Clark: September 18, 1806
The party rose early, said goodbye to Captain McClellan, and set off downriver, passing the Grand River by 7 AM and rejoining their hunters, who had caught nothing. With provisions exhausted, they subsisted mostly on pawpaws gathered along the shore, dividing their last biscuits—about one per man—to last the remaining 150 miles to the settlements. The men remained cheerful despite the shortage. The weather was extremely hot, game was scarce, and the current gentler than on the ascent. Potts and Shannon suffered sunburned faces and eyes. They made 52 miles, camping opposite the Mine River.
Thursday 18th of September 1806 we rose early Capt McClellin wrote a
letter and we took our leave, and proceeded on passed the Grand river at 7
A M. a Short distance below we came up with our hunters, they had killed
nothing. at 10 oClock we Came too and gathered pottows to eate we have
nothing but a fiew Buisquit to eate and are partly compelled to eate
poppows which we find in great quantities on the Shores, the weather we
found excessively hot as usial. the lands fine particularly the bottoms. a
charming Oake bottom on the S E Side of the Missouri above the 2
Charletons rivers we find the Current of this part of the Missouri much
more jentle than it was as we assended, the water is now low and where it
is much confin’d it is rapid. we saw very little appearance of deer, Saw
one bear at a distance and 3 turkeys only to day. our party entirely out
of provisions Subsisting on poppaws. we divide the buiskit which amounted
to nearly one buisket per man, this in addition to the poppaws is to last
is down to the Settlement’s which is 150 miles the party appear perfectly
contented and tell us that they can live very well on the pappaws. we made
52 miles to day only. one of our party J. Potts complains very much of one
of his eyes which is burnt by the Sun from exposeing his face without a
cover from the Sun. Shannon also complains of his face & eyes &c.
Encamped on an Island nearly opposit to the enterance of Mine river.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday 18th of September 1806. We rose early. Capt McClellin (Capt. McClellan) wrote a letter and we took our leave, and proceeded on. We passed the Grand River at 7 A.M. A short distance below we came up with our hunters; they had killed nothing. At 10 o'clock we came to and gathered pawpaws to eat. We have nothing but a few biscuits to eat and are partly compelled to eat pawpaws, which we find in great quantities on the shores. The weather we found excessively hot as usual. The lands are fine, particularly the bottoms. There is a charming oak bottom on the southeast side of the Missouri above the two Charleton Rivers. We find the current of this part of the Missouri much more gentle than it was as we ascended; the water is now low, and where it is much confined it is rapid. We saw very little sign of deer, saw one bear at a distance, and only 3 turkeys today.
Our party is entirely out of provisions, subsisting on pawpaws. We divided the biscuits, which amounted to nearly one biscuit per man; this, in addition to the pawpaws, is to last us down to the settlements, which are 150 miles. The party appears perfectly contented and tell us that they can live very well on the pawpaws. We made only 52 miles today. One of our party, J. Potts, complains very much of one of his eyes, which is burnt by the sun from exposing his face without a cover from the sun. Shannon also complains of his face and eyes, etc. Camped on an island nearly opposite to the entrance of Mine River.
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