Clark: October 20, 1804
On a Saturday with shifting winds, the expedition continued upriver and Clark spent the day walking ashore to inspect landmarks previously described by Evans. He examined the remains of an old Mandan village, learning from the chief Too ne that the Sioux had driven the Mandans to move further upriver in stages. The party passed small creeks and a willow-covered island, then camped near a bluff of low-quality coal. Clark killed three deer, hunters took ten more and a goat, and wounded a white bear. Buffalo, elk, deer, and trailing wolves were abundant.
20th of October 1804 wind from the S E, I walked out to view those
remarkable places pointed out by Evens, and continud all day Saw an old
Village of the Mandans below the Chess chi ter R. appear to have been
fortified above the village on the Same L. S. is a coal bank where we
Campd. passed a Small Creek on the S. S. and an Island on the L. S Covered
with willows Small Cotton the Countrey thro which I passed this day is
Delightfull, Timber in the bottoms, Saw great nos. of Buffalow Elk Goats
& Deer as we were in want of them I Killed 3 Deer, our hunters 10 Deer
and wounded a white Bear, I Saw Several fresh tracks of that animal double
the Sise of the largest track I ever Saw, great numbers of wolves, those
animals follow the buffalow and devour, those that die or are Killed, and
those too fat or pore to Keep up with the gangue
—
20th of October Satterday 1804 Set out early this morning and proceeded on
the wind from the S. E after brackfast I walked out on the L. Side to See
those remarkable places pointed out by Evins, I saw an old remains of a
villige on the Side of a hill which the Chief with us Too ne tels me that
nation lived in a number villages on each Side of the river and the
Troubleson Seauex caused them to move about 40 miles higher up where they
remained a fiew years & moved to the place they now live, (2) passed a
Small Creek on the S. S. (3) and one on the L. S. passed (4) a Island
Covered with willows laying in the middle of the river no current on the
L. S. Camped on the L. S. above a Bluff containing Coal (5) of an inferior
quallity, this bank is imedeately above the old village of the Mandans-
The Countrey is fine, the high hills at a Distanc with gradual assents, I
Kild 3 Deer The Timber Confined to the bottoms as usial which is much
larger than below. Great numbers of Buffalow Elk & Deer, Goats. our
hunters killed 10 Deer & a Goat to day and wounded a white Bear I saw
Several fresh track of those animals which is 3 times as large as a mans
track-, The wind hard all Day from the N. E. & East, great numbers of
buffalow Swiming the river
I observe near all large gangues of buffalow wolves and when the buffalow
move those Anamals follow and feed on those that are killed by accident or
those that are too pore or fat to Keep up with the gangue.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
20th of October 1804. Wind from the S.E. I walked out to view those remarkable places pointed out by Evens (Evans), and continued all day. Saw an old village of the Mandans below the Chess-chi-ter River. It appears to have been fortified. Above the village on the same larboard side is a coal bank where we camped. Passed a small creek on the starboard side and an island on the larboard side covered with willows and small cottonwood. The country through which I passed this day is delightful, with timber in the bottoms. Saw great numbers of buffalo, elk, goats, and deer. As we were in want of them, I killed 3 deer, and our hunters killed 10 deer and wounded a white bear. I saw several fresh tracks of that animal, double the size of the largest track I ever saw. There are great numbers of wolves; those animals follow the buffalo and devour those that die or are killed, and those too fat or poor to keep up with the gang.
20th of October, Saturday 1804. Set out early this morning and proceeded on, the wind from the S.E. After breakfast I walked out on the larboard side to see those remarkable places pointed out by Evins (Evans). I saw the old remains of a village on the side of a hill, which the chief with us, Too ne, tells me that nation lived in a number of villages on each side of the river, and the troublesome Sioux caused them to move about 40 miles higher up, where they remained a few years and then moved to the place they now live. (2) Passed a small creek on the starboard side, (3) and one on the larboard side. Passed (4) an island covered with willows lying in the middle of the river, with no current on the larboard side. Camped on the larboard side above a bluff containing coal (5) of an inferior quality. This bank is immediately above the old village of the Mandans. The country is fine, the high hills at a distance with gradual ascents. I killed 3 deer. The timber is confined to the bottoms as usual, which is much larger than below. Great numbers of buffalo, elk, deer, and goats. Our hunters killed 10 deer and a goat today and wounded a white bear. I saw several fresh tracks of those animals, which are 3 times as large as a man's track. The wind blew hard all day from the N.E. and East. Great numbers of buffalo were swimming the river.
I observe near all large gangs of buffalo there are wolves, and when the buffalo move, those animals follow and feed on those that are killed by accident, or those that are too poor or fat to keep up with the gang.
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