without emiting much flaim.
The plains are high and
rich some of them are sandy containing
small
pebbles, and on some of the hill Sides large
Stones are to be seen. In the
evening late we observed a
party of Menetarras on
the L.S. with horses and dogs loaded
going down, those are a part of the
Minitarras who camped
a little above this with the Ossinniboins at the
mouth of the
little Missouri all the latter part of the winter. we camped
on
the S.S. below a falling in bank. the river raise a
little.
Course distance &c. the
11th
| S. 85°.
W. |
2 |
miles to the upper part of a Bluff in a bend to
the Larboard
Side. |
| N. 38°.
W. |
3 |
miles to a point on the L.S. opsd. a bluff. |
| S. 30°.
W. |
2 |
miles to the upper part of a timbered bottom on
the L.S.
a large sand bar makeing out from the S.S. 1 1/2 mils. |
| N 52°.
W. |
5 |
miles to a red knob in a bend to the S.S. near
the upper
part of wood bottom. |
| S. 70°.
W. |
6 |
miles to a timbered point on the
S.S. |
| West |
1 |
mile on the S.
point. |
|
19 |
|
