Missouri River near Soldier River — Patrick Gass: August 7, 1804

our voyage till 12, when four of our people were dispatched
to the Otto nation of Indians after the man who had not
returned on the 4th, with orders to take him dead or alive,
if they could see him. There is no timber in this country,
except some cotton wood and willows in the bends of the
river. All the high land is a continued prairie. We en-
camped on the north side. The musquetoes here are very
numerous and troublesome.
WV ednesday 8th. We embarked early, passed a small river
on the north side, called little Sioux. Captain Clarke and
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 19
one of the men went out to hunt and killed an elk. One of
the hunters killed a pelican on a sand bar, and Captain Lewis
killed another, very large. We encamped on the north bank.
In the bag under the bill and neck of the pelican, which Cap-
tain Lewis killed, we put five gallons of water.
Tbursday 9th. The fog was so thick this morning, that
we could not proceed before 7, when we went on under a
gentle breeze, and having advanced eleven miles, came to a
place where the river by cutting through a narrow neck of
land, reduced the distance fifteen miles. Captain Clarke and
one of the men went out to hunt and killed a small turkey.
We encamped on the south side, where we found the mus-
quetoes very troublesome.