Clark: November 3, 1805

November 3rd Sunday 1805 The fog So thick this morning we did not think it
prudent to Set out untill 10 oClock we Set out and proceeded on verry
well, accompanied by our Indian friendsThis morning Labich killed 3
Geese flying Collins killed a DuckThe water rose Inches last night
the effects of tide. The Countrey has a handsom appearance in advance no
mountains extensive bottomsthe water Shallow for a great distance
from Shore-. The fog continued thick untill 12 oClock, we Coasted, and
halted at the mouth of a large river on the Lard Side, This river throws
out emence quanty of Sand and is verry Shallow, th narrowest part 200
yards wide bold Current, much resembling the river Plat, Several Islands
about 1 mile up and has a Sand bar of 3 miles in extent imedeately in its
mouth, discharging it waters by 2 mouths, and Crowding its Corse Sands So
as to throw the Columbian waters on its Nothern banks, & confdg it to
1/2 ms. in width Passed a Small Prarie on the Stard. Side above, a large
Creek opposit qk Sand River on the Stard. Side, extensive bottoms and low
hilley Countrey on each Side (good wintering Place) a high peaked mountain
Suppose to be Mt. Hood is on the Lard Side S. 85 E. 40 miles distant from
the mouth of quick Sand river.-

—

November 3rd Sunday 1805 The Fog So thick this morning that we could not
See a man 50 Steps off, this fog detained us untill 10 oClock at which
time we Set out, accompanied by our Indian friends who are from a village
near the great falls, previous to our Setting out Collins killed a large
Buck, and Labiech killed 3 Geese flying. I walked on the Sand beech Lard.
Side, opposit the canoes as they passed allong. The under groth rushes,
vines &c. in the bottoms too thick to pass through, at 3 miles I
arrived at the enterance of a river which appeared to Scatter over a Sand
bar, the bottom of which I could See quite across and did not appear to be
4 Inches deep in any part; I attempted to wade this Stream and to my
astonishment found the bottom a quick Sand, and impassableI called
to the Canoes to put to Shore, I got into the Canoe and landed below the
mouth, & Capt Lewis and my Self walked up this river about 11/2 miles
to examine this river which we found to be a verry Considerable Stream
Dischargeing its waters through 2 Chanels which forms an Island of about 3
miles in length on the river and 11/2 miles wide, composed of Corse Sand
which is thrown out of this quick Sand river Compressing the waters of the
Columbia and throwing the whole Current of its waters against its Northern
banks, within a Chanel of 1/2 a mile wide, Several Small Islands 1 mile up
this river, This Stream has much the appearance of the River Plait;
roleing its quick Sands into the bottoms with great velocity after which
it is divided into 2 Chanels by a large Sand bar before mentioned, the
narrowest part of this River is 120 yards-on the Opposit Side of the
Columbia a falls in above this Creek on the Same Side is a Small prarie.
extensive low country on each Side thickly timbered.

The Quick Sand river appears to pass through the low countrey at the foot
of those high range of mountains in a Southerly direction,The large
Creeks which fall into the Columbia on the Stard. Side rise in the Same
range of mountains to the N. N. E. and pass through Some ridgey landA
Mountain which we Suppose to be Mt. Hood is S. 85 E about 47 miles distant
from the mouth of quick sand river This mtn. is Covered with Snow and in
the range of mountains which we have passed through and is of a Conical
form but rugidafter takeing dinner at the mouth of this river we
proceeded on passed the head of a Island near the lard Side back of which
on the Same Side and near the head a large Creek falls in, and nearly
opposit & 3 miles below the upper mouth of quick Sand river is the
lower mouth, This Island is 31/2 miles long, has rocks at the upper point,
Some timber on the borders of this Island in the middle open and ponney.
Some rugid rocks in the middle of the Stream opposit this Island.
proceeded in to Center of a large Island in the middle of the river which
we call Dimond Isld. from its appearance, here we met 15 Indn men in 2
canoes from below, they informed us they Saw 3 vestles below &c. &c.
we landed on the North Side of this Dimond Island and Encamped, Capt. L
walked out with his gun on the Island, Sent out hunters & fowlersbelow
quick Sand River the Countrey is low rich and thickly timbered on each
Side of the river, the Islands open & Some ponds river wide and emence
numbers of fowls flying in every direction Such as Swan, geese, Brants,
Cranes, Stalks, white guls, comerants & plevers &c. also great
numbers of Sea Otter in the rivera Canoe arrived from the village
below the last rapid with a man his wife and 3 children, and a woman whome
had been taken prisoner from the Snake Inds. on Clarks River I Sent the
Interpreters wife who is a So So ne or Snake Indian of the Missouri, to
Speake to this Squar, they Could not understand each other Sufficiently to
Converse. This familey and the Inds. we met from below continued with us
Capt Lewis borrowed a Small Canoe of those Indians & 4 men took her
across to a Small lake in the Isld. Cap L. and 3 men Set out after night
in this Canoe in Serch of the Swans, Brants Ducks &c. &c. which
appeared in great numbers in the Lake, he Killed a Swan and Several Ducks
which made our number of fowls this evening 3 Swan, 8 brant and 5 Ducks,
on which we made a Sumptious Supper. We gave the Indian-who lent the Canoe
a brant, and Some meat to the others. one of those Indians, the man from
the village near the lower Rapids has a gun with a brass barrel & Cock
of which he prises highlynote the mountain we Saw from near the
forks proves to be Mount Hood