Clark: June 28, 1804
At the mouth of the Kansas River, the party spent a warm, south-windy day on maintenance: taking astronomical observations, checking the compass variation, repairing the pirogue, cleaning the boat, and airing out powder and woolen goods. Some private provisions were found spoiled by dampness. The Missouri had risen about two feet. Captain Lewis measured the water temperatures of the Missouri (78°) and Kansas (72°). Clark recorded notes on the Kansas River and the Kansa nation, now reduced by warfare and away hunting buffalo. Hunters killed several deer and sighted buffalo.
28 June Thursday took equal altitudes &c. &c. &c. &
varaitian of the Compass repaired the Perogue Cleaned out the Boat Suned
our Powder wollen articles examined every thing 8 or 10 huntrs. out to day
in different direction, in examineing our private Store of Provisions we
found Several articles Spoiled from the wet or dampness they had received,
a verry warm Day, the wind from the South, The river Missourie has raised
yesterday last night & to day about 2 foot. this evening it is on a
Stand, Capt. Lewis weighed the water of the Two rivers The Missouris 78°
The Kansais 72° To Describe the most probable of the various accounts of
this great river of the Kansas, would be too lengthy & uncertain to
insert here, it heads with the river Del Norid in the black Mountain or
ridge which Divides the waters of the Kansas Del Nord, & Callarado
& oppsoitly from those of the Missoureis (and not well assertaind)
This River recves its name from a nation which dwells at this time on its
banks & 2 villages one about 20 Leagues & the other 40 Leagues up,
those Indians are not verry noumerous at this time, reduced by war with
their neighbours, &c. they formerly liveid on the South banks of the
Missouries 24 Leagues above this river in a open & butifull plain and
were verry noumerous at the time the french first Settled the Illinois, I
am told they are a fierce & warlike people, being badly Supplied with
fire arms, become easily conquered by the Aiauway & Saukees who are
better furnished with those materials of war, This nation is now out in
the plains hunting the Buffalow our hunters Killed Several Deer and Saw
Buffalow, men impd Dressing Skins & makeing themselves Comfortable,
the high lands Coms to the river Kanses on the upper Side at about a mile,
full in view, and a butifull place for a fort, good landing place, the
waters of the Kansas is verry disigreeably tasted to me.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
28 June, Thursday. Took equal altitudes, etc., and the variation of the compass. Repaired the pirogue, cleaned out the boat, sunned our powder and woolen articles, and examined everything. Eight or ten hunters went out today in different directions. In examining our private store of provisions, we found several articles spoiled from the wet or dampness they had received. A very warm day, with the wind from the south. The river Missouri has risen yesterday, last night, and today about 2 feet. This evening it is at a stand. Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis) weighed the water of the two rivers: the Missouri's was 78°, the Kansas's 72°.
To describe the most probable of the various accounts of this great river of the Kansas would be too lengthy and uncertain to insert here. It heads with the river Del Norte in the Black Mountain, or ridge, which divides the waters of the Kansas, Del Norte, and Colorado, and oppositely from those of the Missouri (and is not well ascertained). This river receives its name from a nation which dwells at this time on its banks in 2 villages, one about 20 leagues and the other 40 leagues up. Those Indians are not very numerous at this time, having been reduced by war with their neighbors, etc. They formerly lived on the south banks of the Missouri, 24 leagues above this river, in an open and beautiful plain, and were very numerous at the time the French first settled the Illinois. I am told they are a fierce and warlike people, but being badly supplied with firearms, they are easily conquered by the Iowa (Aiauway) and Sauk (Saukees), who are better furnished with those materials of war. This nation is now out in the plains hunting the buffalo.
Our hunters killed several deer and saw buffalo. The men were employed dressing skins and making themselves comfortable. The highlands come to the river Kansas on the upper side at about a mile, full in view, and a beautiful place for a fort, with a good landing place. The waters of the Kansas are very disagreeably tasted to me.
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