Missouri River Breaks area — Joseph Whitehouse: May 11, 1805
On a clear, cold morning following a frosty night, the party set off early after catching two beaver. They passed black bluffs and cedar-covered hills, sighting large herds of buffalo along the river bottoms. A man was chased back to the pirogues by a wounded brown bear, which hunters then killed and found to be fat, good meat. Captain Clark, walking onshore, killed two buffalo, two deer, and a beaver, and another man killed a buffalo. They noted the first pitch pine on northern hills, traveled 17 miles, and camped early on the south side to dress the bear.
a clear cold morning, a white frost last night. Some of the
party caught 2 beaver last night. we Set off eairly, and pro-
ceeded on passed black bluffs on the S. S. and hills on each
1 This is the stream called by Lewis, Big Dry River. — Ep.
[ 80 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
as
Side partly covred with low ceeder. we Saw large gangs of
buffaloe in the bottoms on Each Side of the River. towards
evening one of the party wounted a brown bair, and was
chased by it to the perogues. Several hunters went to his
assistance and killed it it was nearly of the Same discription
as the other we killed Several days ago. we fount it fat and
good meat. Cap! Clark who walked on Shore killed 2 buf-
faloe and 2 deer (one beaver also). one of the men kill?
another buffaloe. we Saw hills on the N. S. partly covred
with pitch pine the first we have Seen. the country begins
to be hilley and broken, but verry rich Soil the bottoms on
the River chiefly covred with cottonwood timber, which is
filled with Game Some Smoth plains under the hills covred
with wild hysop. we came 17 miles and Camped on the
South Side before night on account of dressing the bair, which
detained us untill night &c. passed 2 or 3 small runs to
day, &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear, cold morning, with a white frost last night. Some of the party caught 2 beaver last night. We set off early and proceeded on, passing black bluffs on the south side and hills on each side partly covered with low cedar. We saw large herds of buffalo in the bottoms on each side of the river.
Toward evening, one of the party wounded a brown bear and was chased by it to the pirogues. Several hunters went to his assistance and killed it. It was nearly of the same description as the other we killed several days ago. We found it fat and good meat. Capt. Clark (Capt. Clark), who walked on shore, killed 2 buffalo and 2 deer (one beaver also). One of the men killed another buffalo.
We saw hills on the north side partly covered with pitch pine, the first we have seen. The country begins to be hilly and broken, but with very rich soil. The bottoms on the river are chiefly covered with cottonwood timber, which is filled with game. Some smooth plains under the hills are covered with wild hyssop. We came 17 miles and camped on the south side before night on account of dressing the bear, which detained us until night, etc. Passed 2 or 3 small streams today, etc.
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