Clark: May 24, 1805
A cold night left water frozen in small vessels and the thermometer at freezing. The party set out early and made good progress under a steady southeast breeze, despite a fast-rising river and rapid current. They passed several small islands and four creeks, including streams flowing from the North and South Mountains, and spotted a large prairie dog village. Clark walked the broken, dry highlands on the starboard side and killed a buffalo. Two canoes with six men sent to retrieve meat failed to rejoin camp by evening. Frost had killed the cottonwoods' first buds.
May 24th Friday 1805 a Cold night the water in the Small vestles frosed
1/8 of an inch thick, and the thermometer Stood this morning at the
freesing point. we Set out at an early hour and proceeded on, at 9 oClock
we had a Breeze from the S E which Continued all day. This Breeze afforded
us good Sailing, the river rising fast Current verry rapid. passed Several
Small Islands, two large & two Small Creeks, the 1st of those Creeks
or Small rivers 11/2 m. above our Camp is 30 yards wide and Contains water
and appears to take its rise in the North Mountns. which is Situated in a
northerley detection about 20 miles distant. 21/2 m. higher a Creek falls
in on the Lard. Side, opposit a large village of Barking Squirels. 3 miles
Still higher a Small Creek falls in on the Stard. 13 miles higher up a
Small river falls in on the Lard Side which is 40 yards wide and has
running water. This Stream appears to take its rise in the South Mountains
which is Situated in a Southerly direction 30 or 40 miles distant. I
walked on the high countrey on the Stard. Side found it broken & Dry
Some pine, Spruce & Dwarf Cedar on the hill sides, I Sent one man 10
mile out he reports a Similarity of Countrey back I killed a fat buffalow
a Short distance below the place we dined 2 Canoes & 6 men we left to
get the meat did not join us this evening. we Camped on the Lard point.
the Cotton wood in this point is beginning to put out a Second bud, the
first being killed by the frost
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
May 24th, Friday, 1805. A cold night—the water in the small vessels froze 1/8 of an inch thick, and the thermometer stood this morning at the freezing point. We set out at an early hour and proceeded on. At 9 o'clock we had a breeze from the southeast which continued all day. This breeze afforded us good sailing. The river is rising fast and the current is very rapid. We passed several small islands, two large and two small creeks. The first of those creeks or small rivers, 1 1/2 miles above our camp, is 30 yards wide, contains water, and appears to take its rise in the North Mountains, which are situated in a northerly direction about 20 miles distant.
2 1/2 miles higher, a creek falls in on the larboard side, opposite a large village of barking squirrels. 3 miles still higher, a small creek falls in on the starboard. 13 miles higher up, a small river falls in on the larboard side which is 40 yards wide and has running water. This stream appears to take its rise in the South Mountains, which are situated in a southerly direction 30 or 40 miles distant.
I walked on the high country on the starboard side and found it broken and dry, with some pine, spruce, and dwarf cedar on the hillsides. I sent one man 10 miles out, and he reports a similarity of country back. I killed a fat buffalo a short distance below the place we dined. Two canoes and 6 men we left to get the meat did not join us this evening. We camped on the larboard point. The cottonwood in this point is beginning to put out a second bud, the first being killed by the frost.
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