Jefferson River ascending toward divide — Joseph Whitehouse: August 3, 1805
On a clear, pleasant, warm day, the party set out as usual along a crooked, island-filled river. Captain Clark went ashore briefly and killed a deer, while another hunter killed a panther on an island—reddish in color with long tusks and large talons, differing from those in the States. Rapid water forced the men to double-crew the canoes and drag them over shoals. They passed burned-over prairies, a large spring dammed by beavers, and several other springs. After making 11½ miles, they camped on the left side among cottonwood.
a clear morning. we Set out as usal and proceeded on.
Cap! Clark walked on Shore a Short time and killed a Deer.
the River verry crooked and filled with Islands. proceeded on.
Saw 2 deer little ahead, one of the hunters went after them and
killed a panther on an Island. it differs Some from those in
the States it was 734 feet long, & of a redish coulour the turshes
[tusks] long the tallants [talons] large but not verry long.
passed verry rapid water So that we had to double man the
canoes and drag them over the Sholes & rapids. passed a large
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1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
prarie on S. Side. high grass & bushes along the River. the
bottoms has been burned over by the natives I expect last fall.
passed a verry large Spring on L.S. which makes from under
the mountains. the beaver has damed up the mouth & built
lodges all through the pond it forms. it falls over the beaver
dam in to the River verry Steep, about 4 feet. passed over a
bad rapid and halted about one to dine at a bottom of timber
on the S. Side. the day pleasant & warm. proceeded on
passed Several Springs one large one on L. S, plains and bot-
toms, Some of which is covred with cotton & birch timber
the River Still getting more rapid and the rapids longer than
below. Came 11% miles this day and Camped on L. Side
Co! wood.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear morning. We set out as usual and proceeded on. Capt. Clark walked on shore a short time and killed a deer. The river is very crooked and filled with islands. Proceeded on. Saw 2 deer a little ahead; one of the hunters went after them and killed a panther on an island. It differs some from those in the States. It was 7 1/2 feet long, of a reddish color, the tushes [tusks] long, the tallants [talons] large but not very long. Passed very rapid water, so that we had to double-man the canoes and drag them over the shoals and rapids. Passed a large prairie on the south side. High grass and bushes along the river. The bottoms have been burned over by the natives, I expect last fall. Passed a very large spring on the larboard side, which flows out from under the mountains. The beaver have dammed up the mouth and built lodges all through the pond it forms. It falls over the beaver dam into the river very steep, about 4 feet.
Passed over a bad rapid and halted about one to dine at a bottom of timber on the south side. The day pleasant and warm. Proceeded on, passed several springs, one large one on the larboard side, plains and bottoms, some of which are covered with cottonwood and birch timber. The river is still getting more rapid, and the rapids longer than below. Came 11 1/2 miles this day and camped on the larboard side. Cottonwood.
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