Lewis: April 17, 1805
On a pleasant April morning, the expedition set out early and traveled through country showing signs of burnt hills, lava, and pumice stone, some of which floated in the river. Captain Clark walked along the starboard shore and noted abandoned Assiniboine campsites throughout the woodlands. The party observed vast herds of buffalo, elk, antelope, deer, and wolves, though bears remained scarce and skittish. Lewis killed a buffalo too lean to use, keeping only the tongue. The men caught three beaver, which they preferred over other available meat. A favorable wind allowed sailing much of the day.
Wednesday April 17th 1805. A delightfull morning, set out at an erly hour.
the country though which we passed to (lay was much the same as that
discribed of yesterday; there wase more appearance of birnt hills,
furnishing large quanties of lava and pumice stone, of the latter some
pieces were seen floating down the river. Capt. Clark walked on shore this
morning on the Stard. side, and did not join us untill half after six in
the evening. he informed me that he had seen the remains of the
Assinniboin encampments in every point of woodland through which he had
passed. we saw immence quantities of game in every direction around us as
we passed up the river; consisting of herds of Buffaloe, Elk, and
Antelopes with some deer and woolves. tho we continue to see many tracks
of the bear we have seen but very few of them, and those are at a great
distance generally runing from us; I thefore presume that they are
extreemly wary and shy; the Indian account of them dose not corrispond
with our experience so far. one black bear passed near the perogues on the
16th and was seen by myself and the party but he so quickly disappeared
that we did not shoot at him.at the place we halted to dine on the
Lard. side we met with a herd of buffaloe of which I killed the fatest as
I concieved among them, however on examining it I found it so poar that I
thought it unfit for uce and only took the tongue; the party killed
another which was still more lean. just before we encamped this evening we
saw some tracks of Indians who had passed about 24 hours; they left four
rafts of timber on the Stard. side, on which they had passed. we supposed
them to have been a party of the Assinniboins who had been to war against
the rocky mountain Indians, and then on their return. Capt. Clark saw a
Curlou today. there were three beaver taken this morning by the party. the
men prefer the flesh of this anamal, to that of any other which we have,
or are able to procure at this moment. I eat very heartily of the beaver
myself, and think it excellent; particularly the tale, and liver. we had a
fair wind today which enabled us to sail the greater part of the distance
we have travled, encamped on the Lard shore the extremity of the last
course
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday, April 17th, 1805. A delightful morning; we set out at an early hour. The country through which we passed today was much the same as that described yesterday; there was more appearance of burnt hills, furnishing large quantities of lava and pumice stone, of the latter some pieces were seen floating down the river. Capt. Clark walked on shore this morning on the starboard side, and did not join us until half after six in the evening. He informed me that he had seen the remains of the Assiniboine encampments in every point of woodland through which he had passed. We saw immense quantities of game in every direction around us as we passed up the river, consisting of herds of buffalo, elk, and antelope, with some deer and wolves. Though we continue to see many tracks of the bear, we have seen but very few of them, and those are at a great distance, generally running from us; I therefore presume that they are extremely wary and shy. The Indian account of them does not correspond with our experience so far. One black bear passed near the pirogues on the 16th and was seen by myself and the party, but he so quickly disappeared that we did not shoot at him.
At the place we halted to dine on the larboard side, we met with a herd of buffalo, of which I killed the fattest, as I conceived, among them; however, on examining it, I found it so poor that I thought it unfit for use and only took the tongue. The party killed another which was still more lean. Just before we camped this evening, we saw some tracks of Indians who had passed about 24 hours before; they left four rafts of timber on the starboard side, on which they had crossed. We supposed them to have been a party of the Assiniboines who had been to war against the Rocky Mountain Indians and were then on their return. Capt. Clark saw a curlew today. There were three beaver taken this morning by the party. The men prefer the flesh of this animal to that of any other which we have or are able to procure at this moment. I ate very heartily of the beaver myself, and think it excellent, particularly the tail and liver. We had a fair wind today, which enabled us to sail the greater part of the distance we have traveled. Camped on the larboard shore at the extremity of the last course.
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