University of Virginia Library

[Lewis:]

Friday May 3rd. 1805.

The morning being very could we did not set out as early
as usual; ice formed on a kettle of water 1/4 of an inch thick.
the snow has melted generally in the bottoms, but the hills
still remain covered. on the lard side at the distance of 2
miles we passed a curious collection of bushes which had been
tyed up in the form of a faciene [fascine—Ed.] and standing
on end in the open bottom it appeared to be about 30 feet high
and ten or twelve feet in diameter, this we supposed to have
been placed there by the Indians, as a sacrefice for some purpose.
The wind continued to blow hard from the West but
not so strong as to compel us to ly by. Capt Clark walked
on shore and killed an Elk which he caused to be butch[er]ed
by the time I arrived with the party, here we halted and
dined being about 12 OCk. our usual time of halting for that
purpose. after dinner Capt. Clark pursued his walk, while I
continued with the party, it being a rule which we had established,
never to be absent at the same time from the party.
the plains or high lands are much less elivated than they were,
not being more than from 50 to 60 feet above the river
bottom, which is also wider than usual being from 5 to 9 Ms
in width; traces of the ancient beds of the river are visible in
many places through the whole extent of this valley. since
the hills have become lower the appearance of the stratas of
coal burnt hills and pumice stone have in a great measure
ceased; I saw none today. we saw vast quantities of Buffaloe,
Elk, deer principally of the long tale kind, Antelope or goats,
beaver, geese, ducks, brant and some swan. near the entrance
of the river mentioned in the 10th course of this day, we saw
an unusual number of Porcupines from which we determined
to call the river after that anamal, and accordingly denominated
it Porcupine river.[6] this stream discharges itself into the
Missouri on the Stard. side 2000 miles above the mouth of the
latter, it is a beatifull bold runing stream, 40 yards wide at
it's entrance; the water is transparent, it being the first of this
discription that I have yet seen discharge itself into the Missouri;

before it enters a large sand bar through which it discharges
itself into the missouri it's banks and bottom are
formed of a stiff blue and black clay; it appears to be navigable
for canoes and perogues at this time and I have no
doubt but it might be navigated with boats of a considerable
size in high water. it's banks appear to be from 8 to ten feet
high and seldom overflow; from the quantity of water furnished
by this river, the appearance of the country, the direction
it pursues, and the situation of it's entrance, I have but
little doubt but it takes it's source not far from the main body
of the Suskashawan river, and that it is probably navigable
150 Miles; perhaps not very distant from that river. should
this be the case, it would afford a very favorable communication
to the Athebaskay country, from whence the British
N.W. Company derive so large a portion of their valuable
furs. Capt. Clark who ascended this river several 'miles and
passed it above where it entered the hills informed me on his
return that he found the general width of the bed of the river
about one hundred yards, where he passed the river the bed
was 112 yards wide, the water was knee deep and 38 yard in
width; the river which he could observe from the rising
grounds for about 20 miles, bore a little to the East of North.
there was a considerable portion of timber in the bottom lands
of this river. Capt Clark also met with limestone on the
surface of the earth in the course of his walk. he also saw a
range of low mountains at a distance to the W of N, their
direction being N.W. the country in the neighbo[rhood] of
this river, and as far as the eye can reach, is level, fertile, open
and beatifull beyond discription. 1/4 of a mile above the
entrance of this river a large creek falls in which we called
2000 Mile Creek. I sent Rubin Fields to examine it, he
reported it to be a bold runing stream, it's bed 30 yards wide.
we proceeded about 3 miles above this creek and encamped on
the Stard. shore. I walked out a little distance and met with 2
porcupines which were feeding on the young willow which
grow in great abundance on all the sandbars; this anamal is
exceedingly clumsy and not very watchfull I approached so
near one of them before it percieved me that I touched it with
my espontoon. found the nest of a wild goose among some
driftwood in the river from which we took three eggs. this is
the only nest we have met with on driftwood, the usual position
is the top of a broken tree, sometimes in the forks of a
large tree but almost invariably, from 15 to 20 feet or upwards
high.

Courses and distances May 3rd.. 1805.

                           

				Miles
N.	50°.	W.	to a point of high timber in a bend Stard.	3/4
S.	65 °.	W.	to a point of high timber in the center of a bend on Lard. side	2 1/4
N.	40.	W.	to a point of woodland Stard. side	1.
N.	55°.	W.	to some dead timber in a Stard. bend	2 1/2
South			to the upper part of the high timber in a bend on the Lard. side.	3
S .	80°.	W.	to a point of woodland Stard side	1/2
S.	85°.	W.	to the commencement of the timber on the Lard. side in a bend	1 1/4
North.			to the upper part of the high timber in a bend on the Stard., passing a sand point at 1/2 mile on Lard.	1 1/2
S.	65°.	W.	to a point of woodland on the Lard. side.	1/2
S.	75°	W.	to a point of woodland on the Stard. side, at the entrance of a large river on the Stard. side, called Porcupine R.	1 3/4
S.	45°.	W.	to the high timber on the lard. side, passing the entrance of 2000 mile Creek at 1/4 of a mile on Lard. side.	3.
N.	40°.	W.	to some high timber on the Stard. side, just above an old channel of the river on the Stard. where we encampd.	1/2
			Miles	18 1/2