Clark: July 31, 1806
Clark's party traveled down the Yellowstone River after a restless night disturbed by nearby buffalo. They set out at sunrise and passed a rapid Clark named Wolf Rapid after a wolf seen there. The route took them past hills of colored earth and coal, with conical burnt-looking mounds and treeless country cut by ravines. Clark named two tributaries, including Coal River (Oak-tar-pon-er). Game was abundant. At evening, they fired four shots into an enormous white bear feeding on a buffalo carcass, but darkness prevented pursuit. Showers fell throughout the day.
Saturday 31st of July 1806 I was much disturbed last night by the noise of
the buffalow which were about me. one gang Swam the river near our Camp
which alarmed me a little for fear of their Crossing our Canoes and
Splitting them to pieces. Set out as usial about Sun rise passed a rapid
which I call wolf rapid from the Circumstance of one of those animals
being at the rapid. here the river approaches the high mountanious Country
on the N W. Side those hills appear to be composed of various Coloured
earth and Coal without much rock I observe Several Conical mounds which
appear to have been burnt. this high Country is washed into Curious formed
mounds & hills and is cut much with reveens. the Country again opens
and at the distance of 23 miles below the Redston or War-har-sah River I
landed in the enterance of a Small river on the Stard. Side 40 yards wid
Shallow and muddy. it has lately been very high. haveing passed the
Enterance of a River on the Lard Side 100 yards wide which has running
water this river I take to be the one the Menetarries Call little wolf or
Sa-a-shah River The high Country is entirely bar of timber. great
quantities of Coal or carbonated wood is to be seen in every Bluff and in
the high hills at a distance on each Side. Saw more Buffalow and Elk and
antilopes this evening than usial. 18 Miles below the last river on the
Stard. Side, I passed one 60 yards wide which had running water. this
Stream I call oak-tar-pon-er or Coal River has very steep banks on each
side of it. passed Several large Brooks Some of them had a little running
water, also Several Islands Some high black looking Bluffs and encamped on
the Stard. Side on a low point. the country like that of yesterday is open
extencive plains. as I was about landing this evening Saw a white bear and
the largest I ever Saw eating a dead buffalow on a Sand bar. we fired two
Shot into him, he Swam to the main Shore and walked down the bank. I
landed and fired 2 more Shot into this tremendious animal without killing
him. night comeing on we Could not pursue him he bled profusely. Showers
all this day
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, 31st of July 1806. I was much disturbed last night by the noise of the buffalo which were about me. One herd swam the river near our camp, which alarmed me a little for fear of them crossing our canoes and splitting them to pieces. Set out as usual about sunrise and passed a rapid which I call Wolf Rapid, from the circumstance of one of those animals being at the rapid. Here the river approaches the high mountainous country on the NW side. Those hills appear to be composed of various colored earth and coal without much rock. I observed several conical mounds which appear to have been burnt. This high country is washed into curiously formed mounds and hills and is cut much with ravines.
The country again opens, and at the distance of 23 miles below the Redstone or War-har-sah River, I landed at the entrance of a small river on the starboard side, 40 yards wide, shallow and muddy. It has lately been very high. Having passed the entrance of a river on the larboard side 100 yards wide which has running water, this river I take to be the one the Minetarees call Little Wolf or Sa-a-shah River. The high country is entirely bare of timber. Great quantities of coal or carbonated wood are to be seen in every bluff and in the high hills at a distance on each side. Saw more buffalo, elk, and antelopes this evening than usual.
18 miles below the last river on the starboard side, I passed one 60 yards wide which had running water. This stream I call Oak-tar-pon-er or Coal River. It has very steep banks on each side. Passed several large brooks, some of them with a little running water, also several islands, some high black-looking bluffs, and camped on the starboard side on a low point. The country, like that of yesterday, is open extensive plains.
As I was about landing this evening, I saw a white bear, the largest I ever saw, eating a dead buffalo on a sandbar. We fired two shots into him; he swam to the main shore and walked down the bank. I landed and fired two more shots into this tremendous animal without killing him. Night coming on, we could not pursue him. He bled profusely. Showers all this day.
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