Clark: September 20, 1804
On a fair morning with a southeast wind, Clark sent three men with the horse across the Big Bend (Grand Detour) to hunt and prepare jerked provisions while the boat went around. Clark walked overland to examine the portage, finding it only about 2,000 yards across, though prickly pear badly hurt his feet. He observed buffalo, elk, deer, goats, and a hare that vanished into a hillside hole. The party passed Solitary Island and camped late on a sandbar. Newman and Thompson gathered salt from a small run, and R. Fields killed a deer and two goats.
September the 20th Thursday 1804 Detchd. 3 men across the Big bend (Called
the Grand deTour) with the horse, to stay and hunt & jurk provisions
untill we get around (1) passed a Island on the S. S. the river Crouded
with Sand bars,
20th of September 1804 Thursday (Continued) (1) at the N W. extremity of
this bend passed an Small Island on the L. S. opposit the upper Point of
this Solitary Island Came too to _____ at the mouth of a Small run on the
S. S. & Newmon & Tomson picked up Some Salt mixed with the Sand in
the run, Such as the ottoes Indians Collect on the Sands of the Corn de
Cerf R. & make use of, Camped on a Sand bar on the S. S. above the
IslandI went out to examine the portage which I found quit Short
2000 yards only, the Prarie below & Sides of the hills containing
great quantites of the Prickly Piar which nearly ruind my feet, I saw a
hare, & I beleve he run into a hole, he run on a hill &
disapeared, I Saw on this hill several holes. I Saw Several Goats Elk Ders
&c. & Buffalow in every Detection feeding. R. Fields Killed a Deer
& 2 Goats one a female, which differs from the male as to Size being
Something Smaller, Small Straight horns without any black about the neck
Camped late
—
20th of September, Thursday 1804 a fair morning wind from the S E detached
2 men to the 1st. Creek abov the big bend with the horse to hunt and wait
our arrival proceeded on passed the lower Island opposit which the Sand
bars are verry thick & the water Shoal. I walked on Shore with a view
of examining this bend Crossed at the narost part which is a high
irregular hills of about 180 or 190 feet, this place the gorge of the Bend
is 1 mile & a quarter (from river to river or) across, from this high
land which is only in the Gouge, the bend is a Butifull Plain thro which I
walked, Saw numbrs of Buffalow & Goats, I saw a Hare & believe he
run into a hole in the Side of a hill, he run up this hill which is Small
& has Several holes on the Side & I could not See him after, I
joined the boat in the eveningpassed a Small Island on the L. S. in
the N. W. extremity of the bind Called Solitary Island, and Camped late on
a Sand bar near the S. S.R. Fields killed 1 Deer & 2 Goats one
of them a feemaleShe Differs from the mail as to Size being
Smaller, with Small Horns, Stright with a Small prong without any black
about the neck None of those Goats has any Beard, they are all Keenly
made, and is butifull
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
September the 20th, Thursday 1804. Detached 3 men across the Big Bend (called the Grand Detour) with the horse, to stay and hunt and jerk provisions until we get around. (1) Passed an island on the S.S., the river crowded with sand bars.
20th of September 1804, Thursday (Continued). (1) At the N.W. extremity of this bend passed a small island on the L.S. Opposite the upper point of this Solitary Island came to at the mouth of a small run on the S.S., and Newman and Thompson picked up some salt mixed with the sand in the run, such as the Otoes Indians collect on the sands of the Corne de Cerf River and make use of. Camped on a sand bar on the S.S. above the island. I went out to examine the portage, which I found quite short, only 2000 yards. The prairie below and the sides of the hills contained great quantities of the prickly pear, which nearly ruined my feet. I saw a hare, and I believe he ran into a hole; he ran up a hill and disappeared. I saw on this hill several holes. I saw several goats, elk, deer, etc., and buffalo feeding in every direction. R. Fields killed a deer and 2 goats, one a female, which differs from the male as to size, being somewhat smaller, with small straight horns and without any black about the neck. Camped late.
20th of September, Thursday 1804. A fair morning, wind from the S.E. Detached 2 men to the 1st creek above the Big Bend with the horse to hunt and wait our arrival. Proceeded on, passed the lower island opposite which the sand bars are very thick and the water shoal. I walked on shore with a view of examining this bend. Crossed at the narrowest part, which is a high irregular hills of about 180 or 190 feet. At this place the gorge of the bend is 1 mile and a quarter (from river to river, or) across. From this high land, which is only in the gorge, the bend is a beautiful plain, through which I walked. Saw numbers of buffalo and goats. I saw a hare and believe he ran into a hole in the side of a hill; he ran up this hill, which is small and has several holes on the side, and I could not see him afterward. I joined the boat in the evening. Passed a small island on the L.S. in the N.W. extremity of the bend called Solitary Island, and camped late on a sand bar near the S.S. R. Fields killed 1 deer and 2 goats, one of them a female. She differs from the male as to size, being smaller, with small horns, straight with a small prong, without any black about the neck. None of these goats have any beard; they are all keenly made, and are beautiful.
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