Clark: September 11, 1804
Septr. 11th Tuesday 1804 Set out early a Cloudy morning the river verry
wide from one hill to the other, with many Sand bars passed the Isd. on
which we lay at a mile passed three Isds. one on the L. S. (1/4 of a mile
from it on the L. S. a village of little Dogs. I Killed four, this village
is 800 yards wide & 970 yds. long on a jentle Slope of a hill in a
plain, those animals are noumerous) the other two Islands are on the S. S.
the river is verry Shallow & wide, the boat got a ground Several timesThe
man G Shannon, who left us with the horses above the Mahar Village, and
beleving us to be ahead pushed on as long as he Could, joined us he Shot
away what fiew Bullets he had with him, and in a plentiful) Countrey like
to have Starvd. he was 12 days without provision, Subsisting on Grapes at
the Same the Buffalow, would Come within 30 yards of his Camp, one of his
horses gave out & he left him before his last belluts were ConsumedI
saw 3 large Spoted foxes today a black tailed Deer, & Killed a Buck
elk & 2 Deer, one othr Elk 2 Deer & a Porkipine Killed to day at
12 oClock it became Cloudy and rained all the after noon, & night.
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Sept. 11th Tuesday 1804 a cloudy morning, Set out verry early, the river
wide & Shallow the bottom narrow, & the river Crouded with Sand
bars, passed the Island on which we lay at one mile-, pased three Islands
one on the L. S. and 2 on the S. S. opposit the Island on the L. S. I Saw
a village of Barking Squriel 970 yds. long, and 800 yds. wide Situated on
a gentle Slope of a hill, those anamals are noumerous, I killed 4 with a
view to have their Skins Stufed.
here the man who left us with the horses 22 days ago and has been a head
ever Since joined, us nearly Starved to Death, he had been 12 days without
any thing to eate but Grapes & one Rabit, which he Killed by shooting
a piece of hard Stick in place of a ball-. This man Supposeing the boat to
be a head pushed on as long as he Could, when he became weak and fiable
deturmined to lay by and waite for a tradeing boat, which is expected
Keeping one horse for the last resorse,thus a man had like to have
Starved to death in a land of Plenty for the want of Bulletes or Something
to kill his meat we Camped on the L. S. above the mouth of a run a hard
rain all the after noon, & most of the night, with hard wind from the
N W. I walked on Shore the fore part of this day over Some broken Country
which Continus about 3 miles back & then is leavel & rich all
Plains, I saw Several foxes & Killed a Elk & 2 Deer. &
Squirels the men with me killed an Elk, 2 Deer & a Pelican
Some rain all day to day & Cold
I walked on Shore Saw Several foxes Several Villages of Prarie dogs, and a
number of Grouse