Clark: August 5, 1804
The expedition set out early under threatening winds and rain, though Clark noted thunder and lightning are less common here than in the Atlantic states. The crew killed a large bull snake resembling a rattlesnake. Clark observed how the river's currents erode its bends, washing the soft mud-and-sand soil into the channel. While chasing turkeys on shore, he found a peninsula only 370 yards wide that the river was likely to cut through within two years. He killed a turkey and camped on the south side. Mosquitoes were troublesome, and Reed, who went back for his knife, had not returned, raising suspicions of desertion.
August 5th Set out early wind from N E. Great appearance of Wind &
rain, (I have remarked that I have not heard much thunder in this
Countrey) a verry large Snake was Killed to day called the Bull Snake, his
Colour Some thing like a rattle Snake Something lighterthe bends of
the river to day is washing away the banks, haveing nothing to oppose the
turbelance of the river when Confined by large hard Sand Points, forceing
this Current against the bendsthe Soil of the entire bottom between
the high land, being the mud or Ooze of the river of Some former period
mixed with Sand & Clay easely melts and Slips, or washies into the
river the mud mixes with the water & the Sand collects on the points
Camped on the S. S.I went on Shore S. S. this evening Saw Some
turkeys and in persueing them Struk the river 12 miles below the place by
water I went out, I think the Peninsuly is about 370 yards across Subjuct
to overflow; & washes into numerous Channels, Great quantities of
Graps ripe & of three Defferent Kind Some large & fine. I Killed a
Turkey, and made Camp in the Night, Musqutors verry troublesonReed
the man who went back for his Knife has not yet joined us
—
5th of August Sunday 1804 Set out early great appearance of wind and rain
(I have observed that Thundor & lightning is not as common in this
Countrey as it is in the atlantic States) Snakes are not plenty, one was
killed to day large and resembling the rattle Snake only Something
lighter-. I walked on Shore this evening S. S. in Pursueing Some Turkeys I
struck the river twelve miles below within 370 yards, the high water
passes thro this Peninsulia; and agreeable to the Customary Changes of the
river I Concld. that in two years the main Current of the river will pass
through. In every bend the banks are falling in from the Current being
thrown against those bends by the Sand points which inlarges and the Soil
I believe from unquestionable appearns. of the entire bottom from one hill
to the other being the mud or ooze of the River at Some former Period
mixed with Sand and Clay easily melts and Slips into the River, and the
mud mixes with the water & the Sand is washed down and lodges on the
pointsGreat quantites of Grapes on the banks, I observe three
different Kinds at this time ripe, one Of the no. is large & has the
flaver of the Purple grape. camped on the S. S. the Musquitors verry
troubleson. The man who went back after his Knife has not yet come up, we
have Some reasons to believe he has Deserted
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
August 5th. Set out early, wind from N.E. Great appearance of wind and rain. (I have remarked that I have not heard much thunder in this country.) A very large snake was killed today, called the bull snake; his color something like a rattlesnake, something lighter. The bends of the river today are washing away the banks, having nothing to oppose the turbulence of the river when confined by large hard sand points, forcing the current against the bends. The soil of the entire bottom between the high land, being the mud or ooze of the river of some former period mixed with sand and clay, easily melts and slips, or washes into the river. The mud mixes with the water and the sand collects on the points. Camped on the S.S.
I went on shore on the S.S. this evening. Saw some turkeys, and in pursuing them struck the river 12 miles below the place by water I went out. I think the peninsula is about 370 yards across, subject to overflow, and washes into numerous channels. Great quantities of grapes ripe, and of three different kinds, some large and fine. I killed a turkey, and made camp in the night. Mosquitoes very troublesome. Reed, the man who went back for his knife, has not yet joined us.
5th of August, Sunday, 1804. Set out early. Great appearance of wind and rain. (I have observed that thunder and lightning is not as common in this country as it is in the Atlantic states.) Snakes are not plenty; one was killed today, large and resembling the rattlesnake, only something lighter. I walked on shore this evening on the S.S. In pursuing some turkeys I struck the river twelve miles below, within 370 yards. The high water passes through this peninsula; and, agreeable to the customary changes of the river, I concluded that in two years the main current of the river will pass through. In every bend the banks are falling in, from the current being thrown against those bends by the sand points, which enlarges; and the soil, I believe from unquestionable appearances, of the entire bottom from one hill to the other, being the mud or ooze of the river at some former period mixed with sand and clay, easily melts and slips into the river, and the mud mixes with the water and the sand is washed down and lodges on the points. Great quantities of grapes on the banks; I observe three different kinds at this time ripe, one of them large and having the flavor of the purple grape. Camped on the S.S. The mosquitoes very troublesome. The man who went back after his knife has not yet come up; we have some reason to believe he has deserted.
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