Lewis: April 8, 1805
The expedition set out early but moved slowly against a strong northwest wind. Lewis walked ashore to bid farewell to the Mandan chief Black Cat, sharing a customary pipe before continuing on foot. At noon, the party reported a small canoe in distress; Captain Clark found it had filled with water, ruining half a bag of biscuit and about thirty pounds of powder, which they spread to dry. After dinner, they encamped opposite a high bluff. A Mandan man arrived with a woman seeking to join one of the men, but the captains refused.
April 8th Set out early this morning, the wind blew hard against us from
the N. W. we therefore traveled very slowly. I walked on shore, and
visited the black Cat, took leave of him after smoking a pipe as is their
custom, and then proceeded on slowly by land about four miles where I
wated the arrival of the party, at 12 Oclock they came up and informed me
that one of the small canoes was behind in distress. Capt Clark returned
foud she had filled with water and all her loading wet. we lost half a bag
of hisquit, and about thirty pounds of powder by this accedent; the powder
we regard as a serious loss, but we spread it to dry immediately and hope
we shall still be enabled to restore the greater part of it. this was the
only powder we had which was not perfectly secure from geting wet. we took
dinner at this place, and then proceed on to oure encampment, which was on
the S. side opposite to a high bluff. the Mandan man came up after we had
encamped and brought with him a woman who was extreemly solicitous to
accompany one of the men of our party, this however we positively refused
to permit.
From the upper point on an island (being the point to which Capt. Clark
took his last course when he assended the river in surch of a place for
winter quarters 1st November last) to a point of wood land Stard side,
passing a high bluff on the Lard. N 40° W. 31/2
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
April 8th. Set out early this morning. The wind blew hard against us from the N.W., so we traveled very slowly. I walked on shore and visited the Black Cat, took leave of him after smoking a pipe as is their custom, and then proceeded on slowly by land about four miles, where I waited for the arrival of the party. At 12 o'clock they came up and informed me that one of the small canoes was behind in distress. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) returned and found she had filled with water and all her loading was wet. We lost half a bag of biscuit and about thirty pounds of powder in this accident. We regard the powder as a serious loss, but we spread it to dry immediately and hope we shall still be able to restore the greater part of it. This was the only powder we had which was not perfectly secure from getting wet. We took dinner at this place, and then proceeded on to our encampment, which was on the S. side opposite to a high bluff. The Mandan man came up after we had camped and brought with him a woman who was extremely eager to accompany one of the men of our party; this, however, we positively refused to permit.
From the upper point on an island (being the point to which Capt. Clark took his last course when he ascended the river in search of a place for winter quarters on the 1st of November last) to a point of woodland on the starboard side, passing a high bluff on the larboard, N 40° W, 3 1/2.
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