Clark: May 28, 1805

May 28th Tuesday 1805 a Cloudy morning Some fiew drops of rain and verry
Smokey wind from the S. W. we Set out at an early hour, the Shoaley places
are verry numerous and Some bad to get around we have to make use of the
Cord & Poles, and our tow. ropes are all except one of Elkskin, &
Stretch and Sometimes brake which indanger the Perogues or Canoe, as it
imedeately turns and if any rock Should chance to be below, the rapidity
of the current would turn her over, She Should chance to Strike the rock
we observe great Caution at those places.

I walked on Shore found the Countrey ruged and as described yesterday, I
Saw great numbers of the Big horned animals, one of which I killed their
fauns are nearly half grownone of the Party Saw a verry large bear,
picked up on the Shore a pole which had been made use of by the Nativs for
lodge poles, & haul’d by dogs it is new and is a Certain Sign of the
Indians being on the river above a foot ball and Several other articles
are also found to Substantiate this oppinion-. at 1 oClock we had a few
drops of rain and Some thunder whic is the first thunder we have had Sinc
we Set out from Fort Mandan; at 10 miles the the hills begin to widen
& the river Spreds & is crouded with Islands the bottoms Contain
Some Scattering Cotton wood the Islands also Contain timberpassed a
Creek of running water on the Stard Side about 35 yards wide and camped
imedeately opposit to a Small Creek on the Lard. Side we call Bull Creek
from the Circumstance of a Buffalow Bull swiming from the opposit Side and
comeing out of the river imedeately across one of the Perogues without
Sinking or injureing any thing in the Perogue, and passing with great
violence thro our Camp in the night makeing 3 angles without hurting a
man, altho they lay in every direction, and it was very dark The Creek
below 35 yards wide I call Thompsons Creek after a valuable member of our
partythis Creek contains a Greater preportion of running water than
Common.