[Clark, September 3, 1804]
3rd September Monday 1804. - Set out at Sun rise, verry Cold
morning clear and but little wind from the N W. we proceeded
on, the river wide, took an obsivation below Plumb Creek
which mouths on the S S. this Creek is Small & corns in
between 2 white banks, Great quantities of Plumbs of a most
delisious flavour, I have collected the Seed of 3 Kinds
which I intend to Send to my brother, also Som grapes of a
Superior quallity large & well flavoured, the river is
riseing a little, Several wild Goats Seen in the Plains they
are wild & fleet Elk & Buffalow is verry plenty, Scercely
any timber in Countrey except a little on the river in the
Points. Saw Some Signs of the 2 men who are a head, Colter
has not over taken Shannon Camped on the L. S. at the edge
of a Plain-
[Clark, September 3, 1804]
3rd of September Monday 1804 - a verry Cold morning wind
from N. W. we Set out at Sun rise, & proceeded on to a Bluff
below the mouth of Plumb 12 yds. Creek on the S. S. and took
an obsevation of the Suns Altitude
This Creek is Small it "abounds with blumbs of a Delicious
flavour" the River is wide and Crouded with Sand bars- it is
riseing a little but little timber in this Countrey all that
is, is on the river in the points. we Came too on the L. Sin
the edge of a Plain an Camped for the night- we Saw Some
Signs of the two men Shannon & Colter, Shannon appeared to
be a head of Colter- The White banks appear to Continu on
both sides of the river. Grapes plenty and finely flavered-
[Clark, September 4, 1804]
4th of September Tuesday 1804. - a verry Cold wind from
South E. by S. we Set out early proceeded on to the mouth of
a Small Creek in the bend to the L. S. Called white line at
11/2 miles furthr passed the mouth of a R au platte or White
paint Cr about 25 yd. on Same Side Called, I walked on the
top of the hill forming a Cliff Covd. with red Ceeder an
extensive view from this hill, at 3 Miles from the Creek the
high land jut the river forming a Bluff of Bluish Clay
Continu 11/2 miles Came to at the mouth of Qui courre
(rapid) this river Comes roleing its Sands whuch (is corse)
into the Missouris from the S W by W. this river is 152
yards across the water and not exeeding 4 feet Deep it does
not rise high when it Does it Spreds over a large Surface,
and is not navagable it has a Great many Small Islands &
Sand bars I went up this river 3 miles to the Spot the Panis
once had a large Village on the upper Side in a butifull
extensive Plain riseing gradially from the river I fel into
a Buffalow road joined the boat late at night at the Pania
Island.
[Clark, September 4, 1804]
4th September Tuesday 1804 - a verry Cold wind from the S.
S. E, we Set out early and proceeded on the mouth of a Small
Creek in a bend to the L. S. Called White lime, at 11/2
miles higher up passed a large Creek on the L. S. Called or
white paint between those two Creeks (the latter of which is
abt. 30 yds. wide) we passed under a Bluff of red Ceeder, at
4 mes. 1/2 passed the mouth of the River Que Courre (rapid
R) on the L. S. and Came to a Short distance above, this
River is 152 yards wide at the mouth & 4 feet Deep Throwing
out Sands like the Platt (only Corser) forming bars in its
mouth, I went up this river three miles to a butifull Plain
on the upper Side where the Panias once had a Village this
river widens above its mouth and is devided by Sand and
Islands, the Current verry rapid, not navagable for even
Canoos without Great dificulty owing to its Sands; the
colour like that of the Plat is light the heads of this
river is not known, it Corns into the Missourie from the S.
W. by West, and I am told that is Genl. Course Some distance
up is parrelel with the Missourie
[Clark, September 5, 1804]
5th September 1804 Wednesday, - Set out early the wind blew
hard from the South as it has for Some Days past, we Set up
a jury mast & Sailed, I saw a large gangue of Turkeys, also
Grous Seen Passed a large Island of about 3 miles long in
the Middle of the river opposit the head of this Island the
Poncarre River Coms into the Missourei on the L. S.- the S.
S is a Clift under which great numbers of Springs run out of
mineral water, Saw Several wild goats on the Clift & Deer
with black tales,-Sent Shields & Gibson to the Poncas Towns,
which is Situated on the Ponca river on the lower side about
two miles from its mouth in an open butifull Plain, at this
time this nation is out hunting the biffalow they raise no
corn or Beens, Gibson killed a Buffalow in the Town, The two
men which has been absent several Days is ahead, we came to
on the upper pt. of a large Island at 3 oClock to make a
mast Sent out Some hunters on the Island (which I call no
preserve Island, at this place we used the last of our
Preservs) They killed 3 bucks, & two Elk which welurked
[Clark, September 5, 1804]
September 5th Wednesday 1804 - Set out early the winds blew
hard from the South, Goats turkeys Seen to day, passed a
large Island (1) opsd. this Island near the head the
Poncasar River Coms into the Missourie from the West this
river is about 30 yards wide. dispatched two men to the
Poncaries Village Situated in a handsom Plain on the lower
Side of this Creek about two miles from the Missourie (the
Poncasars nation is Small and at this time out in the
praries hunting the Buffalow), one of the men Sent to the
Village Killed a Buffalow in the town, the other, a large
Buck near it, Some Sign of the two men who is a head.
above the Island on the S. S We passed under a Bluff of Blue
earth, under which Seveal Mineral Springs broke out of the
water of which had a taste like Salts, we Came too on the
upper point of a large Island (which I call No preserves
Island) here we made a Ceeder Mast, our hunters brought in
three bucks, and two elks this evening which we had jurked
One of the hunter Shields, informed that he Saw Several
black tailed Deer, near the Poncaser Village
[Lewis, September 5, 1804]
Sept 5th - saw some wild goats or antelopes on the hill
above the Glauber Salts Springs they ran off we could not
discover them sufficiently distinctly to discribe even their
colour their track is as large as a deer reather broader &
more blont at the point
This day one of our hunters brought us a Serpent beautifully
variagated with small black spotts of a romboydal form on a
light yellow white ground the black pedominates most on the
back the whiteis yellow on the sides, and it is nearly white
on the belly with a few party couloured scuta on which the
black shews but imperfectly and the colouring matter seems
to be underneath the Scuta- it is not poisonous it hisses
remarkably loud; it has 221 Scuta on the belly and 51 on the
tale, the eyes are of a dark black colour the tale
terminates in a sharp point like the substance of a cock's
spur- Length 4 Ft. 6 I.
[Clark, September 6, 1804]
6th Septr Thursday 1804, - a Storm this morning from the N
W. at day light which lasted a fiew minits, Set out after
the Storm was over and proceeded on a hard wind ahead passed
the island which is Seperated from the L. Side by a narrow
Channel. the morning is verry Cold.
Camped on S. Side before night no timbering in reach ahead,
R. Fields killed 2 Deer Saw Buffalow, & Goats this evening,
the river riseing a little
[Clark, September 6, 1804]
Septr. 6th Thursday 1804 - a Storm this morning from the N.
W. which lasted a fiew minits, we Set out and proceeded on
passed the head of the Isd. which is Seperated from the L. S
by a narrow Channel, a hard wind from the N. W. a verry Cold
day- we Camped on the S. S. at the upper point of Some
timber, Some time before night, no timber, no timber being
in reach.
I saw Several goats on the hills on the S. S. also Buffalow
in great numbers
[Clark, September 7, 1804]
7th September Friday 1804. - a verry Cold morning Set out at
Day light
near the foot of this high Nole we discovered a Village of
an annamale the french Call the Prarie Dog which burrow in
the grown & with the rattle Snake and Killed one & Caught
one Dog alive caught in a whole 2 frogs near the hole Killed
a Dark Rattle Snake with a Prairie dog in him
The Village of those little dogs is under the ground a
conisiderable distance we dig under 6 feet thro rich hard
clay without getting to their Lodges Some of their wholes we
put in 5 barrels of water without driveing them out, we
caught one by the water forceing him out. ther mouth
resemble the rabit, head longer, legs short, & toe nails
long ther tail like a ground Squirel which they Shake and
make chattering noise ther eyes like a dog, their colour is
Gray and Skin contains Soft fur
[Clark, September 7, 1804]
7th Septr. 1804 Septr. 7th Friday - a verry Cold morning Set
out at day light we landed after proceding 51/2 miles, near
the foot of a round mounting which I saw yesterday
resembling a dome.
Capt Lewis & my Self walked up, to the top which forms a
Cone and is about 70 feet higher than the high lands around
it, the Bass is about 300 foot in decending this Cupola,
discovered a Village of Small animals that burrow in the
grown (those animals are Called by the french Pitite Chien)
Killed one & Cought one a live by poreing a great quantity
of water in his hole we attempted to dig to the beds of one
of thos animals, after diging 6 feet, found by running a
pole down that we were not half way to his Lodges, we found
2 frogs in the hole, and killed a Dark rattle Snake near
with a Ground rat in him, (those rats are numerous) the
Village of those animals Covs. about 4 acrs of Ground on a
Gradual decent of a hill and Contains great numbers of holes
on the top of which those little animals Set erect make a
Whistleing noise and whin allarmed Slip into their hole- we
por'd into one of the holes 5 barrels of water without
filling it, Those Animals are about the Size of a Small
Squrel Shorter & thicker, the head much resembling a Squirel
in every respect, except the ears which is Shorter, his tail
like a ground Squirel which thy Shake & whistle when allarmd.
the toe nails long, they have fine fur & the longer hair is
gray, it is Said that a kind of Lizard also a Snake reside
with those animals. Camped
[Lewis and Clark, September 8, 1804]
8th of September 1804 - Satturday. Set out early and
proceeded on under a Gentle breese from the S. E. at 3 mes
passed the place where Trodow wintered one winter
I went out to day on the S. S with a view to find Some of
the little dogs, and Coats, Traveled over a riged and
mountanious Countrey without water & riseing to 5 or 600
hundred feet, Islands & Sands interveneing prevt. my getting
to the boat untill after night, in my absent Capt. Lewis
killed a Buffalow, I saw Greid many Buffalow & white wolves.
(Sailed all day)
[Clark, September 8, 1804]
8th of September Satturday - Set out early and proceeded on
under a gentle Breeze from the S. E, at 3 mes. passed the
house of Troodo where he wintered in 96. Called the Pania
house, above is high hills on the S. S. on the S. S. much
higher hills than usial appear to the North distant 8 miles
recently burnt-pass 3 Small Islands at about 5 miles on this
Course on the S. S. here Capt. Lewis Killed a Buffalow in
the river, and this men one other Came to on the lower point
of an Island in the midlle of the river Called Boat Island
and incamped, jurked the meet Killed to day Consisting of 2
buffalow, one large Buck Elk one Small, 4 Deer 3 Turkeys & a
Squirel, I joined the boat at this Camp, The Countrey on the
S S. is pore & broken.
[Clark and Whitehouse, September 9, 1804]
9th Septembr Sunday, - Set out at Sunrise and proceeded on
passed the Island Several gangus of Buffalow on the Sides of
the hils on the L. S. halted on L. Side took breakfast.
Capt. Clark walked on Shore, we proceeded on
R. Fields came to the Boat had killed one Buffalow. passed
red ceeder on the edge of the hills on bouth Sides of the
river but most on the bluff on
[Clark, September 9, 1804]
9th September Sunday 1804 - Set out at Sunrise and proceeded
on passed the head of the Island on which we Camped, passed
three Sand & willow Islands, the Sand bars So noumerous, it
is not worth mentioning them, the river Shoal or Shallow
wind S E Came too and Camped on a Sand bar on the L. S. Capt
Lewis went out to Kill a buffalow. I walked on Shore all
this evening with a view to Kill a Goat or Some Prarie Dogs
in the evening after the boat landed, I Derected my Servent
York with me to kill a Buffalow near the boat from a numbr.
then Scattered in the plains, I saw at one view near the
river at least 500 Buffalow, those animals have been in view
all day feeding in the Plains on the L. S. every Copse of
timber appear to have Elk or Deer. D. Killed 3 Deer, I Kiled
a Buffalow Y. 2, R. Fields one.
[Lewis, September 9, 1804]
Sept. 9th - Capt. Clark found on the Lard shore under a high
bluff issuing from a blue earth a bittuminus matter
resembling molasses in consistance, colour and taste-
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The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806