University of Virginia Library

Sunday April 28th. 1805.

SET out this morning at an early hour; the wind was
favourable and we employed our sails to advantage.
Capt Clark walked on shore this morning, and I proceeded
with the party. the country through which we passed
today is open as usual and very broken on both sides near the
river hills, the bottoms are level fertile and partially covered
with timber. the hills and bluffs exhibit their usual mineral
appearances, some birnt hills but no appearance of Pumicestone;
coal is in great abundance and the salts still increase
in quantity; the banks of the river and sandbars are incrusted
with it in many places and appear perfectly white as if covered
with snow or frost. the woods are now green, tho' the plains
and meadows appear to abate of the verdure those below
exhibited some days past. we past three small runs today,
two falling in on the Stard. and one on the Lard. side, they are
but small afford but little water and head a few miles back in
the hills. we saw great quantities of game today; consisting
of the common and mule deer, Elk, Buffaloe, and Antelopes;
also four brown bear, one of which was fired on and wounded
by one of the party but we did not get it; the beaver have
cut great quantities of timber; saw a tree nearly 3 feet in
diameter that had been felled by them. Capt. Clark in the
course of his walk killed a deer and a goose; & saw three
black bear; he thinks the bottoms are not so wide as they
have been for some days past.

---

349

Courses and distances 28th. of April.