University of Virginia Library

[Clark:]

May 10th Monday 1805

a fine morning wind from the N. E. river falling a little
we set out at 7 oClock and proceeded on verry well as usial
by the assistance of the cord passed some verry swift water,
river narrow and crooked, at 11 oClock arrived at the mouth
of Shell river on the Lard Side and formed a camp for the
present, haveing passed a large creek about 4 miles below on
the Ld Side which we call Blowing fly Creek from the emence
quantities of those insects which geather on our meat in such
numbers that we are oblige to brush them off what we eate.
Muscle Shell River falls in on Lard Side 2270 miles up contains
a greater perportion of water than Rivers of its size
below, I measured it and find it to be 110 yards wide, the
water of a Greenish Yellow Colour, and appers to be navagable
for Small craft. The Minetarres inform us that this
river heads in the 1st. of the rockey Mountains & passes
through a broken Countrey. its head at no great distance
from the Yellow Stone River The Countrey about this river
as described yesterday

we took the Meredian altitude 59°. 50′. 0″. back observation and
found the Latd. to be 47°. 0′. 24″.

Observed time & Distance of Sun & Moons nearest limbs the Sun
East.

                         

	Time	Distance
	h m s
A M.	9 39 17	103°– 5′–15
	" 40 26–	103 4 45
	" 41 17	" 4 15
	" 42 45	" 4 0
	" 44 0	" 3 30
	" 45 2	" 3 15
	" 45 56	" 3 0
	" 46 51	" 2 0
	" 47 53	" 2 0
	" 48 57	" 1 45
	" 50 22	" 1 30

Cronomoter too fast mean time

 

h m s[20]

observed Equal altitudes with Sextent

             

	H m s
A M.	9 53 31
	″ 55 6
″ 56 44	altitude produced from this observation is 81° 58′ 15″
PM	″ ″ ″
	4 40 33
	4 42 10

Took the Magnetick azmoth of the Sun

           

	Cours	Time	Distance
		h m s
P M.	S 85° W	6 14 35	50° 00′ 00″
	S 83° W	6 19 31	48 20 15
	S 82° W	6 24 38	46 37 30
	S 80° W	6 34 42	43 15 30

The Missouri at the mouth of Shell River is 222 yards wide
with a smoth current the Missouri water is not so muddey as
below, but retains nearly its usial cholour, and the sand principally
confined to the points I killed two Deer & an Elk,
the hunters killed an Elk & several deer mearly for their skins
to make Leagins. Sent men out in every derection, the Countrey
generally verry broken some leavel plains up the Shell

river. The bottoms of the Shell river is well timbered as also
a small river which falls into that river on the upper Side 5
miles above its mouth. The hills on the Lard. contain scattering
Pine & cedar

Course & Distance May 20th. 1805

                   

	mile
South	1/2	allong the Stard. Side to the upper part of a Bluff (bad water.
S. 70°. E	1	to sand point on the Stard. Sid[e]
S. 20°. W	1/2	to the timber on the Stard. point
S. 10°. E	1/4	to the enterence of a large creek Lard Side
South	1 1/4	to the point of timber on the Lard Side opposit a Bluff S.S.
S. 30°. E	1 1/4	to a willow point on the Stard Side opposit a bluff on the Lard Side
South	1/4	allong the Std point opsd. a bluff
West	2	to a point of wood land on the Lard. Side below which the mouth of Shell river falls in on the Lard Side 2270 up
miles	7