Clark: June 10, 1804
After overnight rain, the party set out early and traveled up the Missouri, passing collapsing banks lined with cottonwoods and reaching the mouths of the two Chariton Rivers, noted as navigable and home to an Iowa village upstream. Captain Lewis took a noon altitude reading with the octant and shot a large buck. They passed Sheeco Island and camped in a prairie on the left side. Clark and Lewis walked three miles inland, finding rolling, fertile country with abundant deer, hazel, grapes, and the flavorful Osage plum. Spirits were high.
June 10th Sunday 1804 Some rain last night we set out early Saw a number
of Goslings this morning, Continued on the Course of last night, thence N.
8 E. 21/2 ms. to a pt. on the L. S. passed a part of the River that the
banks are falling in takeing with them large trees of Cotton woods which
is the Common groth in the Bottoms Subject to the flud North 1 Me along
the L. Side N. 40° W. 1 ms. along the L, S. opposit the two Charletons, on
the N. Side, those rivers mouth together, the 1st 40 yds. wide the next 90
yds. Wide and navagable Some distance in the Countrey, the land below is
high & not verry good. Came to and took Mdnl. altd. of Sons U. L. back
obsvn. with the octant Made it 37° 12′ 00″, delayed 11/2 Hour. N. 70° W
1/2 of a me. along the L. Sd.S 60° W 1/2 m. on L. S. the Same
Course to the Pt. S. S. 11/2 Ms. We halted and Capt Lewis Killed a Buck
the Current is excessively Swift about this place N. 80° W. 3 ms to a pt.
on S. S. passed a Isd. Called Sheeco Islan wind from the N W Camped in a
Prarie on the L. S., Capt Lewis & my Self Walked out 3 ms. found the
Country roleing open & rich, with plenty of water, great qts of Deer I
discovered a Plumb which grows on bushes the hight of Hasle, those plumbs
are in great numbers, the bushes beare Verry full, about double the Sise
of the wild plumb Called the Osage Plumb & am told they are finely
flavoured.
—
10th of June 1804 A hard rain last night, we Set out this morning verry
early passed Some bad placies in the river Saw a number of Goslings
morning pass near a Bank which was falling in at the time we passed,
passed the two River of Charletons which mouth together, above Some high
land which has a great quantity of Stone Calculated for whetstons the
first of those rivers is about 30 yds. Wide & the other is 70 yds wd.
and heads Close to the R.
Dumoin The Aieways Nation have a Village on the head of these River they
run through an even Countrey and is navagable for Perogues Cap Lewis took
Medn. altd. of sun U. L with Octant, back obsvn. made it 37° 12′ 00″delayd
11/2 hours.
Capt. Lewis Killed a large Buck, passed a large Isd. called Shecco and
Camped in a Prarie on the L. S. I walked out three miles, found the prarie
composed of good Land and plenty of water roleing & interspursed with
points of timberd land, Those Praries are not like those, or a number of
those E. of the Mississippi Void of every thing except grass, they abound
with Hasel Grapes & a wild plumb of a Superior quallity, called the
Osages Plumb Grows on a bush the hight of a Hasel and hang in great
quantities on the bushes I Saw great numbers of Deer in the Praries, the
evening is Cloudy, our party in high Spirits.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
June 10th Sunday 1804. Some rain last night. We set out early. Saw a number of goslings this morning. Continued on the course of last night, then N. 8° E. 2½ miles to a point on the L. S. Passed a part of the river where the banks are falling in, taking with them large trees of cottonwood, which is the common growth in the bottoms subject to the flood. North 1 mile along the L. side. N. 40° W. 1 mile along the L. S., opposite the two Charletons, on the N. side. Those rivers mouth together, the first 40 yards wide and the next 90 yards wide and navigable some distance into the country. The land below is high and not very good. Came to and took meridian altitude of sun's upper limb back observation with the octant. Made it 37° 12' 00". Delayed 1½ hours. N. 70° W. ½ of a mile along the L. side. S. 60° W. ½ mile on L. S., the same course to the point S. S. 1½ miles. We halted and Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) killed a buck. The current is excessively swift about this place. N. 80° W. 3 miles to a point on S. S. Passed an island called Sheeco Island. Wind from the N.W. Camped in a prairie on the L. S. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and myself walked out 3 miles, found the country rolling, open, and rich, with plenty of water and great quantities of deer. I discovered a plum which grows on bushes the height of hazel. Those plums are in great numbers, the bushes bear very full, about double the size of the wild plum, called the Osage plum, and I am told they are finely flavored.
10th of June 1804. A hard rain last night. We set out this morning very early, passed some bad places in the river. Saw a number of goslings this morning. Passed near a bank which was falling in at the time we passed. Passed the two rivers of Charletons which mouth together, above some high land which has a great quantity of stone calculated for whetstones. The first of those rivers is about 30 yards wide and the other is 70 yards wide and heads close to the R.
Dumoin. The Aieways (Iowa) Nation have a village on the head of these rivers. They run through an even country and are navigable for pirogues. Cap Lewis (Capt. Lewis) took meridian altitude of sun's upper limb with octant, back observation. Made it 37° 12' 00". Delayed 1½ hours.
Capt. Lewis killed a large buck. Passed a large island called Shecco and camped in a prairie on the L. S. I walked out three miles, found the prairie composed of good land and plenty of water, rolling and interspersed with points of timbered land. These prairies are not like those, or a number of those, east of the Mississippi, void of everything except grass; they abound with hazel, grapes, and a wild plum of a superior quality, called the Osages plum. It grows on a bush the height of a hazel and hangs in great quantities on the bushes. I saw great numbers of deer in the prairies. The evening is cloudy. Our party in high spirits.
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