Clark: July 18, 1806
The party set out after two buffalo bulls wandered near camp; one was shot and died across the river. Charbonneau was thrown from his horse chasing buffalo when it stepped in a badger hole, leaving him bruised. Clark traveled along the river, noting ripe currants, gravelly stones suitable for whetstones, and open plains. A smoke signal to the south-southeast was likely from Crow Indians. Shields killed a buck and later a rank buffalo. Gibson seriously injured his thigh falling on a burnt snag while mounting his horse, and Clark dressed the wound.
Friday 18th July 1806 as we were about Setting out this morning two
Buffalow Bulls came near our Camp Several of the men Shot at one of them.
their being near the river plunged in and Swam across to the opposit Side
and there died. Shabono was thrown from his horse to day in pursute of a
Buffaloe, the hose unfortunately Steping into a Braroe hole fell and threw
him over his head. he is a good deel brused on his hip Sholder & face.
after brackfast I proceeded on as usial, passd. over points of ridges So
as to cutoff bends of the river crossed a Small Muddy brook on which I
found great quantities of the Purple, yellow & black currents ripe.
they were of an excellent flavour. I think the purple Superior to any I
have ever tasted. The river here is about 200 yards wide rapid as usial
and the water gliding over corse gravel and round Stones of various sizes
of an excellent grite for whetestones. the bottoms of the river are
narrow. the hills are not exceeding 200 feet in hight the sides of them
are generally rocky and composed of rocks of the same texture of a dark
Colour of Grit well Calculated for grindstones &c. The high bottoms is
composed of gravel and Stone like those in the Chanel of the river, with a
mixture of earth of a dark brown colour The Country back from the river on
each Side is generally open wavering plains. Some pine is to be Seen in
every direction in those plains on the Sides of hills &c. at 11 A.M. I
observed a Smoke rise to the S. S. E in the plains towards the termonation
of the rocky mountains in that direction (which is Covered with Snow) this
Smoke must be raisd. by the Crow Indians in that direction as a Signal for
us, or other bands. I think it most probable that they have discovered our
trail and takeing us to be Shoshone &c. in Serch of them the Crow
Indians to trade as is their Custom, have made this Smoke to Shew where
they are-or otherwise takeing us to be their Enemy made this Signal for
other bands to be on their guard. I halted in a bottom of fine grass to
let the horses graze.
Shields killed a fat Buck on which we all Dined. after dinner and a delay
of 3 hours to allow the horses time to feed, we Set out at 4 P.M. I set
out and proceeded down the river through a butifull bottom, passing a
Indian fort on the head of a Small island near the Lard Shore and Encamped
on a Small Island Seperated from the Lard Shore by a very narrow Chanel.
Shields killed a Buffalow this evening which Caused me to halt sooner than
Common to Save Some of the flesh which was So rank and Strong that we took
but very little. Gibson in attempting to mount his horse after Shooting a
deer this evening fell and on a Snag and sent it nearly two inches into
the Muskeler part of his thy. he informs me this Snag was about 1 inch in
diamuter burnt at the end. this is a very bad wound and pains him
exceedingly. I dressed the wound.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Friday 18th July 1806. As we were about setting out this morning, two buffalo bulls came near our camp. Several of the men shot at one of them. Being near the river, it plunged in and swam across to the opposite side, where it died. Shabono (Charbonneau) was thrown from his horse today in pursuit of a buffalo. The horse unfortunately stepped into a badger hole, fell, and threw him over its head. He is considerably bruised on his hip, shoulder, and face.
After breakfast I proceeded on as usual, passing over points of ridges so as to cut off bends of the river. I crossed a small muddy brook on which I found great quantities of purple, yellow, and black currants, ripe. They were of excellent flavor. I think the purple is superior to any I have ever tasted. The river here is about 200 yards wide, rapid as usual, and the water glides over coarse gravel and round stones of various sizes, of an excellent grit for whetstones. The bottoms of the river are narrow. The hills do not exceed 200 feet in height; their sides are generally rocky and composed of rocks of the same texture, of a dark color, of grit well suited for grindstones, etc. The high bottoms are composed of gravel and stone like those in the channel of the river, mixed with earth of a dark brown color. The country back from the river on each side is generally open, rolling plains. Some pine is to be seen in every direction in those plains, on the sides of hills, etc.
At 11 A.M. I observed a smoke rise to the S.S.E. in the plains, toward the termination of the Rocky Mountains in that direction (which is covered with snow). This smoke must be raised by the Crow Indians in that direction as a signal for us, or for other bands. I think it most probable that they have discovered our trail and, taking us to be Shoshone, etc., the Crow Indians—who are in search of them to trade, as is their custom—have made this smoke to show where they are. Or, otherwise, taking us to be their enemy, they made this signal for other bands to be on their guard. I halted in a bottom of fine grass to let the horses graze.
Shields killed a fat buck, on which we all dined. After dinner and a delay of 3 hours to allow the horses time to feed, we set out at 4 P.M. I set out and proceeded down the river through a beautiful bottom, passing an Indian fort on the head of a small island near the larboard shore, and camped on a small island separated from the larboard shore by a very narrow channel. Shields killed a buffalo this evening, which caused me to halt sooner than usual to save some of the flesh, which was so rank and strong that we took only very little. Gibson, in attempting to mount his horse after shooting a deer this evening, fell on a snag and drove it nearly two inches into the muscular part of his thigh. He informs me this snag was about 1 inch in diameter, burnt at the end. This is a very bad wound and pains him exceedingly. I dressed the wound.
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