[Clark, December 10, 1804]
10th Monday Decr. 1804 Fort Mandan a verry Cold Day The
Thermometer to day at 10 & 11 Degrees below 0., Capt. Lewis
returned, to day at 12 oClock leaveing 6 men at the Camp to
prepare the meat for to pack 4 Horse loads Came in, Capt
Lewis had a Cold Disagreeable night last in the Snow on a
Cold point with one Small Blankett the Buffaloe Crossed the
river below in emence herds without brakeing in. only 2
buffalow killed to day one of which was too pore to Skin,
The men which was frost bit is gitting better. the rise 11/2
inch wind North
[Clark, December 11, 1804]
11th December Tuesday 1804 a verry Cold morning Wind from
the north The Thermomettr at (4 oClock A M at 21°) Sunrise
at 21° See list. below 0 which is 53° below the freesing
point and getting colder, the Sun Shows and reflects two
imigies, the ice floating in the atmespear being So thick
that the appearance is like a fog Despurceing
Sent out three horses for meat & with Derections for all the
hunters to return to the fort as Soon as possible at 1
oClock the horses returned loaded at night all the hunters
returned, Several a little frosted, The Black Cat Chief of
the Mandans paid us a Visit to day continue Cold all day
river at a Stand
[Clark, December 12, 1804]
12th December Wednesday 1804 a Clear Cold morning wind from
the north the Thormometer at Sun rise Stood at 38° below 0,
moderated untill 6 oClock at which time it began to get
Colder. I line my Gloves and have a cap made of the Skin of
the Louservia (Lynx) (or wild Cat of the North) the fur near
3 inches long a Indian Of the Shoe nation Came with the half
of a Cabra ko ka or Antilope which he killed near the Fort,
Great numbers of those animnals are near our fort but the
weather is So Cold that we do not think it prudent to turn
out to hunt in Such Cold weather, or at least untill our
Consts. are prepared to under go this Climate. I measure the
river from bank to bank on the ice and make it 500 yards
[Clark, December 13, 1804]
13th December Thursday 1804 The last night was verry Clear &
the frost which fell Covered the ice old Snow & thos parts
which was naked 1/6 of an inch, The Thermotr. Stands this
morning at 20° below 0, a fine day. find it imposible to
make an Observation with an artifical Horsison Joseph Fields
kill a Cow and Calf to day one mile from the fort river
falls
[Clark, December 14, 1804]
14th December Friday 1804 a fine morning. wind from the S.
E. the murckerey Stood at '0' this morning I went with a
party of men down the river 18 miles to hunt Buffalow, Saw
two Bulls too pore to kill, the Cows and large gangues
haveing left the River, we only killed two Deer & Camped all
night with Some expectation of Seeing the Buffalow in the
morning, a verry Cold night, Snowed.
[Clark, December 15, 1804]
15th of December 1804 Satturday a Cold Clear morning, Saw no
buffalow, I concluded to return to the Fort & hunt on each
Side of the river on our return which we did without
Success- the Snow fell 11/2 inches deep last night. wind
North-on my return to the fort found Several Chiefs there
[Clark, December 16, 1804]
Fort Mandan 16th December, Sunday 1804 a clear Cold morning,
the Thermtr. at Sun rise Stood at 22° below 0, a verry
Singaler appearance of the Moon last night, as She appeared
thro The frosty atmispear- Mr. Henny, from the Establishment
on River Ossinnniboin, with a letter from, Mr Charles
Chaboillez one of the Cos arrived in 6 Days, Mr. C in his
letters expressed a great anxiety to Serve us in any thing
in his power-
a root Discribed by Mr. Henry for the Cure of a Mad Dog
Mr. Le rock a Clerk, of the N W Company and Mr. George Bunch
a Clerk of the Hudsons bay Compy accompanied Mr. Henny from
the Village
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The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806