Clark: October 7, 1804
On a cloudy, frosty Sunday morning, the expedition set out early and stopped for breakfast at the mouth of a river the Arikara called Sur-war-kar-na, about 90 yards wide but running low. Clark walked a mile up it, noting very large white bear tracks and the remains of a fortified Arikara wintering camp of about 60 lodges, with mats, baskets, and bullboats still intact. Two Teton Sioux on the south shore asked for food and received meat. The party passed willow islands and camped opposite a grass-covered island Clark named Grouse Island, where hunters killed a badger and a large black-tailed doe.
7th of October Sunday 1804 frost last night, passed a River 90 yds. wide
the Ricaras Call Sur-war-kar-ne all the water of this river runs in a
chanel of 20 yards, the Current appears jentle, I walked up this River a
mile, Saw the tracks of white bear, verry large, also a old Ricara village
partly burnt, fortified about 60 Lodges built in the Same form of those
passed yesterday, many Canoes & Baskets about the hutsabout 10
oClock we Saw 2 Indians on the S. S. they asked for Something to eat &
told us they were Tetons of the band we left below on ther way to the
Ricaras we gave them meat & wind hard from the South, passed a large
open Island covered with grass and wild rye, I walked on the Isd & 4
men they Killed a Braroe & a Black tale Doe with a black breast, the
largest Deer I ever saw, the great numbers of Grous on it, we call it
Grous Island, Camped opposit the Island near the S. Side.
—
7th of October Sunday 1804 a Cloudy morning, Some little rain frost last
night, we Set out early proceeded on 2 miles to the mouth of a (1) river
on the L. S. and brackfast this river whin full is 90 yards wide the water
is at this time Confined within 20 yards, the Current appears jentle, this
river throws out but little Sand at the mouth of this river we Saw the
Tracks of White bear which was verry large, I walked up this river a mile-
below the (2) mouth of this river, is the remains of a Rickorrie Village
or Wintering Camp fortified in a circular form of a bout 60 Lodges, built
in the Same form of those passed yesterday This Camp appears to have been
inhabited last winter, many of their willow & Straw mats, Baskets
& Buffalow Skin Canoes remain intire within the Camp, the Ricares Call
this river Sur-war-kar-na or Park from this river we proceeded on under a
gentle Breeze from the S. W. at 10 oClock we Saw 2 Indians, on the S. S.
they asked for Something to eate, & informed us they were part of the
Beiffs De Medisons Lodge on their way to the Rickerreis, passed (3) a
willow Island in a bind to the S. S. (4) at 5 miles passd. a willow Island
on the S. S.wind hard from the South in the evening I walked on an
(5) Island nearly the middle of the river Called Grous Island, one of the
men killed a Shee Brarrow, another man killed a Black tail Deer, the
largest Doe I ever Saw (Black under her breast) this Island is nearly 11/4
ms. Squar no timbr high and Covered with grass wild rye and Contains Great
numbers of Grouse, we proceeded on a Short distance above the Island and
Camped on the S. S. a fine evening.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
7th of October Sunday 1804. Frost last night. We passed a river 90 yards wide that the Ricaras call Sur-war-kar-ne. All the water of this river runs in a channel of 20 yards, and the current appears gentle. I walked up this river a mile and saw the tracks of a white bear, very large; also an old Ricara village, partly burnt, fortified, with about 60 lodges built in the same form as those we passed yesterday. There were many canoes and baskets about the huts. About 10 o'clock we saw 2 Indians on the south side. They asked for something to eat and told us they were Tetons of the band we left below, on their way to the Ricaras. We gave them meat. The wind was hard from the south. We passed a large open island covered with grass and wild rye. I walked on the island with 4 men. They killed a braroe (badger) and a black-tail doe with a black breast, the largest deer I ever saw. Because of the great numbers of grouse on it, we call it Grouse Island. We camped opposite the island near the south side.
7th of October Sunday 1804. A cloudy morning, with a little rain. Frost last night. We set out early and proceeded 2 miles to the mouth of a (1) river on the larboard side, and breakfasted. This river, when full, is 90 yards wide; the water is at this time confined within 20 yards, and the current appears gentle. This river throws out but little sand at its mouth. There we saw the tracks of a white bear, which were very large. I walked up this river a mile. Below the (2) mouth of this river are the remains of a Rickorrie village, or wintering camp, fortified in a circular form, of about 60 lodges, built in the same form as those passed yesterday. This camp appears to have been inhabited last winter; many of their willow and straw mats, baskets, and buffalo-skin canoes remain intact within the camp. The Ricaras call this river Sur-war-kar-na, or Park. From this river we proceeded on under a gentle breeze from the southwest. At 10 o'clock we saw 2 Indians on the south side. They asked for something to eat and informed us they were part of the Beiffs De Medisons lodge, on their way to the Rickerreis. We passed (3) a willow island in a bend to the south side. (4) At 5 miles we passed a willow island on the south side. The wind was hard from the south. In the evening I walked on an (5) island nearly in the middle of the river, called Grouse Island. One of the men killed a she-brarrow (badger); another man killed a black-tail deer, the largest doe I ever saw (black under her breast). This island is nearly 1 1/4 miles square, with no timber, high, and covered with grass and wild rye, and contains great numbers of grouse. We proceeded on a short distance above the island and camped on the south side. A fine evening.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
