Clark: September 11, 1804
On a cloudy Tuesday, the expedition set out early along a wide, shallow, sandbar-filled river, with the boat running aground several times. They passed several islands and observed a large prairie dog ('barking squirrel') village about 970 by 800 yards on a hillside, where Clark killed four for their skins. George Shannon, missing for 22 days with the horses, rejoined the party nearly starved, having survived on grapes and a rabbit after running out of bullets. Hunters killed an elk, deer, and a pelican. Heavy rain fell all afternoon and night.
Septr. 11th Tuesday 1804 Set out early a Cloudy morning the river verry
wide from one hill to the other, with many Sand bars passed the Isd. on
which we lay at a mile passed three Isds. one on the L. S. (1/4 of a mile
from it on the L. S. a village of little Dogs. I Killed four, this village
is 800 yards wide & 970 yds. long on a jentle Slope of a hill in a
plain, those animals are noumerous) the other two Islands are on the S. S.
the river is verry Shallow & wide, the boat got a ground Several timesThe
man G Shannon, who left us with the horses above the Mahar Village, and
beleving us to be ahead pushed on as long as he Could, joined us he Shot
away what fiew Bullets he had with him, and in a plentiful) Countrey like
to have Starvd. he was 12 days without provision, Subsisting on Grapes at
the Same the Buffalow, would Come within 30 yards of his Camp, one of his
horses gave out & he left him before his last belluts were ConsumedI
saw 3 large Spoted foxes today a black tailed Deer, & Killed a Buck
elk & 2 Deer, one othr Elk 2 Deer & a Porkipine Killed to day at
12 oClock it became Cloudy and rained all the after noon, & night.
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Sept. 11th Tuesday 1804 a cloudy morning, Set out verry early, the river
wide & Shallow the bottom narrow, & the river Crouded with Sand
bars, passed the Island on which we lay at one mile-, pased three Islands
one on the L. S. and 2 on the S. S. opposit the Island on the L. S. I Saw
a village of Barking Squriel 970 yds. long, and 800 yds. wide Situated on
a gentle Slope of a hill, those anamals are noumerous, I killed 4 with a
view to have their Skins Stufed.
here the man who left us with the horses 22 days ago and has been a head
ever Since joined, us nearly Starved to Death, he had been 12 days without
any thing to eate but Grapes & one Rabit, which he Killed by shooting
a piece of hard Stick in place of a ball-. This man Supposeing the boat to
be a head pushed on as long as he Could, when he became weak and fiable
deturmined to lay by and waite for a tradeing boat, which is expected
Keeping one horse for the last resorse,thus a man had like to have
Starved to death in a land of Plenty for the want of Bulletes or Something
to kill his meat we Camped on the L. S. above the mouth of a run a hard
rain all the after noon, & most of the night, with hard wind from the
N W. I walked on Shore the fore part of this day over Some broken Country
which Continus about 3 miles back & then is leavel & rich all
Plains, I saw Several foxes & Killed a Elk & 2 Deer. &
Squirels the men with me killed an Elk, 2 Deer & a Pelican
Some rain all day to day & Cold
I walked on Shore Saw Several foxes Several Villages of Prarie dogs, and a
number of Grouse
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sept. 11th Tuesday 1804. Set out early on a cloudy morning. The river was very wide from one hill to the other, with many sandbars. Passed the island on which we lay at a mile. Passed three islands, one on the L. S. (a quarter of a mile from it on the L. S. was a village of little dogs. I killed four. This village is 800 yards wide and 970 yards long, on a gentle slope of a hill in a plain. These animals are numerous.) The other two islands are on the S. S. The river is very shallow and wide, and the boat got aground several times.
The man G. Shannon, who left us with the horses above the Mahar Village, and believing us to be ahead, pushed on as long as he could, joined us. He had shot away what few bullets he had with him, and in a plentiful country was likely to have starved. He was 12 days without provisions, subsisting on grapes, while at the same time the buffalo would come within 30 yards of his camp. One of his horses gave out, and he left it before his last bullets were consumed.
I saw 3 large spotted foxes today, and a black-tailed deer, and killed a buck elk and 2 deer. One other elk, 2 deer, and a porcupine were killed today. At 12 o'clock it became cloudy and rained all the afternoon and night.
Sept. 11th Tuesday 1804. A cloudy morning. Set out very early. The river was wide and shallow, the bottom narrow, and the river crowded with sandbars. Passed the island on which we lay at one mile. Passed three islands, one on the L. S. and 2 on the S. S. Opposite the island on the L. S., I saw a village of barking squirrels 970 yards long and 800 yards wide, situated on a gentle slope of a hill. These animals are numerous. I killed 4 with a view to have their skins stuffed.
Here the man who left us with the horses 22 days ago, and has been ahead ever since, joined us, nearly starved to death. He had been 12 days without anything to eat but grapes and one rabbit, which he killed by shooting a piece of hard stick in place of a ball. This man, supposing the boat to be ahead, pushed on as long as he could. When he became weak and feeble, he determined to lay by and wait for a trading boat, which is expected, keeping one horse for the last resort. Thus a man had nearly starved to death in a land of plenty for the want of bullets or something to kill his meat. We camped on the L. S. above the mouth of a run. A hard rain all the afternoon and most of the night, with hard wind from the N.W.
I walked on shore the fore part of this day over some broken country, which continues about 3 miles back, and then is level and rich, all plains. I saw several foxes and killed an elk, 2 deer, and squirrels. The men with me killed an elk, 2 deer, and a pelican.
Some rain all day today, and cold.
I walked on shore. Saw several foxes, several villages of prairie dogs, and a number of grouse.
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