Clark: August 4, 1804
The expedition set out early after a violent northwest windstorm with light rain struck the previous evening around 7 o'clock. They navigated a narrow, snag-filled stretch of river where banks were eroding, passing the remains of an old trading post where crew member Pierre Cruzatte had spent two years trading with the Maha and Ponca. They noted creeks draining a chain of spring-fed ponds, large sandbars, prairie bottomlands, abundant wild geese, and pumice stones along the shore. Headwinds slowed progress. Reed, who had gone back for his knife, did not rejoin them. One buck was killed, and they camped at a beaver house on the larboard side.
August 4th at 7 oClock the heavens darkened and a violent wind from the N
W. Suckceeded which lasted about an hour, with a little rain.
Set out this morning early thro a narrow part of the, the whole Channel
Confined in Some parts between the (1) Sand on one Side & the bank on
the other (which is washing in) within 200 yards, this Chanl. Crouded with
Snags. at 11/2 m. passed an old tradeing house L. S. where one of our Crew
passed 2 years P. C tradeing with the Mahar; & Ponies-above 1 me. a
(3) Creek Coms in opsd. a large bad (2) Sand bar this (3) Creek is the
outlett of 3 ponds, which recved ther water from the Smaller Streams
running from the hills on the L. S, Great qts. of Gees, passed in the next
bend L. S. an out let to the Pond, Butifull bottom Prarie on both Sides of
the river, Pumey Stone is found on the Sides of the river of various
Sizes. Wind a head. Reed the man who went back to the Camp of last night
for his Knife has not Come up this evening-we Camped at a pt. on the L. S.
at a Beaver house. 1 Buck Killed to daye.
—
August 4th Satturdaye Set out early(at 7 oClock last night we had a
Violent wind from the N W Som little rain Succeeded, the wind lasted with
violence for one hour after the wind it was clear Sereen and Cool all
night.) proceeded on passed thro betwen Snags which was quit across the
Rivr the Channel Confined within 200 yards one Side a Sand pt. S S. the
other a Bend, the Banks washing away & trees falling in constantly for
1 mile, abov this place is the remains of an old Tradeing establishment L.
S. where Petr. Crusett one of our hands Stayed two years & traded with
the Mahars a Short distance above is a Creek (3) the out let of Three
Ponds comunicateing with each other, those Ponds or rether Lakes are fed
by Springs & Small runs from the hills. (2) a large Sand Island
opposit this Creek makeing out from the L. Point, from the Camp of last
night to this Creek, the river has latterly Changed its bed incroaching on
the L. Side, in this Sand bar I Saw great Nos. of wild geespassed a
Small Creek on the L. S about 3 miles above the last both of those Creek’s
are out lets from the Small Lake which reive their water from the Small
Streems running from the high landgreat many Pamey Stones on the
Shore of various Sises the wind blew hardReed a man who went back
to Camp for his knife has not joined us. we camped at a Beaver house on
the L. S.one Buck Killed to day-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
August 4th. At 7 o'clock the heavens darkened and a violent wind from the N.W. followed, which lasted about an hour, with a little rain.
Set out this morning early through a narrow part of the river, the whole channel confined in some parts between the (1) sand on one side and the bank on the other (which is washing in) within 200 yards. This channel was crowded with snags. At 1 1/2 miles, passed an old trading house on the larboard side, where one of our crew spent 2 years, P. C. (Pierre Cruzatte), trading with the Mahar (Omaha) and Ponies (Poncas). About 1 mile above, a (3) creek comes in, opposite a large bad (2) sand bar. This (3) creek is the outlet of 3 ponds, which receive their water from the smaller streams running from the hills on the larboard side. Great quantities of geese. Passed in the next bend on the larboard side an outlet to the pond. Beautiful bottom prairie on both sides of the river. Pumice stone is found on the sides of the river of various sizes. Wind ahead. Reed (Reed), the man who went back to the camp of last night for his knife, has not come up this evening. We camped at a point on the larboard side at a beaver house. 1 buck killed today.
August 4th, Saturday. Set out early. (At 7 o'clock last night we had a violent wind from the N.W. Some little rain followed; the wind lasted with violence for one hour. After the wind it was clear, serene, and cool all night.) Proceeded on, passed through between snags which were quite across the river, the channel confined within 200 yards, one side a sand point on the starboard side, the other a bend, the banks washing away and trees falling in constantly for 1 mile. Above this place are the remains of an old trading establishment on the larboard side, where Petr. Crusett (Pierre Cruzatte), one of our hands, stayed two years and traded with the Mahars (Omahas). A short distance above is a creek (3), the outlet of three ponds communicating with each other. Those ponds, or rather lakes, are fed by springs and small runs from the hills. (2) A large sand island opposite this creek makes out from the larboard point. From the camp of last night to this creek, the river has lately changed its bed, encroaching on the larboard side. In this sand bar I saw great numbers of wild geese. Passed a small creek on the larboard side about 3 miles above the last. Both of those creeks are outlets from the small lakes, which receive their water from the small streams running from the highland. Great many pumice stones on the shore of various sizes. The wind blew hard. Reed, a man who went back to camp for his knife, has not joined us. We camped at a beaver house on the larboard side. One buck killed today.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
