Clark: September 4, 1806

Thursday 4th September 1806 The Musquitors became troublesom early this
morning I rose at the usial hour found all the party as wet as rain could
make them. as we were in want of Some tobacco I purposed to Mr. Airs to
furnish us with 4 Carrots for which we would Pay the amount to any
Merchant of St. Louis he very readily agreed to furnish us with tobacco
and gave to each man as much as it is necessary for them to use between
this and St. Louis, an instance of Generossity for which every man of the
party appears to acknowledge. Mr. Airs also insisted on our accepting a
barrel of flourwe gave to this gentleman what Corn we Could Spear
amounting to about 6 bushels, this Corn was well Calculated for his
purpose as he was about to make his establishment and would have it in his
power to hull the Corn & The flower was very acceptable to us. we have
yet a little flour part of what we carried up from the Illinois as high as
Maria’s river and buried it there untill our return &c. at 8 A. M we
took our leave and Set out, and proceeded on very well, at 11 A.M. passed
the Enterance of the big Sieoux River which is low, and at meridian we
came too at Floyds Bluff below the Enterance of Floyds river and assended
the hill, with Capt Lewis and Several men, found the grave had been opened
by the nativs and left half Covered. we had this grave Completely filled
up, and returned to the Canoes and proceeded on to the Sand bar on which
we encamped from the 12th to the 20th of August 1804 near the Mahar
Village, here we came to and derected every wet article put out to dry,
all the bedding of the party and Skins being wet. as it was late in the
evening we deturmined to continue all night. had issued to each man of the
party a cup of flour. we See no Species of Game on the river as usial
except wild geese and pelicans. I observed near Sergt Floyds Grave a
number of flurishing black walnut trees, these are the first which I have
seen decending the river. a little before night Several Guns were heard
below and in a direction towards the Mahar village which induced us to
suspect that Mr. McClellin who we was informed was on his way up to trade
with the Mahars had arived at the Creek below and that those reports of
Guns was Some of his party out hunting. every thing being dry we derected
the Perogue & Canoes to be loaded and in readiness to Set out in the
morning early. at dark the Musquetors became troublesom and continued So
all night the party obtained but little Sleepwe made 36 miles only
to daye.