Part III: Journal Entries of August 1806

[Clark, August 1, 1806]
 Sunday 1st of August 1806.
 We Set out early as usial the wind was high and ahead which caused the
 water to be a little rough and delayed us very much aded to this we had
 Showers of rain repeetedly all day at the intermition of only a fiew
 minits between them. My Situation a very disagreeable one. in an open
 Canoe wet and without a possibility of keeping my Self dry. the Country
 through which we passed is in every respect like that through which I
 passed yesterday. The brooks have all Some water in them from the rains
 which has fallen. this water is excessively muddy. Several of those
 brooks have Some trees on their borders as far as I can See up them. I
 observe Some low pine an cedar on the Sides of the rugid hills on the
 Stard. Side, and Some ash timber in the high bottoms. the river has
 more Sand bars today than usial, and more Soft mud. the current less
 rapid. at 2 P.M. I was obliged to land to let the Buffalow Cross over.
 not withstanding an island of half a mile in width over which this
 gangue of Buffalow had to pass and the Chanel of the river on each Side
 nearly 1/4 of a mile in width, this gangue of Buffalow was entirely
 across and as thick as they could Swim. the Chanel on the Side of the
 island the went into the river was crouded with those animals for 1/2
 an hour. the other Side of the island for more than 3/4 of an hour. I
 took 4 of the men and killed 4 fat Cows for their fat and what portion
 of their flesh the Small Canoes Could Carry that which we had killed a
 few days ago being nearly Spoiled from the wet weather. encamped on an
 Island Close to the Lard Shore two gangues of Buffalow Crossed a little
 below us, as noumerous as the first.
 
 
 [Clark, August 2, 1806]
 Monday August 2nd 1806.
 Musquetors very troublesom this morning I Set out early river wide and
 very much divided by islands and Sand and Mud bars. the bottoms more
 extencive and contain more timber Such as Cotton wood ash willow &c.
 The Country on the N W. Side rises to a low plain and extends leavel
 for great extent. Some high rugid hills in the forepart of this day on
 the S E. Side on which I saw the big horns but could not get near them.
 Saw emence numbers of Elk Buffalow and wolves to day. the wolves do
 catch the elk. I saw 2 wolves in pursute of doe Elk which I beleive
 they Cought they very near her when She entered a Small wood in which I
 expect they cought her as She did not pass out of the small wood during
 my remaining in view of it which was 15 or 20 minits &c. passed the
 enterance of Several brooks on each Side, a Small river 30 yds wide
 with Steep banks on the Stard. Side, which I call Ibex River the river
 in this days decent is less rapid crouded with Islds and muddy bars and
 is generally about one mile in wedth. as the islands and bars
 frequently hide the enterance of Brooks &c. from me as I pass'd maney
 of them I have not noticed. about 8 A. M this morning a Bear of the
 large vicious Species being on a Sand bar raised himself up on his hind
 feet and looked at us as we passed down near the middle of the river.
 he plunged into the water and Swam towards us, either from a
 disposition to attack't or from the Cent of the meat which was in the
 Canoes. we Shot him with three balls and he returned to Shore badly
 wounded. in the evening I saw a very large Bear take the water above
 us. I ordered the boat to land on the opposit Side with a view to
 attack't him when he Came within Shot of the Shore. when the bear was
 in a fiew paces of the Shore I Shot it in the head. the men hauled her
 on Shore and proved to be an old Shee which was so old that her tuskes
 had worn Smooth, and Much the largest feemale bear I ever Saw. after
 taking off her Skin, I proceeded on and encampd a little above the
 enterance of Jo. Feilds Creek on Stard. Side in a high bottom Covered
 with low Ash and elm. the Musquetors excessively troublesom.
 I have noticed a great preportion Buck Elks on this lower part of the
 river, and but very few above. those above which are emencely noumerous
 are feemales Generally. Shields killed a Deer this morning dureing the
 time we were at Brackfast. we were very near being detained by the
 Buffalow today which were Crossing the river we got through the line
 between 2 gangues.
 
 
 [Clark, August 3, 1806]
 Tueday August 3rd,1806.
 last night the Musquetors was so troublesom that no one of the party
 Slept half the night. for my part I did not Sleep one hour. those
 tormenting insects found their way into My beare and tormented me the
 whole night. they are not less noumerous or troublesom this morn-ing.
 at 2 miles passed the enterance of Jo. Field's Creek 35 yds wide
 imediately above a high bluff which is falling into the river very
 fast. on the Side of this bluff I saw Some of the Mountain Bighorn
 animals. I assended the hill below the Bluff. the Musquetors were So
 noumerous that I could not Shute with any Certainty and therefore Soon
 returned to the Canoes. I had not proceeded far before I saw a large
 gangue of ewes & yearlins & fawns or lambs of the bighorn, and at a
 distance alone I saw a ram. landed and Sent Labeech to kill the ram,
 which he did kill and brought him on board. this ram is not near as
 large as maney I have Seen. however he is Sufficiently large for a
 Sample I directed Bratten to Skin him with his head horns & feet to the
 Skin and Save all the bone. I have now the Skin & bone of a Ram a Ewe &
 a yearlin ram of those big Horn animals. at 8. A.M. I arived at the
 junction of the Rochejhone with the Missouri, and formed my Camp
 imediately in the point between the two river at which place the party
 had all encamped the 26th of April-1805. at landing I observed Several
 Elk feeding on the young willows in the point among which was a large
 Buck Elk which I shot & had his flesh dryed in the Sun for a Store down
 the river. had the Canoes unloaded and every article exposed to dry &
 Sun. Maney of our things were wet, and nearly all the Store of meat
 which had been killed above Spoiled. I ordered it to be thrown into the
 river. Several Skins are also Spoiled which is a loss, as they are our
 principal dependance for Clothes to last us to our homes &c.
 The distance from the Rocky Mountains at which place I struck the River
 Rochejhone to its enterance into the Missouri 837 Miles 636 Miles of
 this distance I decended in 2 Small Canoes lashed together in which I
 had the following Persons. John Shields, George Gibson, William
 Bratten, W. Labeech, Toust. Shabono his wife & child & my man York. The
 Rochejhone or Yellow Stone river is large and navagable with but fiew
 obstructions quite into the rocky mountains. and probably near it's
 source. The Country through which it passes from those Mounts. to its
 junction is Generaly fertile rich open plains the upper portion of
 which is roleing and the high hills and hill Sides are partially
 covered with pine and Stoney. The middle portion or from the enterance
 of Clarks Fork as low as the Buffalow Shoals the high lands Contain
 Some Scattering pine on the Lard. Side. on the Stard. or S. E. Side is
 Some hills thickly Supplied with pine. The lower portion of the river
 but fiew pines are to be Seen the Country opens into extencive plains
 river widens and Contains more islands and bars; of corse gravel sand
 and Mud. The Current of this river may be estimated at 4 Miles and 1/2
 pr. hour from the Rocky Mts. as low as Clarks Fork, at 31/2 Miles pr.
 hour from thence as low as the Bighorn, at 3--Miles pr. hour from
 thence as low as the Tongue river, at 23/4 Miles pr. hour from thence
 as low as Wolf rapid and at 21/2 miles pr. hour from thence to its
 enterance into the Missouri
 The Colour of the Water differs from that of the Missouri it being of a
 yellowish brown, whilst that of the Missouri is of a deep drab Colour
 containing a greater portion of mud than the Rochejhone. This
 delighfull river from indian information has it's extreem sources with
 the North river in the Rocky mountains on the confines of New Mexico.
 it also most probably has it's westerly sources connected with the
 Multnomah and those the main Southerly branch of Lewis's river while
 it's Easterly branches head with those of Clark's R. the bighorn and
 River Platte and may be said to water the middle portion of the Rocky
 Mountains from N W to S. E. for several hundred miles. the indians
 inform us, that a good road passes up this river to it's extreem source
 from whence it is buta short distance to the Spanish settlements. there
 is also a considerable fall on this river within the mountains but at
 what distance from it's source we never could learn like all other
 branches of the Missouri which penetrate the Rocky Mountains all that
 portion of it lying within those mountains abound in fine beaver and
 Otter, it's streams also which issuing from the rocky mountain and
 discharging themselves above Clark's fork inclusive also furnish an
 abundance of beaver and Otter and possess considerable portions of
 small timber in their values. to an establishment on this river at
 clarks Fork the Shoshones both within and West of the Rocky Mountains
 would willingly resort for the purposes of trade as they would in a
 great measure be relived from the fear of being attacked by their
 enimies the blackfoot Indians and Minnetares of fort de Prarie, which
 would most probably happen were they to visit any establishment which
 could be conveniently formed on the Missouri. I have no doubt but the
 same regard to personal safety would also induce many numerous nations
 inhabiting the Columbia and Lewis's river West of the mountains to
 visit this establishment in preference to that at the entrance of
 Maria's river, particularly during the first years of those Western
 establishments. the Crow Indians, Paunch Indians Castahanah's and
 others East of the mountains and south of this place would also visit
 this establishment; it may therefore be looked to as one of the most
 important establishments of the western fur trade. at the entrance of
 Clark's fork there is a sufficiency of timber to support an
 establishment, an advantage that no position possesses from thence to
 the Rocky Mountains. The banks of the yellowstone river a bold not very
 high yet are not subject to be overflown, except for a few miles
 immediately below where the river issues from the mountain. the bed of
 this river is almost entirely composed of loose pebble, nor is it's bed
 interrupted by chains of rock except in one place and that even
 furnishes no considerable obstruction to it's navigation. as you decend
 with the river from the mountain the pebble becomes smaller and the
 quantity of mud increased untill you reah Tongue river where the pebble
 ceases and the sand then increases and predominates near it's mouth.
 This river can be navigated to greater advantage in perogues than any
 other craft yet it possesses suficient debth of water for battauxs even
 to the mountains; nor is there any of those moving sand bars so
 formidable to the navigation of many parts of the Missouri. The Bighorn
 R and Clark's fork may be navigated a considerable distance in perogues
 and canoes. Tongue river is also navigable for canoes a considerable
 distance.
 
 
 [Clark, August 4, 1806]
 Wednesday 4th August 1806
 Musquetors excessively troublesom So much So that the men complained
 that they could not work at their Skins for those troublesom insects.
 and I find it entirely impossible to hunt in the bottoms, those insects
 being So noumerous and tormenting as to render it imposseable for a man
 to continue in the timbered lands and our best retreat from those
 insects is on the Sand bars in the river and even those Situations are
 only clear of them when the Wind Should happen to blow which it did to
 day for a fiew hours in the middle of the day. the evenings nights and
 mornings they are almost indureable perticelarly by the party with me
 who have no Bears to keep them off at night, and nothing to Screen them
 but their blankets which are worn and have maney holes. The torments of
 those Missquetors and the want of a Sufficety of Buffalow meat to dry,
 those animals not to be found in this neighbourhood induce me to
 deturmine to proceed on to a more eliagiable Spot on the Missouri below
 at which place the Musquetors will be less troublesom and Buffalow more
 plenty. (I will here obseve that Elk is Abundant but their flesh & fat
 is hard to dry in the Sun, and when dry is much easirSpoiled than
 either the Buffalow or Deer) I ordered the Canoes to be reloaded with
 our baggage & dryed meat which had been Saved on the Rochejhone
 together with the Elk killed at this place. wrote a note to Capt Lewis
 informing him of my intentions and tied it to a pole which I had Stuck
 up in the point. At 5 P. M Set out and proceeded on down to the 2d
 point which appeared to be an eligable Situation for my purpose killed
 a porcupine on this point the Musquetors were So abundant that we were
 tormented much worst than at the point. The Child of Shabono has been
 So much bitten by the Musquetor that his face is much puffed up &
 Swelled. I encamped on this extensive Sand bar which is on the N W.
 Side.
 
 
 [Clark, August 5, 1806]
 Thursday 5th August 1806.
 The Musquetors was So troublesom to the men last night that they Slept
 but very little. indeed they were excessive troublesom to me. my
 Musquetor Bear has a number of Small holes worn through they pass in. I
 Set out at an early hour intending to proceed to Some other Situation.
 I had not proceded on far before I Saw a ram of the big horn Animal
 near the top of a Lard. Bluff I assended the hill with a view to kill
 the ram. the Misquetors was So noumerous that I could not keep them off
 my gun long enough to take Sight and by thair means missed. at 10 a.m.
 the wind rose with a gentle breeze from the N. W. which in Some measure
 thinned the Misquetors. I landed on a Sand bar from the South Point
 intending to form a Camp at this place and Continue untill Capt Lewis
 Should arive. and killed two Buck Elks and a Deer the best of their
 flesh & fat I had Saved. had all the dryed meat & fat put out to Sun
 and continued at this place untill late in the evening finding that
 there were no buffalow or fresh Sign I deturmined to proceed on
 accordingly Set out at 4 P. M and proceeded on but a fiew miles eeir I
 saw a Bear of the white Species walking on a Sand bear. I with one man
 went on the Sand bear and killed the Bear which proved to be a feemale
 very large and fat. much the fattest animale we have killed on the rout
 as this bear had got into the river before we killed her I had her toed
 across to the South Side under a high Bluff where formed a Camp, had
 the bear Skined and fleaced. our Situation was exposed to a light
 breeze of wind which continued all the forepart of the night from the S
 W. and blew away the misquetors.
 
 
 [Clark, August 6, 1806]
 Friday 6th August 1806
 I rose very wet. about 11 P M last night the wind become very hard for
 a fiew minits Suckceeded by Sharp lightning and hard Claps of Thunder
 and rained for about 2 hours very hard after which it continued Cloudy
 the balance of the night. as we were about Setting out a female Big
 horn animal came on the bluff imediately above us and looked down. I
 derected Labeech to Shoot it which he did, after Skinning this animal
 we Set out and proceeded on to a Sand bar on the S W. Side below the
 enterance of White earth river where I landed and had the meat Skins
 and bedding all put out to dry. wind hard from the N W. I halted on the
 N W. Side of this river in the bend above the white earth river, where
 I saw where the Indians had been digging a root which they eate and use
 in Seup, not more than 7 or 8 days past. This morning a very large Bear
 of white Specis, discovered us floating in the water and takeing us, as
 I prosume to be Buffalow imediately plunged into the river and prosued
 us. I directed the men to be Still. this animal Came within about 40
 yards of us, and tacked about. we all fired into him without killing
 him, and the wind So high that we could not pursue him, by which means
 he made his escape to the Shore badly wounded. I have observed buffalow
 floating down which I suppose must have been drounded in Crossing
 above. more or less of those animals drown or mire in passing this
 river. I observed Several floating buffalow on the R. Rochejhone
 imediately below where large gangues had Crossed. The wind blew hard
 all the after part of the day. I derected the men to dress their Skins
 except one which I took with me and walkd. through the bottom to the
 foot of the hills I killed five deer and the man with me killed 2. four
 others were killed in the Course of the day by the party only 2 of
 those deer were fat owing as I suppose to the Musquetors which are So
 noumerous and troublesom to them that they Cannot feed except under the
 torments of millions of those Musquetors.
 
 
 [Clark, August 7, 1806]
 Saturday 7th August 1806
 Some hard rain this morning after daylight which wet us all. I formed a
 Sort of Camped and delayed untill 11 a.m. when it Stoped raining for a
 short time. I directed every thing put on board and proceeded on down.
 the rain Continued at intervales all day tho not hard in the evenig Saw
 a Bear on the bank but Could not get a Shoot at it. at 6 P M I landed
 on a Sand bar on the South Side and Campd. Soon after we landed the
 wind blew very hard for about 2 hours, when it lulled a little. the air
 was exceedingly Clear and Cold and not a misquetor to be Seen, which is
 a joyfull circumstance to the Party.
 
 
 [Clark, August 8, 1806]
 Sunday 8th August 1806
 A cool windey morning I derected Shields and Gibson to turn out and
 hunt this morning. at 8 A.M. Sergt. N. Pryor Shannon, hall & Windsor
 Came down the river in two Canoes made of Buffalow Skins. Sergt. Pryor
 informed me that the Second night after he parted with me on the river
 Rochejhone he arived about 4 P M on the banks of a large Creek which
 contained no running water. he halted to let the horses graze dureing
 which time a heavy Shower of rain raised the Creek so high that Several
 horses which had Stragled across the Chanel of this Creek was obliged
 to Swim back. here he deturmined to Continue all night it being in good
 food for the horses. In the morning he could See no horses. in lookg
 about their Camp they discovered Several tracks within 100 paces of
 their Camp, which they pursued found where they had Caught and drove
 off all the horses. they prosued on five miles the Indians there
 divided into two parties. they Continued in pursute of the largest
 party five miles further finding that there was not the Smallest Chance
 of overtakeing them, they returned to their Camp and packed up their
 baggage on their backs and Steared a N. E. course to the River
 Rochejhone which they Struck at pompys Tower, there they killed a
 Buffalow Bull and made a Canoe in the form and shape of the mandans &
 Ricares (the form of a bason) and made in the following manner. Viz: 2
 Sticks of 11/4 inch diameter is tied together So as to form a round
 hoop of the Size you wish the canoe, or as large as the Skin will allow
 to cover, two of those hoops are made one for the top or brim and the
 for the bottom the deabth you wish the Canoe, then Sticks of the Same
 Size are Crossed at right angles and fastened with a throng to each
 hoop and also where each Stick Crosses each other. then the Skin when
 green is drawn tight over this fraim and fastened with throngs to the
 brim or outer hoop So as to form a perfect bason. one of those Canoes
 will carry 6 or 8 Men and their loads. Those two Canoes are nearly the
 Same Size 7 feet 3 inches diamieter & 16 inchs deep 15 ribs or Cross
 Sticks in each. Sergt. Pryor informs me that the Cause of his building
 two Canoes was for fear of ones meating with Some accedent in passing
 down the rochejhone a river entirely unknown to either of them by which
 means they might loose their guns and amunition and be left entirely
 destitute of the means of precureing food. he informed me that they
 passed through the worst parts of the rapids & Shoals in the river
 without takeing a drop of water, and waves raised from the hardest
 winds dose not effect them. on the night of the 26th ulto. the night
 after the horses had been stolen a Wolf bit Sergt. Pryor through his
 hand when asleep, and this animal was So vicious as to make an attempt
 to Seize Windsor, when Shannon fortunately Shot him. Sergt. Pryers
 hand has nearly recovered. The Country through which St. Pryor Passed
 after he parted with me is a broken open Country. he passed one Small
 river which I have Called Pryors river which rises in a Mtn. to the
 South of Pompys tower. The note I left on a pole at the Mouth of the
 River Rochejhone Sergt. Pryor concluding that Capt. Lewis had passed
 took the note and brought it with him. Capt. Lewis I expect will be
 certain of my passing by the Sign which I have made and the encampment
 imediately in the point. Sergt. Pryor bing anxious to overtake me Set
 out Some time before day this morning and forgot his Saddlebags which
 contains his papers &c. I Sent Bratten back with him in Serch of them.
 I also Sent Shannon over to hunt the bottom on the opposit Side.
 Shields and Gibson returned at 10 A.M. with the Skins and part of the
 flesh of three deer which they had killed in this bottom. I derected
 them to take one of the Skin Canoes and proceed down to the next bottom
 and untill my arival which will be this evening if Sergt. Pryor returns
 in time. My object is to precure as many Skins as possible for the
 purpose of purchaseing Corn and Beans of the Mandans. as we have now no
 article of Merchindize nor horses to purchase with, our only resort is S
 kins which those people were very fond the winter we were Stationed
 near them. after dark Sergt. Pryor returned with his Saddlebeggs &c.
 they were much further up than he expected.
 
 
 [Clark, August 9, 1806]
 Monday 9th August 1806
 a heavy dew this morning. loaded the Canoes and proceeded on down about
 6 miles and landed at the Camp of the 2 hunters Shields and Gibson
 whome I had Sent down to hunt last evening, they had killed five deer
 two of which were in good order which they brought in. here I took
 brackfast and proceeded on a fiew miles and I walked on Shore across a
 point of near 10 miles in extent in this bottom which was mostly open I
 saw Some fiew deer and Elk. I killed 3 of the deer which were Meagure
 the Elk appeared fat. I did not kill any of them as the distance to the
 river was too great for the men to Carry the meat at the lower part of
 this bottom a large Creek of runnig water 25 yds wide falls in which
 meanders through an open roleing plain of great extent. in the low
 bottoms of this Creek I observed Some timber Such as Cottonwood, ash &
 Elm. on my arival at the lower part of the bottom found that the canoes
 had been in waiting for me nearly two hours. The Squar brought me a
 large and well flavoured Goose berry of a rich Crimsin Colour, and deep
 purple berry of the large Cherry of the Current Speces which is common
 on this river as low as the Mandans, the engagees Call it the Indian
 Current. I landed opposit to a high plain on the S. E. Side late in the
 evening and walked in a Grove of timber where I met with an Elk which I
 killed. this Elk was the largest Buck I ever Saw and the fattest animal
 which have been killed on the rout. I had the flesh and fat of this Elk
 brought to Camp and cut thin ready to dry. the hunters killed nothing
 this evening.
 
 
 [Clark, August 10, 1806]
 Tuesday 10th August 1806
 had the flesh of the elk hung on poles to dry, and Sent out the the
 hunters. wind blew hard from the East all day. in the after part of the
 day it was cloudy & a fiew drops of rain. I finished a Copy of my
 Sketches of the River Rochejhone. Shields killed a black tail deer & an
 antilope. the other hunters killed nothing. deer are very Scerce on
 this part of the river. I found a Species of Cherry in the bottom the
 Srub or bush which are differant from any which I have ever Seen and
 not very abundant even in this Small tract of country to which it Seems
 to be confined. the Stem is compound erect and subdivided or branching
 without any regular order. it rises to the hight of 8 or 10 feet Seldom
 putting out more than one Stem from the Same root not growing in cops
 as the Choke Cherry does. the bark is Smooth and of a dark brown
 colour. the leaf is petialate, oval accutely pointed at it's apex, from
 1 and a 1/4 to one and a 1/2 inch in length and from a half to 3/4 of
 an inch in wedth, finely or manutely Serrate, pale green and free from
 bubessance. The fruit is a globular berry about the Size of a buck Shot
 of a fine Scarlet red; like the cherries cultivated in the U. States
 each is supported by a Seperate Celindric flexable branch peduncle
 which issues from the extremities of the boughs. the peduncle of this
 cherry Swells as it approaches the fruit being largest at the point of
 insertion. the pulp of this fruit is of an agreeable ascid flavour and
 is now ripe. the Style and Stigma are permanent. I have never Seen it
 in blume. it is found on the high Stiff lands or hill Sides-. the men
 dug great parcel of the root which the Nativs call Hankee and the
 engagees the white apple which they boiled and made use of with their
 meat. This is a large insipid root and very tasteless. the nativs use
 this root after it is dry and pounded in their Seup.
 
 
 [Clark, August 11, 1806]
 Wednesday 11th August 1806
 I set out early this morning. at 10 A.M. landed on a Sand bar and
 brackfast dureing brackfast and my delay at this place which was 2
 hours had the Elk meat exposed to the Sun. at Meridian I set out and
 had not proceeded more than 2 miles before I observed a Canoe near the
 Shore. I derected the Canoes to land here I found two men from the
 illinoies Jos. Dixon, and ____ Handcock those men are on a trapping
 expedition up the River Rochejhone. They inform me that they left the
 Illinois in the Summer 1804. the last winter they Spent with the Tetons
 in Company with a Mr. Coartong who brought up goods to trade The tetons
 robed him of the greater part of the goods and wounded this Dixon in
 the leg with a hard wad. The Tetons gave Mr. Coartong Some fiew robes
 for the articles they took from him. Those men further informed me that
 they met the Boat and party we Sent down from Fort Mandan near the
 Kanzas river on board of which was a Chief of the Ricaras, that he met
 the Yankton Chiefs with Mr. Deurion, McClellen & Several other traders
 on their way down. that the Mandans and Menitarrais wer at war with the
 Ricaras and had killed two of the latter. the Assinniboins were also at
 war with the Mandans &c and had prohibited the N W. traders from
 Comeing to the Missouri to trade. they have latterly killed one Trader
 near the Mous River and are now in wait for Mr. McKenzey one of the
 Clerks who have been for a long time with Menetarias. Those dificulties
 if true will I fear be a bar to our expectations of having the Mandan
 Minetarra & Ricara Chief to acompany us to the U. States. Tho we Shall
 endeaver to bring abot a peace between Mandans Mennetaries & Ricaras
 and provail on Some of their Cheifs to accompany us to the U. States.
 proceeded on to a point on the S W Side nearly opposit the enterance of
 Goat pen creek and encamped found the Musquetors excessively troublesom.
 
 
 [Clark, August 12, 1806]
 Thursday 12th August 1806
 I set out early this morning and had not proceeded on far before
 Shannon discovered he had lost his Tomahk. I derected him to land his
 Skin Canoe and go back to our Camp of last night in Serch of it, and
 proceeded on my self with the two wood and one Skin Canoe to a large
 hottom on the N. E Side above the head of Jins island and landed to
 take brackfast as well as to delay untill Shannon & Gibson Should
 arive. Sent out Shields & Labiech to hunt deer in the bottom, at 2 P m.
 Shannon and gibson arived having found the tomahawk at our camp they
 killed 3 Elk &c. one of the Canoes of Buffalow Skin by accident got a
 hole peirced in her of about 6 inches diamuter. I derected two of the
 men to patch the Canoe with a piece of Elk skin over the hole, which
 they did and it proved all Sufficient, after which the Canoe did not
 leak one drop. The two hunters returned without haveing killed any
 thing. at meridian Capt Lewis hove in Sight with the party which went
 by way of the Missouri as well as that which accompanied him from
 Travellers rest on Clarks river; I was alarmed on the landing of the
 Canoes to be informed that Capt. Lewis was wounded by an accident-. I
 found him lying in the Perogue, he informed me that his wound was
 slight and would be well in 20 or 30 days this information relieved me
 very much. I examined the wound and found it a very bad flesh wound the
 ball had passed through the fleshey part of his left thy below the hip
 bone and cut the cheek of the right buttock for 3 inches in length and
 the debth of the ball. Capt L. informed me the accident happened the
 day before by one of the men Peter Crusat misstakeig him in the thick
 bushes to be an Elk. Capt Lewis with this Crusat and Several other men
 were out in the bottom Shooting of Elk, and had Scattered in a thick
 part of the woods in pursute of the Elk. Crusat Seeing Capt L. passing
 through the bushes and takeing him to be an Elk from the Colour of his
 Cloathes which were of leather and very nearly that of the Elk fired
 and unfortunately the ball passed through the thy as aforesaid. Capt
 Lewis thinking it indians who had Shot him hobbled to the canoes as
 fast as possible and was followered by Crusat, the mistake was then
 discovered. This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one eye,
 he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed
 the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole rout.--After Capt. Lewis
 and my Self parted at Travellers rest, he with the Indians proceeded
 down the West Side of Clarks river Seven miles and crossed on rafts 2
 miles below the East fork 120 yards wide, after Crossing the river he
 proceeded up the North Side of the east fork and encampd. here the
 Indians left him and proceeded down Clarks river in Serch of the
 Tushepaws. an Indian man Came up with Cap L. from the W. of the
 mountains and proceeded on with those who had accompanied us. Capt. L.
 proceeded up the E. fork of Clarks river 17 ms. to the enterance of
 Cokahlarishkit river or the river to buffalow, he proceeded up on the
 North Side of this river which is 60 yards wide crossing Several Small
 Streams and the N. fork, and passing over part of the dividing mountain
 onto the waters of Deabourns river in the plains and in a Derection to
 the N. extremity of Easte range of rocky mountains which pass the
 Missouri at the pine Island Rapid. from thence he bore his Course to
 the N E untill he Struck Meadcin river near where that river Enters the
 rocky Mts. and proceeded down Medicine river to the Missouri at the
 white bear Islands at the upper part of the portage. this rout is a
 very good one tho not the most derect rout, the most derect rout would
 be to proceed up the Missouri above Dearborns river and take a right
 hand road & fall on a South branch of the Cokatlarishkit R. and proceed
 down that river to the main road but the best rout would be from the
 falls of the Missouri by fort mountain and passing the N. extremity of
 that range of the Rocky Mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine
 Island rapid Course nearly S. W. and to the gap through which the great
 road passeds the dividing mountain the distance from the falls to this
 gap about 45 miles through a tolerable leavel plain on an old indian
 road. and the distance from thence to Clarks river is 105 miles. The
 total distance from the falls of the Missouri to Clarks river is only
 150 miles of a tolerable road--Capt L. arived at the white Bear Islands
 and encampd. on the West Side of the Missouri and in the morning he
 discovered that the Indians had taken of Seven of his best horses,
 drewyer prosued the indians two day's on the rout towards Clarks river.
 he Saw their camp on Dearborns river near the road on which Capt. Lewis
 & party Come on a by place where they had left only one or two day at
 this encampment he Saw great appearanc of horses--on the return of
 Drewyer Capt L. took Drewyer & the 2 fieldses & proceeded on his
 intended rout up Marias river leaving Sergt. Gass, Thompson, Frazier,
 Werner, McNeal & Goodrich at the portage to prepare Geer and repar the
 wheels & Carrage against the arival of the Canoes and he also left 4
 horses for the purpose of hauling the Canoes across. The Canoes arrived
 on the 16th, and on the 26th they had all except one across, the Plains
 becom So muddy from the emence rains which had fallen, that they Could
 not get her over the portage. on the 28th they joined Capt Lewis at the
 Grog Spring a fiew miles above the enterance of Marias river From the
 Falls of Missouri Capt. L. proceeded on with Drewyer & the 2 fieldses
 Courss
 On the 26th of July Capt Lewis Set out on his return to the enterance
 of Marias river to meet with the party with, the Canoes from the falls.
 his course was through the plains
 S. E. 5 Miles--passing a Small Creek from the mts
 S. 70° E. 9 Miles to a principal branch of Marias River 65 yards wide not
 very deep at 7 mile. this last branch is Shallow and rapid about the
 Size of the former from the S W. both of those Streams Contain a great
 preportion of timber--here we find the 3 Specis of Cotton before
 mentioned
 N 80° E. 4 miles down Marias river and met with 8 Indians of the
 Blackfoot nation with about 30 horses, those Indians professed
 friendship and Set out with him and encamped together the night of the
 26th of July, thy informed him that there was two large bands of their
 nation in that quarter one of which would be at the enterance of Marias
 river in a fiew days. they also informed that a french Trader was with
 one of those bands, that they traded with the white people on the
 Suskashwen River at 6 easy days march or about 150 miles distant from
 whome they precured Guns Powder Lead blankets &c. in exchange for wolf
 and beaver Skins. Capt Lewis gave them a Flag Meadel & Handkerchief
 Capt. L. informed those Indians where he was from & where he had been
 and his objects & friendly views &c. of which they appeared to be well
 Satisfied.
 "on the morning of the 27th at day light the indians got up and crouded
 around the fire, Jo. Field who was on post had carelessly laid his gun
 down behind him near where his brother was Sleeping. one of the Indians
 Slipd. behind him and took his gun and that of his brother unperceived
 by him, at the Same instant two others advanced and Seized the guns of
 Drewyer and Capt Lewis who were yet asleep. Jo. Fields Seeing this
 turned about to take his gun and Saw the fellow running off with his
 and his brothers, he called to his brother who instantly jumped up and
 prosued the indian with him whome they overtook at the distance of 50
 or 60 paces Siezed their guns and rested them from him and R. Field as
 he Seized his gun Stabed the indian to the heart with his knif who fell
 dead; (this Cap L. did not know untill Some time after.) drewyer who
 awoke at the first alarm jumped up and Seized & rested his gun from the
 indian &c. Capt L. awoke and asked what was the matter Seeing Drewyer
 in a Scuffle for his gun he turned to get his gun and found her gorn,
 he drew a pistol from his holsters and prosued the Indian whom he Saw
 in possession of his gun making off he presented the pistol and the
 indian lay down the gun. the two Fields Came up and drew up to Shoot
 the Indian which Capt L. forbid the indians then attempted to drive off
 all the horses. Capt L. derected the men to fire on them if they
 attempted to drive off the horses, and prosued two fellows who
 Continued to drive of his horses he Shot the indian who had taken his
 gun and then in possession of his horse through the belly, he fell and
 raised on his elbow and fired at Capt L. the other made his escape into
 a nitch out of Sight with his bow and arrows and as Capt L. guns was
 empty and he without his Shot pouch he returnd. to the Camp where the 2
 fields and Drewyer joind him having prosued the indians across the
 river the were now in possession of the most of their own as well as
 the indian horses and a gun Several bows & arrows and all the indians
 baggage the gun & Some feathers and flag they took and burnt all the
 other articles. and Saddled up a many of the best horses as they wished
 with Some Spear horses, and Set out for to intersept the party at
 Marias river and proceded on a little to the S. of East 112 Miles to
 the Missouri at the Grog Spring. here they met with Canoes and party
 decending joined them leaving their horses on the river bank, and
 proceeded on to the enterance of Marias river opened the deposits,
 found Several articles damaged. 3 Beaver traps could not be found, the
 red perogue unfit for Service, from thenc they proceeded without delay
 to the River Rochejhone See cources of Capt Lewis rout in next book."
 at 2 P.M. Shannon & Gibson arived in the Skin Canoe with the Skins and
 the greater part of the flesh of 3 Elk which they had killed a fiew
 miles above. the two men Dixon & Handcock the two men we had met above
 came down intending to proceed on down with us to the Manclans. at 3 P
 M we proceded on all together having left the 2 leather Canoes on the
 bank. a little below the enterance of (Jos) Shabonos Creek we Came too
 on a large Sand point from the S. E. Side and Encamped. the wind blew
 very hard from the S W. and Some rain. I washed Capt L. wound which has
 become Sore and Somewhat painfull to him.
 
 
 [Clark, August 13, 1806]
 Friday 13th August 1806
 the last night was very Cold with a Stiff breeze from the N. W. all
 hands were on board and we Set out at Sunrize and proceeded on very
 well with a Stiff breeze astern the greater part of the day. passed the
 enterance of the Little Missouri river at 8 A.M. and arived at the
 Enterance of Myry river at Sun Set and encamped on the N E Side haveing
 came by the assistance of the wind, the Current and our oars 86 miles.
 below the little bason I with Drewyer walked through the N. E point. we
 Saw an Elk and Several deer. Drewyer wounded the Elk but could not get
 him. I joined the perogus & party again in the bend below and proceeded
 on. Some indians were Seen in a Skin Canoe below, they were decending
 from an old Camp of theirs on the S. W. Side, those I Suppose to be
 Some of the Minetaras who had been up on a hunting expedition, one
 Canoe was left at their Camp. we had not proceeded far before I
 discovered two indians on a high hill. nothing very remarkable took
 place. the Misquetors are not So troublesom this evening as they have
 been. the air is cool &c.
 
 
 [Clark, August 14, 1806]
 Thursday 14th August 1806
 Set out at Sunrise and proceeded on. when we were opposit the Minetares
 Grand Village we Saw a number of the Nativs viewing of we derected the
 Blunderbuses fired Several times, Soon after we Came too at a Croud of
 the nativs on the bank opposit the Village of the Shoe Indians or
 Mah-har-ha's at which place I saw the principal Chief of the Little
 Village of the Menitarre & the principal Chief of the Mah-har-has.
 those people were extreamly pleased to See us. the Chief of the little
 Village of the Menetarias cried most imoderately, I enquired the Cause
 and was informed it was for the loss of his Son who had been killed
 latterly by the Blackfoot Indians. after a delay of a fiew minits I
 proceeded on to the black Cats Village on the N. E. Side of the
 Missouri where I intended to Encamp but the Sand blew in Such a manner
 that we deturmined not to continu on that Side but return to the Side
 we had left. here we were visited by all the inhabitants of this
 village who appeared equally as well pleased to See us as those above.
 I walked up to the Black Cats village & eate some Simnins with him, and
 Smoked a pipe this Village I discovered had been rebuilt Since I left
 it and much Smaller than it was; on enquirey into the Cause was
 informed that a quarrel had taken place and Lodges had removed to the
 opposd Side. I had Soon as I landed despatched Shabono to the
 Minetarras inviting the Chiefs to visit us, & Drewyer down to the lower
 Village of the Mandans to ask Mr. Jessomme to Come and enterpret for
 us. Mr. Jessomme arived and I spoke to the chiefs of the Village
 informing them that we Spoke to them as we had done when we were with
 them last and we now repeeted our envitation to the principal Chiefs of
 all the Villages to accompany us and to the U States &c. &c. the Black
 Cat Chief of the Mandans, Spoke and informed me that he wished to Visit
 the United States and his Great Father but was afraid of the Scioux who
 were yet at war with them and had killed Several of their men Since we
 had left them, and were on the river below and would Certainly kill him
 if he attempted to go dow.i. I indeavered to do away with his
 objections by informig him that we would not Suffer those indians to
 hurt any of our red Children who Should think proper to accompany us,
 and on their return they would be equally protected, and their presents
 which would be very liberal, with themselves, Conveyed to their own
 Country at the expence of the U. States &c. &c. The chief promised us
 Some corn tomorrow. after the Council I directed the Canoes to cross
 the river to a brook opposit where we Should be under the wind and in a
 plain where we would be Clear of musquetors & after Crossing the Chief
 of the Mah har has told me if I would Send with him he would let me
 have some corn. I directed Sergt Gass & 2 men to accompany him to his
 Village, they Soon returned loaded with Corn. the Chief and his wife
 also came down. I gave his wife a fiew Needles &c.--The Great Chif of
 all the Menitarres the one eye Came to Camp also Several other Chiefs
 of the different Villages. I assembled all the Chiefs on a leavel Spot
 on the band and Spoke to them & see next book.
 
 
 [Clark, August 15, 1806]
 Thursday August 15th 1806 Continued Mandans Vilg
 after assembling the Chiefs and Smokeing one pipe, I informed them that
 I Still Spoke the Same words which we had Spoken to them when we first
 arived in their Country in the fall of 1804. we then envited them to
 visit their great father the president of the U. States and to hear his
 own Councils and receive his Gifts from his own hands as also See the
 population of a government which Can at their pleasure protect and
 Secur you from all your enimies, and chastize all those who will Shut
 their years to his Councils. we now offer to take you at the expense of
 our Government and Send you back to your Country again with a
 considerable present in merchendize which you will recive of your great
 Father. I urged the necessity of their going on with us as it would be
 the means of hastening those Supples of Merchindize which would be Sent
 to their Country and exchanged as before mentioned for a moderate price
 in Pelteries and furs &c. the great Chief of the Menetaras Spoke, he
 Said he wished to go down and See his great father very much, but that
 the Scioux were in the road and would most certainly kill him or any
 others who Should go down they were bad people and would not listen to
 any thing which was told them. when he Saw us last we told him that we
 had made peace with all the nations below, Since that time the Seioux
 had killed 8 of their people and Stole a number of their horses. he
 Said that he had opened his ears and followed our Councils, he had made
 peace with the Chyennes and rocky mountains indians, and repieted the
 same objecctions as mentioned. that he went to war against none and was
 willing to receive all nations as friends. he Said that the Ricaras had
 Stolen from his people a number of horses at different times and his
 people had killed 2 Ricaras. if the Sieoux were at peace with them and
 Could be depended on he as also other Chiefs of the villages would be
 glad to go and See their great father, but as they were all afraid of
 the Sieoux they Should not go down &c.
 The Black Cat Chief of the Mandans Village on the North Side of the
 Missouri Sent over and requested me to go over to his village which
 envertation I axceptd and crossed over to his village. he had a parcel
 of Corn about 12 bushuls in a pile in his lodge. he told me that his
 people had but little corn part of which they had given me. after
 takeing a Smoke he informed me that as the Sieoux were very troublesom
 and the road to his great father dangerous none of this village would
 go down with us. I told the Cheifs and wariers of the village who were
 there present that we were anxious that Some of the village Should go
 and See their great father and hear his good words & recve his
 bountifull gifts &c. and told them to pitch on Some Man on which they
 could rely on and Send him to See their Great father, they made the
 Same objections which the Chief had done before. a young man offered to
 go down, and they all agreeed for him to go down the charector of this
 young man I knew as a bad one and made an objection as to his age and
 Chareckter at this time Gibson who was with me informed me that this
 young man had Stole his knife and had it then in his possession, this I
 informed the Chief and directed him to give up the knife he delivered
 the knife with a very faint apology for his haveing it in his
 possession. I then reproached those people for wishing to Send Such a
 man to See and hear the words of So great a man as their great father;
 they hung their heads and Said nothing for Some time when the Cheif
 Spoke and Said that they were afraid to Send any one for fear of their
 being killed by the Sieux. after Smoking a pipe and relateing Some
 passages I recrossed to our Camp-. being informed by one of our
 enterpreters that the 2d Chief of the Mandans Comonly Called the little
 Crow intended to accompany us down, I took Charbono and walked to the
 Village to See this Chief and talk with him on the Subject. he told me
 he had deturmined to go down, but wished to have a council first with
 his people which would be in the after part of the day. I smoked a pipe
 with the little Crow and returned to the boat. Colter one of our men
 expressed a desire to join Some trappers who offered to become Shearers
 with and furnish traps &c. the offer a very advantagious one, to him,
 his Services Could be dispenced with from this down and as we were
 disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed
 their duty as well as Colter had done, we agreed to allow him the
 prvilage provided no one of the party would ask or expect a Similar
 permission to which they all agreeed that they wished Colter every
 Suckcess and that as we did not wish any of them to Seperate untill we
 Should arive at St. Louis they would not apply or expect it &c. The
 Maharha Chief brought us Some Corn, as did also the Chief of the little
 village of the Menetarras on mules of which they have Several. The
 evening is Cool and windy. great number of the nativs of the different
 villages Came to view us and exchange robes with our men for their
 Skins--we gave Jo Colter Some Small articles which we did not want and
 Some powder & lead. the party also gave him Several articles which will
 be usefull to him on his expedittion.--This evening Charbono informed
 me that our back was scercely turned before a war party from the two
 menetarry villages followed on and attacked and killed the Snake
 Indians whome we had Seen and in the engagement between them and the
 Snake indians they had lost two men one of which was the Son of the
 principal Chief of the little village of the menitarras. that they had
 also went to war from the Menetarras and killed two Ricaras. he further
 informed me that a missunderstanding had taken place between the
 Mandans & minetarras and had verry nearly come to blows about a woman,
 the Menitarres at length presented a pipe and a reconsilliation took
 place between them
 
 
 [Clark, August 16, 1806]
 Friday 16th August 1806
 a cool morning. Sent up Sergt. Pryor to the mandan village, for Some
 Corn which they offered to give us. he informed that they had more Corn
 collected for us than our Canoes Could Carry Six load of which he
 brought down. I thanked the Chief for his kindness and informed him
 that our Canoes would not Carry any more Corn than we had already
 brought down. at 10 A. M the Chiefs of the different villages came to
 See us and Smoke a pipe &c. as our Swivel Could no longer be
 Serveceable to us as it could not be fireed on board the largest
 Perogue, we Concluded to make a present of it to the Great Chief of the
 Menetaras (the One Eye) with a view to ingratiate him more Strongly in
 our favour I had the Swivel Charged and Collected the Chiefs in a
 circle around it and adressed them with great ceremoney. told them I
 had listened with much attention to what the One Eye had Said yesterday
 and beleived that he was Sincere & Spoke from his heart. I reproached
 them very Severely for not attending to what had been Said to them by
 us in Council in the fall of 1804 and at different times in the winter
 of 1804 & 5, and told them our backs were Scercely turned befor a party
 followed and killed the pore defenceless snake indians whom we had
 taken by the hand & told them not to be afraid that you would never
 Strike them again &c. also mentioned the ricers &c. The little Cherry
 old Chief of the Menetarras Spoke as follows Viz: "Father we wish to go
 down with you to See our Great Father, but we know the nations below
 and are afraid of the Scioux who will be on the river and will kill us
 on our return home. The Scioux has Stolen our horses and killed 8 of
 our men Since you left us, and the Ricaras have also Struck us. we
 Staid at home and listened to what you had told us. we at length went
 to war against the Scioux and met with Ricaras and killed two of them,
 they were on their way to Strike us. We will attend to your word and
 not hurt any people all Shall be Welcom and we Shall do as you
 direct-." The One Eye Said his ears would always be open to the word of
 his great father and Shut against bad Council &c. I then a good deel of
 Ceremony made a preasent of the Swivel to the One Eye Chief and told
 him when he fired this gun to remember the words of his great father
 which we had given him. this gun had anounced the words of his great
 father to all the nations which we had Seen &c. &c. after the council
 was over the gun was fired & delivered, they Chief appeared to be much
 pleased and conveyed it immediately to his village &c. we Settled with
 and discharged Colter. in the evening I walked to the village to See
 the little Crow and know when he would be ready, took with me a flag
 intending to give him to leave at his lodge but to my astonishment he
 informed me he had declined going down the reason of which I found was
 through a jellousy between himself and the principal Chief he refused a
 flag & we Sent for Mr. Jessomme and told him to use his influn to
 provail on one of the Chiefs to acompany us and we would employ him. he
 informed us soon after that the big white Chief would go if we would
 take his wife & Son & Jessoms wife & 2 children we wer obliged to agree
 to do
 
 
 [Clark, August 17, 1806]
 Saturday 17th of August 1806
 a Cool morning gave some powder & Ball to Big White Chief Settled with
 Touisant Chabono for his Services as an enterpreter the pric of a horse
 and Lodge purchased of him for public Service in all amounting to 500$
 33 1/3 cents. derected two of the largest of the Canoes be fastened
 together with poles tied across them So as to make them Study for the
 purpose of Conveying the Indians and enterpreter and their families
 we were visited by all the principal Chiefs of the Menetarras to take
 their leave of us at 2 oClock we left our encampment after takeing
 leave of Colter who also Set out up the river in Company with Messrs.
 Dickson & Handcock. we also took our leave of T. Chabono, his Snake
 Indian wife and their Son Child who had accompanied us on our rout to
 the pacific Ocean in the Capacity of interpreter and interpretes. T.
 Chabono wished much to accompany us in the Said Capacity if we could
 have provailed the Menetarre Chiefs to dcend the river with us to the
 U. States, but as none of those chiefs of whoes language he was
 Conversent would accompany us, his Services were no longer of use to
 the U States and he was therefore discharged and paid up. we offered to
 convey him down to the Illinois if he Chose to go, he declined
 proceeding on at present, observing that he had no acquaintance or
 prospects of makeing a liveing below, and must continue to live in the
 way that he had done. I offered to take his little Son a butifull
 promising Child who is 19 months old to which they both himself & wife
 wer willing provided the Child had been weened. they observed that in
 one year the boy would be Sufficiently old to leave his mother & he
 would then take him to me if I would be so freindly as to raise the
 Child for him in Such a manner as I thought proper, to which I agreeed
 &c.--we droped down to the Big white Cheifs Mandan Village 1/2 a mile
 below on the South Side, all the Indians proceeded on down by land. and
 I walked to the lodge of the Chief whome I found Sorounded by his
 friends the men were Setting in a circle Smokeing and the womin Crying.
 he Sent his bagage with his wife & Son, with the Interpreter Jessomme &
 his wife and 2 children to the Canoes provided for them. after Smoking
 one pipe, and distributing Some powder & lead which we had given him,
 he informed me that he was ready and we were accompd to the Canoes by
 all the Village Maney of them Cried out aloud. as I was about to Shake
 with the Grand Cheifs of all the Villages there assembled they
 requested me to Set one minit longer with them which I readily agreed
 to and directed a pipe to be lit. the Cheifs informed that when we
 first came to their Country they did not beleive all we Said we then
 told them. but they were now Convinced that every thing we had told
 them were true, that they Should keep in memory every thing which we
 had Said to them, and Strictly attend to our advice, that their young
 men Should Stay at home and Should no go again to war against any
 nation, that if any atacted them they Should defend themselves, that we
 might depend on what they Said, and requested us to inform their great
 father. the also requested me to tell the Ricaras to Come and See them,
 not to be afraid that no harm Should be done them, that they were
 anxious to be in peace with them.
 The Seeoux they Said they had no dependance in and Should kill them
 whenever they Came into their Country to do them harm &c. I told them
 that we had always told them to defend themselves, but not to Strike
 those nations we had taken by the hand, the Sieoux with whome they were
 at war we had never Seen on our return we Should inform their great
 fathe of their conduct towards his faithfull red Children and he would
 take Such Steps as will bring about a lasting peace between them and
 his faithfull red children. I informed them that we should inform the
 ricaras what they had requested &c. The Grand Chief of the Mineterres
 Said that the Great Cheif who was going down with to see their great
 father was a well as if he went also, and on his return he would be
 fully informed of the words of his great father, and requested us to
 take care of this Gt. Chief. we then Saluted them with a gun and Set
 out and proceeded on to Fort Mandan where I landed and went to view the
 old works the houses except one in the rear bastion was burnt by
 accident, Some pickets were Standing in front next to the river. we
 proceeded on to the old Ricara village the S E wind was so hard and the
 waves So high that we were obliged to Come too, & Camp on the S W Side
 near the old Village. (18 mils)
 
 
 [Clark, August 18, 1806]
 Monday 18th August 1806.
 moderate rain last night, the wind of this morning from the S. E. as to
 cause the water to be So rough that we Could not proceed on untill 8
 a.m. at which time it fell a little & we proceeded on tho the waves
 were yet high and the wind Strong. Saw Several Indians on either Side
 of the river. at 9 A.M. I saw an Indian running down the beech and
 appd. to be anxious to Speak to us I derected the Canoes to land. this
 Indian proved to be the brother of the Chief we had on board and Came
 down from his Camp at no great distance to take his leave of his
 brother. the Chief gave him a par of Legins and took an effectunate
 leave of his brother and we procedeed on haveing previously Sent on 2
 canoes with hunters to kill Some meat at 2 P. M we overtook the Canoe
 hunters, they had killed three deer which was divided and we halted and
 Cooked Some dinner on the Sandbar. wind Still high and from the Same
 point. The Chief pointed out Several places where he Said his nation
 formerly lived and related Some extroadinary Stories of their
 tredition. after Dinner we proceeded on, to a point on the N E. Side
 opposit the remains of an old Mandan village a little below the
 enterance of Chiss-che for River and the place we Encamped as we
 assended this river 20th of October 1804 haveing come 40 miles today.
 after landing which was a little before night the hunters run out into
 the bottom and Killed four deer. The winds blew hard from the S. E. all
 day which retarded our progress very much after the fires were made I
 set my self down with the big white man Chiefe and made a number of
 enquiries into the tredition of his nation as well as the time of their
 inhabiting the number of Villages the remains of which we see on
 different parts of the river, as also the cause of their evacuation. he
 told me his nation first Came out of the ground where they had a great
 village. a grape vine grew down through the Earth to their village and
 they Saw light Some of their people assended by the grape vine upon the
 earth, and Saw Buffalow and every kind of animal also Grapes plumbs &c.
 they gathered Some grapes & took down the vine to the village, and they
 tasted and found them good, and deturmined to go up and live upon the
 earth, and great numbers climbed the vine and got upon earth men womin
 and children. at length a large big bellied woman in climbing broke the
 vine and fell and all that were left in the Village below has remained
 there ever Since (The Mandans beleive when they die that they return to
 this village) Those who were left on earth made a village on the river
 below and were very noumerous &c. he Said that he was born in the
 Village Opposit to our Camp and at that time his nation inhabited 7
 villages as large as that and were full of people, the Sieoux and Small
 pox killed the greater part of them and made them So weak that all that
 were left only made two Small villages when Collected, which were built
 near the old Ricaras village above. their troubles with the Scioux &
 Pawnees or Ricaras Compelled them to move and build a village where
 they now live.
 he Said that the Menitarras Came out of the water to the East and Came
 to this Country and built a village near the mandans from whome they
 got Corn beens &c. they were very noumerous and resided in one village
 a little above this place on the opposit Side. they quarreled about a
 buffalow, and two bands left the village and went into the plains,
 (those two bands are now known bye the title Pounch, and Crow Indians.)
 the ballance of the Menetaras moved their village to where it now
 Stands where they have lived ever Since-
 
 
 [Clark, August 19, 1806]
 Tuesday 19th of August 1806
 Some rain last night and this morning the wind rose and blew with great
 Violence untill 4 P. M and as our camp was on a Sand bar we were very
 much distressd with the blows of Sand. I directed the hunters to
 proceed on down the bottom and kill and butcher Some meat and if the
 wind Should lie that I should proceed on down to their Camp &c. Capt.
 Lewis'es wounds are heeling very fast, I am much in hope of his being
 able to walk in 8 or 10 days-. at 4 P. M the wind Seased to blow with
 that violence which it had done all day we Set out and proceeded on
 down. the hunters which was Sent out this morning killed 4 Elk & 12
 deer near the river we came too and brought in the most of the flesh
 and proceeded on to a Sand on the N E Side and Encamped. the wind rose
 and become very Strong from the S. E. and a great appearance of rain.
 Jessomme the Interpreter let me have a piece of a lodge and the Squars
 pitched or Stretched it over Some Sticks, under this piece of leather I
 Slept dry, it is the only covering which I have had Suffecient to keep
 off the rain Since I left the Columbia. it began to rain moderately
 Soon after night. The Indians appear well Satisfyed with the party and
 mode of proceedure. we decended only 10 miles to day Saw Some Elk and
 buffalow on the Shore near where we Encamped. the Elk beginning to run.
 the Buffalow are done running & the bulls are pore.
 
 
 [Clark, August 20, 1806]
 Wednesday 20th of August 1806
 a violent hard rain about day light this morning. all wet except myself
 and the indians. we embarked a little after Sun rise wind moderate and
 ahead. we proceeded on at meridn. passed the enterance of Cannonball
 river imediately above is the remains of a large Sieoux encampment
 which appears to have been made this Spring. at 3 P M passed the
 enterance of Wardepon River Saw great number of wolves on the bank Some
 Buffalow & Elk, tho not so abundant as near the River Rochejhone.
 passed the place where we left the last encampment of Ricaras in the
 fall 1804 and encamped on a Sandbar from the N. E. Side, having made 8
 miles only, the wind blew hard all day which caused the waves to rise
 high and flack over into the Small Canoes in Such a manner as to employ
 one hand in throwing the water out. The plains begin to Change their
 appearance the grass is turning of a yellow colour. I observe a great
 alteration in the Corrent course and appearance of this pt. of the
 Missouri. in places where there was Sand bars in the fall 1804 at this
 time the main Current passes, and where the current then passed is now
 a Sand bar Sand bars which were then naked are now covered with willow
 Several feet high. the enteranc of Some of the Rivers & Creeks Changed
 owing to the mud thrown into them, and a layor of mud over Some of the
 bottoms of 8 inches thick.
 
 
 [Clark, August 21, 1806]
 Thursday 21st August 1806
 Musquetors very troublesom in the early part of last night and again
 this morning I directed Sergt. Ordway to proceed on to where there was
 Some ash and get enough for two ores which were wanting. Men all put
 their arms in perfect order and we Set out at 5 a.m. over took Sergt.
 ordway with wood for oars &c. at 8 A.M. Met three french men Comeing
 up, they proved to be three men from the Ricaras two of them Reevea &
 Greinyea wintered with us at the mandans in 1804 we Came too, those men
 informed us that they were on their way to the Mandans, and intended to
 go down to the Illinois this fall. one of them quit a young lad
 requested a passage down to the Illinois, we concented and he got into
 a Canoe to an Ore. Those men informd us that 700 Seeoux had passed the
 Ricaras on their way to war with the Mandans & Menitarras and that
 their encampment where the Squaws and Children wer, was Some place near
 the Big Bend of this river below. no ricaras had accompanied them but
 were all at home, they also informed us that no trader had arived at
 the Ricaras this Season, and that they were informed that the Pania or
 Ricara Chief who went to the United States last Spring was a year, died
 on his return at Smoe place near the Sieoux river &c. those men had
 nether powder nor lead we gave them a horn of powder and Some balls and
 after a delay of an hour we parted from the 2 men Reevey & Grienway and
 proceeded on. the wind rose and bley from the N. W. at half past 11
 a.m. we arived in view of the upper Ricara villages, a Great number of
 womin Collecting wood on the banks, we Saluted the village with four
 guns and they returned the Salute by fireing Several guns in the
 village, I observed Several very white Lodges on the hill above the
 Town which the ricaras from the Shore informed me were Chyennes who had
 just arived-. we landed opposit to the 2d Villages and were met by the
 most of the men women and children of each village as also the Chyennes
 they all appeared anxious to take us by the hand and much rejoiced to
 See us return. I Steped on Shore and was Saluted by the two great
 Chiefs, whome we had made or given Medals to as we assend this river in
 1804, and also Saluted by a great number both of Ricaras & Chyennes, as
 they appeared anxious to here what we had done &c. as well as to here
 Something about the Mandans & Minetarras. I Set my self down on the
 Side of the Bank and the Chiefs & brave men of the Ricaras & Chyennes
 formed a Cercle around me. after takeing a Smoke of Mandan tobacco
 which the Big white Chief who was Seated on my left hand furnished, I
 informed them as I had before informed the Mandans & Menitarras, where
 we had been what we had done and Said to the different nations in there
 favour and envited Some of their Chiefs to accompany us down and See
 their great father and receve from his own mouth his good Councils and
 from his own hands his bountifull gifts &c. telling pretty much the
 Same which I had told the mandans and menitarras. told them not to be
 afraid of any nation below that none would hurt them &c. a man of about
 32 years of age was intreduced to me as 1st Chief of the nation this
 man they Call the grey eyes or ____ he was absent from the Nation at
 the time we passed up, the man whome we had acknowledged as the
 principal chief informed me that the Grey eyes was a greater Chief than
 himself and that he had given up all his pretentions with the Flag and
 Medal to the Grey eyes--The principal chief of the Chyenne's was then
 introduced he is a Stout jolley fellow of about 35 years of age whome
 the Ricaras Call the Grey Eyes I also told the ricaras that I was very
 Sorrey to here that they were not on friendly terms with their
 neighbours the Mandans & Menetarras, and had not listened to what we
 had Said to them but had Suffered their young men to join the Sieoux
 who had killed 8 Mandans &c. that their young men had Stolen the horses
 of the Minetarras, in retaliation for those enjories the Mandans &
 Menetarras had Sent out a war party and killed 2 ricaras. how could
 they expect other nations would be at peace with them when they
 themselves would not listen to what their great father had told them. I
 further informed them that the Mandans & Menetaras had opened their
 ears to what we had Said to them but had Staid at home untill they were
 Struk that they were Still disposed to be friendly and on good terms
 with the ricaras, they then Saw the great Chief of the Mandans by my
 Side who was on his way to see his great father, and was derected by
 his nation & the Menetaras & Maharhas, to Smoke in the pipe of peace
 with you and to tell you not to be afraid to go to their towns, or take
 the Birds in the plains that their ears were open to our Councils and
 no harm Should be done to a Ricara. The Chief will Speak presently The
 Grey eyes Chief of the ricaras made a very animated Speach in which he
 mentioned his williness of following the councels which we had given
 them that they had Some bad young men who would not listen to the
 Councels but would join the Seioux, those men they had discarded and
 drove out of their villages, that the Seioux were the Cause of their
 Missunderstanding &c. that they were a bad peoples. that they had
 killed Several of the Ricaras Since I Saw them. That Several of the
 chiefs wished to accompany us down to See their great father, but
 wished to see the Chief who went down last Sumer return first, he
 expressed Some apprehention as to the Safty of that Chiefs in passing
 the Sieoux. that the Ricaras had every wish to be friendly with the
 Mandans &c. that every mandan &c. who chose to visit the ricares should
 be Safe that he Should Continue with his nation and See that they
 followed the Council which we had given them &c.--The Sun being very
 hot the Chyenne Chief envited us to his Lodge which was pitched in the
 plain at no great distance from the River. I accepted the invitation
 and accompanied him to his lodge which was new and much larger than any
 which I have Seen it was made of 20 dressed Buffalow Skins in the Same
 form of the Sceoux and lodges of other nations of this quarter. about
 this lodges was 20 others Several of them of nearly the Same Size. I
 enquired for the ballance of the nation and was informed that they were
 near at hand and would arive on tomorrow and when all together amounted
 to 120 Lodges after Smokeing I gave a medal of the Small size to the
 Chyenne Chief &c. which appeared to alarm him, he had a robe and a
 fleece of fat Buffalow meat brought and gave me with the meadel back
 and informed me that he knew that the white people were all medecine
 and that he was afraid of the midal or any thing that white people gave
 to them. I had previously explained the cause of my gveing him the
 medal & flag, and again told him the use of the medal and the caus of
 my giveing it to him, and again put it about his neck delivering him up
 his preasent of a roab & meat, informing him that this was the medecene
 which his Great father directed me to deliver to all the great Chiefs
 who listened to his word and followed his councils, that he had done So
 and I should leave the medal with him as a token of his cincerity &c.
 he doubled the quantity of meat, and received the medal
 The Big White chief of the Mandans Spoke at some length explainin the
 Cause of the misunderstanding between his nation and the ricaras,
 informing them of his wish to be on the most freindly termes &c. the
 Chyennes accused both nations of being in folt. I told to them all that
 if they eve wished to be hapy that they must Shake off all intimecy
 with the Seioux and unite themselves in a Strong allience and attend to
 what we had told them &c. which they promesed all to do and we Smoked
 and parted on the best terms, the Mandan Chief was Saluted by Several
 Chiefs and brave men on his way with me to the river--I had requested
 the ricaras & Chyennes to inform me as Soon as possible of their
 intentions of going down with us to See their great father or not. in
 the evening the Great Chief requested that I would walk to his house
 which I did, he gave me about 2 quarts of Tobacco, 2 beaver Skins and a
 trencher of boiled Corn & beans to eat (as it is the Custom of all the
 Nations on the Missouri to give Something to every white man who enters
 their lodge Something to eat) this Chief informed me that none of his
 Chiefs wished to go down with us they all wished to See the cheif who
 went down return first, that the Chyennes were a wild people and were
 afraid to go. that they Should all listen to what I had Said. I gave
 him Some ribon to Suspend his Medal to and a Shell which the Snake
 indians gave me for which he was very much pleased.
 The interpreter informed me that the Cheifs of those villages had no
 intention of going down. one the Cheifs of the Village on the island
 talkd. of going down. I returned to the boat where I found the
 principal Chief of the lower vilege who had Cut part of his hair and
 disfigured himself in Such a manner that I did not know him, he
 informed me the Sieux had killed his nephew and that Was in tears for
 him &c. we deturmind to proceed down to the Island and accordingly took
 the chief on board and proceeded on down to the isd village at which
 place we arived a little before dark and were met as before by nearly
 every individual of the Village, we Saluted them and landed imediately
 opposit the town. The one arm 2d Cheif of this village whome we had
 expected to accompany us down Spoke to the mandan Cheif in a loud and
 thretening tone which Caused me to be Some what alarmed for the Safty
 of that Cheif, I inform the Ricaras of this village that the Mandans
 had opened their ears to and fold. our Councils, that this Cheif was on
 his way to see their Great Father the P. of U S. and was under our
 protection that if any enjorey was done to him by any nation that we
 Should all die to a man. I told the Ricaras that they had told us lies,
 they promised to be at peace with the mandans & Menetarras. that our
 back was Scrcely turned before they went to war & Killd. them and Stole
 their horses &c--The Cheif then envited me & the Mandan Chief to his
 house to talk there. I accompanied him, after takeing a very
 Serimonious Smoke the 2d Cheif informd. me that he had opened his ears
 to what we had Said to him at the time we gave him the medal that he
 had not been to war against any Natn. Since, that once been to See the
 mandans and they were going to kill him, they had not killed the
 Mandans, it was the Seeoux who killed them and not the ricaras, he Said
 that the Mandan Cheif was as Safe as if he was in his own Vilg that he
 had opened his ears and Could here as well as the mandans. I then
 informd them what I had told the upper villages and we all become
 perfectly reconsiled all to each other and Smoked in the most perfect
 harmony we had invatations to go into their lodges and eate. I at
 length went to the grand Chiefs Lodge by his particelar invitation, the
 Mandan Chief Stuck close to me the Chief had prepd. a Supper of boiled
 young Corn, beens & quashes of which he gave me in Wooden bowls. he
 also gave me near 2 quarts of the Tobacco Seed, & informed me he had
 always had his ears open to what we had Said, that he was well
 convinced that the Seeoux was the caus of all the trouble between the
 Mandans & them the Ricars had Stolen horses from the Mandan which had
 been returned all except one which could not be got, this mischief was
 done by Some young men who was bad. a long Conversation of explanations
 took place between the Ricara & mandan Chiefs which appeared to be
 Satisfactory on both Sides. the Chief gave a pipe with great form and
 every thing appeared to be made up. I returned to the river & went to
 bead. the Indians contd on board. made 22 miles today only.
 
 
 [Clark, August 22, 1806]
 Friday 22nd August 1806.
 rained all the last night every person and all our bedding wet, the
 Morning cloudy, at 8 A M. I was requested to go to the Chiefs, I walkd
 up and he informed me that he Should not go down but would Stay and
 take Care of the village and prevent the young men from doing rong and
 Spoke much to the Same porpt of the Grey Eyes, the 2d Chief Spoke to
 the Same and all they Said was only a repitition of what they had Said
 before. the Chief gave me some Soft Corn and the 2d Chief Some Tobacco
 Seed--the Interpreter Garrow informed me that he had been Speeking to
 the Chiefs & warriers this morning and assured me that they had no
 intention of going down untill the return of the Cheif who went down
 last Spring was a year. I told the Cheifs to attend to what we had Said
 to them, that in a Short time they would find our words tru and
 Councils good. they promised to attend Strictly to what had been Said
 to them, and observed that they must trade with the Sieoux one more
 time to get guns and powder; that they had no guns or powder and had
 more horses than they had use for, after they got guns and powder that
 they would never again have any thing to do with them &c. &c. I
 returned the Canoes & derected the men to prepare to Set out. Some
 Chyennes from two Lodges on the Main S E. Shore Came and Smoked with me
 and at 11 A. M we Set out haveing parted with those people who appeared
 to be Sorry to part with us. at this nation we found a french man by
 the name of Rokey who was one of our Engagees as high as the Mandans
 this man had Spend all his wages, and requested to return with uswe
 agreed to give him a passage down. I directed 2 guns to be fired. we
 proceeded on passed the Marapa and the We ter hoo Rivers, and landed to
 dry our bedding and robes &c which were all wet. here we delayed untill
 6 P M. and dryed our things which were much Spoiled.
 I derected 5 of the hunters to proceed on to Grouse Island a fiew miles
 below and hunt on that island untill we arived, we proceded on to the
 main N E Shore below the Island and encamped, the hunters joined us
 without any thing. they Saw no game on the island. we made only 17
 Miles to day. below the ricaras the river widens and the Sand bars are
 emencely noumerous much less timber in the bottoms than above
 The Chyenne's are portly Indians much the complections of the Mandans &
 ricaras high Cheeks, Streight limbed & high noses the men are large,
 their dress in Sumner is Simpelly a roab of a light buffalow Skin with
 or without the hair and a Breach clout & mockerson Some ware leagins
 and mockersons, their ornaments are but fiew and those are composed
 principally of Such articles as they precure from other indians Such as
 blue beeds, Shell, red paint rings of brass broaches &c. they also ware
 Bears Claws about their necks, Strips of otter Skin (which they as well
 as the ricaras are excessively fond of) around their neck falling back
 behind. their ears are cut at the lower part, but fiew of them were
 ornements in them, their hair is generally Cut in the forehead above
 their eyes and Small ornimented plats in front of each Sholder the
 remainder of the hair is either twisted in with horse or buffalow hair
 divided into two plats over the Sholder or what is most common flow's
 back, Their women are homely, corse feetured wide mouthes they ware
 Simpially a leathe habit made in a plain form of two pieces of equal
 length and equal weadth, which is sewen together with Sinues from the
 tail to about half way from the hip to the arm, a String fastens the 2
 pieces together over the Sholders leaveng a flap or lapells which fall
 over near half way ther body both before and behind. those dresses
 usially fall as low as mid leg, they are frequently ornemented with
 beeds and Shells & Elk tuskes of which all Indians are very fond of.
 those dresses are als frequently Printed in various regular figures
 with hot sticks which are rubed on the leather with Such velosity as to
 nearly burn it this is very handsom. they were their hair flowing and
 are excessively fond of ornamenting their ears with blue beeds--this
 nation peacbly disposed they may be estimated at from 350 to 400 men
 inhabetig from 130 to 150 Lodges, they are rich in horses & Dogs, the
 dogs Carry a great preportion of their light baggage. they Confess to
 be at war with no nation except the Sieoux with whome they have ever
 since their remembranc been on a difencive war, with the Bands of
 Sieoux. as I was about to leave the Cheifs of the Chyennes lodge he
 requested me to Send Some traders to them, that their country was full
 of beaver and they would then be encouraged to Kill beaver, but now
 they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and
 did not know well, how to catch beaver. if the white people would come
 amongst them they would become acquainted and the white people would
 learn them how to take the beaver-. I promised the Nation that I would
 inform their Great father the President of the U States, and he would
 have them Supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would
 be Supplied &c. &c.
 I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Capt
 Lewis is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time.
 I have discontinud the tent in the hole the ball came out
 I have before mentioned that the Mandans Maharhas Menetarras &
 Ricarras, keep their horses in the Lodge with themselves at night.
 
 
 [Clark, August 23, 1806]
 Saturday 23rd August 1806
 We Set out very early, the wind rose & became very hard, we passed the
 Sar-war-kar-na-har river at 10 A. M and at half past eleven the wind
 became So high and the water So rough that we were obliged to put to
 Shore and Continue untill 3 p. M. when we had a Small Shower of rain
 after which the wind lay, and we proceeded on. Soon after we landed I
 Sent Shields & Jo. & Reubin Fields down to the next bottom of timber to
 hunt untill our arival. we proceeded on Slowly and landed in the
 bottom. the hunters had killed three Elk and 3 Deer the deer were pore
 and Elk not fat had them fleece & brought in. the Musqueters large and
 very troublesom. at 4 P. M a Cloud from the N W with a violent rain for
 about half an hour after the rain we again proceeded on. I observe
 great quantities of Grapes and Choke Cheries, also a Speces of Currunt
 which I had never before observed the leas is larger than those above,
 the Currt. black and very inferior to either the yellow, red, or
 perple--at dark we landed on a Small Sand bar under a Bluff on the S W.
 Side and encamped, this Situation was one which I had Chosen to avoid
 the Musquetors, they were not very troublesom after we landed. we Came
 only 40 Miles to daye
 My Frend Capt Lewis is recoverig fast the hole in his thy where the
 Ball passed out is Closed and appears to be nearly well. the one where
 the ball entered discharges very well-.
 
 
 [Clark, August 24, 1806]
 Sunday 24th August 1806
 a fair morning we Set out as usial about Sunrise and proceeded on
 untill 2 P M when the wind blew So hard from the N. W. that we could
 not proceed came too on the S W. Side where we continued untill 5 P.M.
 when the wind lay a little and we again proceeded on. at 8 a M. we
 passed La-hoo-catts Island, opposit the lower point of this Island on
 the S. W. Side near the top of the Bluff I observed a Stratea of White
 stone I landed and examined it found it to be a Soft White Stone
 containing very fine grit, when expd. to the Sun and become Dry this
 Stone will Crumble the Clay of this bluff to the above and below is
 remarkably Black. at half past 9 a.m. passed Good hope Island and at 11
 a. m passed Caution Island a Short distance below this Island we came
 too. Sent out a hunter he Saw Several deer they were very wild and he
 returned without haveing killed any, the deer on this pt. of the
 Missouri is mostly the Mule or black tail Species. we Saw only 6
 buffalow to day the Sieoux have been laterly encamped on the river and
 have Secured the most of the game opp. a large trail has passed on a
 derection to the enterance of the Chyenne this probably is the trail of
 a war party. at 5 P.M. we proceeded on a fiew miles and Encampd. on the
 gouge of the lookout bend of 20 miles around and 3/4 through, a little
 above an old tradeing house and 4 miles above of our outward bound
 encampment of the 1st of October 1804, haveing made 43 miles to day.
 
 
 [Clark, August 25, 1806]
 Monday 25th August 1806
 a cool clear morning a Stiff breeze ahead we Set out at the usial hour
 and proceeded on very well. I derected Shields Collins Shannon and the
 two fieldses to proceed on in the two small Canoes to the Ponia Island
 and hunt on that Island untill we came on, they Set out before day
 light The Skirt of timber in the bend above the Chyenne is not very
 Considerable the timber is Scattered from 4 to 16 miles on the S W Side
 of the river, and the thickest part is at the distance of 6 & 10 miles
 from the Chyenne, a narrow bottom of Small Cotton trees is also on the
 N E pt. at the distance of from 4 to 41/2 miles above the Chyenne
 imediately at the enterance of that river I observe but fiew large
 trees Some Small Growth and willows on the lower Side bottom on the
 Missouri about 1/2 a mile and extends up the Chyen 1 mile about a
 quarter of a mile above is a 2d bottom of Cotton timber, in the point
 above the Chyenne there is a considerable bottom of about 2 miles on
 that river and a large timbered bottom a Short distance above. at 8
 A.M. we Came to at the mouth of the Chyenne to delay untill 12 to make
 a meridian observation and derected 3 hunters to proced up this river
 and hunt its bottoms untill twelve at which hou we Shall proceed on.
 the hunters returned with 2 deer the Chyenne discharges but little
 water which is much the colour of the missouri tho not So muddy I
 observe a very eligable Situation on the bank of the Chyenne on it's
 lower Side about 100 paces from it's enterance. this Situation is above
 the high floods and has a perfect Command of each river we obtained a
 Meridian altitude with the Sextt. and artificial Horizon 112° 50' 00"-
 after which we proceeded on passed the pania Island and came up with
 Shields and Collins they had killed two deer only at 3 P M we passed
 the place where we Saw the last encampement of Troubleson Tetons below
 the old ponia village on the S W Side. a very large timbered bottom on
 the N. E. Side imedialely below the Pania Island. Latd. of Chyenne is
 ____ North. at Sunset we landed about the Center of a large bottom on
 the N E Side a little below the enterance of No timber Creek and below
 our Encampment of 29th of Septr. 1804. dreyer killed a deer after we
 encamped. a little above our encampmt. the ricaras had formerly a large
 village on each Side which was destroyed by the Seioux. there is the
 remains of 5 other villages on the S W. Side below the Chyenne river
 and one on Le ho catts Isld. all those villages have been broken up by
 the Seioux. This day proved a fine Still day and the men played their
 oars and we made 48 miles to day. The 2 fields and Shannon did not join
 this evening which caused me to encamp earlier than usial for them. we
 Saw no game on the plains today. the Tetons have been on the river not
 long Since
 
 
 [Clark, August 26, 1806]
 Tuesday 26th of August 1806
 a heavy dew this morning the hunters or Shannon & the 2 fields came up
 at Sunrise and we Set out, they had killed only 2 Small deer one of
 which they had eat at 8 passed the place the Tetons were encamped at
 the time they attempted to Stop us in Septr. 1804, and at 9 A.M. passed
 the enterance of Teton River. Saw Several black tail or Mule deer and
 Sent out to kill them but they were wild and the hunters Could not get
 a Shot at either of them. a fiew miles below the Teton river I observed
 a buffalow Skin Canoe lying on the S Shore and a Short distance lower a
 raft which induces me to Suspect that the Tetons are not on the
 Missouri at the big bend as we were informed by the Ricaras, but up the
 Teton river. at Meridn. we halted on the N E. Side opposit a handsom
 leavel plain in which there is great quantities of plumbs which are not
 yet ripe. we passed the enteranc of Smoke Creek and landed and
 Continued two hours to Stop a leak in the perogue and fix the Stearing
 oare, Saw great quantities of Grapes, they are black tho not thurerly
 ripe. at 5 P M. we landed a Louisells fort on Ceder Island, this fort
 is entire and every part appears to be in the Same state it was when we
 passed it in Septr. 1804. I observed the appearance of 3 fires in the
 houses which appeared to have been made 10 or 12 days past. we
 proceeded on about 10 miles lower and encamped on the S. W. Side
 opposit our outward bound encampment of the 21st of Septr. 1804, a fiew
 miles above Tylors River. we had a Stiff breeze from the S. E. which
 continued to blow the greater part of the night dry and pleasent. as we
 were now in the Country where we were informed the Sceoux were
 assembled we were much on our guard deturmined to put up with no
 insults from those bands of Seioux, all the arms &. in perfect order.
 Capt. L. is Still on the mending hand he walks a little. I have
 discontinued the tent in the hole where the ball entered, agreeable to
 his request. he tells me that he is fully Convinced that the wound is
 sufficiently heeled for the tents to be discontinued. we made 60 miles
 to day with the wind ahead greater part of the day-
 
 
 [Clark, August 27, 1806]
 Wednesday 27th Augt. 1806
 Set out before Sunrise a Stiff breeze a head from the East proceeded to
 the enterance of Tylors river on the S W Side and landed on a Sand bar
 and Sent out the hunters to kill Some meat, our Stock of meat being now
 exousted and this the most favourable place to precure a fresh Supply,
 the hunters returned in 3 hours without haveing killed any thing. they
 informed me that the bottoms were entirely beaten up and the grass laid
 flat by the emence number of Buffalow which had been here a Short time
 past. the deer had left the bottom. they Saw several Buffalow Bulls
 which they did not think proper to kill as they were unfit for use.
 here we discover the first Signs of the wild turkey. at 1 P M we halted
 in the big bend and killed a fat buck elk near the river, which was
 very timely as our meat was entirely exhosted. at 2 P. M we again
 proceeded on down saw Several Buffalow Bulls on each Side of the river
 also Some deer of the Common kind at 6 P.M. we herd the bellowing of
 the Buffalow Bulls in the lower Isld. of the Big bend below the Gouge
 which induced a belief that there was Some fat Cows, 5 men went out
 from the 2 Small Canoes which was a little a head, and killed two Cows
 one Bull and a Calf nether of them wer fat we droped the Perogue &
 Canoes to the lower part of the Island near to where the buffalow was
 killed and incamped haveing Come 45 Miles only to day. had the buffalow
 butched and brought in and divided. My friend Capt Lewis hurt himself
 very much by takeing a longer walk on the Sand bar in my absence at the
 buffalow than he had Strength to undergo, which Caused him to remain
 very unwell all night.
 
 
 [Clark, August 28, 1806]
 Thursday 28th of August 1806
 Capt Lewis had a bad nights rest and is not very well this morning. we
 Set out early and proceded on very well, Saw a number of Buffalow bulls
 on the banks in different places. passd the 3 rivers of the Seioux pass
 at 9 A.M. a Short distance below on the S W Side Sent out Reubin &
 Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the antilope neither of which
 we have either the Skins or Scellitens of, we detected those two men to
 proceed on down to the places we encamped the 16th & 17th of Septr.
 1804 and which place the party had called pleasant Camp from the great
 abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk, antilopes, Blacktail or mule
 deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking Squirels, Turkies and a
 variety of other animals, aded to which there was a great abundance of
 the most delicious plumbs and grapes. this Situation which is a Short
 distance above the enterance of Corvus Creek we are deturmined to delay
 one day for the purpose of prcureing the sceletins of the Mule deer &
 antilope, and Some barking Squirels. a fiew miles below the place the 2
 Fields were Set on Shore we Set Drewyer and Labeech on Shore with the
 Same directions which had been given to the 2 field's at 12 oClock we
 Landed on the S W. Side at the Same Spot which we had encamped on the
 16th and 17th of September 1804, and formed a Camp, Sent out Serjt.
 Pryor, Shields, Go. Gibson, Willard and Collins to hunt in the plains
 up Corvus Creek for the Antilope and Mule deer Sent out Bratten and
 Frazier to kill the barking Squirel, and Gave directions to all of them
 to kill the Magpye if they Should See any of them Several of the men
 and the Squaws of the enterpreter Jessomme and the Mandan Chief went to
 Some plumb bushes in the bottom and geathered more plumbs than the
 party Could eate in 2 days, those blumbs are of 3 Speces, the most of
 them large and well flavored. our Situation is pleasent a high bottom
 thinly timbered and covered with low grass without misquitors. at 3 P.
 M Drewyer and Labeech arived, the latter haveing killd. a Deer of the
 Common Speceis only. in the evening late all the hunters returned
 without any Speces of animal we were in want of, they killed 4 Common
 deer and two buffalow a part of the best of the meat of those animals
 they brought in. we precured two of the barking Squirels only. as we
 Could not precere any Mule deer or antelope we concluded to Send the
 hunters on a head early in the morning and delay untill 10 A. M to give
 them time to hunt. I derected Shannon & Collins to go on the opposit
 Side, and Labeech and Willard to proceed down on this Side at Some
 distance from the river and join the party at the round Island &c. and
 R. Field to proceed on Slowly in the Small Canoe to that place and take
 in any thing which the hunters might kill. Made 32 miles to day
 The hunters informed me that they Saw great numbers of Buffalow in the
 plains. I Saw Several herds of those animals on either Side to day at a
 distance.
 
 
 [Clark, August 29, 1806]
 Friday 29th August 1806
 a cloudy morning the hunters proceeded on agreeable to their orders of
 last night. I Sent out two men to the village of barking Squirels with
 direcitions to kill Some of them. they after 2 hours returned and
 informed me that not one of those Squirels were to be Seen out of their
 holes. the Skins of the party which they had been dressing Since
 yesterday being now completely dressed I derected all loose baggage to
 be put on board the Canoes and at 10 A.M. Set out and proceeded on
 passed the white river at 12 oClock and halted below the enterance of
 Shannons Creek where we were joined by Labeech Shannon and Willard,
 they had killed 2 common der but no Mule deer or antilopes. Willard
 informed me that he Saw 2 antilopes but Could not get near to them.
 Willard and Labiech waded white river a fiew miles above its enterance
 and inform me that they found it 2 feet water and 200 yards wide. the
 water of this river at this time nearly as white as milk. put Drewyer
 out to hunt on the S W. Side and proceeded on below the round Island
 and landed on the N. E. Side I with Several of the men went out in
 pursute of Buffalow. the men killed 2 Bulls near me they were very por
 I assended to the high Country and from an eminance, I had a view of
 the plains for a great distance. from this eminance I had a view of a
 greater number of buffalow than I had ever Seen before at one time. I
 must have Seen near 20,000 of those animals feeding on this plain. I
 have observed that in the country between the nations which are at war
 with each other the greatest numbers of wild animals are to be found-
 on my return to the river I killed 2 young deer. after Dinner we
 proceeded down the river about 3 mile to the Camp of Jo. & Rubin fields
 and Collins, and encamped on the S W. Side a little below our
 encampment of 13th Septr. 1804, haveing made 20 Miles only. neither of
 the hunters killed either a Black tail deer or an antilope. Jo. Fields
 & Shields each killed a porcupin and two others of the hunters Killed
 Deer, Drewyer did not join us untill 10 P.M. he informed that he Saw
 some antilopes and Mule deer but Could kill none of them. Jo. Field
 informed that he wounded female of the Mule deer a little below our
 Camp late in the evening and could not prosue her I directed him to Set
 out with 3 others and follow the Deer and get her if possible early in
 the morning.
 
 
 [Clark, August 30, 1806]
 Saturday 30th of August 1806
 Capt. Lewis is mending Slowly. we set out at the usial hour and
 proceeded on very well a fiew miles Jo Field who was on the Shore being
 behind I derected one of the Small Canoes with R. Fields & Shannon to
 continue on the point of a Sand bar untill he corns up. I took 3
 hunters and walked on the N E Shore with a view to kill Some fat meet.
 we had not proceeded far before Saw a large plumb orchd of the most
 deelicious plumbs, out of this orchard 2 large Buck Elks ran the
 hunters killed them. I Stoped the Canoes and brought in the flesh which
 was fat and fine. here the party Collected as many plumbs as they could
 eate and Several pecks of which they put by &c. after a delay of nearly
 2 hours we again proceeded on downwards passed 3 Small Islands and as
 we were about to land at the place appointed to wait for the 2 fields
 and Shannon, I saw Several men on horseback which with the help of a
 Spie glass I found to be Indians on the high hills to the N E we landed
 on the S. W. Side and I sent out two men to a village of Barking
 Squirels to kill Some of those animals imedeatily after landing about
 20 indians was discovered on an eminanc a little above us on the
 opposite Side. one of those men I took to be a freinch man from his a
 blanket Capoe & a handkerchief around his head. imediately after 80 or
 90 Indian men all armed with fusees & Bows & arrows Came out of a wood
 on the opposite bank about 1/4 of a mile below us. they fired of their
 guns as a Salute we returned the Salute with 2 rounds. we were at a
 loss to deturmin of what nation those indians were. from their hostile
 appearance we were apprehensive they were Tetons. but from the Country
 through which they roved we were willing to believe them eithe the
 Yanktons, Ponars or Mahars either of which nations are well disposed
 towards the white people. I deturmined to find out who they were
 without running any resque of the party and indians, and therefore took
 three french men who could Speak the Mahar Pania and some Seioux and in
 a Small canoe I went over to a Sand bar which extended Sufficently near
 the opposite Shore to Converse. imedeately after I Set out 3 young men
 Set out from the opposite Side and Swam next me on the Sand bar. I
 derected the men to Speak to them in the Pania and mahar Languages
 first neither of which they could understand I then derected the man
 who could Speak a fiew words of Seioux to inquire what nation or tribe
 they belong to they informed me that they were Tetons and their Chief
 was Tar-tack-kah-sabbar or the black buffalow This Chief I knew very
 well to be the one we had seen with his band at Teton river which band
 had attempted to detain us in the fall of 1804 as we assended this
 river and with whome we wer near comeing to blows. I told those Indians
 that they had been deef to our councils and ill treated us as we
 assended this river two years past, that they had abused all the whites
 who had visited them since. I believed them to be bad people & Should
 not Suffer them to cross to the Side on which the party lay, and
 directed them to return with their band to their Camp, that if any of
 them come near our camp we Should kill them certainly. I lef them on
 the bear and returned to th party and examined the arms &c. those
 indians seeing Some Corn in the Canoe requested Some of it which I
 refused being deturmined to have nothing to do with those people.
 Several others Swam across one of which understood pania, and as our
 pania interpreter was a very good one we had it in our power to inform
 what we wished. I told this man to inform his nation that we had not
 forgot their treatment to us as we passed up this river &c. that they
 had treated all the white people who had visited them very badly; robed
 them of their goods, and had wounded one man whome I had Seen. we
 viewed them as bad people and no more traders would be Suffered to come
 to them, and whenever the white people wished to visit the nations
 above they would Come Sufficiently Strong to whip any vilenous party
 who dare to oppose them and words to the Same purpote. I also told them
 that I was informed that a part of all their bands were gorn to war
 against the Mandans &c, and that they would be well whiped as the
 Mandans & Menetarres & had a plenty of Guns Powder and ball, and we had
 given them a Cannon to defend themselves. and derected them to return
 from the Sand bar and inform their Chiefs what we had Said to them, and
 to keep away from the river or we Should kill every one of them &c. &c.
 those fellows requested to be allowed to Come across and make Cumerads
 which we positively refused and I directed them to return imediately
 which they did and after they had informed the Chiefs &c. as I Suppose
 what we had Said to them, they all Set out on their return to their
 Camps back of a high hill. 7 of them halted on the top of the hill and
 blackguarded us, told us to come across and they would kill us all &c.
 of which we took no notice. we all this time were extreamly anxious for
 the arival of the 2 fields & Shannon whome we had left behind, and were
 Some what consd. as to their Safty. to our great joy those men hove in
 Sight at 6 P.M. Jo. Fields had killed 3 black tail or mule deer. we
 then Set out, as I wished to See what those Indians on the hill would
 act. we Steared across near the opposit Shore, this notion put them
 Some agitation as to our intentions, some Set out on the direction
 towards their Camps others walked about on the top of the hill and one
 man walked down the hill to meet us and invited us to land to which
 invitation I paid no kind of attention. this man I knew to be the one
 who had in the fall 1804 accompaned us 2 days and is Said to be the
 friend to the white people. after we passd. him he returned on the top
 of the hill and gave 3 Strokes with the gun he had in his hand this I
 am informed is a great oath among the indians. we proceeded on down
 about 6 miles and encamped on a large Sand bar in the middle of the
 river about 2 miles above our encampment on Mud Island on the 10th
 Septr. 1804 haveing made 22 miles only to Day. Saw Several Indians on
 the hills at a distance this evening viewing us. our encampment of this
 evening was a very disagreable one, bleak exposed to the winds, and the
 Sand wet. I pitched on this Situation to prevent being disturbed by
 those Scioux in the Course of the night as well as to avoid the
 Musquetors-. Killed 9 whistleing squirels.
 
 
 [Clark, August 31, 1806]
 Saturday 31st August 1806
 all wet and disagreeable this morning. at half past 11 last night the
 wind Shifted about to the N. W. and it began to rain with hard Claps of
 thunder and lightning the Clouds passd over and the wind Shifted about
 to the S W. & blew with great violence So much So that all hands were
 obliged to hold the Canoes & Perogue to prevent their being blown off
 from the Sand bar, however a Suden Squal of wind broke the cables of
 the two Small Canoes and with Some dificuelty they were got to Shore
 Soon after the 2 Canoes in which Sergt. Pryor and the indians go in
 broke loose with wiser and Willard in them and were blown quite across
 the river to the N E. Shore where fortunately they arived Safe, I Sent
 Sergt. Jo Ordway with a Small perogue and 6 men to prosue the 2 Canoes
 and assist them in effecting a landing, those 2 Canoes being tied
 together 2 men could not manage them, the wind Slackened a little and
 by 2 A.M. Sergt Ordway with willard wiser and the 2 Canoes returned all
 Safe, the wind continud to blow and it rained untill day light all wet
 and disagreeable. all the party examind their arms and put them in
 order and we Set out and proceeded on down. Saw Several Indians on the
 hills untill we passed the Island of Cedar 9 A. M the morning Cloudy
 and wind down the the river at 4 P.M. passed the doome and lowest
 village of Barking Squirels. this is also the highest up the river
 where I observed the fox Squirel in the bottom above the doome on N. E
 Side I killed 2 fox Squirels. we Saw no game of any kind to day as the
 banks as usial. the Sun Shone with a number of flying Clouds. we
 encamped on the N. E. Side a little below our Encampment of the 5th of
 Septr. on no preserve Island haveing Come 70 Miles.