Clark: May 29, 1806
A quiet day in camp with no notable party movement. Provisions of meat and roots are restocked, and Bratton, the child, and the Indian chief continue recovering—the chief washed his own face for the first time in over a year. Cloudy, rainy weather prevented another sweat treatment. Clark recorded detailed descriptions of a corvus bird (likely Clark's nutcracker), the horned lizard, the choke cherry in bloom, and a singular flowering plant collected by Lewis. With horses growing wild and hard to catch without Indian help, the men built a strong pound to corral them.
Thursday 29th of May 1806 No movement of the party to day worthy of
notice. we have once more a good Stock of Meat and roots. Bratten is
recovering his Strength very fast. the Child, and the Indian Cheaf are
also on the recovery. the Chief has much more use of his hands and arms.
he washed his face himself today. Which he has not been able to do
previously for more than twelve months past. I would have repeeted the
Sweat to day had it not been Cloudy and frequently raining.-. Sence my
arrival here I have killed Several birds of the Corvus genus of a kind
found only in the rocky mountains and their neighbourhood. I first met
with bird on Jeffersons River. and Saw them on the hights of the rocky
mountains. but never before had an oppertunity of examineing them Closely.
the Small Corvus discribed at Fort Clatsop is a different Species, tho
untill now I had taken it to be the Same, this is much larger and has a
loud squaling note something like the newing of a Cat. the beak of this
bird is 11/2 inches long, is proportionably large, black and of the form
which characterize this genus. the upper exeeds the under Chap a little.
the head and neck are also propotionably large, the eyes full and reather
prominant, the iris dark brown and purple black. it is about the Size and
Some what the form of the jay bird, tho reather rounder and more full in
the body. the tail is four and a half inches in length, composed of 12
feathers nearly of the Same length. the head, neck and body of this bird
is of a dove Colour. the wings are black except the extremities of Six
large feathers occupying the middle joint of the wings which are White.
the under disk of the wings are not of the shineing or glossy black which
mark it’s upper Surface. the two feathers in the Center of the tail are
black as are the two adjacent feathers for half their wedth, the ballance
are of a pure White. the feet and legs are black, and imbricated with wide
Scales, the nails are black and remarkably long and Sharp, also much
Curved, it has four toes on each foot of which one is in the rear and 3 in
front. the toes are long particular that in the rear. this bird feeds on
the Seeds of the pine and also on insects. it resides in the rocky
Mountains at all Seasons of the year, and in many parts is the only bird
to be found. a Species of Lizzard Called by the French engages, Prarie
buffaloe are nativs of these plains as well as those of the Missouri. I
have Called them the horned Lizzard. they are about the Size and a good
deel the figure of the Common black lizzard. but their bellies are
broader, the tail Shorter and their action much Slower; they Crawl much
like the toad. they are of a brown Colour with yellowish and yellowish
brown Spots. it is covered with minute scales intermixed with little
horney like blunt prickkles on the upper Surface of the body. the belly
and throat is more like the frog and are of a light yellowish brown
Colour. around the edge of the belly is regularly Set with little horney
prejections which give to those edges a Serrate figure, the eye is Small
and of a dark colour. above and behind the eyes there are Several
Projections of the bone which being armed at their extremities with a firm
black Substance has the appearance of horns Sprouting out from the head.
this part has induced me to distinguish it by the appellation of the
Horned Lizard. I cannot conceive how the engagees ever assimilated this
animal withe Buffalow for there is not grater anology than between the
Horse and the frog. this Animal is found in greatest numbers in the Sandy
open parts of the Plains, and appear in great abundance after a rain; they
are Sometimes found basking in the Sunshine but conceal themselves in
little holes under the tufts of grass or herbs much the greater proportion
of their time. they are noumerous about the Falls of Missouri, and in the
plains through which we passed lately above the Falls of Columbia
The Choke Cherry has been in blume Since the 20th inst. it is a Simple
branching ascending Stem. the Cortex Smooth and of a dark brown with a
redish Cast. the leaf is scattered petiolate oval accute at it’s apex
finely Serated Smooth and of an ordinary green, from 21/2 to 3 inches in
length and from 11/4 to 2 in width. the Peduncles cilindric and Common
from 4 to 5 inches in length and are inserted promiscuisly on the twigs of
the proceeding years growth. on the lower portion of the Common peduncle
are frequently from 3 to 4 Small leaves, being the same in form as those
last discribed. other peduncles 1/4 of an inch in length are Scattered and
thickly inserted on all sides of the Common peduncle at right-angles with
it, each elivateing a Single flower, which has five obtuse Short patent
white petals with Short claws incerted on the upper edge of the calyx. the
Calyx is a perianth including both Stemes & germ, one leafed five
cleft entire, Semi globular. the Stamons are upwards of twenty and are
Seated on the Margin of the flower Cup or what I have Called the perianth.
the filaments are unequal in length Subulate inflected and Superior
membranous. the anthers are equal in number with the filaments, they are
very Short oblong and flat, naked and Situated at the extremity of the
filaments. is of a yellowish colour asis also the pollen. one pistillum.
the germin is ovate, Smooth, Superior, sessile, very Small; the Style is
very Short, Simple, erect, on the top of the germen deciduous. the Stigma
is Simple, flat very Short. This Shrub rises to the hight of from 6 to 8
feet generally but Sometimes rich Situations much higher. it is not
confined to any particular Situation Capt. L-s met with a singular plant
in blume of which we preserved a Specimene. it grows on the Steep fertile
hill Sides near this place the radix is fibrous, not much branched,
annual, woody, white and nearly Smooth. the Stem is Simple branching
ascending 21/2 feet high. Celindric, villose and of a pale red Colour. the
branches are but fiew and those near it’s upper extremity. the extremities
of the branches are flexable and are bent down near their extremities with
the weight of the flowers. the leaf is sessile, scattered thinly, nearly
lineor tho Somewhat widest in the middle, two inches in length, absolutely
entire, villose, obtusely pointed and of an Ordinary green. above each
leaf a Small Short branch protrudes, Supporting a tissue of four or five
Small leaves of the Same appearance of those discribed. a leaf is placed
under neath each branch and each flower. the Calyx is one flowered Spatha.
the corolla Superior, consists of four pale perple petals which are
tripartite, the Centeral lobe largest and all terminate obtusely; they are
inserted with a long and narrow claw on the top of the germ, are long,
Smooth and deciduous. there are two distinct Sets of Stamens the first or
principal Consists of four, the filaments which are capillary, erect,
inserted on the top of the germ alternately with the petals, equal short,
membranus; the anthers are also four each being elivated with it’s
fillaments; they are reather flat, erect sessile, cohering to the base,
membranous, longitudinally furrowed, twise as long as the fillament naked,
and of a pale purple colour, the Second Set of Stamens are very minute,
are also four and placed within and opposit to the petals, those are
Scercely precptable while the first are large & Conspicious, the
fillaments are capillary equal, very Short white and Smooth. the anthers
are four, oblong, beaked, erect Cohering at the base, membanous, Shorter
than the fillaments, White naked and appear not to form pollen, there is
one pistillum; the germ of which is also one, celindric, villous,
inferior, Sessile, as long as the first Stamuns, and grooved. the Single
Style and Stigma form a perfect mono petallous corolla only with this
difference that the Style which elivates the Stigma or limb is not a tube
but solid tho it’s outer appearance is that of a tube of a Monopetallous
corolla swelling as it ascends and gliding in such manner into the limb
that it Cannot be Said where the Style ends or the Stigma begins, jointly
they are as long as the Gorilla, while the limb is four cleft, Sauser
Shaped, and the margin of the lobes entire and rounded. this has the
appearance of a monopetallous flower growing from the Center of the four
petalled corollar which is rendered more conspicuous in consequence of the
first being white and the latter of a pale purple. I regret very much that
the Seed of this plant are not ripe as yet and it is probable will not be
so dureing our residence in this neighbourhood-. our Horses maney of them
have become So wild that we Cannot take them without the assistance of the
indians who are extreemly dextrous in throwing a Rope and takeing them
with a noose about the neck; as we frequently want the use of our horses
when we cannot get the use of the indians to take them, we had a Strong
pound formed to day in order to take them at pleasure-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday 29th of May 1806. No movement of the party today worthy of notice. We have once more a good stock of meat and roots. Bratten is recovering his strength very fast. The child and the Indian chief are also recovering. The chief has much more use of his hands and arms. He washed his face himself today, which he has not been able to do previously for more than twelve months past. I would have repeated the sweat today had it not been cloudy and frequently raining.
Since my arrival here I have killed several birds of the Corvus genus, of a kind found only in the Rocky Mountains and their neighborhood. I first met with this bird on Jeffersons River and saw them on the heights of the Rocky Mountains, but had never before had an opportunity of examining them closely. The small Corvus described at Fort Clatsop is a different species, though until now I had taken it to be the same. This one is much larger and has a loud squalling note something like the mewing of a cat. The beak of this bird is 1 1/2 inches long, is proportionably large, black, and of the form which characterizes this genus. The upper exceeds the under chap a little. The head and neck are also proportionably large, the eyes full and rather prominent, the iris dark brown and purplish black. It is about the size and somewhat the form of the jay bird, though rather rounder and more full in the body. The tail is four and a half inches in length, composed of 12 feathers nearly of the same length. The head, neck, and body of this bird are of a dove color. The wings are black except the extremities of six large feathers occupying the middle joint of the wings, which are white. The under disk of the wings is not of the shining or glossy black which marks its upper surface. The two feathers in the center of the tail are black, as are the two adjacent feathers for half their width; the balance are of a pure white. The feet and legs are black, and imbricated with wide scales. The nails are black and remarkably long and sharp, also much curved. It has four toes on each foot, of which one is in the rear and three in front. The toes are long, particularly that in the rear. This bird feeds on the seeds of the pine and also on insects. It resides in the Rocky Mountains at all seasons of the year, and in many parts is the only bird to be found.
A species of lizard called by the French engagés (engagees) prairie buffalo are natives of these plains as well as those of the Missouri. I have called them the horned lizard. They are about the size and a good deal the figure of the common black lizard, but their bellies are broader, the tail shorter, and their action much slower; they crawl much like the toad. They are of a brown color with yellowish and yellowish brown spots. It is covered with minute scales intermixed with little horny, blunt prickles on the upper surface of the body. The belly and throat are more like the frog and are of a light yellowish brown color. Around the edge of the belly is regularly set with little horny projections which give those edges a serrate figure. The eye is small and of a dark color. Above and behind the eyes there are several projections of the bone which, being armed at their extremities with a firm black substance, have the appearance of horns sprouting out from the head. This part has induced me to distinguish it by the appellation of the horned lizard. I cannot conceive how the engagés ever associated this animal with the buffalo, for there is no greater analogy than between the horse and the frog. This animal is found in greatest numbers in the sandy open parts of the plains, and appears in great abundance after a rain. They are sometimes found basking in the sunshine but conceal themselves in little holes under the tufts of grass or herbs the greater proportion of their time. They are numerous about the Falls of Missouri, and in the plains through which we passed lately above the Falls of Columbia.
The choke cherry has been in bloom since the 20th instant. It has a simple, branching, ascending stem. The bark is smooth and of a dark brown with a reddish cast. The leaf is scattered, petiolate, oval, acute at its apex, finely serrated, smooth, and of an ordinary green, from 2 1/2 to 3 inches in length and from 1 1/4 to 2 in width. The peduncles are cylindric and common, from 4 to 5 inches in length, and are inserted promiscuously on the twigs of the preceding year's growth. On the lower portion of the common peduncle there are frequently from 3 to 4 small leaves, being the same in form as those last described. Other peduncles, 1/4 of an inch in length, are scattered and thickly inserted on all sides of the common peduncle at right angles with it, each elevating a single flower, which has five obtuse, short, patent white petals with short claws inserted on the upper edge of the calyx. The calyx is a perianth, including both stamens and germ, one-leafed, five-cleft, entire, semi-globular. The stamens are upwards of twenty and are seated on the margin of the flower cup, or what I have called the perianth. The filaments are unequal in length, subulate, inflected, and superior membranous. The anthers are equal in number with the filaments; they are very short, oblong, and flat, naked, and situated at the extremity of the filaments. They are of a yellowish color, as is also the pollen. There is one pistil. The germ is ovate, smooth, superior, sessile, very small; the style is very short, simple, erect, on the top of the germ, deciduous. The stigma is simple, flat, very short. This shrub rises to the height of from 6 to 8 feet generally, but sometimes in rich situations much higher. It is not confined to any particular situation.
Capt. L-s (Capt. Lewis) met with a singular plant in bloom, of which we preserved a specimen. It grows on the steep fertile hillsides near this place. The root is fibrous, not much branched, annual, woody, white, and nearly smooth. The stem is simple, branching, ascending, 2 1/2 feet high, cylindric, villose, and of a pale red color. The branches are but few and those near its upper extremity. The extremities of the branches are flexible and are bent down near their extremities with the weight of the flowers. The leaf is sessile, scattered thinly, nearly linear though somewhat widest in the middle, two inches in length, absolutely entire, villose, obtusely pointed, and of an ordinary green. Above each leaf a small short branch protrudes, supporting a tissue of four or five small leaves of the same appearance as those described. A leaf is placed underneath each branch and each flower. The calyx is a one-flowered spathe. The corolla, superior, consists of four pale purple petals which are tripartite, the central lobe largest and all terminating obtusely; they are inserted with a long and narrow claw on the top of the germ, are long, smooth, and deciduous. There are two distinct sets of stamens. The first or principal consists of four, the filaments of which are capillary, erect, inserted on the top of the germ alternately with the petals, equal, short, membranous; the anthers are also four, each being elevated with its filament; they are rather flat, erect, sessile, cohering to the base, membranous, longitudinally furrowed, twice as long as the filament, naked, and of a pale purple color. The second set of stamens are very minute, are also four, and placed within and opposite to the petals; these are scarcely perceptible while the first are large and conspicuous. The filaments are capillary, equal, very short, white, and smooth. The anthers are four, oblong, beaked, erect, cohering at the base, membranous, shorter than the filaments, white, naked, and appear not to form pollen. There is one pistil; the germ of which is also one, cylindric, villose, inferior, sessile, as long as the first stamens, and grooved. The single style and stigma form a perfect monopetalous corolla, only with this difference: that the style which elevates the stigma or limb is not a tube but solid, though its outer appearance is that of a tube of a monopetalous corolla, swelling as it ascends and gliding in such manner into the limb that it cannot be said where the style ends or the stigma begins. Jointly they are as long as the corolla, while the limb is four-cleft, saucer-shaped, and the margin of the lobes entire and rounded. This has the appearance of a monopetalous flower growing from the center of the four-petaled corolla, which is rendered more conspicuous in consequence of the first being white and the latter of a pale purple. I regret very much that the seeds of this plant are not ripe as yet, and it is probable they will not be so during our residence in this neighborhood.
Many of our horses have become so wild that we cannot take them without the assistance of the Indians, who are extremely dexterous in throwing a rope and taking them with a noose about the neck. As we frequently want the use of our horses when we cannot get the assistance of the Indians to take them, we had a strong pound formed today in order to take them at pleasure.
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