Clark: April 6, 1806
The expedition broke camp after an early breakfast and traveled nine miles upriver to join Gibson's hunting party, who had killed three elk and wounded two others. Shannon led six men to retrieve the meat, returning by 6 P.M. with five elk, which was cut and scaffolded over fires to dry overnight. Reubin Field killed an unfamiliar quail-like bird, which Clark described in detail and preserved the skin. Frazer killed a pheasant and Joseph Field a vulture. Two Indians had arrived overnight, and four more from the great rapids visited, all reporting scarce provisions upriver. Drouillard and the Fields were sent ahead to hunt.
Sunday April 6th 1806. Two Indians Came last night very late to our Camp
and continued all night. early we had all the meat packed up and our
Canoes loaded ready for to Set out and after an early brackfast at which
time all things were ready and we Set out and proceeded to the Camp of
Gibson & party about 9 miles, they had killed 3 Elk at no great
distance and Wounded two others so badly that we expect to precure them.
Sent a party of Six men with Shannon who had killed the Elk to bring in
the Elk, and formed a Camp, near which we had a Scaffold made ready to dry
the meat as Soon as it Should arive. Reubin Field killed a bird of the
Quail kind or Class which was whistleing near our Camp it is larger than
the quail or partridge as they are Called Kentucky and Virginia. it’s form
is presisely that of our partridge tho its plumage differs in every part.
the upper part of the head, Sides and back of the neck, including the
Croop and about of the under part of the body is of a bright dove coloured
blue, under neath the under beak, as high as the lower edge of the eye,
and back as far as the hinder part of the eyes and thence comeing down to
a point in the front of the neck about 2/3rd of it’s length downwards, is
of a fine dark brick red. between this brick red and the dove colour there
runs a narrow Stripe of pure white. the ears are covered with some coarse
dark brown feathers. just at the base of the under chap there is a narrow
transvirce Stripe of white. from the crown of the head two long round
feathers extend backwards nearly in the direction of the beak and are of a
black Colour. the length of these feathers is 21/2 inches. one overlais
and Conseals the other which is Somewhat Shorter and Seems to be raped in
the plumage of that in front which folding backwards colapses behing and
has a round appearance. the tail is composed of 12 dark brown feathers of
nearly equal length. the large feathers of the wings are of a dark brown
& are reather Short in purpotion to the body of the bird. in this
respect very Similar to the partridge. the covert of the wings and back
are of a dove Colour with a Slight admixture of redish brown. a wide
Stripe which extends from Side to Side of the body and occupies the lower
region of the breast is beautifully varigated with the brick red white
& black which perdominates in the order they are mentioned and the
Colours mark the feathers transversely. the legs are covered with feathers
as low as the Knee; these feathers are of dark brown tiped with a dark
brick red as are also those between and about the joining of the legs with
the body. the foot is presisely that of the Common partridge except that
they are as also the legs white. the upper beak is Short, wide at it’s
base, black, convex, curved downwards and reather obtusely pointed. it
exceeds the under chap considerably which is of a white colour, also
convex under neath and obtusely pointed. the nostrils are remarkably
Small, placed far back and low down on the Sides of the beak. they are
covered by a thin proterant elastic, black leather like Substance. the
eyes are of a uniform pierceing black colour. this is a most butifull bird
I preserved the Skin of this bird retaining the wings feet & head
which I hope will give a just Idea of the bird. it’s loud note is Single
and Consists of a loud Squall, intirely different from the whistling of
our partridge or quailes. it has a chiping note when allarmed like our
partridge.to day there was a Second of those birds killed which
presisely resembles that just discribed. I believe those to be the mail
bird the female, if so, I have not yet Seen.-.
at 6 P.M. Shannon and party returned with the flesh of five Elk. the two
he had wounded in the morning he found dead near the place he had Shot
them. we had the meat cut into thin pices and Scaffored with a fire under
it to dry out, which we expect in the course of the night Can be effected.
four Indians from the great rapids visited us to day and Continued all
day. they give the Same account of the Scercity of provisions above the
falls as has already been given by others. This Supply of Elk I think by
useing economey and in addition of roots and dogs which we may probably
precure from he Nativs on Lewis’s river will be Sufficient to last us to
the Chopunnish where we Shall Meet with our horses-. and near which place
there is Some deer to be precured.
Frazer killed a pheasent of the Common kind. Jos. Field killed a vulture
of that Speces already discribed. in the evening late the Indians left us
and returned to their village. we detected that fires be kept under the
meat all night. and tha Drewyer and the two Fields proceed on to the next
bottom and hunt untill we Should arive. 9 miles
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday April 6th 1806. Two Indians came last night very late to our camp and stayed all night. Early we had all the meat packed up and our canoes loaded ready to set out, and after an early breakfast, at which time all things were ready, we set out and proceeded to the camp of Gibson and party, about 9 miles. They had killed 3 elk at no great distance and wounded two others so badly that we expect to procure them. Sent a party of six men with Shannon, who had killed the elk, to bring in the elk, and formed a camp near which we had a scaffold made ready to dry the meat as soon as it should arrive.
Reubin Field killed a bird of the quail kind or class which was whistling near our camp. It is larger than the quail or partridge as they are called in Kentucky and Virginia. Its form is precisely that of our partridge, though its plumage differs in every part. The upper part of the head, sides and back of the neck, including the crop and about half of the under part of the body, is of a bright dove-colored blue. Underneath the under beak, as high as the lower edge of the eye, and back as far as the hinder part of the eyes, and thence coming down to a point in the front of the neck about 2/3 of its length downwards, is of a fine dark brick red. Between this brick red and the dove color there runs a narrow stripe of pure white. The ears are covered with some coarse dark brown feathers. Just at the base of the under chap there is a narrow transverse stripe of white. From the crown of the head two long round feathers extend backwards nearly in the direction of the beak and are of a black color. The length of these feathers is 2 1/2 inches. One overlays and conceals the other, which is somewhat shorter and seems to be wrapped in the plumage of that in front, which folding backwards collapses behind and has a round appearance. The tail is composed of 12 dark brown feathers of nearly equal length. The large feathers of the wings are of a dark brown and are rather short in proportion to the body of the bird; in this respect very similar to the partridge. The coverts of the wings and back are of a dove color with a slight admixture of reddish brown. A wide stripe which extends from side to side of the body and occupies the lower region of the breast is beautifully variegated with the brick red, white, and black, which predominates in the order they are mentioned, and the colors mark the feathers transversely. The legs are covered with feathers as low as the knee; these feathers are of dark brown tipped with a dark brick red, as are also those between and about the joining of the legs with the body. The foot is precisely that of the common partridge, except that they, as also the legs, are white. The upper beak is short, wide at its base, black, convex, curved downwards, and rather obtusely pointed. It exceeds the under chap considerably, which is of a white color, also convex underneath and obtusely pointed. The nostrils are remarkably small, placed far back and low down on the sides of the beak. They are covered by a thin protruding elastic, black leather-like substance. The eyes are of a uniform piercing black color. This is a most beautiful bird. I preserved the skin of this bird, retaining the wings, feet, and head, which I hope will give a just idea of the bird. Its loud note is single and consists of a loud squall, entirely different from the whistling of our partridge or quail. It has a chirping note when alarmed like our partridge. Today there was a second of those birds killed which precisely resembles that just described. I believe these to be the male bird; the female, if so, I have not yet seen.
At 6 P.M. Shannon and party returned with the flesh of five elk. The two he had wounded in the morning he found dead near the place he had shot them. We had the meat cut into thin pieces and placed on the scaffold with a fire under it to dry out, which we expect in the course of the night can be effected. Four Indians from the great rapids visited us today and continued all day. They give the same account of the scarcity of provisions above the falls as has already been given by others. This supply of elk, I think, by using economy and in addition to roots and dogs which we may probably procure from the natives on Lewis's river, will be sufficient to last us to the Chopunnish, where we shall meet with our horses, and near which place there are some deer to be procured.
Frazer killed a pheasant of the common kind. Jos. Field killed a vulture of that species already described. In the evening late the Indians left us and returned to their village. We directed that fires be kept under the meat all night, and that Drewyer and the two Fields proceed on to the next bottom and hunt until we should arrive. 9 miles.
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