Clark: May 25, 1805

May 25th Satturday 1805″ The two Canoes left for meat yesterday did not
joint us untill 8 oClock this morning at which time we Set out, the
morning Cool & pleasent wind a head all day from the S. W. we pass a
Creek on the Lard. Side about 20 yards wide, which does not run, we also
passd 7 Islands, I walked on Shore and killed a female Ibex or big horn
animal in my absence Drewyer & Bratten killed two others, this animale
is a species peculiar to this upper part of the Missouri, the head and
horns of the male which Drewyer killed to day weighed 27 lbs it was
Somewhat larger than the Mail of the Common Deer;) The body reather
thicker deeper and not So long in proportion to its hight as the common
Deer; the head and horns of the male are remarkably large Compared with
the other parts of the animal; the whole form is much more delicate than
that of the common goat, and there is a greater disparity in the Size of
the mail and female than between those of either the deer or goat. the eye
is large and prominant, the puple of a deep Sea green and Small, the iris
of a Silvery Colour much like the common Sheep; the bone above the Eye is
remarkably prominant; the head nostrils and division of the upper lip are
precisely in form like the Sheep. their legs resemble the Sheep more than
any other animal with which I am acquainted tho they are more delicately
formed, like the Sheep they stand foward in the Knee and the lower joint
of the fore leg is Smallest where it joins the Knee, the hoof is black and
large in perpotion, is divided, very open and roundly pointed at the toe;
like the Sheep; is much hollowed and Sharp on the under edge like the
Scotch goat, has two Small Hoofs behind each foot below the ankle as the
goat Sheep and Deer have. the belley, iner Side of the legs, and the
extremity of the rump and buttocks for about two inches 1/2 around the but
of the tail, are white, as is also the tail except just at its extremity
on the upper Side which is of a dark brown. the tail is about 3 inches in
length covered with Short hair, or at least not longer than that of the
boddy; the outer part of the animal are of a duskey brown or reather a
lead coloured light brown; the animal is now Sheding its winter coat which
is thick not quite as long as that of the Deer and appears to be inter
mixt with a considerable quantity of fine fur which lies next to the Skin
and concealed by the Coarcer hair; the Shape of the hair itself is
cylindric as that of the Antilope is, but is Smaller, Shorter and not
Compressed or flattened as that of the deers winter Coat is. I believe
this animal only Sheds it’s hair once a year. it has Eight fore teeth in
the underjaw and no canine teeth. The Horns are large at their base, and
occupy the Crown of the head almost entirely, they are compressed, bent
backwards and lunated; the Surface Swelling into wavey rings which
incircleing the horn continue to Succeed each other from the base to the
extremity and becomeing less elivated and more distant as they receed from
the head. The horn for about two thirds of its length is filled with a
porus bone which is united with the frontal bone (Capt. Lewis obtained the
bones of the upper part of the head of this Animal at the big Bone Lick in
the State of Kentucky which I Saw and find to be the Same in every respect
with those of the Missouri and the Rockey Mountains) the horns of the
female are Small, but are also compressed and bent backwards and incircled
with a Succession of wavy rings. the horn is of a light brown Colour; when
Dressed it is almost white extreamly transparent and very elastic. this
horn is used by the nativs in constructing their bows; I have no doubt of
it’s elegance and usefullness in hair Combs, and might probably answer as
maney valuable purpoces to civilized man, as it does to the native
indians, who form their water Cups, Spoons and platters of it. the females
have already brought forth their young indeed from the Size of the young,
I Suppose that they produce them early in March. they have from one to two
at a birth. they feed on grass, but principally on the arramatic herbs
which grow on the Clifts and inaccessable hights which they frequent most
commonly, and the places they generally collect to lodge is the Cranies or
Cevices of the rocks in the face of inaccessable precepices, where the
wolf nor Bear Can reach them, and where indeed man himself would in maney
instances find a Similar deficiency; yet those animals bound from rock to
rock and Stand apparently in the most Careless manner on the Side of
precipices of maney hundred feet. they are very Shy and quick of both Sent
and Sight. The flesh of this animal is dark and I think inferior to the
flesh of the Common Deer, and Superior to the antilope of the Missouri and
the Columbian Plains-. In my walk of this day I saw mountts. on either
side of the river at no great distance, those mountains appeared to be
detached, and not ranges as laid down by the Minetarrees, I also think I
saw a range of high mounts. at a great distance to the S S W. but am not
certain as the horozon was not clear enough to view it with Certainty. The
country on either side is high broken and rockey a dark brown hard rugid
Stone intermixed with a Soft white Sand Stone. the hills contain Coal or
cabonated wood as below and Some Scattering pumistone. the Sides of the
river is bordered with coars gravel, which in maney places have washed
either together or down Small brooks and forms bars at Some distance in
the water, around which the current passes with great valocity. the
bottoms between hills and river are narrow and Contain Scercely any
timber. The appearence of Salts, and bitumun Still Continue. we Saw a
polecat to day being the first which we have Seen for Some time past. The
Air of this quarter is pure and helthy. the water of the Missouri well
tasted not quite So muddy as it is below, not withstanding the last rains
has raised the river a little it is less muddy than it was before the
rain.