Clark: August 15, 1804
Camped three miles northeast of the Maha Village, Clark took ten men to a beaver-dammed creek about a mile southwest, where they fashioned a brush drag from willow and bark and caught over 300 fish, including pike, bass, salmon, perch, red horse, small catfish, and silverfish. He also found shrimp like those near New Orleans and large, fat mussels in the creek. Meanwhile, Lewis sent the Sioux interpreter Dorion and a small party to investigate distant smoke, hoping to find a Sioux band; they found only trees left burning by a small Sioux party. The men sent to the Otoes and after the deserter Reed had not yet returned. Strong winds fanned a prairie fire.
August 15th Wendesday I took ten men & went out to Beaver Dam across a
Creek about a mile S W from Camp, and with a Brush Drag caught 308 fish,
of the following kind (i’e) Pike, Samon, Bass, Pirch, Red horse, Small
Cat, & a kind of Perch Called on the Ohio Silverfish I also Caught the
Srimp which is Common to the Lower part of the Mississippi, in this Creek
& in the Beaver Pond is emince beads of Mustles Verry large & fatin
my absence Capt Lewis Send the Souex interpr & a party to a Smoke
which appeared to rise at no great distance to the north with a view to
find Some Band of that nation, they returned and informed that they had
been made Some time by Some Small party, and the hard wind of to day had
set the Prarie on fire from Some high trees, which was left burning all
well, Party from Ottoes not come up.
Camp three Miles N. E of the Mahar Village
—
August 15th Wednesday 1804 I went with ten men to a Creek Damed by the
Beavers about half way to the Village, with Some Small willow & Bark
we mad a Drag and haulted up the Creek, and Cought 318 fish of different
kind i’e Peke, Bass, Salmon, perch, red horse, Small Cat, and a kind of
perch Called Silverfish, on the Ohio.I cought a Srimp prosisely of
Shape Size & flavour of those about N. Orleans & the lower party
of the Mississippi in this Creek which is only the pass or Streight from
Beaver Pond to another, is Crouded with large Mustles Verry fat, Ducks,
Pliver of different Kinds are on those Ponds as well as on the river in My
absence Capt. Lewis Sent Mr. Durioue the Souix interpeter & three men
to examine a fire which threw up an emence Smoke from the Praries on the
N. E. Side of the River and at no great distance from Campthe
Object of this party was to find Some Bands of Seouex which the inptr.
thought was near the Smoke and get them to Come inin the evening
this Party returned and infoermed, that the fire arrose from Some trees
which had been left burning by a Small party of Seoux whom had passed
Several Daysthe wind Setting from that point, blew the Smoke from
that pt. over our Camp. our party all in health and Sperrits the men Sent
to the Ottoes & in pursute of the Deserter Reed has not yet returned
or joined our party.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
August 15th Wednesday I took ten men and went out to a Beaver Dam across a Creek about a mile southwest from Camp, and with a brush drag caught 308 fish, of the following kinds (i.e.): Pike, Salmon, Bass, Perch, Red Horse, Small Cat, and a kind of Perch called on the Ohio Silverfish. I also caught the Shrimp which is common to the lower part of the Mississippi. In this Creek and in the Beaver Pond there are immense beds of Mussels, very large and fat. In my absence Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) sent the Sioux interpreter and a party to a smoke which appeared to rise at no great distance to the north, with a view to find some band of that nation. They returned and informed that it had been made some time ago by some small party, and the hard wind of today had set the prairie on fire from some high trees, which was left burning. All well. Party from the Otoes not come up.
Camp three Miles N.E. of the Maha Village
August 15th Wednesday 1804. I went with ten men to a creek dammed by the beavers about halfway to the Village. With some small willow and bark we made a drag and hauled up the creek, and caught 318 fish of different kinds, i.e. Pike, Bass, Salmon, Perch, Red Horse, Small Cat, and a kind of perch called Silverfish on the Ohio. I caught a Shrimp precisely of the shape, size, and flavor of those about New Orleans and the lower part of the Mississippi. This creek, which is only the pass or strait from one beaver pond to another, is crowded with large mussels, very fat. Ducks and plover of different kinds are on those ponds as well as on the river. In my absence Capt. Lewis sent Mr. Durioue (Dorion) the Sioux interpreter and three men to examine a fire which threw up an immense smoke from the prairies on the N.E. side of the river and at no great distance from camp. The object of this party was to find some bands of Sioux, which the interpreter thought were near the smoke, and get them to come in. In the evening this party returned and informed that the fire arose from some trees which had been left burning by a small party of Sioux who had passed several days before. The wind setting from that point blew the smoke from that point over our camp. Our party all in health and spirits. The men sent to the Otoes and in pursuit of the deserter Reed have not yet returned or joined our party.
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