Clark: October 6, 1804
On a cold, windy morning, the expedition set out early and noted large round stones in the middle of the river, likely washed down from nearby hills. They explored an abandoned Arikara village of about 80 spacious octagonal earth-lodges, finding skin canoes, mats, buckets, and three varieties of squash still growing. Shields shot an elk near the village, and Clark observed wolves chasing a wounded one. Shallow water and shifting channels forced the crew to drag the boat across a sandbar. They camped at the mouth of Otter Creek.
6th of October Satturday 1804 Cold Wind from the N. Saw many large round
Stones near the middle of the River passed an old Ricara village of 80
Lodges Picketed in those lodges in nearly an octagon form, 20 to 60 feet
Diameter Specious Covered with earth and as Close as they Can Stand, a
number of Skin Canoes in the huts, we found Squashes of 3 different Kinds
growing in the Village Shields Killed an Elk Close by- The Magpy is common
here, we Camped off the mouth of Otter Creek on the S. S. this Creek is 22
yds. wide & heads near the R. Jacque,contains much water.
—
6th October Satturday 1804 a cool morning wind from the North Set out
early passed a willow Island (1) Situated near the S. Shore at the upper
point of Som timber on the S. S. many large round Stones near the middle
of the river, those Stones appear to have been washed from the hills (2)
passed a village of about 80 neet Lodges covered with earth and picketed
around, those loges are Spicious of an Octagon form as close together as
they can possibly be placed and appear to have been inhabited last Spring,
from the Canoes of Skins Mats buckets & found in the lodges, we are of
appinion they were the recrereis we found Squashes of 3 Different Kinds
growing in the Village, one of our men killed an Elk Close by this
Village, I saw 2 wolves in persute of another which appeared to be wounded
and nearly tired, we proceeded on found the river Shole we made Severl.
attempts to find the main Channel between the Sand bars, and was obliged
at length to Drag the boat over to Save a league which we must return to
get into the deepest Channel, we have been obgd to hunt a Chanl. for Some
time past the river being devided in many places in a great number of
Chanels, Saw Gees, Swan, Brants, & Ducks of Different kinds on the
Sand bars to day, Capt Lewis walked on Shore Saw great numbers of Prarie
hens, I observe but fiew Gulls or Pleaver in this part of the river, The
Corvos or Magpye is verry Common in this quarter
We Camped on a large Sand bar off the mouth of Otter Creek on the S. S.
this Creek is about 22 yards wide at the mouth and contains a greater
perpotion of water than Common for Creeks of its Sise
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
6th October Saturday 1804. Cold wind from the N. Saw many large round stones near the middle of the river. Passed an old Ricara (Arikara) village of 80 lodges, picketed. These lodges were nearly an octagon in form, 20 to 60 feet in diameter, spacious, covered with earth, and as close as they can stand. A number of skin canoes were in the huts. We found squashes of 3 different kinds growing in the village. Shields killed an elk close by. The magpie is common here. We camped off the mouth of Otter Creek on the S. S. This creek is 22 yards wide and heads near the R. Jacque (River Jacques); it contains much water.
6th October Saturday 1804. A cool morning, wind from the north. Set out early. Passed a willow island (1) situated near the S. shore at the upper point of some timber on the S. S. Many large round stones near the middle of the river; those stones appear to have been washed from the hills (2). Passed a village of about 80 neat lodges covered with earth and picketed around. Those lodges are spacious, of an octagon form, as close together as they can possibly be placed, and appear to have been inhabited last spring. From the canoes of skins, mats, buckets, and other items found in the lodges, we are of opinion they were the Ricaras (Arikaras). We found squashes of 3 different kinds growing in the village. One of our men killed an elk close by this village. I saw 2 wolves in pursuit of another which appeared to be wounded and nearly tired. We proceeded on and found the river shoal. We made several attempts to find the main channel between the sand bars, and were obliged at length to drag the boat over to save a league which we must return to get into the deepest channel. We have been obliged to hunt a channel for some time past, the river being divided in many places into a great number of channels. Saw geese, swan, brants, and ducks of different kinds on the sand bars today. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) walked on shore and saw great numbers of prairie hens. I observe but few gulls or plover in this part of the river. The corvos or magpie is very common in this quarter.
We camped on a large sand bar off the mouth of Otter Creek on the S. S. This creek is about 22 yards wide at the mouth and contains a greater proportion of water than common for creeks of its size.
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