2 Shon go ton go " " Big Horse
We the a Miss. " Hospatality
Shon Guss Con Ottoe " White horse
Wau pe uh M.
Ah ho ning ga M.
Baza cou ja Ottoe
Ah ho ne ga M.
Those Chiefs all Delivered a Speech acknowledgeing Their approbation to
the Speech and promissing to prosue the advice & Derictions given them
that they wer happy to find that they had fathers which might be
depended on &c.
We gave them a Cannister of Powder and a Bottle of whiskey and
delivered a few presents to the whole after giveing a Br. Cth. Some
Paint guartering & a Meadele to those we made Cheifs after Capt Lewis's
Shooting the air gun a feiw Shots (which astonished those nativs) we
Set out and proceeded on five miles on a Direct line passed a point on
the S. S. & round a large Sand bar on the L. S. & Camped on the upper
point. The Misquitors excessively troublesom this evening Great
appearance of wind and rain to the N. W. we prepare to rec've it--The
man Liberty whome we Sent for the Ottoes has not Come up he left the
Ottoes Town one Day before the Indians. This man has eithered tired his
horse or, lost himself in the Plains Some Indians are to hunt for him,
The Situation of our last Camp Councill Bluff or Handssom Prarie
appears to be a verry proper place for a Tradeing establishment &
fortification The Soil of the Bluff well adapted for Brick, Great deel
of timbers abov in the two Points. many other advantages of a Small
nature. and I am told Senteral to Several nations Viz. one Days march
from the Ottoe Town, one Day & a half from the great Pania village, 2
days from the Mahar Towns, two 1/4 Days from the Loups Village, &
Convenient to the Countrey thro which Bands of the Soux hunt. perhaps
no other Situation is as well Calculated for a Tradeing establishment.
The air is pure and helthy So far as we can judge.-
[Clark, August 4, 1804]
August 4th at 7 oClock the heavens darkened and a violent wind from the
N W. Suckceeded which lasted about an hour, with a little rain.
Set out this morning early thro a narrow part of the, the whole Channel
Confined in Some parts between the (1) Sand on one Side & the bank on
the other (which is washing in) within 200 yards, this Chanl. Crouded
with Snags. at 11/2 m. passed an old tradeing house L. S. where one of
our Crew passed 2 years P. C tradeing with the Mahar; & Ponies-above 1
me. a (3) Creek Coms in opsd. a large bad (2) Sand bar this (3) Creek
is the outlett of 3 ponds, which recved ther water from the Smaller
Streams running from the hills on the L. S, Great qts. of Gees, passed
in the next bend L. S. an out let to the Pond, Butifull bottom Prarie
on both Sides of the river, Pumey Stone is found on the Sides of the
river of various Sizes. Wind a head. Reed the man who went back to the
Camp of last night for his Knife has not Come up this evening-we Camped
at a pt. on the L. S. at a Beaver house. 1 Buck Killed to daye.
[Clark, August 4, 1804]
August 4th Satturdaye
Set out early--(at 7 oClock last night we had a Violent wind from the N
W Som little rain Succeeded, the wind lasted with violence for one hour
after the wind it was clear Sereen and Cool all night.) proceeded on
passed thro betwen Snags which was quit across the Rivr the Channel
Confined within 200 yards one Side a Sand pt. S S. the other a Bend,
the Banks washing away & trees falling in constantly for 1 mile, abov
this place is the remains of an old Tradeing establishment L. S. where
Petr. Crusett one of our hands Stayed two years & traded with the
Mahars a Short distance above is a Creek (3) the out let of Three Ponds
comunicateing with each other, those Ponds or rether Lakes are fed by
Springs & Small runs from the hills. (2) a large Sand Island opposit
this Creek makeing out from the L. Point, from the Camp of last night
to this Creek, the river has latterly Changed its bed incroaching on
the L. Side, in this Sand bar I Saw great Nos. of wild gees--passed a
Small Creek on the L. S about 3 miles above the last both of those
Creek's are out lets from the Small Lake which reive their water from
the Small Streems running from the high land--great many Pamey Stones
on the Shore of various Sises the wind blew hard--Reed a man who went
back to Camp for his knife has not joined us. we camped at a Beaver
house on the L. S.one Buck Killed to day-
[Clark, August 5, 1804]
August 5th Set out early wind from N E. Great appearance of Wind &
rain, (I have remarked that I have not heard much thunder in this
Countrey) a verry large Snake was Killed to day called the Bull Snake,
his Colour Some thing like a rattle Snake Something lighter--the bends
of the river to day is washing away the banks, haveing nothing to
oppose the turbelance of the river when Confined by large hard Sand
Points, forceing this Current against the bends--the Soil of the entire
bottom between the high land, being the mud or Ooze of the river of
Some former period mixed with Sand & Clay easely melts and Slips, or
washies into the river the mud mixes with the water & the Sand collects
on the points Camped on the S. S.--I went on Shore S. S. this evening
Saw Some turkeys and in persueing them Struk the river 12 miles below
the place by water I went out, I think the Peninsuly is about 370 yards
across Subjuct to overflow; & washes into numerous Channels, Great
quantities of Graps ripe & of three Defferent Kind Some large & fine. I
Killed a Turkey, and made Camp in the Night, Musqutors verry
troubleson--Reed the man who went back for his Knife has not yet joined
us
[Clark, August 5, 1804]
5th of August Sunday 1804
Set out early great appearance of wind and rain (I have observed that
Thundor & lightning is not as common in this Countrey as it is in the
atlantic States) Snakes are not plenty, one was killed to day large and
resembling the rattle Snake only Something lighter-. I walked on Shore
this evening S. S. in Pursueing Some Turkeys I struck the river twelve
miles below within 370 yards, the high water passes thro this
Peninsulia; and agreeable to the Customary Changes of the river I
Concld. that in two years the main Current of the river will pass
through. In every bend the banks are falling in from the Current being
thrown against those bends by the Sand points which inlarges and the
Soil I believe from unquestionable appearns. of the entire bottom from
one hill to the other being the mud or ooze of the River at Some former
Period mixed with Sand and Clay easily melts and Slips into the River,
and the mud mixes with the water & the Sand is washed down and lodges
on the points--Great quantites of Grapes on the banks, I observe three
different Kinds at this time ripe, one Of the no. is large & has the
flaver of the Purple grape. camped on the S. S. the Musquitors verry
troubleson. The man who went back after his Knife has not yet come up,
we have Some reasons to believe he has Deserted
[Lewis, August 5, 1804]
August 5th 1804
Killed a serpent on the bank of the river adjoining a large prarie.
F Inch
Length from nose to tail 5 2
Circumpherence in largest part-- 41/2
Number of scuta on belly--221
Do. on Tale--53
No pison teeth therefore think him perfectly inocent--eyes, center
black with a border of pale brown yellow Colour of skin on head
yellowish green with black specks on the extremity of the scuta which
are pointed or triangular colour of back, transverse stripes of black
and dark brown of an inch in width, succeeded by a yellowish brown of
half that width the end of the tale hard and pointed like a cock's spur
the sides are speckled with yellowish brown and black.--two roes of
black spots on a lite yellow ground pass throughout his whole length on
the upper points of the scuta of the belly and tale 1/2 Inch apart this
snake is vulgarly called the cow or bull snake from a bellowing nois
which it is said sometimes to make resembling that anamal, tho as to
this fact I am unable to attest it never having heard them make that or
any other noise myself.
I have frequently observed an acquatic bird in the cours of asscending
this river but have never been able to procure one before today, this
day I was so fortunate as to kill two of them, they are here more
plenty than on the river below. they lay their eggs on the sand bars
without shelter or nest, and produce their young from the 15th to the
last of June, the young ones of which we caught several are covered
with down of a yellowish white colour and on the back some small specks
of a dark brown. they bear a great resemblance to the young quale of
ten days oald, and apear like them to be able to runabout and peck
their food as soon as they are hatched--this bird, lives on small fish,
worms and bugs which it takes on the virge of the water it is seldom
seen to light on trees an quite as seldom do they lite in the water and
swim tho the foot would indicate that they did it's being webbed I
believe them to be a native of this country and probly a constant
resident.
the weight of the male bird is one ounce and a half, its length from
beak to toe 71/2 inches from tip to tip of wing across the back one
foot seven inches and a half the beak is one 1/8 inch lonong, large
where it joins the head Elated on the sides and tapering to a sharp
point, a little declining and curvated, a fine yellow, with a shade of
black on the extremity of upper beak; the eye is prominent, black and
on a angular scale of 1/2 Inc; occupyse 3 1/3 in width. the upper part
of the head is black from the beak as low as the middle of the eye and
a little below the joining of the neck except however some white which
joins the upper part of the beak which forks and passing over the sides
of the forehead terminate above each eye--the under part of the bird,
that is the throat and cheeks as high as the eye, the neck brest belly
and under part of the wings and tail are of a fine white, the upper
part of the neck, back, and wings are of a fine, quaker colour, or
bright dove colour with reather more of a bluish tint-except however
the three first or larger feathers in the wing which on upper side are
of a deep black. the wing has four joints
No. Joint
Length of joint
No. of feathers
Length of do.
1
11/2
a Clump of feathers not strong but loosly connect with the flesh of the
wing
11/2
2
2
16
2
3
11/2
7
from 21/2 to 41/2
4
3/4
3
51/2
the tail has eleven feathers the outer of which are an inch longer than
those in the center gradually tapering inwards which gives the tale a
forked appearance like that of the swally the largest or outer feather
is 23/4 that of the shortest 13/4--the leg and thye are three inches
long the leg occupying one half this length the thye is covered with
feathers except about 1/4 of an inch above the knee the leg is of a
bright yellow and nails long sharp and black the foot is webbed and has
three toes forward; the heel or back toe is fixed to the leg above the
palm of the foot, and is unconnected by a web to the other toes, it has
no nail. the wings when foalded lap like those of the swallow and
extend at least an inch and a half beyond the tale. this bird is very
noysey when flying which is dose exttreemly swift the motion of the
wing is much like that of kildee it has two notes one like the squaking
of a small pig only on reather a high kee, and the other kit'-tee'-
kit'-tee'--as near as letters can express the sound--the beak of the
female is black and the black and quaker colour of the male in her is
yellowish brown mixed with dove colour
[Clark, August 6, 1804]
August 6th Monday 1804 at 12 oClock last night a Violent Storm of wind
& rain from the N. W. one perogue (Bapteest Le joness Patroon) lost her
Colours Set out early & proceeded on passed a large Island on the S. S.
back of this Island Rivie de Soldiert Come in on the S. S.--the
Solder's River is about the Sise of Nodaway 20 yd. wide at the mouth,
passed two remarkable places, where the River had once Passed--We have
every reason to belive that one man has Deserted Moses B. Reed he has
been absent three Days and one french man we Sent to the Indian Camps
has not joined us, we have reasons to beleve he lost himself in
attempting to join us at the Council Bluff--we are deturmind to Send
back 4 men to take reede Dead or alive, also hunt La Liberty and to
meet us at the Mahar nation as Soon as the order is executed.
[Clark, August 6, 1804]
6th August, Monday 1804
At 12 oClock last nigh a violent Storm of wind from the N W. Some rain
one pr. of Colours lost in the Storm from the bige Perogue. Set out
early and proceeded on passed a large Island on the S. S. back of this
Isd. Soldiers River mouths, I am told by one of the men that this river
is about the Size of Nadawa river 40 yards wide at the mouth. Reed has
not yet come up. neither has La Liberty the frenchman whome we Sent to
the Indian Camps a fiew miles below the Council Bluffs.
[Clark, August 7, 1804]
August 7th Tuesday last night about 8 oClock a Storm of wind from the
N. W. which lasted 3/4 of an hour mosquitors more troublesom last night
than I ever Saw them, Set out late this morning wind N.
[Clark, August 7, 1804]
7th August Tuesday 1804
last night at 8 oClock a Storm from the N W. lasted 3/4 of an hour let
out late this morning wind from the North--at 1 oClock dispatched
George Drewyer, R. Fields, Wm. Bratten & Wm. Labieche back after the
Deserter reid with order if he did not give up Peaceibly to put him to
Death &c. to go to the Ottoes Village & enquire for La Liberty and
bring him to the Mahars Village, also with a Speech on the occasion to
the Ottoes & Missouries--and directing a few of their Chiefs to come to
the Mahars, & we would make a peace between them & the Mahar and Souex,
a String of wompom & a Carrot of Tobacco. proceeded on and Camped on
the S. S.
I walked on Shore with one man Collies,-the bottoms Covered with very
Collin Killed an elk, I fired 4 times at one & have reasons to think I
Kiled him but could not find him, The Misqutors were So troublesom and
Misqutors thick in the Plains that I could not Keep them out of my
eyes, with a bush. in my absens Capt Lewis Killed a Pelican on Pelicans
Island, at which place maney Hundreds had Collected, they left 3 fish
which was. fresh and very good, we camped on the S. S. in a Streght
part of the river-
[Clark, August 8, 1804]
August the 8th 1804 Set out this morning at the usial time at about 2
miles (1) passed a part of the river So choked up with Snags that we
found a little dificult to get thro with Safty, the wind as usial from
the N W. one of the Soldiers Killed a Pilican on the Sand Isd. passed
the mouth of Little (2) River de Cueoux on the S. S. this river is
about 80 yards wide & navagable for Pirogus Some distance & runs
parrelel to the Missourie it corns in from the River from the N E, it
contains great Quantitys offish Common to the Countrey. two Miles above
is (3) an Island the Channel formerly run on the right with Sand.--the
Current runs to the left. many hundreds of Pelicans on this Island--we
call it Pelican Isld. Cap Lewis Killed one This river Soux Called by
the Sueoux Ed-Neah Wau-de-pon i'e Stone R heads in three Leagues of the
river Demoin, and passes thro a Lake about 20 Legues in Sircfs. which
is also within 5 Leagus of the Demoin, this lake at one place is
confined by two rocks within a narrow Space--this lake of Different
widths, with many Small Islands, from the Lake to the Mahars about
distant 4 Days march to the Dog Plains 90 Leagues, one Principal branch
of the Demoin is calld. Cat river, the Lake which this river Litt Souex
heads in is Called Despree
[Clark, August 8, 1804]
8th August Wednesday 1804
Set out this morning at the usial time at two miles passed (1) a bend
to L. S. Choaked up with Snags our boat run on two in turning to pass
through, we got through with Safty the wind from N W. (2) passed the
mouth of a River on the S. Side Called by the Soux Indians Ed-neah Wau
de pon (or Stone river) the French call this river Petite Rivre de
Cuouex it is about 80 yards wide and as (Mr. Durion Says whos been on
the heads of it and the Country abt) is navagable for Perogues Som
Distance runs Parrelel to the Missourie Some Distance, then falls down
from N E thro a roleing Countrey open, the head of this river is 9
miles from the R Demon at which place the Demoin is 80 yd wide, this
Little Cuouex passes thro a lake called Despree which is within 5
Leagues of the Deemoin the Said Lake is about 20 Leagues in
Circumfrance and is divided into 2 by two rocks approaching Verry near
each other, this Lake is of various width, Containing many Islands-
from this Lake to the Maha 4 days march, as is Said to be near the Dog
Plains one princpal branch of the Demoin is Called Cat River The Demoin
is Sholey
Capt. Lewis took Medn. Altitude of the Sun made it 56° 9' 00" Lat 41° 42'
34" and I took one man and went on Shore the man Killed an Elk I fired
4 times at one & did not Kill him, my ball being Small I think was the
reason, the misqutors So bad in the Praries that with the assistance of
a bush I could not Keep them out of my eyes, the boat turned Several
tims to day on Sand bars--in my absenc the boat passed a Island 2 miles
above the litte Scouex R on the upper point of the Isld Some hundreds
of Pelicans were Collected, they left 3 fish on the Sand which was
verry fine, Capt Lewis Killed one & took his dimentions, I joined the
boat and we Camped on the S S.
worthe of remark that Snakes are not plenty in this part of the
Missourie
[Lewis, August 8, 1804]
August 8th 1804
we had seen but a few aquatic fouls of any kind on the river since we
commenced our journey up the Missouri, a few geese accompanied by their
young, the wood duck which is common to every part of this country &
crains of several kinds which will be discribed in their respective
places--this day after we had passed the river Souix as called by Mr.
MacKay (or as is more properly called the stone river,) I saw a great
number of feathers floating down the river those feathers had a very
extraordinary appearance as they appeared in such quantities as to
cover pretty generally sixty or seventy yards of the breadth of the
river. for three miles after I saw those feathers continuing to run in
that manner, we did not percieve from whence they came, at length we
were surprised by the appearance of a flock of Pillican at rest on a
large sand bar attatched to a small Island the number of which would if
estimated appear almost in credible; they apeared to cover several
acres of ground, and were no doubt engaged in procuring their ordinary
food; which is fish, on our approach they flew and left behind them
several small fish of about eight inches in length, none of which I had
seen before--the Pellican rested again on a sand bar above the Island
which we called after them from the number we saw on it. we now
approached them within about three hundred yards before they flew; I
then fired at random among the flock with my rifle and brought one
down; the discription of this bird is as follows.