Clark: June 25, 1805
At the portage camp around the Great Falls of the Missouri, Clark spent a fair, warm day feeling slightly unwell while drying stores and having Charbonneau cook for the returning party. He enjoyed a rare cup of coffee and described the rugged, sparsely timbered country, its berries, iron-rich red bluffs, and abundant fish. The portage party returned at 5 p.m., exhausted from rain-soaked trails; hunters Shannon and Fields reported on the Medicine River. Lewis worked on the iron boat. Sergeant Pryor was sick. The men danced until 10 p.m. and packed for an early start.
June 25th Tuesday 1805 a fair worm morning, Clouded & a few drops of
rain at 5 oClock A.M. fair I feel my Self a little unwell with a looseness
&c. &c. put out the Stores to dry & Set Chabonah &c to
Cook for the party against their return-he being the only man left on this
Side with me I had a little Coffee for brackfast which was to me a riarity
as I had not tasted any Since last winter. The wind from the N. W. &
worm. This Countrey has a romantick appearance river inclosed between high
and Steep hills Cut to pieces by revines but little timber and that
Confined to the Rivers & Creek, the Missourie has but a fiew
Scattering trees on its borders, and only one Solitary Cotton tree in
sight of my Camp the wood which we burn is drift wood which is broken to
pieces in passing the falls, not one large tree longer than about 8 or 10
feet to be found drifted below the falls the plains are inferior in point
of Soil to those below, more Stone on the sides of the hill, grass but a
few inches high and but few flowers in the Plains, great quantites of
Choke Cheries, Goose burres, red & yellow berries, & red &
Purple Currents on the edges of water Courses in bottoms & damp
places, about my Camp the Cliffs or bluffs are a hard red or redish brown
earth Containing Iron. we Catch great quantities of Trout, and a kind of
mustel, flat backs & a Soft fish resembling a Shad and a few Cat. at 5
oClock the party returned, fatigued as usial, and proceeded to mend their
mockersons &c. and G Shannon & R, Fds. to of the men who ware Sent
up the medison river to hunt Elk, they killed no Elk, Several Buffalow
& Deer, and reports that the river is 120 yds wide and about 8 feet
deep Some timber on its bordersa powerfull rain fell on the party
on their rout yesterday Wet Some fiew articles, and Caused the rout to be
So bad wet & Deep thay Could with dificuelty proceed, Capt. Lewis
& the men with him much employd with the Iron Boat in fitting it for
the water, dispatched one man to George Drewyers Camp below medison river
for meat &c. a fair after noongreat numbers of buffalow water
opposit to my Camp everry dayit may be here worthy of remark that
the Sales were hoised in the Canoes as the men were drawing them and the
wind was great relief to them being Sufficeritly Strong to move the Canoes
on the Trucks, this is Saleing on Dry land in every Sence of the word,
Serjeant N Pryor Sick, the party amused themselves with danceing untill 10
oClock all Chearfullness and good humer, they all tied up their loads to
make an early Start in the morning.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
June 25th, Tuesday 1805. A fair, warm morning. Cloudy with a few drops of rain at 5 o'clock A.M., then fair. I feel myself a little unwell with a looseness, etc., etc. Put out the stores to dry and set Chabonah (Charbonneau), etc., to cook for the party against their return—he being the only man left on this side with me. I had a little coffee for breakfast, which was a rarity to me, as I had not tasted any since last winter. The wind from the N.W. and warm.
This country has a romantic appearance: the river enclosed between high and steep hills cut to pieces by ravines, with little timber, and that confined to the rivers and creeks. The Missouri has but a few scattering trees on its borders, and only one solitary cottonwood tree in sight of my camp. The wood which we burn is driftwood which is broken to pieces in passing the falls; not one large tree longer than about 8 or 10 feet is to be found drifted below the falls. The plains are inferior in point of soil to those below, more stone on the sides of the hills, grass but a few inches high, and but few flowers in the plains. Great quantities of chokecherries, gooseberries, red and yellow berries, and red and purple currants on the edges of watercourses in bottoms and damp places. About my camp the cliffs or bluffs are a hard red or reddish brown earth containing iron. We catch great quantities of trout, and a kind of mussel, flat-backs, and a soft fish resembling a shad, and a few catfish.
At 5 o'clock the party returned, fatigued as usual, and proceeded to mend their moccasins, etc. G. Shannon and R. Fields, two of the men who were sent up the Medicine River to hunt elk, killed no elk, but several buffalo and deer, and report that the river is 120 yards wide and about 8 feet deep, with some timber on its borders. A powerful rain fell on the party on their route yesterday, wet some few articles, and caused the route to be so bad, wet, and deep that they could with difficulty proceed. Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and the men with him much employed with the iron boat in fitting it for the water. Dispatched one man to George Drewyer's (Drouillard's) camp below Medicine River for meat, etc. A fair afternoon. Great numbers of buffalo water opposite to my camp every day.
It may be here worthy of remark that the sails were hoisted in the canoes as the men were drawing them, and the wind was a great relief to them, being sufficiently strong to move the canoes on the trucks. This is sailing on dry land in every sense of the word. Sergeant N. Pryor sick. The party amused themselves with dancing until 10 o'clock, all cheerfulness and good humor. They all tied up their loads to make an early start in the morning.
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