Clark: June 8, 1804
The expedition departed at daylight and traveled up the Missouri, passing willow islands, deer licks, and reaching the Mine River, about 70-90 yards wide and navigable for pirogues for some 80-90 miles. Clark scouted the land south of the river with Sergeant Floyd, finding rich, well-watered, timbered country, while Lewis explored above the river. They met three men on a raft from the River of the Sioux returning from a year of hunting with about $900 in furs but out of provisions and powder. Hunters killed five deer. The party camped on the Island of Mills, where Clark discovered hidden hunters' caches. Rain fell that evening.
June 8th Friday Set out at Daylight proceeded on the Course of last night
S 87° W 3 ms passed a Willow Island, from the Point of last Course S 81°
W. 3 ms. to a pt. on S. S. passd a ____ Isd. in the middle of the river,
passd a run on the Ld S. above a pt. of rocks 3 ms. on which thir is a
number of Deer Licks, N 88° W. 3 Ms. to a pt L S. N. 83° W 2 ms. to the Mo
of Mine River, psd an Isd.This river is 90 yards wide &
navagable for Perogues about 90 Ms. I went out on the L S. about 4 ms.
below this R. and found the Countrey for one mile back good Land and well
watered the hills not high with a gentle assent from the river, well
timbered with oake, walnit Hickory ash, &c. the land Still further
back becoms thin and open, with Black & rasp Berries, and Still
further back the Plains Commence, The french inform that Lead ore is found
on this river in Several places, it heads up between the Osagees &
Kansas River the right hand folk passes in a Short distance of the
Missourie at the antient Little Ozages Villages our hunter Killed, 2 Deer,
after Staying one hour at the mouth of this River, Cap Lewis went out
& proceeded on one Mile & came in, he fount the land in the point
high and fine Course N. 64° W 1 Ms. to a pt. on S. S. N. 80° W to the
Lower pot a Id. on L. S. passed a Small Isd. in the m. R. at (3 Ms.) met 3
men on a Caussee from R Dis Soux, above The Mahar Nation loaded with fur.
Camped on the Lower point of an Id. L. S. called the Mills, here I found
Kegs an Pummey stone, and a place that fur or Skins had been burred by the
hunters our Hunters Killed 5 Deer, Some rain, the Countrey on the S. S. is
Verry fine
—
8th of June, Friday 1804 Set out this morning at Daylight proceeden on the
Course of last night Passed two willow Islands & a Small Creek above a
Rock point on the L. S. at 6 miles on which there is a number of Deer
Licks, passed the Mine River at 9 ms. this river is about 70 yards wide at
its mouth and is Said to be navagable for Perogues 80 or 90 ms. the main
branch passes near the place where the Little osage Village formerly Stood
on the Missouries, & heads between the Osarge & Kansias Rivers,
the left hand fork head with nearer Branches of the Osage River, The
french inform that Lead Ore has been found in defferent parts of this
river, I took Sjt. Floyd and went out 4 Ms. below this river, I found the
land Verry good for a Mile or 11/2 Ms. back and Sufficiently watered with
Small Streams which lost themselves in the Missouries bottom, the Land
rose gradeuelly from the river to the Summit of the high Countrey which is
not more that 120 foot above High Water mark, we joined the Boat &
Dined in the point above the mouth of this River, Capt. Lewis went out
above the river & proceeded on one mile, finding the Countrey rich,
the wedes & Vines So thick & high he came to the Boatproceeded
on passed an Island and Camped at the lower point of an Island on the L.
S. Called the Island of mills about 4 ms. above Mine River at this place I
found Kanteens, Axs, Pumey Stone & peltrey hid & buried (I suppose
by some hunters) none of them (except the pumey Stone) was teched by one
of our party, our hunters Killed 5 Deer to day, Commenced raining Soon
after we Came too which prevented the party Cooking their provisions- our
Spies inform that the Countrey they passed thro on S. S. is a fine high
bottom, no water.
This day we met 3 men on a Cajaux from the River of the Soux above the
Mahar nation those men had been hunting 12 mo. & made about 900$ in
pelts. & furs they were out of Provesions and out of Powder. rained
this night
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
June 8th, Friday. Set out at daylight and proceeded on the course of last night: S 87° W 3 miles, passed a willow island; from the point of the last course S 81° W 3 miles to a point on the south side, passed a ____ island in the middle of the river, passed a run on the larboard side above a point of rocks 3 miles, on which there are a number of deer licks; N 88° W 3 miles to a point on the larboard side; N 83° W 2 miles to the mouth of Mine River, passed an island. This river is 90 yards wide and navigable for pirogues about 90 miles.
I went out on the larboard side about 4 miles below this river and found the country for one mile back to be good land and well watered, the hills not high with a gentle ascent from the river, well timbered with oak, walnut, hickory, ash, etc. The land still further back becomes thin and open, with black and raspberries, and still further back the plains commence. The French inform us that lead ore is found on this river in several places. It heads up between the Osage and Kansas Rivers; the right-hand fork passes within a short distance of the Missouri at the ancient Little Osage villages. Our hunter killed 2 deer.
After staying one hour at the mouth of this river, Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) went out and proceeded on one mile and came in. He found the land in the point to be high and fine. Course N 64° W 1 mile to a point on the south side; N 80° W to the lower point of an island on the larboard side, passed a small island in the middle of the river. At 3 miles met 3 men on a causee (raft) from R Dis Soux (River of the Sioux), above the Mahar Nation, loaded with fur. Camped on the lower point of an island on the larboard side called the Mills. Here I found kegs and pumice stone, and a place where fur or skins had been buried by the hunters. Our hunters killed 5 deer. Some rain. The country on the south side is very fine.
8th of June, Friday 1804. Set out this morning at daylight, proceeded on the course of last night. Passed two willow islands and a small creek above a rock point on the larboard side at 6 miles, on which there are a number of deer licks. Passed the Mine River at 9 miles. This river is about 70 yards wide at its mouth and is said to be navigable for pirogues 80 or 90 miles. The main branch passes near the place where the Little Osage village formerly stood on the Missouri, and heads between the Osage and Kansas Rivers; the left-hand fork heads with nearer branches of the Osage River. The French inform us that lead ore has been found in different parts of this river.
I took Sjt. Floyd (Sgt. Floyd) and went out 4 miles below this river. I found the land very good for a mile or 1½ miles back and sufficiently watered with small streams, which lost themselves in the Missouri's bottom. The land rose gradually from the river to the summit of the high country, which is not more than 120 feet above high water mark. We joined the boat and dined in the point above the mouth of this river.
Capt. Lewis went out above the river and proceeded on one mile, finding the country rich, the weeds and vines so thick and high he came back to the boat. Proceeded on, passed an island, and camped at the lower point of an island on the larboard side called the Island of Mills, about 4 miles above Mine River. At this place I found canteens, axes, pumice stone, and peltry hidden and buried (I suppose by some hunters); none of them (except the pumice stone) was touched by any of our party. Our hunters killed 5 deer today. It commenced raining soon after we came to, which prevented the party from cooking their provisions. Our spies inform us that the country they passed through on the south side is a fine high bottom, with no water.
This day we met 3 men on a cajaux (raft) from the River of the Sioux above the Mahar Nation. Those men had been hunting 12 months and made about $900 in pelts and furs. They were out of provisions and out of powder. Rained this night.
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