Clark: April 13, 1805
Setting out at 6 a.m., the party traveled up a Missouri River that had widened to nearly a mile above the Little Missouri's mouth. They caught three beaver, passed a creek lined with wild onions, and explored another stream that proved to be the outlet of a small lake. Clark named it Goose Egg Lake after shooting a goose nesting atop a cottonwood. They spotted buffalo, wary elk, antelope, bald eagles, geese, and unusually colored brant, and noted 43 abandoned lodges thought to be Assiniboine. Camp was made on the south side.
13th of April Satturday 1805 Set out this morning at 6 oClock, the
Missouri above the mouth of Little Missouri widens to nearly a mile
containing a number of Sand bars this width &c. of the River Continues
Generally as high as the Rochejhone River.
Cought 3 beaver this morning, at 9 miles passd. the mouth of a Creek on
the S. S. on the banks of which there is an imence quantity of wild onions
or garlick, I was up this Creek 1/2 a m. and could not See one Stick of
timber of any kind on its borders, this creek is 16 yds wide 1/2 a mile up
it and discharges more water than is common for Creeks of its Size. at
about 10 miles higher we pass a Creek about 30 yards wide in a deep bend
to the N W. This creek I took to be a Small river from its Size & the
quantity of water which it discharged, I ascended it 11/2 mes and found it
the discharge of a pond or Small Lake which has appearance of haveing been
once the bead of the river, Some Small Streams discharge themselves into
this Lake. the Countery on both Side is butifull elevated plains assending
in Some parts to a great distance near the aforesaid Lake (which we call
Goose egg L from a Circumstance of my Shooting a goose on her neast on
Some Sticks in the top of a high Cotton wood tree in which there was one
egg) We Saw 8 buffalow at a distance, We also Saw Several herds of Elk at
a distance which were verry wild, I Saw near the Lake the remains of 43
lodges, which has latterly been abandond I Suppose them to have been
Ossinniboins and now near the british establishments on the Ossinniboin
River tradeing. we camped on the S. S. in a butifull Plain. I observe more
bald Eagles on this part of the Missouri than usial also a Small Hawk
Killed 2 Antelopes in the river to day emence numbers of Geese to be seen
pared &c. a Gange of brant pass one half of the gange white with black
wings or the large feathers of the 1 s & 2d joint the remds. of the
comn. color. a voice much like that of a goos & finer &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
13th of April, Saturday, 1805. Set out this morning at 6 o'clock. The Missouri above the mouth of the Little Missouri widens to nearly a mile and contains a number of sand bars. This width and character of the river continues generally as high up as the Rochejhone (Yellowstone) River.
Caught 3 beaver this morning. At 9 miles we passed the mouth of a creek on the south side, on the banks of which there is an immense quantity of wild onions or garlic. I went up this creek half a mile and could not see one stick of timber of any kind on its borders. This creek is 16 yards wide half a mile up it, and discharges more water than is common for creeks of its size. About 10 miles higher we passed a creek about 30 yards wide in a deep bend to the northwest. I took this creek to be a small river from its size and the quantity of water it discharged. I ascended it 1 1/2 miles and found it to be the discharge of a pond or small lake, which has the appearance of having once been the bed of the river. Some small streams discharge themselves into this lake. The country on both sides is beautiful elevated plains, ascending in some parts to a great distance near the aforesaid lake (which we call Goose Egg Lake, from the circumstance of my shooting a goose on her nest on some sticks in the top of a high cottonwood tree, in which there was one egg).
We saw 8 buffalo at a distance. We also saw several herds of elk at a distance, which were very wild. I saw near the lake the remains of 43 lodges, which have lately been abandoned. I suppose them to have been Assiniboines, now near the British establishments on the Assiniboine River trading. We camped on the south side in a beautiful plain. I observe more bald eagles on this part of the Missouri than usual, also a small hawk. Killed 2 antelope in the river today. Immense numbers of geese to be seen, paired, etc. A gang of brant passed, one half of the gang white with black wings (or the large feathers of the 1st and 2nd joint), the remainder of the common color. Their voice much like that of a goose, but finer, etc.
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