[Clark:]
June 3rd. Monday 1805
We formed a camp on the point in the junction of the two
rivers, and dispatched a canoe & three men up each river to
examine and find if possible which is the most probable branch,
the left fork which is the largest we are doubtfull of, the Indians
do not mention any river falling in on the right in this
part of the Missouri, The Scolding river, if there is such a
one should have fallen in below agreeable to their auty. We
also despatched men in different direct[ion]s by land, to a
mountain covered with snow to the South & others up each
river. Capt Lewis and my self walked out & assended the hill
in the point observed a leavel open countrey to the foot of
the mountains which lye South of this, also a River which falls
into the Right hand fork about 1 1/2 miles above its mouth on
the Lard. Side this little river discharges a great deal of water
& contains as much cotton timber in its bottoms as either of
the others we saw Buffalow & Antelopes &c. wild cheries,
red & yellow burries, Goose berries &c. abound in the river bottoms,
prickley pares on the high plains, we had a meridian
altitude and the Latt.
d produced was
47°. 24′–12″ N. the after
part of the day proved cloudy, we measured each river
and found the one to Right hand 200 yards wide of water &
the Left hand fork 372 yards wide & rapid. the right hand
fork falling the other at a stand and clear, the right fork and
the river which fall into it is coloured & a little muddey.
Several men complain of their feet being sore in walking in
the sand & their being cut by the stones They to be sure
have a bad time of it obliged to walk on shore & haul the rope
and 9/10 of their time bear footed, in the evening late the
canoes returned and the men informed us that they had assended
some miles by water & left their canoes & walked on
land the greater part of the day, their accounts by no means
satisfactory, Serj
t Pryor assended the right hand fork and took
the following courses, &
c
| S. 60°. W. |
2 |
to a timber on the Lard Side |
| West |
2 |
to a point on the Stard. Side passd. a River L S. 60 yds. wide
3 feet deep |
| N. 50°. W. |
3 |
to a point on the Lard Side |
| S. 80°. W |
3 |
to a point on the Lard Side |
thence the river bears to the N. of west leaveing a knob to the
right.
Serjt. Gass assended the left hand fork and took the following
courses viz:
|
m |
|
| S. 30°. W. |
1 |
to a pt. L. S. pass 3 Isds. |
| South |
1 |
mile to a Lard point of an Island |
| S. 60°. E. |
2 |
m. to a tree on the Starboard Side |
| N. 50°. E. |
1 |
m. to an object in the bank Lard. Side opsd. the Lower
point of an Island |
| S. 70°. E |
1 1/2 |
m: to a tree on the Lard. Side passing an Island
Genl. course from there |
| S. 30°. W. |
|
for 5 miles |
| S. 10°. E. |
1 |
mile, then S.W. |
Joseph & Ruben Fields went up the left fork 7 miles on a
derect line at which place the small river which falls into the
right hand fork approaches within 100 yards of the South
fork, they came down the small river which is a bold stream
covered with Elk & some beaver, its bottoms covered with
wood, as the Information given by those parties respecting
the rivers did not satisfy us as to the main & principal branch
Cap
t Lewis & my self deturmined to go up each of those
rivers one Day & a half with a view to Satisfy ourselves which
of the two was the principal stream and best calculated for us
to assend. The hunters killed 2 buffalow, 6 Elk & several
deer to day. we refreshed our party with a dream &
c Cloudy
evining.
