Great Falls Portage — Joseph Whitehouse: July 7, 1805
On a clear, pleasant day, the party traveled about 17 miles up the Missouri through rapid currents, passing large grassy and timbered islands of cottonwood and cedar. One man killed a deer, and they dined on the north side. Captain Lewis left his thermometer (reading 80°F) hanging in the shade, so Whitehouse went back to retrieve it. Captain Clark's party rejoined the group, reporting abundant Indian sign and a burning fire, suggesting Snake Indians were nearby. Sacagawea recognized the country up to her people's territory at the Three Forks. They are now 166 miles from the Missouri falls.
a clear pleasant morning. We Set out as usal and proceeded
on passed verry large Islands covered with grass [and] a fiew
trees, a great many currents. we took a narrow channel
behind an Is’I which was about 5 miles through, we began to
think that we had taken an other River, but proved to the
contrary. Some ceeder on Some of these Islands, pass^l 2
large Isl^! which [are] level and all prarie or plain, one of the
men killed a Deer in a plain on N. S. about 2 oClock we
i8o5] WHITEHOUSE^S JOURNAL
halted to dine on the N. S. then went on Cap! Lewis forgot
his Thurmometer which he had hung in a Shade, it Stood to
day at 80 degrees above o. I went back and got it then went
on after the party, passed Several Islands covered with cotton
& ceeder timber, the River divides in many Channels. I took
a near cut and at night came out ahead of the party, and went
down to the Camp. Cap! Clark had joined them & his party,
they were all well and had Seen a great deal of Indian Sign
along the River and a fire which was burning, we expect the
Snake Indians or a party of them are near this, perhaps they
are alarmed at our firing at the game &c. we Came i”]}4 miles
this day thro a verry rapid current and a pleasant country,
a pleanty of ripe currents &c. along the Shores, our Intrep-
ters wife knows the country along the River up to hir nation
at the 3 forks, we are now 166 miles from the falls of the
Missourie.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear, pleasant morning. We set out as usual and proceeded on. We passed very large islands covered with grass and a few trees, and a great many currents. We took a narrow channel behind an island which was about 5 miles through. We began to think that we had taken another river, but it proved to the contrary. There was some cedar on some of these islands. We passed 2 large islands which are level and all prairie or plain. One of the men killed a deer in a plain on the north side. About 2 o'clock we halted to dine on the north side, then went on. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) forgot his thermometer, which he had hung in a shade; it stood today at 80 degrees above zero. I went back and got it, then went on after the party. We passed several islands covered with cottonwood and cedar timber. The river divides into many channels. I took a near cut and at night came out ahead of the party, and went down to the camp. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) had joined them with his party. They were all well and had seen a great deal of Indian sign along the river, and a fire which was burning. We expect the Snake Indians, or a party of them, are near this; perhaps they are alarmed at our firing at the game, etc. We came 17 1/2 miles this day through a very rapid current and a pleasant country, with plenty of ripe currants, etc., along the shores. Our interpreter's wife knows the country along the river up to her nation at the 3 Forks. We are now 166 miles from the Falls of the Missouri.
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