Clark: April 22, 1805

22nd of April Monday 1805 a verry cold morning Some frost, we Set out at
an early hour and proceeded on verry well untill brackfast at which time
the wind began to blow verry hard ahead, and Continued hard all day we
proceeded on with much dificuelty with the assistance of the toe Ropes.
Capt. Lewis & my Self walked to the ____ River which is near the
Missouri four miles above its mouth, this river is 60 yards wide and
contains a greater perportion of water at this time than is Common for
Rivers of its Size it appears navagable as fur as any of the party was,
and I am told to near its Source in morrasses in the open Plains, it
passes (as far as we can See which is 6 or 7 Leagus) thro a butifull
extinsive vallie, rich & fertile and at this time Covered with
Buffalow, Elk & antelopes, which may be Seen also in any other
direction in this quarterthis river must take its rise at no great
distance Easte of the Saskashawan, and no doubt as far N. as Latd. 50°

Some of the high plains or the broken Revien of the river contains great
quantity of Pebble Stones of various Sizes, The Stratum of Coal is much
richer than below, the appearances of Mineral & burnt hills Still
continue the river riseing a little, Saw an emence number of beaver
feeding on the waters edge & Swiming Killed Several, Capt. Lewis
assended a hill from the top of which he had a most inchanting prospect of
the Countrey around & the meanderings of the two rivers, which is
remarkable Crookeda buffalow calf which was on the Shore alone
followed Cap Lewis Some distance,I observed a large drove of
buffalow prosued by wolves the wolves cought one of their Calves in my
view, those animals defend their young as long as they Can keep up with
the drove