Clark: June 21, 1804
The river rose three inches overnight, and bowman Peter Cruzatte scouted the waters around a small island, finding swift currents over roaring sands. The crew chose to ascend the right side, using a tow rope and anchor to haul the boat up with difficulty, breaking a cabin window and losing some oars. They passed four islands, including one near Eue-bert Creek, and noted a sharp bend in the river. Two hunters brought in a deer and a turkey. At sunset, the sky signaled coming wind. Clark described the region's bottomlands and timber.
21st June Thursday 1804 river raised 3 Inches last night after our bow man
Peter Crousat a half Mahar Indian examined round this Small Isd. for the
best water, we Set out determined to assd. on the North Side, and
Sometimes rowing Poleing & Drawing up with a Strong Rope we assended
without wheeling or receving any damige more than breakeing one of my S.
Windows, and looseing Some oars which were Swong under the windows
Two men Sent out to hunt this afternoon Came in with a Deer, at Sun Set
The ellement had every appearance of wind, The hunters inform me that the
high Countrey on the S. S. is of a good quallity, and well timbd. The High
lands on the L. Side is equally good The bottom land on this river is
alike, 1st low and covd. with Cotton wood & willows Subject to over
flow the 2nd is higher groth Cotton Walnut ash Mulberry Linn &
Sycomore
—
21st June Thursday The river rose 3 Inches last night after the Bows man
Peter Crousat viewed The water on each Side of the Island which presented
a most unfavourable prospect of Swift water over roleing Sands which rored
like an immence falls, we Concluded to assend on the right Side, and with
much dificuilty, with the assistance of a long Cord or Tow rope, & the
anchor we got the Boat up with out any furthr dang. than Bracking a Cabbin
window & loseing Some oars which were Swong under the windows, passed
four Isds to day two large & two Small, behind the first large Island
two Creeks mouth Called (1) Eue-bert Creek & River & Isd. the
upper of those Creeks head against the Mine River & is large, passed a
verry remarkable bend in the River to the S. forming an accute angle, the
high lands come to the river on the S. S. opposit the upper large Island,
this Isd. is formed by a narrow chanel thro. the Pt. of the remarkable
bend just mentiond below this Isd. on the L. S. is a Couenter Current of
about a milepassed between Several Small Islands Situated near the
L. Side and camped above on the Same Side, Two men Sent out to hunt this
evening brought in a Buck & a pore Turkey.
at Sun Set the atmespier presented every appearance of wind, Blue &
white Streeks Centering at the Sun as She disappeared and the Clouds
Situated to the S. W, Guilded in the most butifull manner. The Countrey
and Lands on each Side of the river is various as usial and may be classed
as follows. viz: the low or over flown points or bottom land, of the groth
of Cotton & Willow, the 2nd or high bottom of rich furtile Soils of
the groth of Cotton, Walnut, Som ash, Hack berry, Mulberry, Lynn &
Sycamore. the third or high Lands risees gradually from the 2nd bottom
(cauht whin it Coms to the river then from the river) about 80 or 100 foot
roleing back Supplied with water the Small runs of (which losees
themselves in the bottom land) and are covered with a variety of timber
Such as Oake of different Kinds Blue ash, walnut &c. &c. as far as
the Praries, which I am informed lie back from the river at some places
near & others a great Distance
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
21st June Thursday 1804. The river rose 3 inches last night. After our bowman Peter Crousat (Pierre Cruzatte), a half-Omaha Indian, examined the area around this small island for the best water, we set out, determined to ascend on the north side. Sometimes rowing, poling, and drawing up with a strong rope, we ascended without swinging around or receiving any damage more than breaking one of my stern windows and losing some oars which were swung under the windows.
Two men sent out to hunt this afternoon came in with a deer. At sunset the elements had every appearance of wind. The hunters inform me that the high country on the south side is of good quality and well timbered. The high lands on the larboard (left) side are equally good. The bottom land on this river is alike: the first is low and covered with cottonwood and willows, subject to overflow; the second is higher growth—cottonwood, walnut, ash, mulberry, linn, and sycamore.
21st June Thursday. The river rose 3 inches last night. After the bowsman Peter Crousat (Pierre Cruzatte) viewed the water on each side of the island, which presented a most unfavorable prospect of swift water over rolling sands that roared like an immense falls, we concluded to ascend on the right side. With much difficulty, with the assistance of a long cord or tow rope and the anchor, we got the boat up without any further danger than breaking a cabin window and losing some oars which were swung under the windows. We passed four islands today, two large and two small. Behind the first large island two creeks have their mouths, called (1) Eue-bert Creek & River & Island. The upper of those creeks heads against the Mine River and is large. We passed a very remarkable bend in the river to the south, forming an acute angle. The high lands come to the river on the south side opposite the upper large island. This island is formed by a narrow channel through the point of the remarkable bend just mentioned. Below this island on the larboard (left) side is a counter current of about a mile. We passed between several small islands situated near the larboard (left) side and camped above on the same side. Two men sent out to hunt this evening brought in a buck and a poor turkey.
At sunset the atmosphere presented every appearance of wind. Blue and white streaks centered at the sun as it disappeared, and the clouds situated to the southwest were gilded in the most beautiful manner. The country and lands on each side of the river are various as usual and may be classed as follows, viz: the low or overflown points or bottom land, of the growth of cottonwood and willow; the 2nd or high bottom of rich fertile soils of the growth of cottonwood, walnut, some ash, hackberry, mulberry, linn, and sycamore. The third or high lands rise gradually from the 2nd bottom (except when it comes to the river, then from the river) about 80 or 100 feet, rolling back, supplied with water by small runs (which lose themselves in the bottom land), and are covered with a variety of timber such as oak of different kinds, blue ash, walnut, etc., etc., as far as the prairies, which I am informed lie back from the river—at some places near, and others a great distance.
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