Clark: July 30, 1804
July the 30th Monday Set out early & proceeded on West 33/4 mes.
passd. one pt. to the L. S and one to the S. S. to a Clear open Prarie on
the L. S. which is on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the bottom which
is also a prarie covered with high grass Plumbs Grape Vine &
Hezel-both forming a Bluff to the River, the Lower Prarie is above high
water mark at the foot of the riseing ground & below the High Bluff we
came to in a grove of timber and formed a Camp raised a flag Pole, and
deturmind to waite for the Ottu IndiansThe white Horse which we
found below Died last night, after posting out the Guards &c. &.
Sent out 4 men to hunt I am ingaged in ____ and Drawing off my courses to
accompany the map Drawn at White Catfish Camp, Capt. Lewis and my Self
walked in the Prarie on the top of the Bluff and observed the most
butifull prospects imagionable, this Prarie is Covered with grass about 10
or 12 Inch high, (Land rich) rises about 1/2 a mile back Something higher
and is a Plain as fur as Can be Seen, under those high Lands next the
river is butifull Bottom interspersed with Groves of timber, the River may
be Seen for a great Distance both above & below meandering thro the
plains between two ranges of High land which appear to be from 4 to 20 ms.
apart, each bend of the river forming a point which Contains tall timber,
principally Willow Cotton wood some Mulberry elm Sycamore & ash. the
groves Contain walnit coffeenut & Oake in addition & Hickory &
Lynn Jo. Fields Killed Brarow or as the Ponie call it Cho car tooch, this
animale burrows in the ground & feeds on Bugs and flesh principally
the little Dogs of the Prarie, also Something of Vegetable Kind his Shape
& Size is like that of a Beever, his head Mouth &c. is like a Dog
with its ears Cut off, his tale and hair like that of a Ground hog
Something longer and lighter, his interals like a Hogs, his Skin thick
& loose, white & hair Short under its belly, of the Species of the
Bear, and it has a white Streake from its nose to its Sholders, the Toe
nails of its fore feet which is large is 1 Inch and 3/4 qtr. long and
those of his hind feet which is much Smaller is 3/4 long. We have this
animale Skined and Stuffed. Short legs, raseing himself just above the
ground when in motion Jo & R. fields Killed Som Deer at a Distance and
Came in for a horse to bring them in, they have not returned this evening,
a gred number of Swans in a pond above L. S. to our Camp. Serjt. Floyd
verry unwell a bad Cold &c. Several men with Boils, great qts. of
Catfish G. D. Cought one Small Beever alive. Som Turkey & Gees Killed
to day. arms & all things in order. a fair evining, and Cool.
—
July 30th Monday 1804 Set out this morning early proceeded on to a Clear
open Prarie on the L. S. on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the bottom
which is also a Prarie both forming Bluffs to the river of High Grass
& Plumb bush Grapes &c. and Situated above high water is a Small
Grove of timber at the foot of the Riseing Ground between those two
priraries, and below the Bluffs of the high Prarie we Came too and formed
a Camp, intending to waite the return of the french man & Indiansthe
white horse which we found near the Kanzeis River, Died Last night
posted out our guard and Sent out 4 men, Captn. Lewis & went up the
Bank and walked a Short Distance in the high Prarie. this Prairie is
covered with Grass of 10 or 12 inches in hight. Soil of good quallity
&, Still further back at the Distance of about a mile the Countrey
rises about 80 or 90 feet higher, and is one Continual Plain as fur as Can
be Seen, from the Bluff on the 2d rise imediately above our Camp the most
butifull prospect of the River up & Down and the Countrey opsd.
prosented it Self which I ever beheld; The River meandering the open and
butifull Plains, interspursed with Groves of timber, and each point
Covered with Tall timber, Such as willow Cotton Sun Mulberry, Elm,
Sucamore, Lynn & ash (The Groves Contain Hickory, Walnut, Coffeenut
& Oake in addition)
Two ranges of High Land parrelel to each other and from 4 to 10 miles
Distant between which the river & its bottoms are Contained. (from 70
to 300 feet high)
Joseph Fields Killed and brought in an Anamale Called by the French
Brarow, and by the Ponies Cho car tooch this Anamale Burrows in the Ground
and feeds on Flesh, (Prarie Dogs), Bugs, & vigatables”His Shape
& Size is like that of a Beaver, his head mouth &c. is like a Dogs
with Short Ears, his Tail and Hair like that of a Ground Hog, and longer,
and lighter. his Interals like the interals of a Hog,” his Skin thick and
loose, his Belly is White and the Hair Shorta white Streek from his
nose to his Sholders.
The toe nails of his fore feet is one Inch & 3/4 long, & feet
large; the nails of his hind feet 3/4 of an Inch long, the hind feet Small
and toes Crooked, his legs are Short and when he Moves Just Suffcent to
raise his body above the Ground He is of the Bear Species. we hav his Skin
Stuffed
Jo. & R. Fields did not return this evening, Several men with Verry
bad BoilsCat fish is Cought in any part of the river Turkeys Gees
& a Beaver Killed & Cought every thing in prime order men in high
Spirits. a fair Still evening Great no. misquitors this evening
