Lewis: May 22, 1805

Wednesday May 22cd 1805. The wind blew so violently this morning that we
did not think it prudent to set out untill it had in some measure abated;
this did not happen untill 10 A.M. when we proceeded principally by the
toe lines the bottoms somewhat wider than usual, the lands fertile or
apparently so tho the short grass and the scantey proportion of it on the
hills would indicate no great fertility. passed Windy Island on Lard. at 1
M. 51/2 miles above passed a large Island in a bend on Stard. side, and
three miles further on the same side passed the entrance of grows Creek 20
yds wide, affords but little water. this creek we named from seeing a
number of the pointed tail praire hen near it’s mouth, these are the fist
we have seen in such numbers for some days. I walked on shore this morning
the country is not so broken as yesterday tho still high and roling or
wavy; the hills on Lard. side possess more pine than usual; some also on
the Stard. hills. Salts and other mineral appearances as usual. the river
continues about the same width or from 200 to 250 yds. wide, fewer
sandbars and the courant more gentle and regular; game not so abundant as
below the Muscle Shell river. I killed a deer in the course of my walk
today. Capt. C. also walked out this evening and took a view of the
country from a conspicuous point and found it the same as has been
discribed. we have caught but few fish since we left the Mandans, they do
not bite freely, what we took were the white cat of 2 to 5 lbs. I presume
that fish are scarce in this part of the river. We encamped earlyer this
evening than usual in order render the oil of a bear which we killed. I do
not believe that the Black bear common to the lower part of this river and
the Atlantic States, exists in this quarter; we have neither seen one of
them nor their tracks which would be easily distinguished by it’s
shortness of tallons when compared with the brown grizly or white bear. I
believe that it is the same species or family of bears which assumes all
those colours at different ages and seasons of the year.