Clark: September 12, 1806

Friday 12th of September 1806 a thick fog a litile before day which blew
off at day light. a heavy Dew this morning. we Set out at Sunrise the
usial hour and proceeded on very well about 7 miles met 2 perogues from
St. Louis one contained the property of Mr. Choteau bound to the panias on
River Platt, the other going up trapping as high as the Mahars. here we
met one of the french men who had accompanied us as high as the Mandans he
informed us that Mr. McClellen was a fiew miles below the wind blew a head
Soon after we pased those perogues, we Saw a man on Shore who informed us
that he was one of Mr. McClellens party and that he was a Short distance
below, we took this man on board and proceeded on and Met Mr. McClellin at
the St. Michl. Prarie we came too here we found Mr. Jo. Gravelin the
Ricaras enterpreter whome we had Sent down with a Ricaras Chief in the
Spring of 1805 and old Mr. Durion the Sieux enterpreter, we examined the
instructions of those interpreters and found that Gravelin was ordered to
the Ricaras with a Speach from the president of the U. States to that
nation and some presents which had been given the Ricara Cheif who had
visited the U. States and unfortunately died at the City of Washington, he
was instructed to teach the Ricaras agriculture & make every enquirey
after Capt Lewis my self and the party Mr. Durion was enstructed to
accompany Gravelin and through his influence pass him with his presents
& by the tetons bands of Sieux, and to provale on Some of the
Principal chiefs of those bands not exceeding six to Visit the Seat of the
Government next Spring he was also enstructed to make every enquirey after
us. we made Some Small addition to his instructions by extending the
number of Chiefs to 10 or 12 or 3 from each band including the Yanktons
&c. Mr. McClellin receved us very politely, and gave us all the news
and occurrences which had taken place in the Illinois within his knowledge
the evening proveing to be wet and Cloudy we Concluded to continue all
night, we despatched the two Canoes a head to hunt with 5 hunters in them