Clark: April 11, 1805
The expedition set out very early, with Clark walking onshore and noting fresh bear tracks. The party killed a deer, two beaver, and two geese, and observed abundant waterfowl including geese, brant, mallards, white cranes, swans, and gulls. The plains were beginning to green, framed by hills 5 to 7 miles apart showing reddish-brown burnt areas with pumice, lava, and coal-like bituminous strata. Late in the evening, they encountered a party of Minetarees traveling downriver with horses and dogs. They camped on the south side below a caving bank as the river rose slightly.
11th of April Thursday 1805 Set out verry early I walked on Shore, Saw
fresh bear tracks, one deer & 2 beaver killed this morning in the
after part of the day killed two gees; Saw great numbers of Gees Brant
& Mallard Some White Cranes Swan & guls, the plains begin to have
a green appearance, the hills on either side are from 5 to 7 miles asunder
and in maney places have been burnt, appearing at a distance of a redish
brown choler, containing Pumic Stone & lava, Some of which rolin down
to the base of those hillsIn maney of those hills forming bluffs to
the river we procieve Several Stratums of bituminious Substance which
resembles Coal; thong Some of the pieces appear to be excellent Coal it
resists the fire for Some time, and consumes without emiting much flaim.
The plains are high and rich Some of them are Sandy Containing Small
pebble, and on Some of the hill Sides large Stones are to be SeenIn
the evening late we observed a party of Me ne tar ras on the L. S. with
horses and dogs loaded going down, those are a part of the Menetarras who
camped a little above this with the Ossinniboins at the mouth of the
little Missouri all the latter part of the winter we Camped on the S. S.
below a falling in bank. the river raise a little.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
11th of April, Thursday 1805. Set out very early. I walked on shore and saw fresh bear tracks. One deer and two beaver were killed this morning. In the latter part of the day, we killed two geese. We saw great numbers of geese, brant, and mallard, some white cranes, swans, and gulls. The plains begin to have a green appearance. The hills on either side are from 5 to 7 miles apart, and in many places have been burnt, appearing at a distance of a reddish brown color, containing pumice stone and lava, some of which rolls down to the base of those hills.
In many of those hills forming bluffs to the river, we perceive several stratums of bituminous substance which resembles coal. Though some of the pieces appear to be excellent coal, it resists the fire for some time and consumes without emitting much flame.
The plains are high and rich. Some of them are sandy, containing small pebbles, and on some of the hillsides large stones are to be seen.
In the evening late, we observed a party of Me ne tar ras (Minitaris) on the L. S. (larboard side) with horses and dogs loaded, going down. Those are a part of the Minitaris who camped a little above this with the Ossinniboins (Assiniboines) at the mouth of the Little Missouri all the latter part of the winter. We camped on the S. S. (starboard side) below a caving bank. The river rose a little.
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