Clark: June 6, 1804
After repairing the mast, the party set out at 7 a.m. under a gentle southeasterly breeze. They passed Split Rock Island and Creek, noting a distinctive hole worn through a projecting rock, then reached the mouth of Saline Creek, lined with salt licks and brackish springs strong enough to yield seven pounds of salt per bushel of water. Captain Lewis took a meridian altitude of the sun. Strong currents and crumbling riverbanks slowed progress, forcing an early camp to let the pirogue catch up. Clark was suffering from a sore throat and headache.
Wednesday the 6th of June 1804. Mended our mast this morning and Set out
at 7 oClock, under a Jentle Braise from the S, E by S N 28° W 31/2 miles
to a hill on St Sd. passg the N. beige of the Island Called Split rock
Island, the river rose last night a foot the Countrey about this Isd. is
delightfull large rush bottom of rushes below on the St. Side N 49° W,
11/2 Ms. to the mouth of Split rock River ____ yds. wide on the Starboard
Side opod. the pt. of a Isd. passed a place in the projecting rock Called
the hole thro the rock, a round Cave pass thro the Pt. of rock’s West 11/2
ms. to a pt. on Std. Sd. opposit a Clift of rocks abt 200 foot N 31° W. 4
ms 1/2 to a pt. on L. Side passed Saline Creek on the L. Side a large Salt
Lick & Spring 9 me. up the Creek, one bushel of water will make 7 lb.
of good Salt
(Information) Took Meridian altitude of sun Limb. 37° 6′ 0″ equat to ____
of Lattidude.
on this Creek, So great a no of Salt Springs are on it that the water is
brackish N 51° W to a Belge of an Isd on the S. Sd. at 3 ms. Passed a
Willow Isd. in Middle, Some wind in the after part of to day from the S E,
(the Banks are falling in greatly in this part of the river) as also is
one Side or the other in all the Course, we assended on the North Side of
the Isd. and finding that the perogues Could not Keep up Camped 2 hs. by
Sun. on the Sd Sd the land below this is good.
—
June 6th Wednesday 1804 Mended our Mast this morning &, Set out at 7
oClock under a jentle breise from S. E. by S passed the large Island, and
a Creek Called Split rock Creek at 5 ms. on the S. S. psd. a place to the
rock from which 20 yds we. this Creek takes its name, a projecting rock
with a hole thro a point of the rock, at 8 ms. passed the mouth of a Creek
Called Saline or Salt R on the L. Sd. this River is about 30 yds. wide,
and has So many Licks & Salt Springs on its banks that the Water of
the Creek is Brackish, one Verry large Lick is 9 ms. up on the left Side
the water of the Spring in this Lick is Strong as one bushel of the water
is said to make 7 lb. of good Salt passed a large Isd. & Several Small
ones, the water excessivly Strong, So much So that we Camped Sooner than
the usial time to waite for the pirogue, The banks are falling in Verry
much to day river rose last night a foot.
Capt. Lewis took meridean altd. of Suns U. L. with the octant above Split
Rock C. &made the altitude 37° 6′ 00 error of octt. as useal 2° 0′ 0″
+ The Countrey for Several miles below is good, on the top of the high
land back is also tolerable land Some buffalow Sign to day
I am Still verry unwell with a Sore throat & head ake
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday the 6th of June 1804. Mended our mast this morning and set out at 7 o'clock, under a gentle breeze from the S.E. by S. N. 28° W. 3½ miles to a hill on the starboard side, passing the north edge of the island called Split Rock Island. The river rose last night a foot. The country about this island is delightful, with a large rush bottom of rushes below on the starboard side. N. 49° W., 1½ miles to the mouth of Split Rock River, ____ yards wide on the starboard side opposite the point of an island. Passed a place in the projecting rock called the Hole Through the Rock, a round cave passing through the point of rocks. West 1½ miles to a point on the starboard side opposite a cliff of rocks about 200 feet high. N. 31° W. 4½ miles to a point on the larboard side. Passed Saline Creek on the larboard side; a large salt lick and spring is 9 miles up the creek, where one bushel of water will make 7 pounds of good salt.
(Information) Took meridian altitude of sun's limb 37° 6' 0", equal to ____ of latitude.
On this creek, so great a number of salt springs are on it that the water is brackish. N. 51° W. to an edge of an island on the south side at 3 miles. Passed a willow island in the middle. Some wind in the latter part of today from the S.E. (the banks are falling in greatly in this part of the river), as also is one side or the other in all the course. We ascended on the north side of the island, and finding that the pirogues could not keep up, camped 2 hours by sun on the south side. The land below this is good.
June 6th Wednesday 1804. Mended our mast this morning, and set out at 7 o'clock under a gentle breeze from S.E. by S. Passed the large island and a creek called Split Rock Creek at 5 miles on the south side. Passed a place by the rock from which, 20 yards west, this creek takes its name—a projecting rock with a hole through a point of the rock. At 8 miles passed the mouth of a creek called Saline or Salt River on the larboard side. This river is about 30 yards wide, and has so many licks and salt springs on its banks that the water of the creek is brackish. One very large lick is 9 miles up on the left side. The water of the spring in this lick is so strong that one bushel of the water is said to make 7 pounds of good salt. Passed a large island and several small ones. The water was excessively strong, so much so that we camped sooner than the usual time to wait for the pirogue. The banks are falling in very much today. The river rose last night a foot.
Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) took meridian altitude of the sun's upper limb with the octant above Split Rock Creek and made the altitude 37° 6' 00", error of octant as usual 2° 0' 0" +. The country for several miles below is good; on the top of the high land back is also tolerable land. Some buffalo sign today.
I am still very unwell with a sore throat and headache.
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