Clark: May 20, 1805
On a fine morning with a northeast wind and the river falling, the party set out at 7 a.m. and used the towrope to ascend swift, narrow, crooked waters. They passed Blowing Fly Creek, named for the swarms of insects covering their meat, and reached the mouth of the Musselshell River by 11 a.m., where they made camp. Clark measured the Musselshell at 110 yards wide and took a latitude reading of 47°0'24". Hunters killed elk and deer for meat and hides to make leggings.
May 20th Monday 1805 a fine morning wind from the N E. river falling a
little We Set out at 7 oClock and proceeded on verry well as usial by the
assistance of the Cord passed Some verry Swift water, river narrow and
Crooked, at 11 oClock arrived at the mouth of Shell river on the Lard Side
and formed a Camp for the present. haveing passed a large Creek about 4
miles below on the Ld Side which we call Blowing fly Creek from the emence
quantites of those insects which geather on our meat in Such numbers that
we are oblige to brush them off what we eate.
muscle Shell River falls in on Lard Side 2270 miles up Contains a greater
perportion of water than Rivers of its Size below, I measured it and find
it to be 110 yards wide, the water of a Greenish yellow Colour, and appers
to be navagable for Small Craft, The Minetarras inform us that this river
heads in the 1st of the rockey Mountains & passes through a broken
Countrey. its head at no great distance from the Yellow Stone River The
Countrey about this river as described yesterday we took the Meredian
altitude 59° 50′ 0″ back observation and found the Latd. to be 47° 0′ 24″
The Missouri at the mouth of Shell River is 222 yards wide with a Smoth
Current the Missouri water is not So muddey as below, but retains nearly
its usial Cholour, and the Sands principally Confined to the points I
killed two Deer & an Elk, the hunters killed an Elk & Several deer
mearly for their Skins to make Leagins,Sent men out in every
derection, the Countrey generally verry broken Some leavel plains up the
Shell river The bottoms of the Shell river is well timbered as also a
Small river which falls into that river on the upper Side 5 miles above
its mouth. The hills on the Lard. Contain Scattering Pine & Cedar.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
May 20th, Monday, 1805. A fine morning, wind from the N.E., river falling a little. We set out at 7 o'clock and proceeded on very well as usual by the assistance of the cord, passed some very swift water, river narrow and crooked. At 11 o'clock arrived at the mouth of Shell River on the Larboard side and formed a camp for the present, having passed a large creek about 4 miles below on the Larboard side, which we call Blowing Fly Creek from the immense quantities of those insects which gather on our meat in such numbers that we are obliged to brush them off whatever we eat.
Muscle Shell River falls in on the Larboard side 2270 miles up. It contains a greater proportion of water than rivers of its size below. I measured it and find it to be 110 yards wide, the water of a greenish yellow color, and it appears to be navigable for small craft. The Minetarras (Minnetaree) inform us that this river heads in the first of the Rocky Mountains and passes through a broken country, its head at no great distance from the Yellowstone River. The country about this river is as described yesterday. We took the meridian altitude 59° 50' 0" back observation and found the latitude to be 47° 0' 24".
The Missouri at the mouth of Shell River is 222 yards wide with a smooth current. The Missouri water is not as muddy as below, but retains nearly its usual color, and the sands are principally confined to the points. I killed two deer and an elk; the hunters killed an elk and several deer merely for their skins to make leggings. Sent men out in every direction. The country is generally very broken, with some level plains up the Shell River. The bottoms of the Shell River are well timbered, as also a small river which falls into that river on the upper side 5 miles above its mouth. The hills on the Larboard side contain scattering pine and cedar.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
