Lewis: August 9, 1805

Friday August 9th 1805. The morning was fair and fine; we set out at an early hour and proceeded on very well. Some parts of the river were more rapid than yesterday. I walked on shore across the land to a point which I presumed they would reach by 8 A.M., our usual time of halting. By this means I acquired leisure to accomplish some writings which I conceived, from the nature of my instructions, necessary lest any accident should befall me on the long and rather hazardous route I was now about to take.

The party did not arrive, and I returned about a mile and met them. Here they halted and we breakfasted; I had killed two fine geese on my return. While we halted here, Shannon arrived and informed us that, having missed the party the day on which he set out, he had returned the next morning to the place from which he had set out or first left them, and not finding them, had supposed that they were above him. He then set out and marched one day up Wisdom River, by which time he was convinced that they were not above him, as the river could not be navigated. He then returned to the forks and had pursued us up this river. He brought the skins of three deer which he had killed, which he said were in good order. He had lived very plentifully this trip but looked a good deal worried by his march. He informed us that Wisdom River still kept its course obliquely down the Jefferson River as far as he was up it.

Immediately after breakfast I slung my pack and set out, accompanied by Drewyer (Drouillard), Shields, and McNeal, who had been previously directed to hold themselves in readiness for this service. I directed my course across the bottom to the Starboard plain, left the Beaver's Head about 2 miles to my left, and intercepted the river about 8 miles from the point at which I had left it. I then waded it and continued my route to the point where I could observe that it entered the mountain, but not being able to reach that place, I changed my direction to the river, which I struck some miles below the mountain, and camped for the evening, having traveled 16 miles. We passed a handsome little stream formed by some large springs which rise in this wide bottom on the Larboard side of the river. We killed two antelopes on our way and brought with us as much meat as was necessary for our suppers and breakfast the next morning. We found this bottom fertile and covered with taller grass than usual. The river is very crooked, much divided by islands, shallow, rocky in many places, and very rapid; insomuch that I have my doubts whether the canoes could get on or not, or if they do, it must be with great labor.

Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) proceeded after I left him as usual, and found the current of the river increasing in rapidity towards evening. His hunters killed only 2 antelopes. In the evening it clouded up and we experienced a slight rain attended with some thunder and lightning. The mosquitoes were very troublesome this evening. There are some soft bogs in these valleys covered with turf. The earth of which this mud is composed is white or bluish white and appears to be argillaceous.