The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 Part 30

[Clark, October 2, 1804]

2nd of October Tuesday 1804 Proceeded on as mentioned in journal No. 2 twelve miles Camped above a large Island on a Sand bar, verry windy and Cold the after part of this day, the mid day verry worm, The Latt.i.tude as taken to day is 44 19'

36"--observe great Caution this day expecting the Seaux intentions Some what hostile towards our progression, The river not So rapid as below the Chien, its width nearly the Same 12 miles

[Clark, October 3, 1804]

3rd of October Wednesday 1804 The N W. wind blew verry hard all night with Some rain, we Set out early, at 12 examoned our Stores & goods, Several bags Cut by the mice and Corn Scattered, Some of our Cloth also cut by them also papers &c. &c. at 1 oClock an Indian Came to the Bank S. S, with a turkey on his back 4 other soon joined him Some rain, Saw Brant & white guts flying Southerly

[Clark, October 3, 1804]

3rd of October Wednesday 1804 wind blew hard all night from the N W.

Some rain and verry Cold. we Set out at 7 oClock & proceeded on

[Clark, October 3, 1804]

3rd of October Wednesday 1804 The N. W. wind blew verry hard all night with Some rain a Cold morning, we Set out at 7 oClock and proceeded on at 12 oClock landed on a Bare L. S. examined the Perogus & factle of the boat to see if the mice had done any damage, Several bags Cut by them Corn Scattered &. Some of our Clothes also Spoiled by them, and papers &c. &. at 1 oClock an Indian Came to the bank S. S. with a turkey on his back, four others Soon joined him, we attempted Several Chanels and Could not find water to a.s.send, landed on a Sand bar & Concluded to Stay all night, & Send out and hunt a Chanell, Some rain this after noon--Saw Brant & white gulls flying Southerly in large flocks-

[Clark, October 4, 1804]

4th of October Thursday--the Wind blew all night from the N W. Some rain we were obliged to drop down 3 miles to get a Channel Sufficient Deep to pa.s.s Several Indians on the bank, Call'd to us frequently to Land, one gave 3 yels & Sciped a Ball before us, we payed no attention to them, while at Brackfast one Swam across to us, beged for Powder, we gave him a Small piece of Tobacco & put him over on a Sand bar, pa.s.sed a large Island in the middle of the river Good hope I. Pa.s.sed a small Creek L. S. pa.s.sed a creek L S Camped on a Sand bar at the upper point of an Island on which is the remains of an old ricara Village fortified Called La hoo It was circular, this Village appears to have been deserted about 5 or 6 years, 17 houses yet remain, the Island Contains but little timber, the evening verry Cold and wood Scerce, make use of Drift wood

[Clark, October 4, 1804]

4th of October Thursday 1804 the wind blew all night from the NW. Some rain, we were obliged to Drop down 3 miles to get the Chanel Suft. deep to pa.s.s up, Several Indians on the Sh.o.r.e viewing of us Called to us to land one of them gave 3 yels & Sciped a ball before us, we payed no attention to him, proceeded on and Came too on the L. S. to brackft one of those Indians Swam across to us beged for Powder, we gave him a piece of Tobacco & Set him over on a Sand bar, and Set out, the wind hard a head (1) pa.s.sed a Island in the middle of the river about 3 miles in length, we call Goodhope Island, (2) at 4 miles pa.s.sed a (2) Creek on the L. S. about 12 yards wide Capt. Lewis and 3 men walked on Sh.o.r.e & crossed over to an (3) Island Situated on the S. S. of the Current & near the Center of the river this Isld. is about 11/2 miles long & nearly 1/2 as wide, in the Center of this Island was an old Village of the rickeries Called La ho catt it was Circular and walled Containing 17 lodges and it appears to have been deserted about five years, the Island Contains but little timber. we Camped on the Sand bar makeing from this Island, the day verry Cool.

[Clark, October 5, 1804]

5th of October Friday 1804 Frost this morning, Set out early pa.s.sed a Small Creek on the L. S. saw 3 Tetons on the S. S. they beged Some Tobacco, we proceed on pa.s.sed a Creek on the S. S. I Saw a white brant in a gangue on the Sand bar Saw a large herd of Cabra or antelopes Swiming the River, we Killed four of them pa.s.sed a Small Island on the L. S. a large Creek on the L. S. at the head of the Island White Brant Creek, I walked on the Island which is covered with wild rye, I Killed a Buck & a Small wolf this evening, Clear pleasant evening, Camped on a mud bar S. S. refreshd the men with whiskey.

[Clark, October 5, 1804]

5th of October Friday 1804 Frost this morning, we Set out early and proceeded on (1) pa.s.sed a Small Creek on the L. S. at 7 oClock heard Some yels proceeded on Saw 3 Indians of the Teton band, they called to us to Come on Sh.o.r.e, beged Some Tobacco, we answd. them as usial and proceeded on, pa.s.sed (2) a Creek on the S. S. at 3 mes. abov the mouth we Saw one white Brant in a gang of about 30, the others all as dark as usial, a Discription of this kind of Gees or Brant Shall be given here after Saw a Gang of Goats Swiming across the river out of which we killed four they were not fatt. in the evening pa.s.sed a Small (3) Island Situated Close to the L. Side, at the head of this Isd. a large Creek coms in on the L.

S. Saw white or Brants, we Call this Creek white Brant Creek--I walked on the Isd. found it Covered with wild rye, I Shot a Buck, Saw a large gang of Goat on the hills opposit, one Buck killed, also a Prarie wolf this evening, the high Land not So high as below, river about the Same width, the Sand bars as noumerous, the earth Black and many of the Bluffs have the appearance of being on fire, we Came too and Camped on a mud bar makeing from the L. S. The evening is Calm and pleasant, refreshed the men with a gla.s.s of whiskey-

[Clark, October 6, 1804]

6th of October Satt.u.r.day 1804 Cold Wind from the N. Saw many large round Stones near the middle of the River pa.s.sed an old Ricara village of 80 Lodges Picketed in those lodges in nearly an octagon form, 20 to 60 feet Diameter Specious Covered with earth and as Close as they Can Stand, a number of Skin Canoes in the huts, we found Squashes of 3 different Kinds growing in the Village s.h.i.+elds Killed an Elk Close by- The Magpy is common here, we Camped off the mouth of Otter Creek on the S. S. this Creek is 22 yds. wide & heads near the R. Jacque,--contains much water.

[Clark, October 6, 1804]

6th October Satt.u.r.day 1804 a cool morning wind from the North Set out early pa.s.sed a willow Island (1) Situated near the S. Sh.o.r.e at the upper point of Som timber on the S. S. many large round Stones near the middle of the river, those Stones appear to have been washed from the hills (2) pa.s.sed a village of about 80 neet Lodges covered with earth and picketed around, those loges are Spicious of an Octagon form as close together as they can possibly be placed and appear to have been inhabited last Spring, from the Canoes of Skins Mats buckets & found in the lodges, we are of appinion they were the recrereis we found Squashes of 3 Different Kinds growing in the Village, one of our men killed an Elk Close by this Village, I saw 2 wolves in persute of another which appeared to be wounded and nearly tired, we proceeded on found the river Shole we made Severl. attempts to find the main Channel between the Sand bars, and was obliged at length to Drag the boat over to Save a league which we must return to get into the deepest Channel, we have been obgd to hunt a Chanl. for Some time past the river being devided in many places in a great number of Chanels, Saw Gees, Swan, Brants, & Ducks of Different kinds on the Sand bars to day, Capt Lewis walked on Sh.o.r.e Saw great numbers of Prarie hens, I observe but fiew Gulls or Pleaver in this part of the river, The Corvos or Magpye is verry Common in this quarter

We Camped on a large Sand bar off the mouth of Otter Creek on the S. S.

this Creek is about 22 yards wide at the mouth and contains a greater perpotion of water than Common for Creeks of its Sise

[Clark, October 7, 1804]

7th of October Sunday 1804 frost last night, pa.s.sed a River 90 yds.

wide the Ricaras Call Sur-war-kar-ne all the water of this river runs in a chanel of 20 yards, the Current appears jentle, I walked up this River a mile, Saw the tracks of white bear, verry large, also a old Ricara village partly burnt, fortified about 60 Lodges built in the Same form of those pa.s.sed yesterday, many Canoes & Baskets about the huts--about 10 oClock we Saw 2 Indians on the S. S. they asked for Something to eat & told us they were Tetons of the band we left below on ther way to the Ricaras we gave them meat & wind hard from the South, pa.s.sed a large open Island covered with gra.s.s and wild rye, I walked on the Isd & 4 men they Killed a Braroe & a Black tale Doe with a black breast, the largest Deer I ever saw, the great numbers of Grous on it, we call it Grous Island, Camped opposit the Island near the S.

Side.

[Clark, October 7, 1804]

7th of October Sunday 1804 a Cloudy morning, Some little rain frost last night, we Set out early proceeded on 2 miles to the mouth of a (1) river on the L. S. and brackfast this river whin full is 90 yards wide the water is at this time Confined within 20 yards, the Current appears jentle, this river throws out but little Sand at the mouth of this river we Saw the Tracks of White bear which was verry large, I walked up this river a mile- below the (2) mouth of this river, is the remains of a Rickorrie Village or Wintering Camp fortified in a circular form of a bout 60 Lodges, built in the Same form of those pa.s.sed yesterday This Camp appears to have been inhabited last winter, many of their willow & Straw mats, Baskets & Buffalow Skin Canoes remain intire within the Camp, the Ricares Call this river Sur-war-kar-na or Park from this river we proceeded on under a gentle Breeze from the S. W. at 10 oClock we Saw 2 Indians, on the S. S. they asked for Something to eate, & informed us they were part of the Beiffs De Medisons Lodge on their way to the Rickerreis, pa.s.sed (3) a willow Island in a bind to the S. S.

(4) at 5 miles pa.s.sd. a willow Island on the S. S.--wind hard from the South in the evening I walked on an (5) Island nearly the middle of the river Called Grous Island, one of the men killed a Shee Brarrow, another man killed a Black tail Deer, the largest Doe I ever Saw (Black under her breast) this Island is nearly 11/4 ms. Squar no timbr high and Covered with gra.s.s wild rye and Contains Great numbers of Grouse, we proceeded on a Short distance above the Island and Camped on the S.

S. a fine evening.

[Clark, October 8, 1804]

8th of October Monday 1804 a cool Morning wind from the N. W. pa.s.sed the mouth of a Small Creek on the L. S. about 21/2 Miles above the Isd.

Pa.s.sed the Mouth of a River on the L. S. called by the Ricaries We-tar-hoo. this river is 120 yards wide, the water Confined within 20 yards, throws out mud with little Sand, great quanties of red Berries, resembling Currents near the mouth of this river Latd. 45 39' 5 N. this river heads in the 1s Black Mountain, 2 Miles higher up pa.s.sed a Small River on the L. S. Called Maropa 25 yards wide Chocked up with mud--our hunters discovered a Ricara village on an Island a fiew miles above we pa.s.sed the 1s Ricara Village about the center of the Island, in presence of Great numbers of Spectators and Camped above the Island on the L. S. at the foot of Some high land. (Mr. Gravotine a French man joined us as an interpeter) The Island on which is Ricara Village is Situated, is about 3 miles long Seperated from the Main L. Side by a Narrow Deep Channel, those Indians Cultivate on the Island Corn Beens Simmins, Tobacco &c &c. after Landing Capt. Lewis with Mr. Gravelin and 3 men went to the Village, I formd a Camp on Sh.o.r.e with the Perogue crew & guard, with the Boat at Anchor, Capt Lewis returned late, a french man and a Spaniard accompanied him

[Clark, October 8, 1804]

8th of October Monday 1804 a Cool morning Set out early the wind from the N. W. proceeded on pa.s.sed the mouth of a Small Creek on the L. S. about 21/2 miles above Grouse Island, (3) pa.s.sed a willow Island which Divides the Current equilly. (2) pa.s.sed the mouth of a River called by the ricares We tar hoo on the L. S. this river is 120 yards wide, the water of which at this time is Confined within 20 yards, dischargeing but a Small quant.i.ty, throwing out mud with Small propotion of Sand, great quant.i.ties of the red Berries, ressembling Currents, are on the river in every bend--77 33' 0" Latt.i.tude from the Obsevation of to day at the mouth of this river is 45 39' 5"-North--proceeded on pa.s.sed a (3) Small river of 25 yards wide Called (4) or Beaver Dam R this river is intirely Chocked up with mud, with a Streem of 1 Inch Diamiter pa.s.sing through, discharging no Sand, at 1 (5) mile pa.s.sed the lower pint of an Island close on the L. S. 2 of our men discovered the reckerrei village, about the Center of the Island on the L. Side on the main Sh.o.r.e. this Island is about 3 miles long, Seperated from the L. S. by a Channel of about 60 yards wide verry Deep, The Isld. is covered with fields, where those people raise their Corn Tobacco Beens &c. &c. Great numbers of those People came on the Island to See us pa.s.s, we pa.s.sed above the head of the Island & Capt. Lewis with 2 interpeters & 2 men went to the Village I formed a Camp of the french & the guard on Sh.o.r.e, with one Sentinal on board of the boat at anchor, a pleasent evening all things arranged both for Peace or War, This Village (6) is Situated about the Center of a large Island near the L. Side & near the foot of Some high bald uneaven hills, Several french men Came up with Capt Lewis in a Perogue, one of which is a Mr. Gravellin a man well versed in the language of this nation and gave us Some information relitive to the Countrey naton &c

[Clark, October 8, 1804]

Orders October the 8th 1804 Robert Frazer being regularly inlisted and haveing become on of the Corps of Vollenteers for North Western Discovery, he is therefore to be viewed & respected accordingly; and will be anexed to Sergeant Ga.s.s's mess.