Clark: August 17, 1804
On a fine, cool day with southeast winds, Clark recorded latitudes and distances of notable places along the river since leaving the mouth of the Dubois, estimating their position around 99°45' west of Greenwich. He collected several grass specimens resembling wheat, rye, barley, and timothy. In the evening, Labiche returned ahead of the party sent after the deserters, reporting that Moses Reed had been captured but La Liberté escaped. The Oto chiefs were accompanying the party hoping to make peace with the Maha through the captains. The crew set the prairie on fire as a signal to summon any nearby Mahas or Sioux, and caught two beaver.
17th August 1804. a fine morning Wind from the S. E. I will here annex the
Latds & Distances of the Different notable placies from the River
Dubois or Mouth up.
The Longitudes are not yet Calculated, We must be at this time about 99°
45′ 00″ West of GreenwichI Collected a grass much resembling wheet
with a grain like Rye, much fuller of grain, one like Rye & one like
Barley Grass Small, a Grass like Timothey except the Seed which is on
branches from the main Stalk-
Late this evening one of the party Sent after the deserters returned &
joined us, he left the party 3 miles back, they cought both Deserters, one
of them La liberty, got away from them, the Great Chief & 2nd Chief of
the ottoes accompaned the Party with a view to bring about a Peice between
themselves & the Mahar a great missfortune that the Mahars have not
returned from the huntSent & fiered the Prarie near Camp to
bring in the Mahars & Souex if any are near. a Cool evening, 2 Beever
Cought
—
17th August Friday 1804. a fine Morning the wind from the S. E. I
collected a grass much resembling wheat in its grouth the grain like Rye,
also Some resembling Rye & Barly. a kind of Timothey, the Seed of
which branches from the main Stalk & is more like flax Seed than that
of a Timothey
at 6 oClock this evening Labieche one of the Party Sent to the Ottoes
joined, and informed that the Party was behind with one of the Deserters M
B. Reed and the 3 principal Chiefs of the NationsLa Liberty they
cought but he decived them and got awaythe object of those Chiefs
comeing forward is to make a peace with the Mahars thro us-. as the Mahars
are not at home this great object cannot be accomplished at this time Set
the Praries on fire to bring the Mahars & Soues if any were near, this
being the usial Signal.
a Cool evining two Beaver Cought to day.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
17th August 1804. A fine morning, wind from the S.E. I will here add the latitudes and distances of the different notable places from the River Dubois (or its mouth) upward. The longitudes are not yet calculated. We must be at this time about 99° 45' 00" west of Greenwich. I collected a grass much resembling wheat, with a grain like rye but much fuller of grain; one like rye, and one like barley grass, small; also a grass like timothy, except that the seed grows on branches from the main stalk.
Late this evening, one of the party sent after the deserters returned and rejoined us. He left the party three miles back. They caught both deserters, but one of them, La Liberty, got away from them. The Great Chief and Second Chief of the Ottoes accompanied the party with a view to bringing about peace between themselves and the Mahars (Omahas). It is a great misfortune that the Mahars have not returned from the hunt. We sent men out and set fire to the prairie near camp to bring in the Mahars and Sioux, if any are near. A cool evening; two beaver caught.
17th August, Friday, 1804. A fine morning, the wind from the S.E. I collected a grass much resembling wheat in its growth, with a grain like rye; also some resembling rye and barley; and a kind of timothy, the seed of which branches from the main stalk and is more like flaxseed than that of timothy.
At 6 o'clock this evening, Labieche, one of the party sent to the Ottoes, rejoined us and informed us that the party was behind with one of the deserters, M. B. Reed, and the three principal chiefs of the nation. La Liberty they caught, but he deceived them and got away. The object of those chiefs coming forward is to make peace with the Mahars (Omahas) through us. As the Mahars are not at home, this great object cannot be accomplished at this time. We set the prairies on fire to bring in the Mahars and Sioux if any were near, this being the usual signal.
A cool evening; two beaver caught today.
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