Lewis/Clark descending Missouri/Yellowstone to reunion — Patrick Gass: July 29, 1806
Traveling swiftly down the Missouri River from the mouth of Maria's River, the party encountered a range of high, rugged hills and hunted bighorn sheep, killing two before noon and seven more in the afternoon. They camped opposite the mouth of Slaughter River, where Captain Lewis had four bighorns skeletonized to bring back to the U.S. government. Rain fell throughout the day. The next day, despite cloudy, rainy weather and muddy river water, they covered over 70 miles, killing four more bighorns, two buffalo, two beaver, and a bear before camping on a prairie island.
our voyage from the mouth of Maria’s river; and the current
of the Missouri being very swift, we went down rapidly. At
noon we saw some Ibex or Bighorns at the entrance of a range
of high rough hills; and we halted and killed two of them.
Having dined we proceeded on again, and in our way, during
the afternoon, killed seven more of these mountain sheep.
There are few other animals in this range of high country.
In the evening we encamped opposite the mouth of Slaughter
river, and Captain Lewis had four of these animals skeleton-
ized, to take with him to the seat of Government of the United
States. A considerable quantity of rain fell in the course of
the day.
W ednesday 30th. We embarked early in a cloudy morning
with some rain. In our way through this high range of moun-
tains, we killed four more of the large horned animals, two
buffaloes; two beaver and a bear.
The water of the river is very thick and muddy, on account
of the late falls of rain, which wash those clay hills very much.
We went down the river upwards of 70 miles to day, and
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION — 269
encamped on a prairie island. Heavy rain fell at intervals
during the day.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
our voyage from the mouth of Maria's river; and the current of the Missouri being very swift, we went down rapidly. At noon we saw some Ibex or Bighorns at the entrance of a range of high rough hills; and we halted and killed two of them. Having dined, we proceeded on again, and on our way during the afternoon killed seven more of these mountain sheep. There are few other animals in this range of high country. In the evening we camped opposite the mouth of Slaughter river, and Captain Lewis had four of these animals skeletonized to take with him to the seat of Government of the United States. A considerable quantity of rain fell during the day.
Wednesday 30th. We embarked early on a cloudy morning with some rain. On our way through this high range of mountains, we killed four more of the large horned animals, two buffaloes, two beaver, and a bear.
The water of the river is very thick and muddy, on account of the recent falls of rain, which wash those clay hills very much. We went down the river upwards of 70 miles today, and camped on a prairie island. Heavy rain fell at intervals during the day.
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