Clark: July 16, 1806
The party set out late at 9 AM after horses strayed downriver overnight. Labiche was sent ahead to hunt, and Shannon killed a fat buffalo bull whose hide was used to make moccasins for lame horses with worn hooves. They traveled about 10 miles down the Yellowstone, halting on an island to graze. Clark unsuccessfully chased a grizzly on horseback and observed huge herds of elk and antelope. An unfamiliar trout-like fish was brought in. Finding no cottonwoods large enough for canoes, Clark resolved to continue downriver until suitable timber appeared.
Wednesday 16th July 1806 I gave Labeech promission to proceed on early
this morning a head and kill a fat Elk or Buffalow. our horses haveing
rambled to a long distance down the river detained us much later than
Common. we did not Set out untill 9 A M. we had not proceeded on far
before I saw a buffalow & Sent Shannon to kill it this buffalow provd.
to be a very fat Bull I had most of the flesh brought on an a part of the
Skin to make mockersons for Some of our lame horses. proceeded on down the
river without finding any trees Sufficently large for a Canoe about 10
miles and halted having passed over to an Island on which there was good
food for our horses to let them graze & Dine. I have not Seen Labeech
as yet. Saw a large gangue of about 200 Elk and nearly as many Antilope
also two white or Grey Bear in the plains, one of them I Chased on horse
back about 2 miles to the rugid part of the plain where I was compelled to
give up the Chase two of the horses was So lame owing to their feet being
worn quit Smooth and to the quick, the hind feet was much the worst I had
Mockersons made of green Buffalow Skin and put on their feet which Seams
to releve them very much in passing over the Stoney plains. after dinner I
proceeded on Soon after I had set Out Labeech joined us with part of a fat
Elk which he had killed. I passed over a Stoney point at which place the
river runs Close to the high land on the N W. side crossed a small Creek
and Encamped on the river a little below its Enterance. Saw emence heards
of Elk feeding on the opposit side of the river. I saw a great number of
young gees in the river. one of the men brought me a fish of a species I
am unacquainted; it was 8 inches long formed like a trout. it’s mouth was
placed like that of the Sturgeon a red streak passed down each Side from
the gills to the tail. The rocks which the high lands are faced with and
which may also be seen in perpendicular Straters in the high plains, is a
dark freestone. the greater part of this rock is of an excellent grit for
Grindstones hard and sharp. observe the Silkgrass Sunflower & Wild
indigo all in blume. but fiew other flowers are to be Seen in those
plains. The river and Creek bottoms abound in Cotton wood trees, tho none
of them Sufficiently large for Canoes. and the current of the Rochejhone
is too rapid to depend on Skinn canoes. no other alternetive for me but to
proceed on down untill I can find a tree Sufficently large &c. to make
a Canoe.-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday 16th July 1806. I gave Labeech (Labiche) permission to proceed on early this morning ahead and kill a fat Elk or Buffalo. Our horses having rambled a long distance down the river detained us much later than common. We did not set out until 9 A.M. We had not proceeded far before I saw a buffalo and sent Shannon to kill it. This buffalo proved to be a very fat bull. I had most of the flesh brought on, and a part of the skin to make moccasins for some of our lame horses. We proceeded on down the river without finding any trees sufficiently large for a canoe for about 10 miles and halted, having passed over to an island on which there was good food for our horses, to let them graze and dine. I have not seen Labeech as yet. Saw a large gang of about 200 Elk and nearly as many Antelope, also two white or Grey Bear in the plains. One of them I chased on horseback about 2 miles to the rugged part of the plain, where I was compelled to give up the chase. Two of the horses were so lame, owing to their feet being worn quite smooth and to the quick; the hind feet were much the worst. I had moccasins made of green buffalo skin and put on their feet, which seems to relieve them very much in passing over the stony plains.
After dinner I proceeded on. Soon after I had set out, Labeech joined us with part of a fat Elk which he had killed. I passed over a stony point at which place the river runs close to the high land on the N.W. side, crossed a small creek, and camped on the river a little below its entrance. Saw immense herds of Elk feeding on the opposite side of the river. I saw a great number of young geese in the river. One of the men brought me a fish of a species I am unacquainted with; it was 8 inches long, formed like a trout. Its mouth was placed like that of the sturgeon, and a red streak passed down each side from the gills to the tail.
The rocks with which the high lands are faced, and which may also be seen in perpendicular strata in the high plains, are a dark freestone. The greater part of this rock is of an excellent grit for grindstones, hard and sharp. Observed the Silkgrass, Sunflower, and Wild Indigo all in bloom, but few other flowers are to be seen in those plains. The river and creek bottoms abound in cottonwood trees, though none of them sufficiently large for canoes, and the current of the Rochejhone (Yellowstone) is too rapid to depend on skin canoes. No other alternative for me but to proceed on down until I can find a tree sufficiently large, etc., to make a canoe.
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