Clark: October 19, 1804

19th of October Friday 1804. Set out early under a gentle Breeze from the
S. E. more timber than Common in the bottoms passed a large Pond on the S.
S. I walked out on the high land L. Side and observed great numbers of
Buffalows, I counted in view at one time 52 gangues of Buffalow & 3 of
Elk, besides Deer & goats &c. all the Streems falling from the
hills or high lands So brackish that the water Can’t be Drank without
effecting the person making use of it as Globesalts-, I saw in my walk
Several remarkable high Conocal hills, one 90 feet, one 60 and others
Smaller-the Indian Chief Say that the Callemet Bird live in the hollows of
those hills, which holes are made by the water passing from the top &
&. I also Saw an old Village fortified Situated on the top of a high
Point, which the Ricarra Chief tels me were Mandans, we Camped on the L.
S. I Killed a Deer & Saw Swans &c. our hunters Killed 4 Elk and 6
Deer to Day

—

19th October Friday 1804 a fine morning wind from the S. E. we Set out
early under a gentle Breeze and proceeded on verry well, more timber than
Common on the banks on this part of the riverpassed a large Pond on
the S. S.I walked out on the Hills & observed Great numbers of
Buffalow feedeing on both Sides of the river I counted 52 Gangues of
Buffalow & 3 of Elk at one view, all the runs which come from the high
hills which is Generally about one or 2 miles from the water is brackish
and near the Hills (the Salts are) and the Sides of the Hills & edges
of the Streems, the mineral salts appear I saw Som remarkable round hills
forming a Cone at top one about 90 foot one 60 & Several others
Smaller, the Indian Chief Say that the Callemet bird live in the holes of
those hills, the holes form by the water washing thro Some parts in its
passage Down from the topnear one of those noles, on a point of a
hill 90 feet above the lower plane I observed the remains of an old
village, which had been fortified, the Indian Chief with us tels me, a
party of Mandins lived there, Here first saw ruins of Mandan nation we
proceeded on & Camped on the L. S. opposit the upper of those Conocal
hills our hunters killed 4 Elk 6 Deer & a pelican, I saw Swans in a
Pond & Killed a fat Deer in my walk, Saw above 10 wolves. This day is
pleasent