Joan's Lewis & Clark Geek Page

August 31st Tuesday, 1806

[Clark]    all wet and disagreeable this morning.    at half past 11 [P. M.] last night the wind Shifted about to the N. W. and it began to rain with hard Claps of thunder and lightning the Clouds passd over and the wind Shifted about to the S W. & blew with great violence So much So that all hands were obliged to hold the Canoes & Perogue to prevent their being blown off from the Sand bar, however a Suden Squal of wind broke the cables of the two Small canoes and with Some dificuelty they were got to Shore Soon after the 2 Canoes in which Sergt. Pryor and the indians go in broke loose with wiser and Willard in them and were blown quite across the river to the N E. Shore where fortunately they arived Safe, I Sent Sergt. Jo Ordway with a Small perogue and 6 men to prosue the 2 Canoes and assist them in effecting a landing, those 2 Canoes being tied together 2 men could not manage them, the wind Slackened a little and by 2 A. M. Sergt Ordway with Willard wiser and the 2 Canoes returned all Safe, the wind continud to blow and it rained untill day light all wet and disagreeable.    all the party examind their arms and put them in order and we Set out and proceeded on down. Saw Several Indians on the hills untill we passed the Island of Cedar   9 A. M the morning Cloudy and wind down the the river at 4 P. M. passed the doome  and lowest village of Barking Squirels.    this is also the highest up the river where I observed the fox Squirel   in the bottom above the doome on N. E Side I killed 2 fox Squirels.    we Saw no game of any kind to day as the banks as usial.    the Sun Shone with a number of flying Clouds.    we encamped on he N. E. Side   a little below our Encampment of the 5th of Septr. on no preserve Island haveing Come 70 Miles.

A night of high wind and rain causes all kinds of problems, but the storm is weathered and they make 70 miles.  Not a bad day all in all.

August 30th Monday, 1806

[Clark] Capt. Lewis is mending Slowly.    we set out at the usial hour and proceeded on very well a fiew miles    Jo Field who was on the Shore being behind I derected one of the Small Canoes with R. Fields & Shannon to continue on the point of a Sand bar untill he coms up. I took 3 hunters and walked on the N E Shore with a view to kill Some fat meet.    we had not proceeded far before Saw a large plumb orchd of the most deelicious plumbs, out of this orchard 2 large Buck Elks ran the hunters killed them. I Stoped the Canoes and brought in the flesh which was fat and fine.    here the party Collected as many plumbs as they could eate and Several pecks of which they put by &c.    after a delay of nearly 2 hours we again proceeded on downwards    passed 3 Small Islands and as we were about to land at the place appointed to wait for the 2 fields and Shannon, I saw Several men on horseback which with the help of a Spie glass I found to be Indians on the high hills to the N E    we landed on the S. W. Side and I sent out two men to a village of Barking Squirels to kill Some of those animals imedeatily after landing about 20 indians was discovered on an eminanc a little above us on the opposite Side.    one of those men I took to be a freinch man from his a blanket Capoe & a handkerchief around his head.    imediately after 80 or 90 Indian men all armed with fusees & Bows & arrows Came out of a wood on the opposite bank about ¼ of a mile below us.    they fired of their guns as a Salute we returned the Salute with 2 rounds.    we were at a loss to deturmin of what nation those indians were.    from their hostile appearance we were apprehensive they were Tetons.    but from the Country through which they roved we were willing to believe them eithe the Yanktons, Ponars or Mahars  either of which nations are well disposed towards the white people. I deturmined to find out who they were without running any resque of the party and indians, and therefore took three french men  who could Speak the Mahar Pania and some Seioux and in a Small canoe I went over to a Sand bar which extended Sufficently near the opposite Shore to Converse.    imedeately after I Set out 3 young men Set out from the opposite Side and Swam next me on the Sand bar. I derected the men to Speak to them in the Pania and mahar Languages first neither of which they could understand    I then derected the man who could Speak a fiew words of Seioux to inquire what nation or tribe they belong to they informed me that they were Tetons and their Chief was Tar-tack-kah-sabbar or the black buffalow     This Chief I knew very well to be the one we had seen with his band at Teton river which band had attempted to detain us in the fall of 1804 as we assended this river and with whome we wer near comeing to blows. I told those Indians that they had been deef to our councils and ill treated us as we assended this river two years past, that they had abused all the whites who had visited them since. I believed them to be bad people & Should not Suffer them to cross to the Side on which the party lay, and directed them to return with their band to their Camp, that if any of them come near our camp we Should kill them certainly. I lef them on the bear and returned to th party and examined the arms &c.    those indians seeing Some Corn in the Canoe requested Some of it which I refused being deturmined to have nothing to do with those people. Several others Swam across one of which understood pania, and as our pania interpreter was a very good one we had it in our power to inform what we wished. I told this man to inform his nation that we had not forgot their treatment to us as we passed up this river &c.    that they had treated all the white people who had visited them very badly; robed them of their goods, and had wounded one man  whome I had Seen. we viewed them as bad people and no more traders would be Suffered to come to them, and whenever the white people wished to visit the nations above they would Come Sufficiently Strong to whip any vilenous party who dare to oppose them and words to the Same purpote. I also told them that I was informed that a part of all their bands were gorn to war against the Mandans &c, and that they would be well whiped as the Mandans & Menetarres & had a plenty of Guns Powder and ball, and we had given them a Cannon to defend themselves.    and derected them to return from the Sand bar and inform their Chiefs what we had Said to them, and to keep away from the river or we Should kill every one of them &c. &c.    those fellows requested to be allowed to Come aecross and make Cumerads which we positively refused and I directed them to return imediately which they did and after they had informed the Chiefs &c. as I Suppose what we had Said to them, they all Set out on their return to their Camps back of a high hill.    7 of them halted on the top of the hill and blackguarded us, told us to come across and they would kill us all &c. of which we took no notice.    we all this time were extreamly anxious for the arival of the 2 fields & Shannon whome we had left behind, and were Some what consd. as to their Safty.    to our great joy those men hove in Sight at 6 P. M. Jo. Fields had killed 3 black tail or mule deer.    we then Set out, as I wished to See what those Indians on the hill would act.    we Steared across near the opposit Shore, this notion put them Some agitation as to our intentions, some Set out on the direction towards their Camps    others walked about on the top of the hill and one man walked down the hill to meet us and invited us to land to which invitation I paid no kind of attention.    this man I knew to be the one who had in the fall 1804 accompaned us 2 days and is Said to be the friend to the white people.      after we passd. him he returned on the top of the hill and gave 3 Strokes with the gun [NB?: on the earth—this is swearing by the earth] he had in his hand    this I am informed is a great oath among the indians.    we proceeded on down about 6 miles and encamped on a large Sand bar in the middle of the river  about 2 miles above our encampment on Mud Island on the 10th Septr. 1804 haveing made 22 miles only to Day. Saw Several Indians on the hills at a distance this evening viewing us.    our  encampment of this evening was a very disagreable one, bleak exposed to the winds, and the Sand wet. I pitched on this Situation to prevent being disturbed by those Scioux in the Course of the night as well as to avoid the Musquetors—.    Killed 9 whisteling squirels.

Our Group meets with much the same bunch of Sioux that gave them a hard time on their way up the Missouri, two year earlier.  Clark, despite the lack of adequate translators, gives them a firm slap and again appears fo have won the war of words.  Otherwise this day works pretty well for expanding the wildlife specimens and despite all the pow-wow, made their way south another 22 miles.

August 29th Sunday, 1806

[Clark]    a cloudy morning    the hunters proceeded on agreeable to their orders of last night. I Sent out two men to the village of barking Squirels with direcitions to kill Some of them.    they after 2 hours returned and informed me that not one of those Squirels were to be Seen out of their holes.    the Skins of the party which they had been dressing Since yesterday being now nearly completely dressed I derected all loose baggage to be put on board the Canoes and at 10 A. M. Set out and proceeded on    passed the white river  at 12 oClock and halted below the enterance of Shannons Creek  where we were joined by Labeech Shannon and Willard, they had killed 2 common der but no Mule deer or antilopes. Willard informed me that he Saw 2 antilopes but Could not get near to them. Willard and Labiech waded white river a fiew miles above its enterance and inform me that they found it 2 feet water and 200 yards wide. the water of this river at this time nearly as white as milk.    put Drewyer out to hunt on the S W. Side and proceeded on below the round Island  and landed on the N. E. Side    I with Several of the men went out in pursute of Buffalow.    the men killed 2 Bulls near me they were very por    I assended to the high Country and from an eminance, I had a view of the plains for a great distance.    from this eminance I had a view of a greater number of buffalow than I had ever Seen before at one time. I must have Seen near 20,000 of those animals feeding on this plain. I have observed that in the country between the nations which are at war with each other the greatest numbers of wild animals are to be found—    on my return to the river I killed 2 young deer.    after Dinner  we proceeded down the river about 3 mile to the Camp of Jo. & Rubin fields and Collins, and encamped on the S W. Side a little below our encampment of 13th Septr. 1804,  haveing made 20 Miles only.    neither of the hunters killed either a Black tail deer or an antilope. Jo Fields & Shields each killed a porcupin and two others of the hunters Killed Deer, Drewyer did not join us untill 10 P. M.    he informed that he Saw some antilopes and Mule deer but Could kill none of them. Jo. Field informed that he wounded female of the Mule deer a little below our Camp late in the evening and could not prosue her I directed him to Set out with 3 others and follow the Deer and get her if possible early in the morning.

Mule deer and antelope are hard to come by, as Clark needs to flesh out his specimen collection. Clark feels he observed twenty thousand buffalo by climbing to a viewpoint.

August 28th Saturday, 1806

[Clark] Capt Lewis had a bad nights rest and is not very well this morning.    we Set out early and proceded on very well, Saw a number of Buffalow bulls on the banks in different places.    passd the 3 rivers of the Seioux pass at 9 A. M.    a Short distance below on the S W Side Sent out Reubin & Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the antilope neither of which we have either the Skins or Scellitens of,  we derected those two men to proceed on down to the places we encamped the 16th & 17th of Septr. 1804 and which place the party had called pleasant Camp from the great abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk, antilopes, Blacktail or mule deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking Squirels, Turkies and a variety of other animals, aded to which there was a great abundance of the most delicious plumbs and grapes.    this Situation which is a Short distance above the enterance of Corvus Creek we are deturmined to delay one day for the purpose of prcureing the sceletins of the Mule deer & antilope, and Some barking Squirels.    a fiew miles below the place the 2 Fields were Set on Shore we Set Drewyer and Labeech on Shore with the Same directions which had been given to the 2 field's    at 12 oClock we Landed on the S W. Side at the Same Spot which we had encamped on the 16th and 17th of September 1804, and formed a Camp,   Sent out Serjt. Pryor, Shields, Go. Gibson, Willard and Collins to hunt in the plains up Corvus Creek for the Antilope and Mule deer    Sent out Bratten and Frazier to kill the barking Squirel,   and Gave directions to all of them to kill the Magpye  if they Should See any of them Several of the men and the Squaws of the enterpreter Jessomme and the Mandan Chief went to Some plumb bushes in the bottom and geathered more plumbs than the party Could eate in 2 days, those blumbs are of 3 Speces,  the most of them large and well flavored.    our Situation is pleasent a high bottom thinly timbered and covered with low grass without misquitors.    at 3 P. M Drewyer and Labeech arived, the latter haveing killd. a Deer of the Common Speceis only.    in the evening late all the hunters returned without any Speces of animal we were in want of, they killed 4 Common deer and two buffalow a part of the best of the meat of those animals they brought in.    we precured two of the barking Squirels only.    as we Could not precere any Mule deer or antelope we concluded to Send the hunters on a head early in the morning and delay untill 10 A. M to give them time to hunt. I derected Shannon & Collins to go on the opposit Side, and Labeech and Willard to proceed down on this Side at Some distance from the river and join the party at the round Island  &c. and R. Field to proceed on Slowly in the Small Canoe to that place and take in any thing which the hunters might kill. Made 32 miles to day

The hunters informed me that they Saw great numbers of Buffalow in the plains. I Saw Several herds of those animals on either Side to day at a distance.

Clark decides to hold up a bit in order to obtain some hides and skeletons of animals they're lacking. They make good use of the wild plums, but except for the "barking squirrels" not much luck on the needed specimens.

August 27th Friday, 1806

[Clark]   Set out before Sunrise    a Stiff breeze a head from the East proceeded to the enterance of Tylors river on the S W Side and landed on a Sand bar and Sent out the hunters to kill Some meat, our Stock of meat being now exousted and this the most favourable place to precure a fresh Supply, the hunters returned in 3 hours without haveing killed any thing. they informed me that the bottoms were entirely beaten up and the grass laid flat by the emence number of Buffalow which had been here a Short time past.    the deer had left the bottom.    they Saw several Buffalow Bulls which they did not think proper to kill as they were unfit for use. here we discover the first Signs of the wild turkey.   at 1 P M we halted in the big bend  and killed a fat buck elk near the river, which was very timely as our meat was entirely exhosted.    at 2 P. M we again proceeded on down saw Several Buffalow Bulls on each Side of the river also Some deer of the Common kind.     at 6 P. M. we herd the bellowing of the Buffalow Bulls in the lower Isld. of the Big bend below the Gouge  which induced a belief that there was Some fat Cows, 5 men went out from the 2 Small Canoes which was a little a head, and killed two Cows one Bull and a Calf nether of them wer fat we droped the Perogue & Canoes to the lower part of the Island near to where the buffalow was killed and incamped haveing Come 45 Miles only to day.    had the buffalow butched and brought in and divided. My friend Capt Lewis hurt himself very much be takeing a longer walk on the Sand bar in my absence at the buffalow than he had Strength to undergo, which Caused him to remain very unwell all night.

Another slow news day and they make just 45 miles.  They are low on meat but insist on that they do find to kill are fat.  There easy access to all three of their mainstays, buffalo, elk and deer in Montana set this pattern and I guess you can't blame them for wanting their meat juicy with fat.  Lewis overdoes his healing a bit and pays dearly for it.

August 26th Thursday, 1806

[Clark]      a heavy dew this morning    the hunters or Shannon & the 2 fields came up at Sunrise and we Set out, they had killed only 2 Small deer one of which they had eat    at 8 passed the place the Tetons were encamped at the time they attempted to Stop us in Septr. 1804,   and at 9 A. M. passed the enterance of Teton River.   Saw Several black tail or Mule deer and Sent out to kill them but they were wild and the hunters Could not get a Shot at either of them.    a fiew miles below the Teton river I observed a buffalow Skin Canoe lying on the S Shore and a Short distance lower a raft which induces me to Suspect that the Tetons are not on the Missouri at the big bend as we were informed by the Ricaras, but up the Teton river.    at Meridn. we halted on the N E. Side opposit a handsom leavel plain in which there is great quantities of plumbs  which are not yet ripe.    we passed the enteranc of Smoke Creek   and landed and Continued two hours to Stop a leak in the perogue and fix the Stearing oare, Saw great quantities of Grapes,  they are black tho' not thurerly ripe.    at 5 P M. we landed a Louisells fort on Ceder Island,   this fort is entire and every part appears to be in the Same state it was when we passed it in Septr. 1804. I observed the appearance of 3 fires in the houses which appeared to have been made 10 or 12 days past.    we proceeded on about 10 miles lower and encamped on the S. W. Side opposit our outward bound encampment of the 21st of Septr. 1804, a fiew miles above Tylors River.   we had a Stiff breeze from the S. E. which continued to blow the greater part of the night dry and pleasent.    as we were now in the Country where we were informed the Sceoux were assembled we were much on our guard deturmined to put up with no insults from those bands of Seioux, all the arms &. in perfect order. Capt. L. is Still on the mending hand    he walks a little. I have discontinued the tent in the hole where the ball entered, agreeable to his request.    he tells me that he is fully Convinced that the wound is sufficiently heeled for the tents to be discontinued.    we made 60 miles to day with the wind ahead greater part of the day—

The Group passes the spot where they had the near battle with the Sioux in 1804, without the sight of a single Indian.   Clark sounds like he was actually looking forward to some little dust up with this tribe, the bullies of the region. Lewis is still on the mend.

August 25th Wednesday,1806

[Clark] a cool clear morning a Stiff breeze ahead    we Set out at the usial hour and proceeded on very well. I derected Shields Collins Shannon and the two fieldses to proceed on in the two small Canoes to the Ponia Island  and hunt on that Island untill we came on, they Set out before day light— The Skirt of timber in the bend above the Chyenne is not very Considerable the timber is Scattered from 4 to 16 miles on the S W Side of the river, and the thickest part is at the distance of 6 & 10 miles from the Chyenne, a narrow bottom of Small Cotton trees & willow is also on the N E pt. at the distance of from 4 to 4½ miles above the Chyenne    imediately at the enterance of that river I observe but fiew large trees Some Small Growth and willows on the lower Side bottom on the Missouri about ½ a mile and extends up the Chyen 1 mile    about a quarter of a mile above is a 2d bottom of Cotton timber, in the point above the Chyenne there is a considerable bottom of about 2 miles on that river and a large timbered bottom a Short distance above.    at 8 A. M. we Came to at the mouth of the Chyenne   to delay untill 12 to make a meridian observation and derected 3 hunters to proced up this river and hunt its bottoms untill twelve at which hou we Shall proceed on.    the hunters returned with 2 deer    the Chyenne discharges but little water which is much the colour of the missouri tho not So muddy    I observe a very eligable Situation on the bank of the Chyenne on it's lower Side about 100 paces from it's enterance.    this Situation is above the high floods and has a perfect Command of each river we obtained a Meridian altitude with the Sextt. and artificial Horizon 112° 50' 00"—    after which we proceeded on    passed the pania Island and came up with Shields and Collins they had killed two deer only at 3 P M we passed the place where we Saw the last encampement of Troubleson Tetons below the old ponia village  on the S W Side.    a very large timbered bottom on the N. E. Side imedialely below the Pania Island. Latd. of Chyenne is [blank] North.    at Sunset we landed about the Center of a large bottom on the N E Side a little below the enterance of No timber Creek and below our Encampment of 29th of Septr. 1804.    dreyer killed a deer after we encamped. a little above our encampmt. the ricaras had formerly a large village on each Side which was destroyed by the Seioux.    there is the remains of 5 other villages on the S W. Side below the Chyenne river and one on Le ho catts Isld.    all those villages have been broken up by the Seioux. This day proved a fine Still day and the men played their oars and we made 48 miles to day. The 2 fields and Shannon did not join this evening which caused me to encamp earlier than usial for them.    we Saw no game on the plains today.    the Tetons have been on the river not long Since—.

A day without wind allows the party forty eight miles this day.  Game seems a bit scarce compared to eastern Montana which can also probably be charged to the Sioux.  So far thse folks haven't interferred with the Group.

August 24th Tuesday, 1806

[Clark]   a fair morning    we Set out as usial about Sunrise and proceeded on untill 2 P M when the wind blew So hard from the N. W. that we could not proceed    came too on the S W. Side where we continued untill 5 P. M. when the wind lay a little and we again proceeded on.    at 8 a M. we passed La-hoo-catts Island,   opposit the lower point of this Island on the S. W. Side near the top of the Bluff I observed a Stratea of White stone    I landed and examined it found it to be a Soft White Stone containing very fine grit, when expd. to the Sun and become Dry this Stone will Crumble    the Clay of this bluff to the above and below is remarkably Black.    at half past 9 a. m. passed Good hope Island   and at 11 a. m passed Caution Island   a Short distance below this Island we came too. Sent out a hunter he Saw Several deer they were very wild and he returned without haveing killed any, the deer on this pt. of the Missouri is mostly the Mule or black tail Species.    we Saw only 6 buffalow to day the Sieoux have been laterly encamped on the river and have Secured the most of the game opp. a large trail has passed on a derection to the enterance of the Chyenne this probably is the trail of a war party.    at 5 P. M. we proceeded on a fiew miles and Encampd. on the gouge of the lookout bend  of 20 miles around and ¾ through, a little above an old tradeing house and 4 miles above of our outward bound encampment of the 1st of October 1804, haveing made 43 miles to day.

Again today the hard winds limit there mileage. The white stone Clark speaks of is a layer of bentonite clay laid down by volcanic activity.  This day wasn't marked as one of high drama, just a very ordinary day for our Group.

August 23rd Monday, 1806

[Clark]   We Set out very early, the wind rose & became very hard, we passed the Sar-war-kar-na-har river  at 10 A. M and at half past eleven the wind became So high and the water So rough that we were obliged to put to Shore and Continue untill 3 p. M. when we had a Small Shower of rain after which the wind lay, and we proceeded on. Soon after we landed I Sent Shields & Jo. & Reubin Fields down to the next bottom of timber to hunt untill our arival.    we proceeded on Slowly and landed in the bottom.    the hunters had killed three Elk and 3 Deer the deer were pore and Elk not fat    had them fleece & brought in.    the Musqueters large and very troublesom.    at 4 P. M a Cloud from the N W with a violent rain for about half an hour    after the rain we again proceeded on. I observe great quantities of Grapes and Choke Cheries, also a Speces of Currunt   which I had never before observed the leas is larger than those above, the Currt. black and very inferior to either the yellow, red, or perple—    at dark we landed on a Small Sand bar under a Bluff on the S W. Side and encamped,  this Situation was one which I had Chosen to avoid the Musquetors, they were not very troublesome after we landed.    we Came only 40 Miles to daye

My Frend Capt Lewis is recoverig fast    the hole in his thy where the Ball passed out is Closed and appears to be nearly well.    the one where the ball entered discharges very well—.

The wind held the Group to only forty miles today and the deer and elk killed were rather lean, but Lewis continues to heal.

August 22nd Sunday, 1806

[Clark]    rained all the last night    every person and all our bedding wet, the Morning cloudy, at 8 A M. I was requested to go to the Chiefs, I walkd up and he informed me that he Should not go down but would Stay and take Care of the village and prevent the young men from doing rong and Spoke much to the Same porpt of the Grey Eyes, the 2d Chief Spoke to the Same and all they Said was only a repitition of what they had Said before.    the Chief gave me some Soft Corn and the 2d Chief Some Tobacco Seed—    the Interpreter Garrow  informed me that he had been Speeking to the Chiefs & warriers this morning and assured me that they had no intention of going down untill the return of the Cheif who went down last Spring was a year. I told the Cheifs to attend to what we had Said to them, that in a Short time they would find our words tru and Councils good.    they promised to attend Strictly to what had been Said to them, and observed that they must trade with the Sieoux one more time to get guns and powder; that they had no guns or powder and had more horses than they had use for, after they got guns and powder that they would never again have any thing to do with them &c. &c. I returned the Canoes & derected the men to prepare to Set out. Some Chyennes from two Lodges on the Main  S E. Shore Came and Smoked with me and at 11 A. M we Set out haveing parted with those people who appeared to be Sorry to part with us.    at this nation we found a french man by the name of Rokey   who was one of our Engagees as high as the Mandans this man had Spend all his wages, and requested to return with us— we agreed to give him a passage down. I directed 2 guns to be fired.    we proceeded on    passed the Marapa and the We ter hoo Rivers,   and landed to dry our bedding and robes &c which were all wet.    here we delayed untill 6 P M. and dryed our things which were much Spoiled.

I derected 5 of the hunters to proceed on to Grouse Island a fiew miles below and hunt on that island untill we arived, we proceded on to the main N E Shore below the Island and encamped,   the hunters joined us without any thing.    they Saw no game on the island.    we made only 17 Mies to day.    below the ricaras the river widens and the Sand bars are emencely noumerous much less timber in the bottoms than above—.

The Chyenne's  are portly Indians much the complections of the Mandans & ricaras high Cheeks, Streight limbed & high noses the men are large, their dress in Sumner is Simpelly a roab of a light buffalow Skin with or without the hair and a Breach clout & mockerson Some ware leagins and mockersons, their ornaments are but fiew and those are composed principally of Such articles as they precure from other indians Such as blue beeds, Shell, red paint rings of brass broaches &c.    they also ware Bears Claws about their necks, Strips of otter Skin (which they as well as the ricaras are excessively fond of) around their neck falling back behind.    their ears are cut at the lower part, but fiew of them were ornements in them, their hair is generally Cut in the forehead above their eyes and Small ornimented plats in front of each Sholder the remainder of the hair is either twisted in with horse  or buffalow hair divided into two plats over the Sholder or what is most common flow's back, Their women are homely, corse feetured wide mouthes they ware on Simpially a leathe habit made in a plain form of two pieces of equal length and equal weadth, which is sewen together with Sinues from the tail to about half way from the hip to the arm, a String fastens the 2 pieces together over the Sholders leaveng a flap or lapells which fall over near half way ther body both before and behind.    those dresses usially fall as low as mid leg, they are frequently ornemented with beeds and Shells & Elk tuskes of which they all Indians are very fond of.    those dresses are als frequently Printed into in various regular figures with hot sticks which are rubed on the leather with Such velosity as to nearly burn it this is very handsom.    they were their hair flowing and are excessively fond of ornimenting their ears with blue beeds—    this nation peacbly disposed they may be estimated at from 350 to 400 men inhabetig from 130 [120?] to 150 Lodges, they are rich in horses & Dogs, the dogs Carry a great preportion of their light baggage.    they Confess to be at war with no nation except the Sieoux with whome they have ever since their remembranc been on a difencive war, with the Bands of Sieoux.    as I was about to leave the Cheifs of the Chyennes lodge he requested me to Send Some traders to them, that their country was full of beaver and they would then be encouraged to Kill beaver,   but now they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and did not know well, how to catch beaver.    if the white people would come amongst them they would become acquainted with them and the white people would learn them how to take the beaver—. I promised the Nation that I would inform their Great father the President of the U States, and he would have them Supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would be Supplied &c. &c.—

I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Capt Lewis is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time. I have discontinud the tent in the hole the ball came out—

I have before mentioned that the Mandans Maharhas Menetarras & Ricarras, keep their horses in the Lodge with themselves at night.

Clark struggles keeping the Chief he has convinced on board, and recruiting others.  He also gives a rather unflattering portrait of the Cheyennes' general appearance.  Lewis walks a few steps today.  All of the work with the different tribe representatives keeps their down river mileage in low figures.

|August 21st Saturday, 1806

[Clark]    Musquetors very troublesom in the early part of last night and again this morning    I directed Sergt. Ordway to proceed on to where there was Some ash and get enough for two ores which were wanting. Men all put their arms in perfect order and we Set out at 5 a. m.    over took Sergt. ordway with wood for oars &c.    at 8 A. M. Met three french men Comeing up, they proved to be three men from the Ricaras two of them Reevea & Greinyea  wintered with us at the mandans in 1804    we Came too, those men informed us that they were on their way to the Mandans, and intended to go down to the Illinois this fall.    one of them quit a young lad requested a passage down to the Illinois, we concented and he got into a Canoe to an Ore.   Those men informed us that 700 Seeoux had passed the Ricaras on their way to war with the Mandans & Menitarras and that their encampment where the Squaws and Children wer, was Some place near the Big Bend of this river below.    no ricaras had accompanied them but were all at home, they also informed us that no trader had arived at the Ricaras this Season, and that they were informed that the Pania or Ricara Chief who went to the United States last Spring was a year, died on his return at Smoe place near the Sieoux river &c.  [after] those men had nether [NB: powder] nor lead we gave them a horn of powder and Some balls and after a delay of an hour we parted from the 2 men Reevey & Grienway and proceeded on.    the wind rose and bley from the N. W.    at half past 11 a. m. we arived in view of the upper Ricara villages,  a Great number of womin Collecting wood on the banks, we Saluted the village with four guns [on St] and they returned the Salute by fireing Several guns in the village, I observed Several very white Lodges on the hill above the Town which the ricaras from the Shore informed me were Chyennes who had just arived—.    we landed opposit to the 2d Village  and were met by the most of the men women and children of each village as also the Chyennes they all appeared anxious to take us by the hand and much rejoiced to See us return. I Steped on Shore and was Saluted by the two great Chiefs, whome we had made or given Medals to as we assend this river in 1804, and also Saluted by a great number both of Ricaras & Chyennes, as they appeared anxious to here what we had done &c. as well as to here Something about the Mandans & Minetarras. I Set my self down on the Side of the Bank and the Chiefs & brave men of the Ricaras & Chyennes formed a Cercle around me.     after takeing a Smoke of Mandan tobacco which the Big white Chief who was Seated on my left hand furnished, I informed them as I had before informed the Mandans & Menitarras, where we had been what we had done and Said to the different nations in there favour and envited Some of their Chiefs to accompany us down and See their great father and receve from his own mouth his good Councils and from his own hands his bountifull gifts &c. telling pretty much the Same which I had told the mandans and menitarras.    told them not to be afraid of any nation below that none would hurt them &c. a man of about 32 years of age was intreduced to me as 1st Chief of the nation    this man they Call the grey eyes or [blank]    he was absent from the Nation at the time we passed up, the man whome we had acknowledged as the principal chief  informed me that the Grey eyes was a greater Chief than himself and that he had given up all his pretentions with the Flag and Medal to the Grey eyes—    The principal chief of the Chyenne's [NB: Ricaras]  was then introduced he is a Stout jolley fellow of about 35 years of age whome the Ricaras Call the Grey Eyes I also told the ricaras that I was very Sorrey to here that they were not on friendly terms with their neighbours the Mandans & Menetarras, and had not listened to what we had Said to them but had Suffered their young men to join the Sieoux who had killed 8 Mandans &c.    that their young men had Stolen the horses of the Minetarras, in retaliation for those enjories the Mandans & Menetarras had Sent out a war party and killed 2 ricaras.    how could they expect other nations would be at peace with them when they themselves would not listen to what their great father had told them. I further informed them that the Mandans & [Ricaras] Menetaras had opened their ears to what we had Said to them but had Staid at home untill they were Struk that they were Still disposed to be friendly and on good terms with the ricaras, they then Saw the great Chief of the Mandans by my Side who was on his way to see his great father, and was derected by his nation & the Menetaras & Maharhas, to Smoke in the pipe of peace with you and to tell you not to be afraid to go to their towns, or take the Birds in the plains that their ears were open to our Councils and no harm Should be done to a Ricara. The Chief will Speak presently—. The Grey eyes Chief of the ricaras made a very animated Speach in which he mentioned his williness of following the councels which we had given them that they had Some bad young men who would not listen to the Councels but would join the Seioux, those men they had discarded and drove out of their villages, that the Seioux were the Cause of their Misunderstanding &c. that they were a bad peoples.    that they had killed Several of the Ricaras Since I Saw them. That Several of the chiefs wished to accompany us down to See their great father, but wished to see the Chief who went down last Sumer return first, he expressed Some apprehention as to the Safty of that Chiefs in passing the Sieoux.    that the Ricaras had every wish to be friendly with the Mandans &c.    that every mandan &c. who chose to visit the ricares should be Safe that he Should Continue with his nation and See that they followed the Council which we had given them &c.— The Sun being very hot the Chyenne Chief envited us to his Lodge which was pitched in the plain at no great distance from the River. I accepted the invitation and accompanied him to his lodge which was new and much larger than any which I have Seen    it was made of 20 dressed Buffalow Skins in the Same form of the Sceoux and lodges of other nations of this quarter.    about this lodges was 20 others Several of them of nearly the Same Size. I enquired for the ballance of the nation and was informed that they were near at hand and would arive on tomorrow and when all together amounted to 120 Lodges—. after Smokeing I gave a medal of the Small size to the Chyenne Chief &c. which appeared to alarm him, he had a robe and a fleece of fat Buffalow meat brought and gave me with the meadel back and informed me that he knew that the white people were all medecine and that he was afraid of the midal or any thing that white people gave to them.   I had previously explained the cause of my gveing him the medal & flag, and again told him the use of the medal and the caus of my giveing it to him, and again put it about his neck delivering him up his preasent of a roab & meat, informing him that this was the medecene which his Great father directed me to deliver to all the great Chiefs who listened to his word and followed his councils, that he had done So and I should leave the medal with him as a token of his cincerity &c.    he doubled the quantity of meat, and received the medal

The Big White chief of the Mandans Spoke at some length explainin the Cause of the misunderstanding between his nation and the ricaras, informing them of his wish to be on the most freindly termes &c.    the Chyennes accused both nations of being in folt. I told to them all that if they eve wished to be hapy that they must Shake off all intimecy with the Seioux and unite themselves in a Strong allience and attend to what we had told them &c. which they promesed all to do and we Smoked and parted on the best terms, the Mandan Chief was Saluted by Several Chiefs and brave men on his way with me to the river—    I had requested the ricaras & Chyennes to inform me as Soon as possible of their intentions of going down with us to See their great father or not.    in the evening the Great Chief requested that I would walk to his house which I did, he gave me about 2 quarts [NB: carrots] of Tobacco, 2 beaver Skins and a trencher of boiled Corn & beans to eat (as it is the Custom of all the Nations on the Missouri to give Something to every white man who enters their lodge Something to eat)    this Chief informed me that none of his Chiefs wished to go down with us they all wished to See the cheif who went down return first, that the Chyennes were a wild people and were afraid to go.    that they Should all listen to what I had Said. I gave him Some ribon to Suspend his Medal to and a Shell which the Snake indians gave me for which he was very much pleased.

The interpreter informed me that the Cheifs of those villages had no intention of going down.    one the Cheifs of the Village on the island talkd. of going down. I returned to the boat where I found the principal Chief of the lower vilege who had Cut part of his hair and disfigured himself in Such a manner that I did not know him, he informed me the Sieux had killed his nephew and that Was in tears for him &c.    we deturmind to proceed down to the Island and accordingly took the chief on board and proceeded on down to the 1sd village   at which place we arived a little before dark and were met as before by nearly every individual of the Village, we Saluted them and landed imediately opposit the town. The one arm 2d Cheif of this village whome we had expected to accompany us down Spoke to the mandan Cheif in a loud and thretening tone which Caused me to be Some what alarmed for the Safty of that Cheif, I inform the Ricaras of this village that the Mandans had opened their ears to and fold. our Councils, that this Cheif was on his way to see their Great Father the P. of U S. and was under our protection that if any enjorey was done to him by any nation that we Should all die to a man. I told the Ricaras that they had told us lies, they promised to be at peace with the mandans & Menetarras.    that our back was Scrcely turned before they went to war & Killd. them and Stole their horses &c—    The Cheif then envited me & the Mandan Chief to his house to talk there. I accompanied him, after takeing a very Serimonious Smoke the 2d Cheif informd. me that he had opened his ears to what we had Said to him at the time we gave him the medal that he had not been to war against any Natn. Since, that once been to See the mandans and they were going to kill him, they had not killed the Mandans, it was the Seeoux who killed them and not the ricaras, he Said that the Mandan Cheif was as Safe as if he was in his own Vilg that he had opened his ears and Could here as well as the mandans. I then informd them what I had told the upper villages and we all become perfectly reconsiled all to each other and Smoked in the most perfect harmony we had invatations to go into their lodges and eate. I at length went to the grand Chiefs Lodge by his particelar invitation, the Mandan Chief Stuck close to me the Chief had prepd. a Supper of boiled young Corn, beens & quashes of which he gave me in Wooden bowls.    he also gave me near 2 quarts of the Tobacco Seed, & informed me he had always had his ears open to what we had Said, that he was well convinced that the Seeoux was the caus of all the trouble between the Mandans & them    the Ricars had Stolen horses from the Mandan which had been returned all except one which could not be got, this mischief was done by Some young men who was bad.    along Converseation of explanations took place between the Ricara & mandan Chiefs which appeared to be Satisfactory on both Sides.    the Chief gave a pipe with great form and every thing appeared to be made up. I returned to the river & went to bead.     the Indians contd on board.    made 22 miles to day only.

Clark engages in some real two-fisted politicking today, with a number of different tribes and native families.  He's unable to convince any more chiefs to make the big trip, but makes up for this in gifts of all kinds.  Lewis's wound takes him pretty much out of the picture, although he appears to be healing well.  One of the chiefs who had earlier received a medal felt that it was bad medicine and refused to wear it. This was said to be the feelings of a good many recipients of the medals.  It was also said that some of the chiefs passed medals on to other tribesmen who they were not on the best of terms with for the hope the medals would cause bad luck.

August 20th Friday, 1806

[Clark]    a violent hard rain about day light this morning.    all wet except myself and the indians.    we embarked a little after Sun rise    wind moderate and ahead.    we proceeded on at meridn.    passed the enterance of Cannonball river  imediately above is the remains of a large Sieoux encampment which appears to have been made this Spring.    at 3 P M passed the enterance of Wardepon River  [NB: Scioux boundary to which they claim the country]    Saw great number of wolves on the bank Some Buffalow & Elk, tho' not so abundant as near the River Rochejhone. passed the place where we left the last encampment of Ricaras in the fall 1804 and encamped on a Sandbar from the N. E. Side,  having made 81 miles only, the wind blew hard all day which caused the waves to rise high and flack over into the Small Canoes in Such a manner as to employ one hand in throwing the water out. The plains begin to Change their appearance    the grass is turning of a yellow colour. I observe a great alteration in the Corrent course and appearance of this pt. of the Missouri.    in places where there was Sand bars in the fall 1804 at this time the main Current passes, and where the current then passed is now a Sand bar— Sand bars which were then naked are now covered with willow Several feet high.    the enteranc of Some of the Rivers & Creeks Changed owing to the mud thrown into them, and a layor of mud over Some of the bottoms of 8 inches thick.

In a rather quite news day, the travelers make better than 80 miles.  This takes them out of North Dakota and into South Dakota and into the dreaded Sioux's heartland.

August 19th Thursday, 1806

[Clark]    Some rain last night and this morning the wind rose and blew with great Violence untill 4 P. M and as our camp was on a Sand bar we were very much distressed with the blows of Sand. I directed the hunters to proceed on down the bottom and kill and butcher Some meat and if the wind Should lie that I should proceed on down to their Camp &c. Capt. Lewis'es wounds are heeling very fast, I am much in hope of his being able to walk in 8 or 10 days—.    at 4 P. M the wind Seased to blow with that violence which it had done all day we Set out and proceeded on down.    the hunters which was Sent out this morning killed 4 Elk & 12 deer near the river we came too and brought in the most of the flesh and proceeded on to a Sand on the N E Side and Encamped.     the wind rose and become very Strong from the S. E. and a great appearance of rain. Jessomme the Interpreter let me have a piece of a lodge and the Squars pitched or Stretched it over Some Sticks, under this piece of leather I Slept [under] dry, it is the only covering which I have had Suffecient to keep off the rain Since I left the Columbia.    it began to rain moderately Soon after night. The indians appear well Satisfyed with the party and mode of proceedure.    we decended only 10 miles to day    Saw Some Elk and buffalow on the Shore near where we Encamped.    the Elk beginning to run. the Buffalow are done running & the bulls are pore.

Wind and rain result in a short mileage day for our Group.  Lewis's gunshot wound is healing and all in all, most everyone in the party are doing okay.  The group has an new interpreter, Jessome, and he furnishes Clark with enough of a lodge to enable him sleeping dry, a comfort he'd not had since leaving the Columbia.

August 18th Wednesday, 1806

[Clark]   moderate rain last night, the wind of this morning from the S. E. as to cause the water to be So rough that we Could not proceed on untill 8 a. m. at which time it fell a little & we proceeded on tho' the waves were yet high and the wind Strong. Saw Several Indians on either Side of the river.    at 9 A. M. I saw an Indian running down the beech and appd. to be anxious to Speak to us I derected the Canoes to land.    this Indian proved to be the brother of the Chief we had on board and Came down from his Camp at no great distance to take his leave of his brother.    the Chief gave him a par of Legins and took an effectunate leave of his brother and we procedeed on haveing previously Sent on 2 canoes with hunters to kill Some meat at 2 P. M we overtook the Canoe hunters, they had killed three deer which was divided and we halted and Cooked Some dinner on the Sandbar.    wind Still high and from the Same point. The Chief pointed out Several places where he Said [their] his nation formerly lived and related Some extroadinary Stories of their tredition. after Dinner we proceeded on, to a point on the N E. Side opposit the remains of an old Mandan village a little below the enterance of Chiss-che-tor River and the place we Encamped as we assended this river 20th of October 1804 haveing come 40 miles to day.     after landing which was a little before night the hunters run out into the bottom and Killed four deer. The winds blew hard from the S. E. all day which retarded our progress very much    after the fires were made I set my self down with the big white man Chiefe and made a number of enquiries into the tredition of his nation as well as the time of their inhabiting the number of Villages the remains of which we see on different parts of the river, as also the cause of their evacuation.    he told me his nation first Came out of the ground where they had a great village.    a grape vine grew down through the Earth to their village and they Saw light    Some of their people assended by the grape vine upon the earth, and Saw Buffalow and every kind of animal also Grapes plumbs &c.    they gathered Some grapes & took down the vine to the village, and they tasted and found them good, and deturmined to go up and live upon the earth, and great numbers climbed the vine and got upon earth men womin and children.      at length a large big bellied woman in climbing broke the vine and fell and all that were left in the Village below has remained there ever Since (The Mandans beleive when they die that they return to this village)    Those who were left on earth made a village on the river below and were very noumerous &c.    he Said that he was born [NB: about 40 years] in the Village Opposit to our Camp and at that time his nation inhabited 7 villages as large as that and were full of people, the Sieoux and Small pox killed the greater part of them and made them So weak that all that were left only made two Small villages when Collected, which were built near the old Ricaras village above.    their troubles with the Scioux & Pawnees or Ricaras Compelled them to move and build a village where they now live.

[NB: Qu:] he Said that the Menitarras Came out of the water to the East and Came to this Country and built a village near the mandans from whome they got Corn beens &c.    they were very noumerous and resided in one village a little above this place on the opposit Side.    they quarreled about a buffalow, and two bands left the village and went into the plains, (those two bands are now known bye the title Pounch, and Crow Indians.[)]     the ballance of the Menetaras moved their village to where it now Stands where they have lived ever Since—

[NB: The Village of the Mandans on the North East side was formed of two villages    formerly lived on the East side opposite the 7. War & Small pox reduced them to one vill. which crossed & joined the 2 vills. near ricaras (having first settled (before the [two] 7 came into 2) on East Side—[)] Then this moved with the 2 to where they now live, So that the vills originally was of 9 vills

Clark hears a sad tale of epidemics and warfare from their guest Chief and despite the wind they make some good mileage.

August 17th Tuesday, 1806

[Clark]    a Cool morning    gave some powder & Ball to Big White Chief    Settled with Touisant Chabono for his Services as an enterpreter the pric of a horse and Lodge  purchased of him for public Service in all amounting to 500$ 33⅓ cents.    derected two of the largest of the Canoes be fastened together with poles tied across them So as to make them Study for the purpose of Conveying the Indians and enterpreter and their families

we were visited by all the principal Chiefs of the Menetarras to take their leave of us    at 2 oClock we left our encampment after takeing leave of Colter who also Set out up the river in Company with Messrs. Dickson & Handcock.    we also took our leave of T. Chabono, his Snake Indian wife and their Son Child who had accompanied us on our rout to the pacific Ocean in the Capacity of interpreter and interpretes. T. Chabono wished much to accompany us in the Said Capacity if [he] we could have provailed the Menetarre Chiefs to dcend the river with us to the U. States, but as none of those chiefs of whoes [set out] language he was Conversent would accompany us, his Services were no longer of use to the U' States and he was therefore discharged and paid up.      we offered to convey him down to the Illinois if he Chose to go, he declined proceeding on at present, observing that he had no acquaintance or prospects of makeing a liveing below, and must continue to live in the way that he had done. I offered to take his little Son a butifull promising Child who is 19 months old to which they both himself & wife wer willing provided the Child had been weened.    they observed that in one year the boy would be Sufficiently old to leave his mother & he would then take him to me if I would be so freindly as to raise the Child for him in Such a manner as I thought proper, to which I agreeed &c.—      we droped down to the Big white Cheifs Mandan Village ½ a mile below on the South Side,  all the Indians proceeded on down by land.    and I walked to the lodge of the Chief whome I found Sorounded by his friends the men were Setting in a circle Smokeing and the womin Crying.    he Sent his bagage with his wife & Son, with the Interpreter Jessomme & his wife and 2 children to the Canoes provided for them.    after Smoking one pipe, and distributing Some powder & lead which we had given him, he informed me that he was ready and we were accompd to the Canoes by all the village    Maney of them Cried out aloud.    as I was about to Shake with the Grand Cheifs of all the Villages there assembled they requested me to Set one minit longer with them which I readily agreed to and directed a pipe to be lit.    the Cheifs informed that when we first came to their Country they did not beleive all we Said we then told them.    but they were now Convinced that every thing we had told them were true, that they Should keep in memory every thing which he had Said to them, and Strictly attend to our advice, that their young men Should Stay at home and Should no go again to war against any nation, that if any atacted them they Should defend themselves, that we might depend on what they Said, and requested us to inform their great father.    the also requested me to tell the Ricaras to Come and See them, not to be afraid that no harm Should be done them, that they were anxious to be in peace with them.

The Seeoux they Said they had no dependance in and Should kill them whenever they Came into their Country to do them harm &c. I told them that we had always told them to defend themselves, but not to Strike those nations we had taken by the hand, the Sieoux with whome they were at war we had never Seen on our return we Should inform their great fathe of their conduct towards his faithfull red Children and he would take Such Steps as will bring about a lasting peace between them and his faithfull red children. I informed them that we should inform the ricaras what they had requested &c. The Grand Chief of the Mineterres Said that the great Cheif who was going down with to see their great father was a well as if he went also, and on his return he would be fully informed of the words of his great father, and requested us to take care of this Gt. Chief.    we then Saluted them with a gun and Set out and proceeded on to Fort Mandan  where I landed and went to view the old works the houses except one in the rear bastion was burnt by accident, Some pickets were Standing in front next to the river.    we proceeded on to the old Ricara village the S E wind was so hardd and the [wind] waves So high that we were obliged to Come too, & Camp on the S W Side near the old Village.    (18 mils)

With much fanfare our Party, less the Charbonneaus and Colter, begins the last leg of their stupendous journey.  Clark makes a promise to Charbonneau regarding Pomp which will be honored. He was really very fond of the two interpreters and their child.  Whether his peace proposals to the natives had much effect is not really known, but certainly the coming of the whites ment a horrible long and bloody ordeal for most of the natives.

August 16th Monday,1806

[Clark]    a cool morning. Sent up Sergt. Pryor to the mandan village, for Some Corn which they offered to give us.    he informed that they had more Corn collected for us than our Canoes Could Carry Six loads of which he brought down. I thanked the Chief for his kindness and informed him that our Canoes would not Carry any more Corn than we had already brought down.    at 10 A. M the Chiefs of the different villages came to See us and Smoke a pipe &c.    as our Swivel   Could no longer be Serveceabe to us as it could not be fireed on board the largest Perogue, we Concluded to make a present of it to the Great Chief of the Menetaras (the One Eye) with a view to ingratiate him more Strongly in our favour I had the Swivel Charged and Collected the Chiefs in a circle around it and adressed them with great ceremoney.    told them I had listened with much attention to what the One Eye had Said yesterday and beleived that he was Sincere & Spoke from his heart. I reproached them very Severely for not attending to what had been Said to them by us in Council in the fall of 1804 and at different times in the winter of 1804 & 5, and told them our backs were Scerely turned befor a party followed and killed the pore defenceless snake indians whom we had taken by the hand & told them not to be afraid that you would never Strike them again &c. also mentioned the ricers &c. The little Cherry   old Chief of the Menetarras Spoke as follows Viz: "Father we wish to go down with you to See our Great Father, but we know the nations below and are afraid of the Scioux who will be on the river and will kill us on our return home. The Scioux has Stolen our horses and killed 8 of our men Since you left us, and the Ricaras have also Struck us.    we Staid at home and listened to what you had told us.    we at length went to war against the Scioux and met with Ricaras and killed two of them, they were on their way to Strike us. We will attend to your word and not hurt any people all Shall be Welcom and we Shall do as you direct—.["] The One Eye Said his ears would always be open to the word of his great father and Shut against bad Council &c. I then a good deel of Ceremony made a preasent of the Swivel to the One Eye Chief and told him when he fired this gun to remember the words of his great father which we had given him.    this gun had anounced the words of his great father to all the nations which we had Seen &c. &c.    after the council was over the gun was fired & delivered, they Chief appeared to be much pelased and conveyed it immediately to his village &c.    we Settled with and discharged Colter.    in the evening I walked to the village to See the little Crow and know when he would be ready, took with me a flag intending to give him to leave at his lodge but to my astonishment he informed me he had declined going down the reason of which I found was through a jellousy between himself and the principal Chief    he refused a flag & we Sent for Mr. Jessomme and told him to use his influn to provail on one of the Chiefs to accompany us and  we would employ him.    he informed us soon after that the big white Chief  would go if we would take his wife & Son & Jessoms wife & 2 children    we wer obliged to agree to do

Well, after three or so days of politiking Clark finally nabs off a chief named "Big White" who'll come as long as his wife and two children can also accompany.  The also leave the swivel gun (a small cannon that was mounted on the big craft they came upstream with) and the Charbeneau's together with the  blacksmithing tools and of course, Colter.

August 15th Sunday, 1806

[Clark] Continued Mandans Vilg           after assembling the Chiefs and Smokeing one pipe, I informed them that I Still Spoke the Same words which we had Spoken to them when we first arived in their Country in the fall of 1804.    we then envited them to visit their great father the president of the U. States and to hear

his own Councils and receive his Gifts from his own hands as also See the population of a government which Can at their pleasure protect and Secur you from all your enimies, and chastize all those who will Shut their years to

his Councils.    we now offer to take you at the expense of our Government and Send you back to your Country again with a considerable present [of] in merchendize which you will recive of your great Father. I urged the necessity of their going on with us as it would be the means of hastening those Supples of Merchindize which would be Sent to their Country and exchanged as before mentioned for a moderate price in Pelteries and furs &c.    the great Chief of the Menetaras Spoke, he Said he wished to go down and See his great father very much, but that the Scioux were in the road and would most certainly kill him or any others who Should go down they were bad people and would not listen to any thing which was told them.    when [we] he Saw us last we told him that we had made peaace with all the nations below, Since that time the Seioux had killed 8 of their people and Stole a number of their horses.    he Said that he had opened his ears and followed our Councils, he had made peace with the Chyennes and rocky mountains indians, and repieted the same objecctions as mentioned.    that he went to war against none and was willing to receive all nations as friends.    he Said that the Ricaras had Stolen from his people a number of horses at different times and his people had killed 2 Ricaras.    if the Sieoux were at peace with them and Could be depended on he as also other Chiefs of the villages would be glad to go and See their great father, but as they were all afraid of the Sieoux they Should not go down &c.

The Black Cat [sent] Chief of the Mandans Village on the North Side of the Missouri Sent over and requested me to go over to his village which envertation I axceptd and crossed over to his village.    he had a parcel of Corn about 12 bushuls in a pile in his lodge.    he told me that his people had but little corn part of which they had given me.    after takeing a Smoke he informed me that as the Sieoux were very troublesom and the road to his great father dangerous none of this village would go down with us. I told the Cheifs and wariers of the village who were there present that we were anxious that Some of the village Should go and See their great father and hear his good words & recve his bountifull gifts &c. and told them to pitch on Some Man on which they could rely on and send him to See their Great father, they made the Same objections which the Chief had done before.    a young man offered to go down, and they all agreeed for him to go down    the charector of this young man I knew as a bad one and made an objection as to his age and Chareckter    at this time Gibson who was with me informed me that this young man had Stole his knife and had it then in his possession, this I informed the Chief and directed him to give up the knife he delivered the knife with a very faint apology for his haveing it in his possession. I then reproached those people for wishing to Send Such a man to See and hear the words of So great a man as their great father; they hung their heads and Said nothing for Some time when the Cheif Spoke and Said that they were afraid to Send any one for fear of their being killed by the Sieux.    after Smoking a pipe and relateing Some passages I recrossed to our Camp—.   being informed by one of our enterpreters that the 2d Chief of the Mandans Comonly Called the little Crow  intended to accompany us down, I took Charbono and walked to the Village to See this Chief and talk with him on the Subject.    he told me he had deturmined to go down, but wished to have a council first with his people which would be in the after part of the day. I smoked a pipe with the little Crow and returned to the boat. Colter one of our men expressed a desire to join Some trappers [NB: the two Illinois Men we met, & who now came down to us] who offered to become Shearers with and furnish traps &c.    the offer a very advantagious one, to him, his Services Could be dispenced with from this down and as we were disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done, we agreed to allow him the prvilage provided no one of the party would ask or expect a Similar permission to which they all agreeed that they wished Colter every Suckcess and that as we did not wish any of them to Seperate untill we Should arive at St. Louis they would not apply or expect it &c.   The Maharha Chief brought us Some Corn, as did also the Chief of the little village of the Menetarras on mules of which they have Several.    [NB: bought from the Crow Inds. who get or Steal them from the Spaniards]     The evening is Cool and windy.    great number of the nativs of the different villages Came to view us and exchange robes with our men for their Skins—    we gave Jo Colter Some Small articles which we did not want and Some powder & lead.    the party also gave him Several articles which will be usefull to him on his expedittion.— This evening Charbono informed me that our back was scercely turned before a war party from the two menetarry villages followed on and attacked and killed the Snake Indians whome we had Seen and in the engagement between them and the Snake indians they had lost two men one of which was the Son of the principal Chief of the little village of the menitarras.     that they had also went to war from the Menetarras and killeld two Ricaras.    he further informed me that a missunderstanding had taken place between the Mandans & minetarras and had verry nearly come to blows about a woman, the Mintarres at length presented a pipe and a reconsilliation took place between them.

Clark makes every effort to arrange a trip for different chiefs to see their Great White Father, but with little success.  While pretty much impressed by Clark and the troops, the Natives seem to resume their tribal differences with hardly any break in their routines.  Colter is given his extended leave from the Group and begins his historic travels back to the wilderness.

August 14th Saturday, 1806

[Clark]  Set out at Sunrise and proceeded on.    when we were opposit the Minetares Grand Village  we Saw a number of the Nativs viewing of    we derected the Blunderbuses fired Several times, Soon after we Came too at a Croud of the nativs on the bank opposit the Village of the Shoe Indians or Mah-har-ha's at which place I saw the principal Chief of the Little Village of the Menitarre  & the principal Chief of the Mah-har-has.     those people were extreamly pleased to See us.    the Chief of the little Village of the Menetarias cried most imoderately, I enquired the Cause and was informed it was for the loss of his Son who had been killed latterly by the Blackfoot Indians.    after a delay of a fiew minits I proceeded on to the black Cats [NB: Mandan] Village  on the N. E. Side of the Missouri where I intended to Encamp but the Sand blew in Such a manner that we deturmined not to continu on that Side but return to the Side we had left. here we were visited by all the inhabitants of this village  who appeared equally as well pleased to See us as those above. I walked up to the Black Cats village & eate some Simnins  with him, and Smoked a pipe    this Village I discovered had been rebuilt Since I left it and much Smaller than it was; on enquirey into the Cause was informed that a quarrel had taken place and [NB: a number of]  Lodges had removed to the opposd Side. I had Soon as I landed despatched Shabono to the Minetarras inviting the Chiefs to visit us, & Drewyer down to the lower Village of the Mandans  to ask Mr. Jessomme  to Come and enterpret for us. Mr. Jessomme arived and I spoke to the chiefs of the Village  informing them that we Spoke to them as we had done when we were with them last and we now repeeted our envitation to the principal Chiefs of all the Villages to accompany us and to the U States &c. &c.    the Black Cat Chief of the Mandans, Spoke and informed me that he wished to Visit the United States and his Great Father but was afraid of the Scioux who were yet at war with them and had killed Several of their men Since we had left them, and were on the river below and would Certainly kill [this] him if he attempted to go down. I indeavered to do away with his objections by informig him that we would not Suffer those indians to hurt any of our red Children who Should think proper to accompany us, and on their return they would be equally protected, and their presents which would be very liberal, with themselves, Conveyed to their own Country at the expence of the U. States &c. &c. The chief promised us Some corn tomorrow. after the Council I directed the Canoes to cross the river to a brook opposit where we Should be under the wind and in a plain where we would be Clear of musquetors &   after Crossing the Chief of the Mah har has told me if I would Send with him he would let me have some corn. I directed Sergt Gass & 2 men to accompany him to his Village, they Soon returned loaded with Corn.    the Chief and his wife also came down. I gave his wife a fiew Needles &c.— The great Chif of all the Menitarres the one eye   Came to Camp also Several other Chiefs of the different Villages. I assembled all the Chiefs on a leavel Spot on the band and Spoke to them &  see next book.

Clark easily falls back into his role of emissary to the Mandans and their nieghbors.  He very sincerely wants some of their Heads of State to accompany the Party on their homeward journey.  The politics involved are pretty tough, but then so is Clark.  Meanwhile they're again eating some garden products. Their taste must seem strange after all that game.

August 13th Friday, 1806

[Clark] the last night was very Cold with a Stiff breeze from the N. W.    all hands were on board and we Set out at Sunrize and proceeded on very well with a Stiff breeze astern the greater part of the day.    passed the enterance of the Little Missouri river at 8 A. M. and arived at the Enterance of Myry river at Sun Set and encamped on the N E Side   haveing came by the assistance of the wind, the Current and our oars 86 miles. below the little bason   I with Drewyer walked through the N. E. point. we Saw an Elk and Several deer. Drewyer wounded the Elk but could not get him. I joined the perogus & party again the bend below and proceeded on. Some indians were Seen in a Skin Canoe below, they were decending from an old Camp of theirs on the S. W. Side, those I suppose to be Some of the Minetaras who had been up on a hunting expedition, one Canoe was left at their Camp.    we had not proceeded far before I discovered two indians on a high hill.    nothing very remarkable took place. the Misquetors are not So troublesom this evening as they have been. the air is cool &c.

Wow, 86 miles on Friday the 13th.  The captains clearly have home in mind as their troopers are once again all together and the wind at their backs.

August 12th Thursday, 1806

[Clark]   I set out early this morning and had not proceeded on far before Shannon discovered he had lost his Tomahk. I derected him to land his Skin Canoe and go back to our Camp of last night in Serch of it, and proceeded on my self with the two wood and one Skin Canoe to a large bottom on the N. E. Side above the head of Jins [NB: Qu: an] island  and landed to take brackfast as well as to delay untill Shannon & Gibson Should arive. Sent out Shields & Labiech to hunt deer in the bottom, at 2  P m. Shannon and gibson arived having found the tomahawk at our camp they killed 3 Elk &c.    one of the Canoes of Buffalow Skin by accident got a hole peirced in her of about 6 inches diamuter. I derected two of the men to patch the Canoe with a piece of Elk skin over the hole, which they did and it proved all Sufficient, after which the Canoe did not leak one drop. The two hunters returned without haveing killed any thing.    at meridian Capt Lewis hove in Sight with the party which went by way of the Missouri as well as that which accompanied him from Travellers rest on Clarks river; I was alarmed on the landing of the Canoes to be informed that Capt. Lewis was wounded by an accident—. I found him lying in the Perogue, he informed me that his wound was slight and would be well in 20 or 30 days this information relieved me very much. I examined the wound and found it a very bad flesh wound the ball had passed through the fleshey part of his left thy below the hip bone and cut the cheek of the right buttock for 3 inches in length and the debth of the ball. Capt L. informed me the accident happened the day before by one of the men Peter Crusat misstakeig him in the thick bushes to be an Elk. Capt Lewis with this Crusat and Several other men were out in the bottom Shooting of Elk, and had Scattered in a thick part of the woods in pursute of the Elk. Crusat Seeing Capt L. passing through the bushes and takeing him to be an Elk from the Colour of his Cloathes which were of leather and very nearly that of the Elk fired and unfortunately the ball passed through the thy as aforesaid. Capt Lewis thinking it indians who had Shot him hobbled to the canoes as fast as possible and was followered by Crusat, the mistake was then discovered. This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole route.— After Capt. Lewis and my Self parted at Travellers rest,  he with the Indians proceeded down the West Side of Clarks river Seven miles and crossed on rafts 2 miles below the East fork 120 yards wide, after Crossing the river he proceeded up the North Side of the east fork and encampd.    here the Indians left him and proceeded down Clarks river in Serch of the Tushepaws.    an Indian man Came up with Cap L. from the W. of the mountains and proceeded on with those who had accompanied us. Capt. L. proceeded up the E. fork of Clarks river 17 ms. to the enterance of Cokahlarishkit river or the river to buffalow, he proceeded up on the North Side of this river which is 60 yards wide crossing Several Small Streams and the N. fork, and passing over part of the dividing mountain onto the waters of Deabourns river in the plains and in a Derection to the N. extremity of Easte range of rocky mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine Island Rapid.    from thence he bore his Course to the N E untill he Struck Meadcin river near where that river Enters the rocky Mts. and proceeded down Medicine river to the Missouri at the white bear Islands at the upper part of the portage.    this rout is a very good one tho not the most derect rout, the most derect rout would be to proceed up the Missouri above Dearborns river and take a right hand road & fall on a South branch of the Cokatlarishkit R. and proceed down that river to the main road    but the best rout would be from the falls of the Missouri by fort mountain and passing the N. extremity of that range of the Rocky Mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine Island rapid Course nearly S. W. and to the gap through which the great road passeds the dividing mountain the distance from the falls to this gap about 45 miles through a tolerable leavel plain on an old indian road.    and the distance from thence to Clarks river is 105 miles. The total distance from the falls of the Missouri to Clarks river is only 150 miles of a tolerable road—    Capt L. arived at the white Bear Islands and encampd. on the West Side of the Missouri and in the morning he discovered that the Indians had taken of Seven of his best horses, drewyer prosued the indians two day's on the rout towards Clarks river.    he Saw their camp on Dearborns river near the road on which Capt. Lewis & party Come on a by place where they had left only one or two day at this encampment he Saw great appearanc of horses—    on the return of Drewyer Capt L. took Drewyer & the 2 fieldses & proceeded on his intended rout up Marias river leaving Sergt. Gass, Thompson, Frazier, Werner, McNeal & Goodrich at the portage to prepare Geer and repar the wheels & Carrage against the arival of the Canoes and he also left 4 horses for the purpose of hauling the Canoes across. The Canoes arrived on the 16th, and on the 26th they had all except one across, the Plains becom So muddy from the emence rains which had fallen, that they Could not get her over the portage.    on the 28th they joined Capt Lewis at the Grog Spring a fiew miles above the enterance of Marias river—. From the Falls of Missouri Capt. L. proceeded on with Drewyer & the 2 fieldses.

The long awaited reunion with Lewis earns a fairly long post by a much releived Clark.  With the original Party intact, Clark gives a good outline of Lewis's meander through the country north of the Missouri.

August 11th Wednesday, 1806

[Lewis]   We set out very early this morning.    it being my wish to arrive at the birnt hills  by noon in order to take the latitude of that place as it is the most northern point of the Missouri, enformed the party of my design and requested that they would exert themselves to reach the place in time as it would save us the delay of nearly one day; being as anxious to get forward as I was they plyed their oars faithfully and we proceeded rapidly. I had instructed the small [c]anoes that if they saw any game on the river to halt and kill it and follow on; however we saw but little game untill about 9 A. M. when we came up with a buffaloe swiming the river which I shot and killed; leaving the small canoes to dress it and bring on the meat I proceeded.    we had gone but little way before I saw a very large grizzly bear and put too in order to kill it, but it took wind of us and ran off.    the small canoes overtook us and informed that the flesh of the buffaloe was unfit for uce and that they had therefore left it    half after 11 A. M. we saw a large herd of Elk on the N. E. shore and I directed the men in the small canoes to halt and kill some of them and continued on in the perogue to the birnt hills; when I arrived here it was about 20 minutes after noon and of course the observation for the Sun symbol's meridian Altitude was lost; jus opposite to the birnt hills there happened to be a herd of Elk on a thick willow bar and finding that my observation was lost for the present I determined to land and kill some of them    accordingly we put too and I went out with Cruzatte only.     we fired on the Elk I killed one and he wounded another, we reloaded our guns and took different routs through the thick willows in pursuit of the Elk; I was in the act of firing on the Elk a second time when a ball struck my left thye about an inch below my hip joint, missing the bone it passed through the left thye and cut the thickness of the bullet across the hinder part of the right thye; the stroke was very severe; I instantly supposed that Cruzatte had shot me in mistake for an Elk as I was dressed in brown leather and he cannot see very well; under this impression I called out to him damn you, you have shot me, and looked towards the place from whence the ball had come, seeing nothing I called Cruzatte several times as loud as I could but received no answer; I was now preswaded that it was an indian that had shot me as the report of the gun did not appear to be more than 40 paces from me and Cruzatte appeared to be out of hearing of me; in this situation not knowing how many indians there might be concealed in the bushes I thought best to make good my retreat to the perogue, calling out as I ran for the first hundred paces as loud as I could to Cruzatte to retreat that there were indians hoping to allarm him in time to make his escape also; I still retained the charge in my gun which I was about to discharge at the moment the ball struck me.    when I arrived in sight of the perogue I called the men to their arms to which they flew in an instant, I told them that I was wounded but I hoped not mortally, by an indian I beleived and directed them to follow me that I would return & give them battle and releive Cruzatte if possible who I feared had fallen into their hands; the men followed me as they were bid and I returned about a hundred paces when my wounds became so painfull and my thye so stiff that I could scarcely get on; in short I was compelled to halt and ordered the men to proceed and if they found themselves overpowered by numbers to retreat in order keeping up a fire. I now got back to the perogue as well as I could and prepared my self with a pistol my rifle and air-gun being determined as a retreat was impracticable to sell my life as deerly as possible.    in this state of anxiety and suspense remained about 20 minutes when the party returned with Cruzatte and reported that there were no indians nor the appearance of any; Cruzatte seemed much allarmed and declared if he had shot me it was not his intention, that he had shot an Elk in the willows after he left or seperated from me. I asked him whether he did not hear me when I called to him so frequently which he absolutely denied. I do not beleive that the fellow did it intentionally but after finding that he had shot me was anxious to conceal his knowledge of having done so.      the ball had lodged in my breeches which I knew to be the ball of the short rifles such as that he had,   and there being no person out with me but him and no indians that we could discover I have no doubt in my own mind of his having shot me.    with the assistance of Sergt. Gass I took off my cloaths and dressed my wounds myself as well as I could, introducing tents of patent lint into the ball holes,   the wounds blead considerably but I was hapy to find that it had touched neither bone nor artery. I sent the men to dress the two Elk which Cruzatte and myself had killed which they did in a few minutes and brought the meat to the river.    the small canoes came up shortly after with the flesh of one Elk.    my wounds being so situated that I could not without infinite pain make an observation I determined to relinquish it and proceeded on.    we came within eight miles of our encampment of the 15th of April 1805 and encamped on N. E. side.     as it was painfull to me to be removed I slept on board the perogue; the pain I experienced excited a high fever and I had a very uncomfortable night.    at 4 P. M. we passed an encampment which had been evacuated this morning by Capt. Clark, here I found a note from Capt. C. informing me that he had left a letter for me at the entrance of the Yelow stone river, but that Sergt. Pryor who had passed that place since he left it had taken the letter; that Sergt. Pryor having been robed of all his horses had decended the Yelowstone river in skin canoes and had over taken him at this encampment.    this I fear puts an end to our prospects of obtaining the Sioux Cheifs to accompany us as we have not now leasure to send and enjage Mr. Heney on this service, or at least he would not have time to engage them to go as early as it is absolutely necessary we should decend the river.

Lewis's wounding by Cruzatte must be the most serious accident of the entire expedition.  Lewis was surely not the only hunter ever mistaken for an elk, as it happens almost routinely today as each hunting season advances.  He was not only unable to esimate the Missouri's latitude at it's most northernly curve, but also, he discontinued his posting the day's events after today's, due to his painful condition. Certainly, he was lucky no infection set in.  The Party's problems getting the entire group back together is also partially explained in this post. Pryor's loss of all the horses was also a great misfortune.

August 10th Tuesday, 1806

[Lewis]   The morning was somewhat cloudy I therefore apprehended rain however it shortly after became fair. I hastened the repairs which were necessary to the perogue and canoe which were compleated by 2 P. M. those not engaged about this business employed themselves as yesterday.    at 4 in the evening it clouded up and began to rain which puting a stop to the opperation of skindressing we had nothing further to detain us, I therefore directed the vessels to be loaded and at 5 P. M. got under way    the wind has blown very hard all day but did not prove so much so this evening as absolutely to detain us.    we decended this evening as low nearly as the entrance of white Earth river and encamped on the S. W. side.    the musquetoes more than usually troublesome this evening.

Lewis and his detachment have now made it into present day North Dakota.  The campsite is nearly on the opposite side of Williston and just above the Little Muddy River.

August 9th Monday, 1806

[Clark]   a heavy dew this morning.    loaded the Canoes and proceeded on down about 6 miles and landed at the Camp of the 2 hunters Shields and Gibson whome I had Sent down to hunt last evening, they had killed five deer two of which were in good order which they brought in.    here I took brackfast and proceeded on a fiew miles and I walked on Shore across a point of near 10 miles in extent in this bottom which was mostly open I saw Some fiew deer and Elk. I killed 3 of the deer which were Meagure the Elk appeared fat. I did not kill any of them as the distance to the river was too great for the men to Carry the meat    at the lower part of this bottom a large Creek of runnig water 25 yds wide falls in which meanders through an open roleing plain of great extent.    in the low bottoms of this Creek I observed Some timber Such as Cottonwood, ash & Elm.    on my arival at the lower part of the bottom found that the canoes had been in waiting for me nearly two hours. The Squar brought me a [NB: 1800 Miles up the Missouri I found a] large and well flavoured Goose berry  of a rich Crimsin Colour, and deep purple berry of the large Cherry of the Current Speces  which is common on this river as low as the Mandans, the engagees Call it the Indian Current. I landed opposit to a high plain on the S. E. Side late in the evening and walked in a Grove of timber where I met with an Elk which I killed.    this Elk was the largest Buck I ever Saw and the fattest animal which have been killed on the rout. I had the flesh and fat of this Elk brought to Camp  and cut thin ready to dry.    the hunters killed nothing this evening.

Clark posts a rather uneventful day's activities.  He did find a goose berry which was pleasantly flavored and a very fat bull elk.

August 8th Sunday, 1806

[Lewis]     Beleiving from the recent appearances about the fire which we past last evening that Capt Clark could be at no great distance below I set out early; the wind [by] heard from the N. E. but by the force of the oars and currant we traveled at a good rate untill 10 A. M. by which time we reached the center of the beaver bends about 8 ms. by water and 3 by land above the entrance of White earth river.      not finding Capt. Clark I knew not what calculation to make with rispect to his halting and therefore determined to proceed as tho' he was not before me and leave the rest to the chapter of accedents.    at this place I found a good beach for the purpose of drawing out the perogue and one of the canoes which wanted corking and reparing.    the men with me have not had leasure since we left the West side of the Rocky mountains to dress any skins or make themselves cloaths and most of them are therefore extreemly bare. I therefore determined to halt at this place untill the perogue and canoe could be repared and the men dress skins and make themselves the necessary cloathing.    we encamped on the N. E. side of the river;   we found the Musquetoes extreemly troublesome but in this rispect there is but little choise of camps from hence down to St. Louis.    from this place to the little Missouri there is an abundance of game    I shall therefore when I leave this place travel at my leasure and avail myself of every opportunity to collect and dry meat untill I provide a sufficient quantity for our voyage not knowing what provision Capt C. has made in this rispect. I formed a camp unloaded the canoes and perogue, had the latter and one of the canoes drawn out to dry, fleased what meat we had collected and hung it on poles in the sun, after which the men busied themselves in dressing skins and making themselves cloaths. Drewyer killed 2 Elk and a deer this evening.    the air is cold yet the Musquetoes continue to be troublesome.—

Lewis decides to stay put a bit and let his men sew up some new clothes and dry meat.  Clark still remains well ahead of him.

August 7th Saturday, 1806

[Clark]   Some hard rain this morning after daylight which wet us all. I formed a Sort of Camped and delayed untill 11 a. m. when it Stoped raining for a short time. I directed every thing put on board and proceeded on down. the rain Continued at intervales all day tho' not hard in the evenig Saw a Bear on the bank but Could not get a Shoot at it.    at 6 P M I landed on a Sand bar on the South Side and Campd.   Soon after we landed the wind blew very hard for about 2 hours, when it lulled a little.    the air was exceedingly Clear and Cold and not a misquetor to be Seen, which is a joyfull circumstance to the Party.

In one of his smallest posts, Clark notes that they failed to get a shot at a bear, and a hard rain

August 6th Friday, 1806

[Clark] I rose very wet.    about 11 P M last night the wind become very hard for a fiew minits Suckceeded by Sharp lightning and hard Claps of Thunder and rained for about 2 hours very hard after which it continued Cloudy the balance of the night.    as we were about Setting out a female Big horn animal came on the bluff imediately above us and looked down. I derected Labeech to Shoot it which he did, after Skinning this animal we Set out and proceeded on to a Sand bar on the S W. Side below the enterance of White earth river where I landed and had the meat Skins and bedding all put out to dry.     wind hard from the N W. I halted on the N W. Side of this river in the bend above the white earth river, where I saw where the Indians had been digging a root which they eate and use in Seup [NB: Soup],   not more than 7 or 8 days past. This morning a very large Bear of white Specis, discovered us floating in the water and takeing us, as I prosume to be Buffalow imediately plunged into the river and prosued us. I directed the men to be Still.    this animal Came within about 40 yards of us, and tacked about.    we all fired into him without killing him, and the wind So high that we could not pursue hi[m], by which means he made his escape to the Shore badly wounded. I have observed buffalow floating down which I suppose must have been drounded in Crossing above.    more or less of those animals drown or mire in passing this river. I observed Several floating buffalow on the R. Rochejhone imediately below where large gangues had Crossed. The wind blew hard all the after part of the day. I derected the men to dress their Skins except one which I took with me and walkd. through the bottom to the foot of the hills    I killed five deer and the man with me killed 2.    four others were killed in the Course of the day by the party only 2 of those deer were fat owing as I suppose to the Musquetors which are So noumerous and troublesom to them that they Cannot feed except under the torments of millions of those Musquetors.

Clark's detail continues down the Missouri, decimating the deer herd and getting pursued by a grizzly.  Clark blames the mosquitoes for the lack of tallow in some of the deer they take.

August 5th Thursday, 1806

[Lewis] Colter and Collins not having arrived induced me to remain this morning for them.    the hunters killed four deer this morning near our encampment. I remained untill noon when I again reimbarked and set out concluding that as Colter and Collins had not arrived by that time that they had passed us after dark the night of the 3rd inst. as Sergt Ordway informed me he should have done last evening had not the centinel hailed him.    we continued our rout untill late in the evening when I came too and encamped on the South side about 10 miles below little dry river.     on our way we killed a fat cow and took as much of the flesh as was necessary for us.    The Feildses killed 2 large bear this evening one of them measured nine feet from the extremity of the nose to that of his tail, this is the largest bear except one that I have seen.    we saw several bear today as we passed but did not kill any of them.    we also saw on our way immence herds of buffaloe & Elk, many deer Antelopes, wolves, geese Eagles &c. but few ducks or prarie hens.    the geese cannot fly at present; I saw a solitary Pillacon  the other day in the same situation.    this happens from their sheding or casting the fathers of the wings at this season.

Lewis posts their game killing numbers as well as spotting what must be a pelican, unable to fly because it was molting.  Lewis seems not to be greatly troubled by the mosquitoes which are driving Clark to a point of near madness, just a short distance away.

August 4th Wednesday, 1806

[Clark]    Musquetors excessively troublesom So much So that the men complained that they could not work at their Skins for those troublesom insects.    and I find it entirely impossible to hunt in the bottoms, those insects being So noumerous and tormenting as to render it imposseable for a man to continue in the timbered lands and our best retreat from those insects is on the Sand bars in the river and even those Situations are only clear of them when the Wind Should happen to blow which it did to day for a fiew hours in the middle of the day.    the evening nights and mornings they are almost indureable perticelarly by the party with me who have no Bears to keep them off at night, and nothing to Screen them but their blankets which are worn and have maney holes. The torments of those Missquetors and the want of a Sufficety of Buffalow meat to dry, those animals not to be found in this neighbourhood induce me to deturmine to proceed on to a more eliagiable Spot on the Missouri below at which place the Musquetors will be less troublesom and Buffalow more plenty. [(]I will here obseve that Elk is Abundant but their flesh & fat is hard to dry in the Sun, and when dry is much easirly Spoiled than either the Buffalow or Deer)    I ordered the Canoes to be reloaded with our baggage & dryed meat which had been Saved on the Rochejhone together with the Elk killed at this place.    wrote a note to Capt Lewis informing him of my intentions and tied it to a pole which I had Stuck up in the point. At 5 P. M Set out and proceeded on down to the 2d point which appeared to be an eligable Situation for my purpose    killed a porcupine  on this point the Musquetors were So abundant that we were tormented much worst than at the point. The Child of Shabono has been So much bitten by the Musquetor that his face is much puffed up & Swelled. I encamped on this extensive Sand bar which is on the N W. Side. 

Clark's detail finishes exploring the Yellowstone and onto the Missouri, but still has no relief from the mosquitoes.  They're still a ways behind the rest of the Party on the big river but they'll finally meet up during the week to come.