Lewis: August 8, 1806

Friday August 8th 1806. Beleiving from the recent appearances about the
fire which we past last evening that Capt Clark could be at no great
distance below I set out early; the wind heard from the N. E. but by the
force of the oars and currant we traveled at a good rate untill 10 A.M. by
which time we reached the center of the beaver bends about 8 ms. by water
and 3 by land above the entrance of White earth river. not finding Capt.
Clark I knew not what calculation to make with rispect to his halting and
therefore determined to proceed as tho he was not before me and leave the
rest to the chapter of accedents. at this place I found a good beach for
the purpose of drawing out the perogue and one of the canoes which wanted
corking and reparing. the men with me have not had leasure since we left
the West side of the Rocky mountains to dress any skins or make themselves
cloaths and most of them are therefore extreemly bare. I therefore
determined to halt at this place untill the perogue and canoe could be
repared and the men dress skins and make themselves the necessary
cloathing. we encamped on the N. E. side of the river; we found the
Musquetoes extreemly troublesome but in this rispect there is but little
choise of camps from hence down to St. Louis. from this place to the
little Missouri there is an abundance of game I shall therefore when I
leave this place travel at my leasure and avail myself of every
opportunity to collect and dry meat untill I provide a sufficient quantity
for our voyage not knowing what provision Capt C. has made in this
rispect. I formed a camp unloaded the canoes and perogue, had the latter
and one of the canoes drawn out to dry, fleased what meat we had collected
and hung it on poles in the sun, after which the men busied themselves in
dressing skins and making themselves cloaths. Drewyer killed 2 Elk and a
deer this evening. the air is cold yet the Musquetoes continue to be
troublesome.-