Lewis: July 14, 1805
On a calm, warm Sunday with troublesome mosquitoes, the crew finished and launched two new canoes, 25 and 33 feet long, with only seats and oars left to complete. Lewis hiked up the steep bluffs to a high point near Fort Mountain Creek, where he took bearings on several chains of the Rocky Mountains and surveyed the largely treeless, gently rolling country. Sergeant Ordway arrived around noon with all the canoes and unloaded them. A brief shower fell at 4 P.M. The party prepared to depart the next day.
Sunday July 14th 1805. This morning was calm fair and warm; the Musquetoes
of course troublesome. all hands that could work were employed about the
canoes. which we completed and launched this evening. the one was 25 feet
and the other 33 feet in length and about 3 feet wide. we have now the
seats and oars to make and fit &c. I walked out today and ascended the
bluffs which are high rockey and steep; I continued my rout about 31/2
when I gained a conspicuous eminence about 2 mes. distant from the river a
little below the entrance of Fort Mountain Creek. from this place I had a
commanding view of the country and took the bearings of the following
places. (viz)
To the point at which the Missouri first enters the Rocky Mountains S. 28°
W. 25 To the termineation of the 1st Chain of Rocky Mountains;
northwardly, being that through which the Missouri first passes N. 73° W
80 To the extremity or tirmineation of 2cd Chain of the Rocky Mountains N.
65 W. 150 To the most distant point of a third and continued chain of the
same mts N. 50°W. 200 The direction of the 2cd Do. from S 45 E. to N.
45deg. W.
To Fort Mountain S. 75° W. 8
The country in most parts very level and in others swelling with gentle
rises and decents, or in other wirds what I have heretofore designated a
wavy country destitute of timber except along the water-courses. On my
return to camp found Sergt. Ordway had arrived with all the canoes about
noon and had unloaded them every preperation except the entire completion
of the oars poles &c is made for our departure tomorrow. the grass and
weeds in this bottom are about 2 feet high; which is a much greater hight
than we have seen them elsewhere this season. here I found the sand rush
and nittles in small quantities. the grass in the plains is not more than
3 inches high. grasshoppers innumerable in the plains and the small birds
before noticed together with the brown Curlooe still continue nomerous in
every part of the plains.
had a slight shower at 4 P.M. this evening.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday, July 14th, 1805. This morning was calm, fair, and warm; the mosquitoes, of course, troublesome. All hands that could work were employed about the canoes, which we completed and launched this evening. One was 25 feet and the other 33 feet in length, and about 3 feet wide. We still have the seats and oars to make and fit, etc. I walked out today and climbed the bluffs, which are high, rocky, and steep. I continued my route about 3½ miles, when I reached a prominent height about 2 miles distant from the river, a little below the entrance of Fort Mountain Creek. From this place I had a commanding view of the country and took the bearings of the following places (namely):
To the point at which the Missouri first enters the Rocky Mountains: S. 28° W., 25 miles. To the termination of the 1st chain of Rocky Mountains, northwardly, being that through which the Missouri first passes: N. 73° W., 80 miles. To the extremity or termination of the 2nd chain of the Rocky Mountains: N. 65° W., 150 miles. To the most distant point of a third and continued chain of the same mountains: N. 50° W., 200 miles. The direction of the 2nd chain runs from S. 45° E. to N. 45° W.
To Fort Mountain: S. 75° W., 8 miles.
The country in most parts is very level, and in others swelling with gentle rises and descents, or in other words what I have heretofore called a wavy country, destitute of timber except along the watercourses. On my return to camp, I found that Sergt. Ordway had arrived with all the canoes about noon and had unloaded them. Every preparation, except the entire completion of the oars, poles, etc., is made for our departure tomorrow. The grass and weeds in this bottom are about 2 feet high, which is a much greater height than we have seen them elsewhere this season. Here I found the sand rush and nettles in small quantities. The grass in the plains is not more than 3 inches high. Grasshoppers are innumerable in the plains, and the small birds noted before, together with the brown curlew, still continue numerous in every part of the plains.
Had a slight shower at 4 P.M. this evening.
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