Clark: August 11, 1804
After a stormy dawn with strong northwest winds and rain, the expedition landed on the Lewis side of the river to climb a high bluff where Chief Black Bird of the Maha (Omaha) nation had been buried four years earlier. Clark, Lewis, and ten men ascended the 300-foot hill, where they planted a red, white, and blue flag on the chief's mound. From the summit they could see the river meandering for 60 or 70 miles. They also passed Bad Spirit Creek, where smallpox had killed about 400 Maha people, and recorded a latitude of 42°1'3".
August 11th Satturday 1804 about day this morning a hard wind from the N.
W. followed by rain, we landed at the foot of the hill on which Black Bird
The late King of the mahar who Died 4 years ago & 400 of his nation
with the Small pox was buried (1) and went up and fixed a white flag bound
with Blue white & read on the Grave which was about 12 foot Base &
circueller, on the top of a Penical about 300 foot above the water of the
river, from the top of this hill may be Seen the bends or meanderings of
the river for 60 or 70 miles round & all the County around the base of
this high land is a Soft Sand Stone Bluff of about 40 or 150 foot, the
Crooked, passed a Creek Called Wau-Con di peche C or Bad God Creek of bad
Spirits on the L. S above the Bluff on this Creek the Mahars had the Small
pox 4 years ago, Lattitude 42° 1’3″ 8/10 taken on the Point above the
Creek. the river is verry Crooked, we are now within 3/4 of a mile of the
river at a place we Shall not get around to untill tomorrow noonWe
er 3 Legues from the Mahars by land and the great deel of Beaver sign
induce a belief that those people do not hunt much.
I have observed a number of places where the river has Changd its Bead at
different times
—
11th August Satturday 1804. about day light this Morning a hard wind from
the N W. with Some rain proceeded on arround the right of the Isld.
a hard wind accompanied with rain from the S. E. after the rain was over
Capt. Lewis myself & 10 men assended the Hill on the L. S. under which
there was Some fine Springs to the top of a high point where the Mahars
King Black Bird was burried 4 years ago. a mound of earth about 12
Diamuter at the base & 6 feet high is raised over him turfed, and a
pole 8 feet high in the Center on this pole we fixed a white flage bound
with red Blue & white; this hill about 300 feet above the water
forming a Bluff between that & the Water of Various hight from 40 to
150 feet in hight yellow Soft Sand Stone from the tops of this Nole the
river may be Seen Meandering for 60 or 70 Miles, we Decended & Set out
N. 24 to W. 1/2 me. passing over a Sand bar on the S. pt. along the
Willows. to the river opposit a Small Beyeau on the L. S. which is the
Conveyance of the high water from a bend which appears near in a northerly
direction, haveing passed a Creek in a Deep bend to the L. S. Called by
the Mahars Wau can di Peeche (Great Spirrit is bad) on this Creek &
Hills near it about 400 of the Mahar Died with the Small Pox- Took Medn.
Altitude & made the Latd. 42° 1′ 3″ 8/10 N. also the Moons Distanc
from the Sun I have observed a number of places where the River has onced
run and now filled or filling up & growing with willows &
cottonwood
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
August 11th Saturday 1804. About daybreak this morning a hard wind came from the N.W., followed by rain. We landed at the foot of the hill on which Black Bird, the late King of the Mahar (Maha/Omaha), who died 4 years ago along with 400 of his nation from smallpox, was buried. We went up and fixed a white flag bound with blue, white, and red on the grave, which was about 12 feet at the base and circular, on the top of a pinnacle about 300 feet above the water of the river. From the top of this hill, the bends or meanderings of the river may be seen for 60 or 70 miles around, and all the country around the base of this highland is a soft sandstone bluff of about 40 to 150 feet.
The river is crooked. We passed a creek called Wau-Con di peche Creek, or Bad God Creek, of bad spirits, on the larboard side. Above the bluff on this creek, the Mahars had the smallpox 4 years ago. Latitude 42° 1' 3" 8/10, taken on the point above the creek. The river is very crooked. We are now within 3/4 of a mile of the river at a place we shall not get around to until tomorrow noon. We are 3 leagues from the Mahars by land, and the great deal of beaver sign induces a belief that those people do not hunt much.
I have observed a number of places where the river has changed its bed at different times.
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11th August Saturday 1804. About daylight this morning a hard wind came from the N.W. with some rain. We proceeded on around the right of the island. A hard wind accompanied with rain came from the S.E. After the rain was over, Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis), myself, and 10 men ascended the hill on the larboard side, under which there were some fine springs, to the top of a high point where the Mahars' King Black Bird was buried 4 years ago. A mound of earth about 12 feet in diameter at the base and 6 feet high is raised over him, turfed, with a pole 8 feet high in the center. On this pole we fixed a white flag bound with red, blue, and white. This hill is about 300 feet above the water, forming a bluff between that and the water of various heights from 40 to 150 feet, of yellow soft sandstone. From the top of this knoll the river may be seen meandering for 60 or 70 miles.
We descended and set out N. 24° W. 1/2 mile, passing over a sandbar on the starboard point along the willows, to the river opposite a small bayou on the larboard side, which is the conveyance of the high water from a bend which appears near in a northerly direction. Having passed a creek in a deep bend to the larboard side, called by the Mahars Wau can di Peeche (Great Spirit is bad), on this creek and hills near it about 400 of the Mahar died with the smallpox. Took meridian altitude and made the latitude 42° 1' 3" 8/10 N., also the moon's distance from the sun. I have observed a number of places where the river has once run and is now filled or filling up and growing with willows and cottonwood.
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