Clark: July 27, 1804
After a brief morning shower at White Catfish Camp ten miles above the Platte, the party spent the morning loading the boat and pirogue and fitting the oars. Two horses were swum across to the south side for the hunters. Setting sail around midday under a southerly breeze, they passed sand and timbered islands before camping in a bend on the south side. One hunter killed a buck while another badly cut his knee. Clark walked ashore with Reuben Fields to examine large circular mounds covering about 200 acres, formerly an Otoe village. Mosquitoes were severe.
White Catfish Camp 10 ms above Platt 27th of July Friday, a Small Shower
of rain this morning, at 10 oClock Commence Loading the Boat &
perogue; had all the Ores Completely fixed; Swam over the two remaining
horses to the L. S. with the view of the Hunters going on that Side, after
Getting everry thing Complete, we Set Sale under a gentle breeze from the
South and proceeded on, passed a Island (formd by a Pond fed by Springs)
on the L. S. of high Land Covered with timber, in the 2nd bend to the
right a large Sand Island in the river a high Prarie on the S. S.-. as we
were Setting out to day one man Killed a Buck & another Cut his Knee
verry bad Camped in a Bend to the L. Side in a Coops of Trees, a verry
agreeable Breeze from the N W. this evening. I Killed a Deer in the Prarie
and found the Misquitors So thick & troublesom that it was
disagreeable and painfull to Continue a moment Still.
I took one man R. Fields and walked on Shore with a View of examoning Som
mounds on the L. S. of the riverthose mounds I found to be of
Deffirent hight Shape & Size, Some Composed of Sand Some earth &
Sand, the highest next to the river all of which covered about 200 acres
of land, in a circular form on the Side from the river a low bottom &
Small Pond. The Otteaus formerly lived here I did not get to the boat
untile after night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
White Catfish Camp, 10 miles above the Platte. 27th of July, Friday. A small shower of rain this morning. At 10 o'clock we commenced loading the boat and pirogue, and had all the oars completely fixed. We swam the two remaining horses over to the larboard side, with the view of the hunters going on that side. After getting everything complete, we set sail under a gentle breeze from the south and proceeded on. We passed an island (formed by a pond fed by springs) on the larboard side of high land covered with timber. In the second bend to the right, there is a large sand island in the river, with a high prairie on the starboard side. As we were setting out today, one man killed a buck and another cut his knee very badly. We camped in a bend on the larboard side in a copse of trees. A very agreeable breeze from the northwest this evening. I killed a deer in the prairie and found the mosquitoes so thick and troublesome that it was disagreeable and painful to continue still for a moment.
I took one man, R. Fields, and walked on shore with a view of examining some mounds on the larboard side of the river. I found those mounds to be of different heights, shapes, and sizes—some composed of sand, some of earth and sand, the highest next to the river—all of which covered about 200 acres of land in a circular form. On the side away from the river was a low bottom and small pond. The Otteaus (Otoes) formerly lived here. I did not get back to the boat until after night.
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