Clark: May 17, 1805
On a fine, breezy morning with the river falling slightly, the party advanced upstream mainly by towrope through rugged country with high hills, narrow river channel, and visible salt deposits. They passed two creeks with brackish water and noted scarce timber—mostly cottonwood, pine, and cedar. Clark nearly stepped on an unfamiliar small rattlesnake, and another was killed. He shot an elk while ashore, and the party killed a lean female bear. They camped near an old Minnetaree war-party fortification. At night, a burning tree threatened their lodge, forcing a hasty move as wind-driven embers scorched the camp.
May 17th Friday 1805 a fine morning wind from the N W. mercury at 60° a 0.
river falling a little. we Set out at an early hour and proceeded on verry
well by the assistance of the Toe rope principally, the Countrey verry
rugged & hills high and the river washing the base on each Side, Great
appearance of the Salt Substance. a fiew Cotton trees is the only timber
which is Scattered in the bottoms & the hills contain a fiew Pine
& Cedar, which is Scattered. river much narrower than below from 2 to
300 yards wide, the bottoms muddey & hills rich earth except near
their topesWe passed 2 large Creeks to day one on the Starbd Side
and the other just below our camp on the Lard. Side each of those creeks
has a little running water near their mouthes which has a brackish taste,
I was nearly treading on a Small fierce rattle Snake different from any I
had ever Seen &c. one man the party killed another of the Same kind. I
walked on Shore after dinner & killed an Elkthe party in my
absence Killed a female Brown or yellow Bear which was meagre the
appearances of the Hills & Countrey is as before mentioned except a
greater appearance of the white appearance of Salts or tarter and Some
Coal which has been thrown out by the floods in the last Creek- Buffalow
& Deer is not plenty to day, Elk is yet to be Seen in abundance we
Camped in the upper part of a Small timbered bottom on the Lard. Side in
which I Saw a fortified Indian Camp, which I Suppose is one of the Camps
of a Mi ne tar re war party of about 15 men, that Set out from their
village in March last to war against the Blackfoot Indians.
we were roused late at night and warned of the danger of fire from a tree
which had Cought and leaned over our Lodge, we had the lodge moved Soon
after the Dry limbs & top of the tree fell in the place the Lodge
Stood, the wind blew hard and the dry wood Cought & fire flew in every
direction, burnt our Lodge verry much from the Coals which fell on it
altho at Some distance in the plain, the whole party was much disturbed by
this fire which could not be extinguished &c
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
May 17th, Friday, 1805. A fine morning, wind from the N.W., mercury at 60° above 0. River falling a little. We set out at an early hour and proceeded on very well, by the assistance of the tow rope principally. The country is very rugged and the hills high, with the river washing the base on each side. Great appearance of the salt substance. A few cottonwood trees are the only timber, which is scattered in the bottoms, and the hills contain a few pine and cedar, which are scattered. The river is much narrower than below, from 200 to 300 yards wide. The bottoms are muddy, and the hills rich earth except near their tops. We passed 2 large creeks today, one on the starboard side and the other just below our camp on the larboard side. Each of those creeks has a little running water near their mouths, which has a brackish taste. I was nearly treading on a small fierce rattlesnake, different from any I had ever seen, etc. One man of the party killed another of the same kind. I walked on shore after dinner and killed an elk. The party in my absence killed a female brown or yellow bear, which was meager. The appearance of the hills and country is as before mentioned, except a greater appearance of the white appearance of salts or tartar, and some coal which has been thrown out by the floods in the last creek. Buffalo and deer are not plenty today; elk is yet to be seen in abundance. We camped in the upper part of a small timbered bottom on the larboard side, in which I saw a fortified Indian camp, which I suppose is one of the camps of a Minetarre war party of about 15 men that set out from their village in March last to war against the Blackfoot Indians.
We were roused late at night and warned of the danger of fire from a tree which had caught and leaned over our lodge. We had the lodge moved soon after, and the dry limbs and top of the tree fell in the place the lodge stood. The wind blew hard and the dry wood caught, and fire flew in every direction, burning our lodge very much from the coals which fell on it, although at some distance in the plain. The whole party was much disturbed by this fire, which could not be extinguished, etc.
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