Clark: April 9, 1805

9th of April Tuesday 1805. Set out this morning verry early under a gentle
breeze from the S. E. at Brackfast the Indian deturmined to return to his
nation. I saw a Musquetor to day great numbers of Brant flying up the
river, the Maple, & Elm has buded & Cotton and arrow wood
beginning to bud. I saw in the prarie an animal resembling the Prarie dog
or Barking Squirel & burrow in the Same way, this animal was about 1/3
as large as the barking Squirel. But fiew resident birds or water fowls
which I have Seen as yet at 6 miles passed an old hunting camp of
Menitarrees on the S. S. 21/2 miles higher passed the mouth of Miry Creek
on the S. S. passed a hunting Camp of Minetarees on the S. S. waiting the
return of the Antilope, Saw Great numbers of Gees feedin in the Praries on
the young grass, I saw flowers in the praries to day, juniper grows on the
Sides of the hills, & runs on the ground all the hills have more or
Less indefferent Coal in Stratias at different bites from the waters edge
to 80 feet. those Stratias from 1 inch to 5 feet thick. we Campd. on the
S. S. above some rocks makeing out in the river in a butifull ellivated
plain.