Missouri River through Kansas-Missouri area — Patrick Gass: September 17, 1806
A very warm day on the river. The party enjoyed a huge catfish caught the previous night, estimated at 100 pounds, and gathered abundant papaws along the way. Around 11 a.m. they navigated a dangerous stretch choked with sawyers. At about 2 p.m. they met Captain McClanen's keel-boat, loaded with merchandise and bound for Spanish territory via the Platte River with fifteen hands, an interpreter, and a black man. McClanen shared whiskey and biscuits with the men. Hunters were sent ahead in two canoes, and the group camped for the night.
day, but very warm. One of our party last night caught a
large catfish, supposed to weigh 100 pounds. We got a great
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION — 287
many papaws on our way to-day: a kind of fruit in great
abundance on the Missouri from the river Platte to its mouth;
and also down the Mississippi. About 11 o’clock we passed
through a bad part of the river, where it was so filled with
sawyers that we could hardly find room to pass through safe.
About two in the afternoon we met a large keel-boat, com-
manded by a Captain M‘Clanen, loaded with merchandize and
bound to the Spanish country by the way of the river Platte.
He intended to go by land across the mountains, and get the
Spaniards to bring their gold and silver on this side, where he
could take his goods and trade with them. He had fifteen
hands, an interpreter and a black. He intends to discharge
his men on this side of the mountain, and to get some of the
Ponis, who live on the river Platte to accompany him to the
Spanish country. Mr. M‘Clanen gave all our party as much
whiskey as they could drink, and a bag of biscuit. Some of
the men were sent on ahead in two small canoes to hunt, and
we encamped here for the night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The day was clear, but very warm. One of our party last night caught a large catfish, supposed to weigh 100 pounds. We got a great many pawpaws on our way today: a kind of fruit in great abundance on the Missouri from the river Platte to its mouth, and also down the Mississippi. About 11 o'clock we passed through a bad part of the river, where it was so filled with sawyers that we could hardly find room to pass through safely.
About two in the afternoon we met a large keelboat, commanded by a Captain M'Clanen (McClanen), loaded with merchandise and bound for the Spanish country by way of the river Platte. He intended to go by land across the mountains, and get the Spaniards to bring their gold and silver to this side, where he could take his goods and trade with them. He had fifteen hands, an interpreter, and a black man. He intends to discharge his men on this side of the mountain, and to get some of the Ponis (Pawnees), who live on the river Platte, to accompany him to the Spanish country. Mr. M'Clanen gave all our party as much whiskey as they could drink, and a bag of biscuits. Some of the men were sent on ahead in two small canoes to hunt, and we camped here for the night.
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