Clark: April 4, 1806

Friday April 4th 1806. Mouth of quick Sand River This morning early we
Sent Sergt. Ordway in Serch of Sergt. Gass and party below the enterance
of quick Sand river from whome we have yet had no report. in the Course of
a fiew hours both parties returned. Sergt. Gass and party brought the
Flesh of a Bear, and Some venison. they informed us they had killed an Elk
and Six Deer tho the flesh of the greater part of those Animals were So
Meagre that it was unfit for uce, and they had therefore left it in the
woods. Collins who had killed the Bear, found the bead of another in which
there was three young ones; and requested to be permited to return in
order to waylay the bed and kill the female bear; we permited him to do
So; Sergt. Gass and Windser returned with him. Several parties of the
nativs visit us to day as usial both from above and below; those who came
from above were moveing with their families, and those from below appeared
to be impeled mearly by curiosity to See us. About noon we dispatched
Gibson, Shannon, Howard & Wiser in one of the light Canoes, with
orders to proceed up the Columbia to a large bottom on the South Side
about Six Miles above us and there to hunt untill our arrival. late in the
evening Jos Fields and Drewyer returned with a load of dried meat. they
had killed two deer yesterday and informed us that the meat would be dryed
by Mid-day tomorrow. We directed Drewyer and Field’s to assend the river
tomorrow and join Gibson & party, and hunt untill our arrival. this
evening being fair observed time and distance of moon’s Eastern Limb from
regulus with Sextant * West