Missouri River above Great Falls, Gates of the Mountains — Joseph Whitehouse: July 23, 1805
Captain Clark and three men set out ahead toward the Three Forks, hoping to locate the Snake (Shoshone) nation. The day was partly cloudy with troublesome mosquitoes and a very rapid current. The river widened with many islands, bordered by level plains of tall and short grass, flax going to seed, and blooming thistles. Pine covered distant hillsides, and beaver were plentiful. A hunter rejoined the party at noon with several deer. The crew paused to dry wet cargo, then traveled 24 miles before camping on the south side, generally fatigued.
Cap! Clark and 3 men Set out in order to go on to the 3
forks, expecting to find the Snake nation, near that place.
Some cloudy, the Musquetoes verry troublesome. I cannot
keep them out of my face at this time, the current verry
rapid, we proceeded on. the river Spreads wide, and full of
Islands, we passed the mouth of a Small River which came in
behind an Island on the South Side, passed livel Smoth large
plains, on each Side, high grass in places & fine Short grass
in general, considerable of good flax now going to Seed, the
thissels also pleanty & high now in blossom, the timber con-
tinues on the Island [s] and along the Shores, the beaver
pleanty. the pine timber continues on the Sides of the hills at
Some distance from the River, our hunter who Stayed out last
night came to us at noon where we delayed to dry the articles
wh[ich] is wet in the canoes, he had killed Several Deer, and
Saved the most of the meat, we hoisted up our flags and pro-
ceeded on the current verry rapid. Came 24 miles this day
and Camped on the South Side, the party in general much
fatigued, we find pleanty of wild Inions or garlick, in these
bottoms & Islands &c. &c.
I
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Capt. Clark and 3 men set out in order to go on to the 3 Forks, expecting to find the Snake nation near that place. Somewhat cloudy, the mosquitoes very troublesome. I cannot keep them out of my face at this time. The current very rapid, we proceeded on. The river spreads wide and is full of islands. We passed the mouth of a small river which came in behind an island on the south side. We passed level, smooth, large plains on each side, with high grass in places and fine short grass in general. There is a considerable amount of good flax now going to seed, and the thistles are also plentiful and tall, now in blossom. The timber continues on the islands and along the shores, and the beaver are plentiful. The pine timber continues on the sides of the hills at some distance from the river.
Our hunter, who stayed out last night, came to us at noon, where we delayed to dry the articles which were wet in the canoes. He had killed several deer and saved most of the meat. We hoisted up our flags and proceeded on, the current very rapid. We came 24 miles this day and camped on the south side, the party in general much fatigued. We find plenty of wild onions or garlic in these bottoms and islands, etc., etc.
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