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The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: Dates July 27, 1804 - July 31, 1804
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark. Dates: July 27, 1804 - July 31, 1804
July 27, 1804
July 27. Having completed the object of our stay, we set
sail, with a pleasant breeze from the N.W. The two horses
swam over to the southern shore, along which we went, passing
by an island, at three and a half miles, formed by a pond,
fed by springs: three miles further is a large sand island,
in the middle of the river; the land on the south being
high, and covered with timber; that on the north, a high
prairie. At ten and a half miles from our encampment, we
saw and examined a curious collection of graves or mounds,
on the south side of the river. Not far from a low piece
of land and a pond, is a tract of about two hundred acres
in circumference, which is covered with mounds of different
heights, shapes, and sizes: some of sand, and some of both
earth and sand; the largest being nearest the river. These
mounds indicate the position of the ancient village of the
Ottoes, before they retired to the protection of the Pawnees.
After making fifteen miles, we encamped on the south, on
the bank of a high handsome prairie, with lofty cottonwood
in groves, near the river.
July 28, 1804
July 28. At one mile, this morning we reached a bluff,
on the north, being the first highlands, which approach
the river on that side, since we left the Nadawa. Above
this, is an island and a creek, about fifteen yards wide,
which, as it has no name, we called Indian Knob creek, from
a number of round knobs bare of timber, on the highlands,
to the north. A little below the bluff, on the north, is
the spot where the Ayauway Indians formerly lived. They
were a branch of the Ottoes, and emigrated from this place
to the river Desmoines. At ten and three quarter miles,
we encamped on the north, opposite an island, in the middle
of the river. The land, generally, on the north, consists
of high prairie and hills, with timber: on the south, low
and covered with cottonwood. Our hunter brought to us in
the evening, a Missouri Indian, whom he had found, with
two others, dressing an elk; they were perfectly friendly,
gave him some of the meat, and one of them agreed to accompany
him to the boat. He is one of the few remaining Missouris,
who live with the Ottoes: he belongs to a small party, whose
camp is four miles from the river; and he says, that the
body of the nation is now hunting buffalo in the plains:
he appeared quite sprightly, and his language resembled
that [36]of the Osage, particularly in his calling a chief,
inca. We sent him back with one of our party next morning,
July 29, 1804
Sunday, July 29, with an invitation to the Indians,
to meet us above on the river, and then proceeded. We soon
came to a northern bend in the river, which runs within
twenty yards of Indian Knob creek, the water of which is
five feet higher than that of the Missouri. In less than
two miles, we passed Boyer's creek on the north, of twenty-five
yards width. We stopped to dine under a shade, near the
highland on the south, and caught several large catfish,
one of them nearly white, and all very fat. Above this highland,
we observed the traces of a great hurricane, which passed
the river obliquely from N.W. to S.E. and tore up large
trees, some of which perfectly sound, and four feet in diameter,
were snapped off near the ground. We made ten miles to a
wood on the north, where we encamped. The Missouri is much
more crooked, since we passed the river Platte, though generally
speaking, not so rapid; more of prairie, with less timber,
and cottonwood in the low grounds, and oak, black walnut,
hickory, and elm.
July 30, 1804
July 30. We went early in the morning, three and
a quarter miles, and encamped on the south, in order to
wait for the Ottoes. The land here consists of a plain,
above the highwater level, the soil of which is fertile,
and covered with a grass from five to eight feet high, interspersed
with copses of large plums, and a currant, like those of
the United States. It also furnishes two species of honeysuckle;
one growing to a kind of shrub, common about Harrodsburgh
(Kentucky), the other is not so high: the flowers grow in
clusters, are short, and of a light pink color; the leaves
too, are distinct, and do not surround the stalk, as do
those of the common honeysuckle of the United States. Back
of this plain, is a woody ridge about seventy feet above
it, at the end of which we formed our camp. This ridge separates
the lower from a higher prairie, of a good quality, with
grass, of ten or twelve inches in height, and extending
back about a mile, to another elevation of [37]eighty or
ninety feet, beyond which is one continued plain. Near our
camp, we enjoy from the bluffs a most beautiful view of
the river, and the adjoining country. At a distance, varying
from four to ten miles, and of a height between seventy
and three hundred feet, two parallel ranges of highland
affords a passage to the Missouri, which enriches the low
grounds between them. In its winding course, it nourishes
the willow islands, the scattered cottonwood, elm, sycamore,
lynn, and ash, and the groves are interspersed with hickory,
walnut, coffeenut, and oak.
July 31, 1804
July 31. The meridian altitude of this day made the
latitude of our camp 41° 18' 1-4/10". The hunters supplied
us with deer, turkies, geese, and beaver; one of the last
was caught alive, and in a very short time was perfectly
tamed. Catfish are very abundant in the river, and we have
also seen a buffaloefish. One our men brought in yesterday
an animal called, by the Pawnees, chocartoosh, and, by the
French, blaireau, or badger. The evening is cool, yet the
mosquitoes are still very troublesome.
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