Lewis: April 16, 1805
The expedition departed early on April 16, 1805. Captain Clark walked along the shore, killed an antelope, and reported seeing buffalo, elk, deer, and many old hornets' nests. Lewis observed that the rugged river hills give way to fertile level plains and that timbered land along the river is increasing. He noted petrified wood, coal seams, and burnt earth, theorizing the coal causes the burnt appearances. The party caught a notably large beaver, passed three small creeks on the starboard side, and saw abundant geese along with some mallards and blue-winged teal.
Tuesday April 16th 1805. Set out very early this morning. Capt. Clark
walked on Shore this morning, and killed an Antelope, rejoined us at 1/2
after eight A.M.- he informed me that he had seen many Buffaloe Elk and
deer in his absence, and that he had met with a great number of old
hornets nests in the woody bottoms through which he had passed.the
hills of the river still continue extreemly broken for a few miles back,
when it becomes a fine level country of open fertile lands immediately on
the river there are many fine leavel extensive and extreemly fertile high
plains and meadows. I think the quantity of timbered land on the river is
increasing. the mineral appearances still continue. I met with several
stones today that had the appearance of wood first carbonated and then
petrefyed by the water of the river, which I have discovered has that
effect on many vegitable substances when exposed to it’s influence for a
length of time. l believe it to be the stratas of Coal seen in those hills
which causes the fire and birnt appearances frequently met with in this
quarter. where those birnt appearances are to be seen in the face of the
river bluffs, the coal is seldom seen, and when you meet with it in the
neighbourhood of the stratas of birnt earth, the coal appears to be
presisely at the same hight, and is nearly of the same thickness, togeter
with the sand and a sulphurious substance which ususually accompanys it.
there was a remarkable large beaver caught by one of the party last night.
these anamals are now very abundant. I have met with several trees which
have been felled by them 20 Inches in diameter. bark is their only food;
and they appear to prefer that of the Cotton wood and willow; as we have
never met with any other species of timber on the Missouri which had the
appearance of being cut by them.we passed three small creeks on the
Stard. side. they take their rise in the river hills at no great distance.
we saw a great number of geese today, both in the plains and on the riverI
have observed but few ducks, those we have met with are the Mallard and
blue winged Teal
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday, April 16th, 1805. We set out very early this morning. Capt. Clark walked on shore this morning and killed an antelope; he rejoined us at half past eight A.M. He informed me that he had seen many buffalo, elk, and deer in his absence, and that he had met with a great number of old hornets' nests in the wooded bottoms through which he had passed. The hills along the river still continue extremely broken for a few miles back, after which it becomes a fine level country of open, fertile lands. Immediately along the river there are many fine, level, extensive, and extremely fertile high plains and meadows. I think the quantity of timbered land along the river is increasing. The mineral appearances still continue. I came across several stones today that looked like wood first carbonized and then petrified by the water of the river, which I have discovered has that effect on many vegetable substances when exposed to its influence for a length of time. I believe it is the strata of coal seen in those hills which causes the fire and burnt appearances frequently met with in this quarter. Where those burnt appearances are visible in the face of the river bluffs, the coal is seldom seen; and when you meet with it in the neighborhood of the strata of burnt earth, the coal appears to be precisely at the same height, and is nearly of the same thickness, together with the sand and a sulfurous substance which usually accompanies it.
There was a remarkably large beaver caught by one of the party last night. These animals are now very abundant. I have come across several trees which have been felled by them, 20 inches in diameter. Bark is their only food, and they appear to prefer that of the cottonwood and willow, as we have never met with any other species of timber on the Missouri that had the appearance of being cut by them. We passed three small creeks on the starboard side. They take their rise in the river hills at no great distance. We saw a great number of geese today, both in the plains and on the river. I have observed but few ducks; those we have met with are the mallard and blue-winged teal.
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