Clark: May 30, 1805
Heavy overnight and continuing rain—the most since mid-September—delayed the party until about 11 a.m. They then advanced with great difficulty, relying on the tow rope along muddy, slippery banks while battling strong northwest winds. The cord broke on one rapid but no harm was done. Numerous shoals at stream mouths slowed progress, and cold, raw weather brought snow on the hills. The country is largely treeless and prone to slumping when wet. Old Indian campsites, likely Blackfoot or Hidatsa, were spotted. They camped in cottonwoods on the starboard side; the river rose 1½ inches.
May 30th Thursday 1805 The rain conmmenced yesterday evining, and
continued moderately through the course of the night, more rain has now
fallin than we have experienced Since the 15th of September last, the rain
continued this morning, and the wind too high for us to proceed, untill
about 11 oClock at which time we Set out, and proceeded on with great
labour, we were obliged to make use of the Tow rope & the banks were
So muddey & Slipery that the men could Scercely walk not with Standing
we proceeded on as well as we could wind hard from the N W. in attempting
to assend a rapid our toe Cord broke & we turned without injurey,
those rapids or Shoaley points are noumerous and dificuelt, one being at
the mouth of every drean Some little rain at times all day one man
assended the high Countrey and it was raining & Snowing on those
hills, the day has proved to be raw and Cold. Back from the river is
tollerably leavel, no timber of any kind on the hills, and only a fiew
Scattering cotton willow & ash near the river, much hard rock; &
rich earth, the Small portion of rain which has fallen causes the rich
earth as deep as is wet to Slip into the river or bottoms &c.
we discover in Several places old encampments of large bands of Indians, a
fiew weeks past and appear to be makeing up the riverThose Indians
we believe to be the Blackfoot Inds. or Menetares who inhabit the heads of
the Saskashowin & north of this place and trade a little in the Fort
de Prarie establishments. we Camped in a grove of Cotton trees on the
Stard Side, river rise 11/2 In.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
May 30th, Thursday 1805. The rain commenced yesterday evening and continued moderately through the course of the night. More rain has now fallen than we have experienced since the 15th of September last. The rain continued this morning, and the wind was too high for us to proceed until about 11 o'clock, at which time we set out and proceeded on with great labor. We were obliged to make use of the tow rope, and the banks were so muddy and slippery that the men could scarcely walk. Notwithstanding, we proceeded on as well as we could. Wind hard from the N.W. In attempting to ascend a rapid, our tow cord broke and we turned without injury. Those rapids or shoaley points are numerous and difficult, one being at the mouth of every drain. Some little rain at times all day. One man ascended the high country, and it was raining and snowing on those hills. The day has proved to be raw and cold.
Back from the river it is tolerably level, no timber of any kind on the hills, and only a few scattering cottonwood, willow, and ash near the river, much hard rock and rich earth. The small portion of rain which has fallen causes the rich earth, as deep as it is wet, to slip into the river or bottoms, etc.
We discover in several places old encampments of large bands of Indians a few weeks past, and they appear to be making their way up the river. Those Indians we believe to be the Blackfoot Indians or Menetares (Minitaris) who inhabit the heads of the Saskashowin (Saskatchewan) and north of this place, and trade a little at the Fort de Prairie establishments. We camped in a grove of cottonwood trees on the starboard side. River rose 1 1/2 inches.
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