Clark: October 18, 1804

18th of October 1804. at 6 miles passed the mouth of La Bullet or Cannon
Ball River on the L. Side about 140 yards Wide, and heads near the Black
Mountains above the mouth of this River, in and at the foot of the Bluff,
and in the water is a number of round Stones, resembling Shells and Cannon
balls of Different Sises, and of excellent grit for Grindstonsthe
Bluff continus for about a mile, The water of this River is confined
within 40 yardswe met 2 french men in a Canoe, who informed us they
wer trapping near the mandans and were robed of 4 Traps, & part of
their Skins and Several other articles by Indians he took to be Mandans
those men return with us, Saw emence numbers of Goats all Day S. S. our
hunters Kill Sevral passed a large Creek Called Che wah or fish Creek on
the S. S. 28 yds. wide, passed a Small Creek at 2 m on the L. S. Camped on
the L. S. Saw a no of Buffalow, & in one gangue 248 Elk our hunters
Killed 6 Deer & 4 Elk this evening, The Countrey is leavel and fine
Some high Short hills, and ridges at a Distance, Bottoms fine and
Partially timbered with Cotton wood principally Some ash & Elm.

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18th of October Thursday 1804 Set out early proceeded on at 6 mes. passed
the mouth of (1) la Boulet (or Cannon Ball River) about 140 yards wide on
the L. S. this river heads in the Court not or Black mountains) (a fine
Day) above the mouth of this river Great numbers of Stone perfectly round
with fine Grit are in the Bluff and on the Shore, the river takes its name
from those Stones which resemble Cannon Balls.The water of this
river is Confined within 40 yards. We met 2 french men in a perogue
Desending from hunting, & complained of the Mandans robing them of 4
Traps ther fur & Seeveral othr articles Those men were in the imploy
of our Ricaree interpeter Mr. Gravelin they turned & followered us.

Saw Great numbers of Goats on the S. S. Comeing to the river our hunters
Killed 4 of them Some run back and others crossed & prosceed on their
journey to the Court Noir, at (3) passed a Small River Called Che wah or
fish river on the S. S. this river is about 28 yards wide and heads to the
N. E, passed a Small creek on the L. S. 1 mile abov the last, and Camped
on a Sand bar on the L. S. opposit to us we Saw a Gangue of Buffalow bulls
which we did not think worth while to kill- our hunters Killd. 4 Goats 6
Deer 4 Elk & a pelican & informs that they Saw in one Gang 248
Elk, (I walked on Shore, in the evining with a view to See Some of those
remarkable places mentioned by evens, none of which I could find,) The
Countrey in this quarter is Generally leavel & fine Some high Short
hills, and some ragid ranges of Hills at a Distans

The ricara Indians inform us that they find no black tail Deer as high up
as this place, those we find are of the fallow Deer Kind

The Ricareis are not fond of Spiritous liquers, nor do they apper to be
fond of receiveing any or thank full for it