Clark: June 25, 1805

June 25th Tuesday 1805 a fair worm morning, Clouded & a few drops of
rain at 5 oClock A.M. fair I feel my Self a little unwell with a looseness
&c. &c. put out the Stores to dry & Set Chabonah &c to
Cook for the party against their return-he being the only man left on this
Side with me I had a little Coffee for brackfast which was to me a riarity
as I had not tasted any Since last winter. The wind from the N. W. &
worm. This Countrey has a romantick appearance river inclosed between high
and Steep hills Cut to pieces by revines but little timber and that
Confined to the Rivers & Creek, the Missourie has but a fiew
Scattering trees on its borders, and only one Solitary Cotton tree in
sight of my Camp the wood which we burn is drift wood which is broken to
pieces in passing the falls, not one large tree longer than about 8 or 10
feet to be found drifted below the falls the plains are inferior in point
of Soil to those below, more Stone on the sides of the hill, grass but a
few inches high and but few flowers in the Plains, great quantites of
Choke Cheries, Goose burres, red & yellow berries, & red &
Purple Currents on the edges of water Courses in bottoms & damp
places, about my Camp the Cliffs or bluffs are a hard red or redish brown
earth Containing Iron. we Catch great quantities of Trout, and a kind of
mustel, flat backs & a Soft fish resembling a Shad and a few Cat. at 5
oClock the party returned, fatigued as usial, and proceeded to mend their
mockersons &c. and G Shannon & R, Fds. to of the men who ware Sent
up the medison river to hunt Elk, they killed no Elk, Several Buffalow
& Deer, and reports that the river is 120 yds wide and about 8 feet
deep Some timber on its bordersa powerfull rain fell on the party
on their rout yesterday Wet Some fiew articles, and Caused the rout to be
So bad wet & Deep thay Could with dificuelty proceed, Capt. Lewis
& the men with him much employd with the Iron Boat in fitting it for
the water, dispatched one man to George Drewyers Camp below medison river
for meat &c. a fair after noongreat numbers of buffalow water
opposit to my Camp everry dayit may be here worthy of remark that
the Sales were hoised in the Canoes as the men were drawing them and the
wind was great relief to them being Sufficeritly Strong to move the Canoes
on the Trucks, this is Saleing on Dry land in every Sence of the word,
Serjeant N Pryor Sick, the party amused themselves with danceing untill 10
oClock all Chearfullness and good humer, they all tied up their loads to
make an early Start in the morning.