Fort Mandan, North Dakota — Patrick Gass: November 10, 1804
The party set out early, passing high bluffs on the north side and timbered bottomland on the south. At noon they reached black sulphur bluffs on the south side, where they found a 45-foot petrified fish skeleton, with some bones sent to Washington. A sergeant discovered a large salt spring about a mile and a half inland, and a hunter killed an elk. After being forced back by sandbars on the north side, they continued along the south, spotted many buffalo and eight swimming elk, and encamped on an island after killing a buffalo.
early ; passed high bluffs on the north side, and saw some
timber in the bottom on the south side. At 12 we came to
black sulphur bluffs on the south side. On the top of these
bluffs we found the skeleton or back bones of a fish, 45 feet
long, and petrified : part of these bones were sent to the city
of Washington. One of our sergeants discovered a large salt
spring about a mile and a half from the river. A hunter went
up the bank and killed an elk. We left a periogue for the
men who were dressing the elk, and proceeded up the north
side of the river two miles, when we were obliged to return
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 31
on account of sand bars, and to take the south side. Here we
saw eight elk swimming the river, and had seen a great many
buffaloe during the day. We encamped on an island and
killed one buffaloe.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Started early; passed high bluffs on the north side, and saw some timber in the bottom on the south side. At 12 we came to black sulphur bluffs on the south side. On the top of these bluffs we found the skeleton or backbones of a fish, 45 feet long, and petrified: part of these bones were sent to the city of Washington. One of our sergeants discovered a large salt spring about a mile and a half from the river. A hunter went up the bank and killed an elk. We left a pirogue for the men who were dressing the elk, and proceeded up the north side of the river two miles, when we were obliged to return on account of sand bars, and to take the south side. Here we saw eight elk swimming the river, and had seen a great many buffalo during the day. We camped on an island and killed one buffalo.
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