Clark: September 21, 1804

21st of September 1804 Friday 1804, last night or reather this morng at a
half past one oClock the Sand bar on which we Camped began to give way,
which allarmed the Serjt on guard & the noise waked me, I got up and
by the light of the moon observed that the Sand was giving away both above
& beloy and would Swallow our Perogues in a few minits, ordered all
hands on board and pushed off we had not got to the opposit Shore before
pt. of our Camp fel into the river. we proceeded on to the Gorge of the
bend & brackfast, the Distance of this bend around is 30 miles, and
11/4 miles thro, the high lands extinds to the gauge and is about 200 feet
the plain in the bend as also the two opposit Sides abov and below is
delightfull plains with graduel assents from the river in which there is
at this time Great number of Buffalow Elk & Goats feedg The Course
from the gauge on the L. S. is S. 70 W. 41/2 Miles to the pt. of Ceder
Timber on the L. S. pass Sands. worthy of remark the Cat fish not So
plenty abov white river & much Smaller than usial, Great nunbers of
Brant & plover, also goat and black tail Deer.

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21st of September Friday 1804 at half past one oClock this morning the
Sand bar on which we Camped began to under mind and give way which
allarmed the Sergeant on Guard, the motion of the boat awakened me; I get
up & by the light of the moon observed that the land had given away
both above and below our Camp & was falling in fast. I ordered all
hands on as quick as possible & pushed off, we had pushed off but a
few minets before the bank under which the Boat & perogus lay give
way, which would Certainly have Sunk both Perogues, by the time we made
the opsd. Shore our Camp fell in, we made a 2d Camp for the remainder of
the night & at Daylight proceeded on to the Gouge of this Great bend
and Brackfast, we Sent a man to measure step off the Distance across the
gouge, he made it 2000 yds. The distance arround is 30 mes. The hills
extend thro the gouge and is about 200 foot above the waterin the
bend as also the opposite Sides both abov and below the bend is a butifull
inclined Plain in which there is great numbers of Buffalow, Elk &
Goats in view feeding & Scipping on those Plains Grouse, Larks &
the Prarie bird is Common in those Plains. we proceeded on passed a (1)
willow Island below the mouth of a Small river called Tylors R about 35
yds. wide which corns in on the L. S. 6 miles above the Gorge of the bend,
at the mouth of this river the two hunters a head left a Deer & its
Skin also the Skin of a white wolfwe observe an emence number of Plover of
Different kind Collecting and takeing their flight Southerly, also Brants
which appear to move in the same Direction. The Cat fish is Small and not
So plenty as below (2) The Shore on each Side is lined with hard rough
Gulley Stones of different Sides, which has roled from the hills & out
of Small brooks, Ceder is comon here, This day is worm, the wind which is
not hard blows from the S. E, we Camped at the lower point of the Mock
Island on the S. S. this now Connected with the main land, it has the
appearance of once being an Island detached from the main land Covered
with tall Cotton woodwe Saw Some Camps and tracks of the Seaux
which appears to be old three or four weeks agoone frenchman I fear
has got an abscess on his they, he complains verry much we are makeing
every exertion to releiv him The Praries in this quarter Contains Great
qts. of Prickley Pear.