Clark: April 20, 1805
On a cold, blustery Saturday with a strong northwest headwind, the party set out at 7 a.m. but struggled against rough waves that nearly swamped several canoes and the large pirogue, forcing them to camp after only a short distance and remain there the rest of the day. Clark observed an Indian woman's scaffold burial, fallen down, with her dog killed beside her and various belongings. Captain Lewis, hunting on foot, killed two deer; the party also took elk, geese, deer, and beaver. Snow flew briefly around 2 p.m.
20th of April Satturday 1805 wind a head from the N W. we Set out at 7
oClock proceeded on, Soon after we Set out a Bank fell in near one of the
Canoes which like to have filled her with water, the wind became hard and
waves So rought that we proceeded with our little Canoes with much risque,
our Situation was Such after Setting out that we were obliged to pass
round the 1st Point or lay exposed to the blustering winds & waves, in
passing round the Point Several canoes took in water as also our large
Perogue but without injuring our Stores & much I proceeded on to the
upper part of the 1st bend and came too at a butifull Glade on the S. S.,
about 1 mile below Capt Lewis who had walked thro the point, left his Coat
& a Deer on the bank which we took on board,-. a Short distance below
our Camp I Saw Some rafts on the S. S. near which, an Indian woman was
Scaffeled in the Indian form of Deposing their dead, & fallen down She
was or had been raised about 6 feet inclosed in Several robes tightly
laced around her, with her dog Slays, her bag of Different coloured earths
paint Small bones of animals beaver nales and Several other little
trinkets, also a blue jay, her dog was killed and lay near her. Capt.
Lewis joined me Soon after I landed & informed me he has walked
Several miles higher, & in his walk killed 2 Deer & wounded an Elk
& a Deer, our party Shot in the river four beaver & cought two,
which were verry fat and much admired by the men, after we landed they
killed 3 Elk 4 Gees & 2 Deer we had Some of our Provisions & which
got a little wet aired, the wind Continued So hard that we were Compelled
to delay all day. Saw Several buffalow lodged in the drift wood which had
been drouned in the winter in passing the river; Saw the remains of 2
which had lodged on the Side of the bank & eate by the bears.
This morning was verry cold, Some Snow about 2 oClock from flying clouds,
Some frost this morning & the mud at the edge of the water was frosed
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
20th of April, Saturday 1805. Wind ahead from the N.W. We set out at 7 o'clock and proceeded on. Soon after we set out, a bank fell in near one of the canoes, which nearly filled her with water. The wind became hard and the waves so rough that we proceeded with our little canoes at much risk. Our situation was such after setting out that we were obliged to pass round the 1st Point or lay exposed to the blustering winds and waves. In passing round the Point, several canoes took in water, as also did our large pirogue, but without injuring our stores much.
I proceeded on to the upper part of the 1st bend and came to at a beautiful glade on the south side, about 1 mile below Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis), who had walked through the point. He left his coat and a deer on the bank, which we took on board.
A short distance below our camp I saw some rafts on the south side, near which an Indian woman was scaffolded in the Indian form of depositing their dead. She had fallen down, or had been raised, about 6 feet, enclosed in several robes tightly laced around her, with her dog sleds, her bag of different colored earths and paint, small bones of animals, beaver nails, and several other little trinkets, also a blue jay. Her dog was killed and lay near her.
Capt. Lewis joined me soon after I landed and informed me he had walked several miles higher, and in his walk killed 2 deer and wounded an elk and a deer. Our party shot in the river four beaver and caught two, which were very fat and much admired by the men. After we landed, they killed 3 elk, 4 geese, and 2 deer. We aired some of our provisions, which had gotten a little wet. The wind continued so hard that we were compelled to delay all day. Saw several buffalo lodged in the driftwood, which had been drowned in the winter while crossing the river; saw the remains of 2 which had lodged on the side of the bank and been eaten by the bears.
This morning was very cold. Some snow about 2 o'clock from flying clouds. Some frost this morning, and the mud at the edge of the water was frozen.
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