The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 Part 27

The White turkey of the black hills from information of a french lad who wintered with the Chien Indians About the size of the common wild turkey the plumage perfectly white--this bird is booted as low as the toes-

[Clark, September 18, 1804]

Septr. 18 I Killed a prarie wolf to day about the Sise of a Gray fox with a bushey tail the head and ears like a Fox wolf, and barks like a Small Dog--The annimale which we have taken for the Fox is this wolf, we have seen no Foxes.

18 Septr. Tuesday Set out early wind from the N W. Modrt. our boat being much litened goes much better than usial

[Clark, September 18, 1804]

September 18th Tuesday 1804 Wind from the N W. we Set out early the boat much lightened, the wind a head proceed on verry Slowly (1) Pa.s.sed an I a Island about the middle of the river at 1 Mile this Island is about a mile long, and has a great perpotion of red Cedir on it, a Small Creek comes in on the S. S.

opposit the head of the Island, proceeded on pa.s.sed many Sand bars and Camped on the L. S. before night the wind being verry hard & a head all Day. the hunters Killed 10 Deer to day and a Prarie wolf, had it all jurked & Skins Stretchd after Camping I walked on Sh.o.r.e Saw Goats, Elk, Buffalow, Black tail Deer, & the Common Deer, I Killed a Prarie Wollf, about the Size of a gray fox bushey tail head & ear like a wolf, Some fur Burrows in the ground and barks like a Small Dog.

what has been taken heretofore for the Fox was those wolves, and no Foxes has been Seen; The large wolves are verry numourous, they are of a light Colr. large & has long hair with Corrs fur.

Some Goats of a Different Kind Wer Seen yesterday Great many Porcupin rabits & Barking Squirils in this quarter. Plumbs & grapes.

[Lewis, September 18, 1804]

Sept. 18th this day saw the first brant on their return from the north-

[Clark, September 19, 1804]

(1) & (2) pa.s.sed a large Island Situated nearest the S. S. 1/2 a mile from the Lower pt. of this Island, the 1st of the 3 rivers mouths which is about 35 yards wide, running from the N E. one mile above the 2nd Comes in this is Small not more that 15 yards wide a Short Distance above a 3d comes in scattering its waters thro a bottom. I walked on Sh.o.r.e to See this great Pa.s.s of the Sioux and Calumet ground, found it a handsom Situation, and Saw the remains of their Campt on the 2d river, for many years pa.s.sed--(3) pa.s.sed a Creek on the L. S. 15 yds wide we (4) pa.s.sed a Creek 20 yds wide (5) pa.s.sed a Creek 20 yd. wide on the L. S. I call Night C. as I did not get to it untill late at night, above the mouth of this Creek we camped, the wind being favourable, for the boat I Killed a fat Buffalow Cow, and a fat Buck elk, york my Servent Killed a Buck, the Huntes Killed 4 Deer, & the boat Crew killed 2 Buffalow Swiming the river, handsom Countrey of Plains, I saw many trovs of Buffalow & a Gangue of 30 or 40 Elk and othr Scattering elk &c. a find evening I hurt my hands & feet last night

[Clark, September 19, 1804]

19th of September Wednesday 1804 Set out early, a Cool morning verry Clear the wind from the S. E a Bluff on the L. S.--here Commences a Butifull Countrey on both Sides of the Missourie, (2) pa.s.sed a large Island Called Prospect Island op posit this Isd. the 3 rivers Coms in, pa.s.sing thro a butifull Plain, here I walked on Sh.o.r.e & Killed a fat Cow & Sent her to the boat and proceeded on to the first of the 3 rivers, this river is about 35 yards wide Contains a good deel of water, I walked up this river 2 miles & Cross, the bottom is high and rich Some timber, I crossed & returned to the mouth, & proceeded up one mile to the 2d river which is Small 12 yards wide, and on it but little timber, on this Creek the Seaux has frequently Camped, as appears by the Signs--the lands betwen those two Creeks in a purpindicular bluff of about 80 feet with a butifull Plain & gentle a.s.sent back--a Short distance above the 2nd a 3rd Creek Comes into the river in 3 places Scattering its waters over the large timbered bottom, this Creek is near the Size of the middle Creek Containing a greater quant.i.ty of water, those rivers is the place that all nations who meet are at peace with each other, Called the Seaux pa.s.s of the 3 rivers.

The boat proceeded on pa.s.sd. the Island (3) pa.s.sed a Creek 15 yds wide on the L. Side (4) pa.s.sed a Creek on the L. S. 20 yards wide which I Call Elm Creek pa.s.sing thro a high Plain (5) pa.s.sed a Creek on the L.

S. 18 yds. wide above which the boat Came too, I joined them late at night, and Call this Creek Night Creek the winds favourable all Day, I killed a fat buck Elk late and could only get his Skin and a Small part of his flesh to Camp. My Servent Killed a Buck, the Crew in the boat Killed 2 buffalow in the river--The Hunters on Sh.o.r.e Killed 4 Deer with black tails one of which was a Buck with two men p.r.o.ngs on each Side forked equally, which I never before Seen. I saw Several large gangs of Buffaloes 2 large Herds of Elk & goats &c. (6) pa.s.s a Small Island on the S. S. opposit to this Island on the L. S. a Creek of about 10 yards wide Coms in pa.s.sing thro a plain in which great quant.i.ties of the p.r.i.c.kley Pear grows. I call this Creek p.r.i.c.kley Pear Creek, This Isld.

is Called the lower Island it is Situated at the Commencement of what is Called & Known by the Grand de Tortu or Big Bend of the Missourie.

[Clark, September 20, 1804]

September the 20th Thursday 1804 Detchd. 3 men across the Big bend (Called the Grand deTour) with the horse, to stay and hunt & jurk provisions untill we get around (1) pa.s.sed a Island on the S. S. the river Crouded with Sand bars,

20th of September 1804 Thursday (Continued) (1) at the N W. extremity of this bend pa.s.sed an Small Island on the L.

S. opposit the upper Point of this Solitary Island Came too to _____ at the mouth of a Small run on the S. S. & Newmon & Tomson picked up Some Salt mixed with the Sand in the run, Such as the ottoes Indians Collect on the Sands of the Corn de Cerf R. & make use of, Camped on a Sand bar on the S. S. above the Island--I went out to examine the portage which I found quit Short 2000 yards only, the Prarie below & Sides of the hills containing great quant.i.tes of the p.r.i.c.kly Piar which nearly ruind my feet, I saw a hare, & I beleve he run into a hole, he run on a hill & disapeared, I Saw on this hill several holes. I Saw Several Goats Elk Ders &c. & Buffalow in every Detection feeding. R. Fields Killed a Deer & 2 Goats one a female, which differs from the male as to Size being Something Smaller, Small Straight horns without any black about the neck Camped late

[Clark, September 20, 1804]

20th of September, Thursday 1804 a fair morning wind from the S E detached 2 men to the 1st. Creek abov the big bend with the horse to hunt and wait our arrival proceeded on pa.s.sed the lower Island opposit which the Sand bars are verry thick & the water Shoal. I walked on Sh.o.r.e with a view of examining this bend Crossed at the narost part which is a high irregular hills of about 180 or 190 feet, this place the gorge of the Bend is 1 mile & a quarter (from river to river or) across, from this high land which is only in the Gouge, the bend is a Butifull Plain thro which I walked, Saw numbrs of Buffalow & Goats, I saw a Hare & believe he run into a hole in the Side of a hill, he run up this hill which is Small & has Several holes on the Side & I could not See him after, I joined the boat in the evening--pa.s.sed a Small Island on the L. S. in the N. W. extremity of the bind Called Solitary Island, and Camped late on a Sand bar near the S. S.--R. Fields killed 1 Deer & 2 Goats one of them a feemale--She Differs from the mail as to Size being Smaller, with Small Horns, Stright with a Small p.r.o.ng without any black about the neck None of those Goats has any Beard, they are all Keenly made, and is butifull

[Lewis, September 20, 1804]

Septr. 20th on the lard. sh.o.r.e at the commencement of the big bend observed a clift of black porus rock which resembled Lava tho on a closer examination I believe it to be calcarious and an imperfect species of the French burr--preserved a specemine, it is a brownish white, or black or yellowish brown-

[Clark, September 21, 1804]

21st of September 1804 Friday 1804, last night or reather this morng at a half past one oClock the Sand bar on which we Camped began to give way, which allarmed the Serjt on guard & the noise waked me, I got up and by the light of the moon observed that the Sand was giving away both above & beloy and would Swallow our Perogues in a few minits, ordered all hands on board and pushed off we had not got to the opposit Sh.o.r.e before pt. of our Camp fel into the river. we proceeded on to the Gorge of the bend & brackfast, the Distance of this bend around is 30 miles, and 11/4 miles thro, the high lands extinds to the gauge and is about 200 feet the plain in the bend as also the two opposit Sides abov and below is delightfull plains with graduel a.s.sents from the river in which there is at this time Great number of Buffalow Elk & Goats feedg The Course from the gauge on the L. S. is S. 70 W. 41/2 Miles to the pt. of Ceder Timber on the L. S. pa.s.s Sands. worthy of remark the Cat fish not So plenty abov white river & much Smaller than usial, Great nunbers of Brant & plover, also goat and black tail Deer.

[Clark, September 21, 1804]

21st of September Friday 1804 at half past one oClock this morning the Sand bar on which we Camped began to under mind and give way which allarmed the Sergeant on Guard, the motion of the boat awakened me; I get up & by the light of the moon observed that the land had given away both above and below our Camp & was falling in fast. I ordered all hands on as quick as possible & pushed off, we had pushed off but a few minets before the bank under which the Boat & perogus lay give way, which would Certainly have Sunk both Perogues, by the time we made the opsd. Sh.o.r.e our Camp fell in, we made a 2d Camp for the remainder of the night & at Daylight proceeded on to the Gouge of this Great bend and Brackfast, we Sent a man to measure step off the Distance across the gouge, he made it 2000 yds.

The distance arround is 30 mes. The hills extend thro the gouge and is about 200 foot above the water--in the bend as also the opposite Sides both abov and below the bend is a butifull inclined Plain in which there is great numbers of Buffalow, Elk & Goats in view feeding & Scipping on those Plains Grouse, Larks & the Prarie bird is Common in those Plains. we proceeded on pa.s.sed a (1) willow Island below the mouth of a Small river called Tylors R about 35 yds. wide which corns in on the L. S. 6 miles above the Gorge of the bend, at the mouth of this river the two hunters a head left a Deer & its Skin also the Skin of a white wolfwe observe an emence number of Plover of Different kind Collecting and takeing their flight Southerly, also Brants which appear to move in the same Direction. The Cat fish is Small and not So plenty as below (2) The Sh.o.r.e on each Side is lined with hard rough Gulley Stones of different Sides, which has roled from the hills & out of Small brooks, Ceder is comon here, This day is worm, the wind which is not hard blows from the S. E, we Camped at the lower point of the Mock Island on the S. S. this now Connected with the main land, it has the appearance of once being an Island detached from the main land Covered with tall Cotton wood--we Saw Some Camps and tracks of the Seaux which appears to be old three or four weeks ago--one frenchman I fear has got an abscess on his they, he complains verry much we are makeing every exertion to releiv him The Praries in this quarter Contains Great qts.

of p.r.i.c.kley Pear.

[Clark, September 22, 1804]

22nd September Satt.u.r.day 1804 a thick fog this morning untill 7 oClock which detained us, Saw Some old tracks of the Indians on the S. S. proceeded on--one French man with a abscess on his thigh which pains him verry much for 10 or 12 Days a butifull Plain on both Sides low high land under which there is a number of lage Stone, we See great numbers of Buffalow feeding

[Clark, September 22, 1804]

A continuation of notes taken a.s.sending the Missourie in 1804-by W.

Clark Satt.u.r.day the 22nd of September 1804- A Thick fog this morning detained us untill 7 oClock, The plains on both Sides of the River is butifull and a.s.sends gradually from the river; noumerous herds of Buffalow to be Seen in every derections, (1) Took the alt.i.tude of the Sun & found the Latt.i.tude to be 44 11' 33" N- (2) pa.s.sed a Small Island on the L. S. and one on the S. S. imediately above, & about 3 m. long, on the L. S. opposit this Island a Creek of about 15 yds wide mouthes, Called the Creek of the 3 Sisters (3) pa.s.sed Cedar Island 11/2 M. long & 1 M. wide Situated a little above the last and nearest the S. S.near the upper part of this Island on its S. Side a Tradeing fort is Situated built of Cedar-by a Mr. Louiselle of St Louis, for the purpose of Tradeing with the Teton Bands of Soues (or "Sieux") about this Fort I saw numbers of Indians Temporary Lodges, & horse Stables, all of them round and to a point at top, I observed also numbers of Cotton Trees fallen for the purpose of feeding their horses on the Bark of the limbs of those trees which is Said to be excellent food for the horses--we came too on the S. S. below a Small Island called Goat island, pa.s.sed a no. of large round Stones, Som distance in the river as also in the Sides of the hills,--I walked on the Sh.o.r.e this evening and Killed a verry large Deer--our hunters Killed 2 Deer & a Beaver, they Complain of the Mineral quallities of the high land distroying their mockersons-.

[Clark, September 22, 1804]

22nd of September Satt.u.r.day 1804 a thick fog this morning detained us untill 7 oClock pa.s.sed a butifull inclined Prarie on both Sides in which we See great numbers of Buffalow feeding--(1) took the Meridean alt.i.tude of the Suns upper Leimb. 92 50'

00" the s.e.xSecnt the Latd. produced from this Obsivation is 44 11' 33"

3/10 North (2) pa.s.sed a Small Island on the L. S. imediately above pa.s.sed a Island Situated nearest the L. S. abt. 3 miles long, behind this Isd. on the L. S. a Creek Comes in about 15 yards wide, this Creek and Islands are Called the 3 Sisters a butifull Plain on both Sides of the river (3) pa.s.sed a Island Situated nearest the S. S. imedeately above the last Called Ceder Island this Island is about 11/2 miles long & nearly as wide Covered with Ceder, on the South Side of this Island Mr. Louiselle a trader from St. Louis built a fort of Ceder & a good house to trate with the Seaux & wintered last winter; about this fort I observed a number of Indian Camps in a Conicel form,--they fed their horses on Cotton limbs as appears. here our hunters joined us havening killed 2 Deer & a Beaver, they Complain much of the Mineral Substances in the barren hills over which they pa.s.sed distroying their mockersons.

(4) we proceeded on and Camped late on the S. Side below a Small Island in the bend S. S. Called Goat Island. The large Stones which lay on the Sides of the banks in Several places lay Some distance in the river, under the water and is dangerous &.