Marias River decision camp — Patrick Gass: June 8, 1805
The South branch of the river turned a claret color overnight, contrasting sharply with the milky appearance of the other branch. Captain Lewis returned to camp around 4 p.m. after exploring the North branch about 60 miles upstream, finding it navigable, well-timbered, and full of game; his party killed 18 deer and some elk. They spotted a snowless mountain to the north. Both rivers held fish. Cold, cloudy weather brought rain in the late afternoon. The officers decided the South branch was the true Missouri and named the North branch Maria's River.
A. M. the water of the South river, or branch, became almost
of the colour of claret, and remained so all day. The water
of the other branch has the appearance of milk when con-
trasted with the water of this branch in its present state.
About 4 in the afternoon Captain Lewis and his party came
to camp. They had been up the North branch about 60
miles, and found it navigable that distance; not so full of
islands as the other branch and a greater quantity of timber
near it and plenty of game, which is not the case on the South
branch. Its bearing something north of west a considerable
distance, and then to the south of west. The party while out
killed 18 deer and some elk. From the appearance of the
river where they left it to return, they supposed it might be
navigable a considerable distance further. They saw no
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 97
mountains ahead, but one off towards the north: It was not
covered with snow like those we had seen. Both these rivers
abound in fish; and we caught some of different kinds, but
not large. About five o’clock in the afternoon the weather
became cloudy and cold, and it began to rain. The officers
concluded that the south branch was the most proper to
ascend, which they think is the Missouri. The other they
called Maria’s river. At dark the rain ceased.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
In the morning the water of the South river, or branch, became almost the color of claret, and remained so all day. The water of the other branch looks like milk when compared with the water of this branch in its present state. About 4 in the afternoon Captain Lewis and his party came to camp. They had gone up the North branch about 60 miles, and found it navigable that distance; it was not as full of islands as the other branch and had a greater quantity of timber near it and plenty of game, which is not the case on the South branch. Its course is somewhat north of west for a considerable distance, and then to the south of west. While out, the party killed 18 deer and some elk. From the appearance of the river where they left it to return, they thought it might be navigable a considerable distance further. They saw no mountains ahead, except one off toward the north: it was not covered with snow like those we had seen. Both of these rivers are full of fish; and we caught some of different kinds, but not large. About five o'clock in the afternoon the weather turned cloudy and cold, and it began to rain. The officers concluded that the south branch was the most proper one to ascend, which they think is the Missouri. The other they called Maria's river. At dark the rain stopped.
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