Clark: September 5, 1804
5th September 1804 Wednesday, Set out early the wind blew hard from the
South as it has for Some Days past, we Set up a jury mast & Sailed, I
saw a large gangue of Turkeys, also Grous Seen Passed a large Island of
about 3 miles long in the Middle of the river opposit the head of this
Island the Poncarre River Coms into the Missourei on the L. S.the
S. S is a Clift under which great numbers of Springs run out of mineral
water, Saw Several wild goats on the Clift & Deer with black tales,-
Sent Shields & Gibson to the Poncas Towns, which is Situated on the
Ponca river on the lower side about two miles from its mouth in an open
butifull Plain, at this time this nation is out hunting the biffalow they
raise no corn or Beens, Gibson killed a Buffalow in the Town, The two men
which has been absent several Days is ahead, we came to on the upper pt.
of a large Island at 3 oClock to make a mast Sent out Some hunters on the
Island (which I call no preserve Island, at this place we used the last of
our Preservs) They killed 3 bucks, & two Elk which welurked
—
September 5th Wednesday 1804 Set out early the winds blew hard from the
South, Goats turkeys Seen to day, passed a large Island (1) opsd. this
Island near the head the Poncasar River Coms into the Missourie from the
West this river is about 30 yards wide. dispatched two men to the
Poncaries Village Situated in a handsom Plain on the lower Side of this
Creek about two miles from the Missourie (the Poncasars nation is Small
and at this time out in the praries hunting the Buffalow), one of the men
Sent to the Village Killed a Buffalow in the town, the other, a large Buck
near it, Some Sign of the two men who is a head.
above the Island on the S. S We passed under a Bluff of Blue earth, under
which Seveal Mineral Springs broke out of the water of which had a taste
like Salts, we Came too on the upper point of a large Island (which I call
No preserves Island) here we made a Ceeder Mast, our hunters brought in
three bucks, and two elks this evening which we had jurked
One of the hunter Shields, informed that he Saw Several black tailed Deer,
near the Poncaser Village
