Lewis and Clark. DIARY. April 1805

Lewis and Clark. DIARY. April 1805

Here it is a video about the full Lewis' and Clark's journey:

APRIL 1,  1805

They have had thunder lightning hail and rain that day -  the first rain of note since the 15 of October,  they  had the Boat Perogus and Canos put in the water, and expect to set off the boat with  6 Americans, 3 Frenchmen, and perhaps Several ricarra. Chief imediately after they should assend in 2 perogus and 6 canoes, accompanied by 5 french who intends to asssend a short distance to trap the beaver which is in great abundance  higher up.  Their party would consist of one Interpter & Hunter, one French man as an interpreter with his two wives,  26 americans and french Clark`s servant and an Mandan Indains and provisions for 4 months.

So, this day it was a long-lasting rain and Clark with his people had the Boat Perogus & Canoes all put into the water.

APRIL 4,  1805

Three previous days Lewis and Clark prepared for their living Fort Mandan. But it was a blustering windy day, so they continued to arrange things to set out later.

APRIL 5,  1805

 They had 2 pirogues and 6 canoes loaded with stores and provision, principally provision. In addition they had some Indian clothes at different boxes. The wind was very strong from north – west. Moreover, a number of Mandan visited Lewis and Clark that day.

APRIL 6,  1805

A fine day. Clark and Lewis were visited by a number of mandans, they were informed of the arrival of the whole of the ricarra nation on the other side of the river near their old village. They had sent an interpreter to see all this  with orders to return immediately and to let them know if their Chiefs ment to go down to see their great father.

Moreover this day Clark decided to continue their journey and not ot wait for the end of the spring but to set out in a few days.

APRIL 7,  1805

Lewis and Clark send the keelboat and approx. a dozen men back down the river, with maps, reports, Indian artifacts and other scientific specimens for Jefferson. At 4 oclock P M, the boat, in which there were  6 soldiers 2 frenchmen  and  an Indian, all under  the  command  of a corporal  who  has  the  charge  of d ispatches,  and  a  canoe  with 2  french  men, set out  down  the  river for  St. Louis.

Their party was consisting of Sergt. Nathaniel Pryor, Sgt John Ordway, Sgt. Pat: Gass, William Bratten, John Colter, Joseph  and  Reubin Fields, John Shields, George Gibson, George Shannon, John Potts, John Collins, Jos: Whitehouse, Richard Windser, Alexander Willard, Hugh Hall, Silas Gutrich, Robert Frazure, Peter Crouzat, John Baptiest la page, Francis Labich, Hugh McNeal, William Werner, Thomas P. Howard, Peter Wiser, J.B. Thompson and my Servent york, George Drewyer , Shabonah and his Indian wife , one Mandan and Shabonahs infant.

Later this day Lewis that they left fort Mandan for at least 200 miles.  So, this day was the happiest in the full Lewis` and Clark`s journey and of Lewis` life at all.

APRIL 8,  1805

April 8th they set out early in the morning, the wind blew hard against journeymen from the North-West, so  they  travelled very slowly. Lots of inhabitants viewed Clark and his people passing them by. Clark  walked on shore, and visited the black Cat, took leave of him after smoking a pipe as is their custom, and then proceeded on slowly by land about four miles where he waited for the arrival of the party, at 12 O`clock they came up and informed Clark  that one of the small canoes was behind in distress. Captain  Clark returned and found that the canoe had filled with water and all her loading was wet. They lost half a bag of hisquit, and about 30 pounds of powder by this accedent; the powder they regard as a serious loss, but they spread it to dry immediately and hope they should still be enable to restore the greater part of it. This was the only powder they  had had which was not perfectly secure from getting wet. People took dinner at that place, and then proceed on to their encampment, which was on the South side opposite to a high bluff. The Mandan man came up after Clark  had encamped and brought with him a woman who was extreemly solicitous to accompany one of the men of their party, this however they positively refused to permit.

APRIL 11,  1805

Set out at an early hour; Lewis proceeded with the party and Capt Clark with George Drewyer walked on shore in order to procure some fresh meat if possible.They proceeded on about 5 miles, and halted for breakfast, when Capt Clark and Drewyer joined them; the latter had killed, and brought with him a deer which was excepable as they had had no fresh meat for several days. The country from fort Mandan to that place was so constantly hunted by the Minetaries that there was just a little game they halted  and made a comfortable dinner on a venison stake and beavers tales with the bisquit which got wet on the 8th of April. by the accident of the canoe filling with water before mentioned. The powder which got wet by the same accident, and which we had spread to dry on the baggage of the large pirogue, was now examined and put up; it appeared to be almost restored, and their loss was therefore not so great as they had had  at first apprehended. The country much the same as the day before. On the sides of the hills and even the banks of the rivers and sandbars, there was a white substance that appeared in considerable quantities on the surface of the earth, which tasted like a mixture of common salt and glauber salts. Many of the springs which flow from the base of the river hills were so strongly impregnated with this substance that the water was extreemly unpleasant to the taste and has a purgative effect.Moreover they  saw some large white cranes passed them  up the river - these was the largest bird of that genus common to the country through which the Missouri and Mississippi pass. On the balance, Lewis, Clark and their people killed two gees that day.

APRIL 12,  1805

Set out at an early hour. Their perogue and the Canoes passed over to the Lard side in order to avoid a bank which was rappidly falling in on the Stard. The red perogue contrary to Clark`s expectation or wish passed under this bank by means of her toe line where he expected to have seen her carried under every instant. He did not discover that she was about to make this attempt untill it was too late for the men to reembark, and retreating was more dangerous than proceeding in such cases; they therefore continued their passage up this bank, and much to Clark`s satisfaction arrived safe above it. This cost Clark some moments of uneasiness, her cargo was of much importance to us in our present advanced situation. They  proceeded on 6 miles and came to the lower side of the entrance of the little Missourri on the Lard shore in a fine plain where they determined to spend the day for the purpose of celestial observation. They sent out 10 hunters to bring some fresh meat. At that place people made the following observations. But the night proved so cloudy that Clark and Lewis could make no further observations.

APRIL 13,  1805

Being disappointed in his observations of yesterday for longitude, Clark  was unwilling to remain at the entrance of the river another day for that purpose, and therefore determined to set out early this morning, which all did accordingly. The wind was in their favor after 9 A.M., and continued to be favorable until 3 P.M. They therefore hoisted both the sails in the white perogue, consisting of a small squar sail and spritsail, which carried her at a pretty good gate untill about 2 in the afternoon, when a suddon squall of wind struck us and turned the perogue so much on the side as to alarm Sharbono , who was steering at the time.

We have not as yet seen one of these anamals, though their tracks are so abundant and recent. the men, as well as themselves, were anxious to meet with some of these bear. The Indians gave a very formidable account of the strength and ferocity of this animal, which they never dare to attack but in parties of six, eight, or ten persons; and were even then frequently defeated with the loss of one or more of their party.

The savages attack this animal with their bows and arrows and the indifferent guns with which the traders furnish them. With these they shoot with such uncertainty and at so short a distance that, unless shot through head or heart wound not mortal, they frequently miss their aim and fall a sacrefice to the bear. Two Minetaries were killed during the last winter in an attack on a white bear. This animal is said more frequently to attack a man on meeting with him, than to flee from him. When the Indians are about to go in quest of the white bear, previous to their departure they paint themselves and perform all those supersticious rightes commonly observed when they wereabout to make war upon a neighboring nation.

In this state of alarm, he threw the perogue with her side to the wind, when the spritsail, gibing, was as near overseting the perogue as it was possible to have missed. The wind, however, abating for an instant, Clark ordered Drewyer to the helm and the sails to be taken in, which was instantly executed, and the perogue, being steered before the wind, was again placed in a state of security.

This accident was very near costing them dearly. Beleiving this vessel to be the most steady and safe, they had embarked on board of it their instruments, papers, medicine, and the most valuable part of the merchandize which they had still in reserve as presents for the Indians. They had also embarked on board themselves, with three men who could not swim and the squaw with the young child, all of whom, had the perogue overset, would most probably have perished, as the waves were high, and the perogue upwards of 200 yards from the nearest shore. However, they fortunately escaped, and pursued their journey under the square sail, which, shortly after the accident, Clark directed to be again hoisted. 

Saw some buffaloe and elk at a distance today, but killed none of them-says Lewis. They saw also many tracks of the white bear of enormous size, along the river shore and about the carcasses of the buffaloe, on which he presume they feed.

APRIL 14,  1805

Passed an island, above which two small creeks fall in on Lard. Side; the upper creek largest, which they called Sharbono’s Creek,  after their interpreter who encamped several weeks on it with a hunting party of Indians. This is the highest point to which any white man had ever ascended, except two Frenchmen ( one of whom La Page was now with us).

APRIL 15,  1805

To tell you more about this day, I was searching the internet and found a story of this day by Lewis. Here it is:

 Set out at an early hour this morning. I walked on shore, and Capt. Clark continued with the party it being an invariable rule with us not to be both absent from our vessels at the same time. I passed through the bottoms of the river on the Stard. side. they were partially covered with timber & were extensive, level and beatifull. in my walk which was about 6 miles I passed a small rivulet of clear water making down from the hills, which on tasting, I discovered to be in a small degree brackish. it possessed less of the glauber salt, or alumn, than those little streams from the hills usually do.— in a little pond of water fromed by this rivulet where it entered the bottom, I heard the frogs crying for the first time this season; their note was the same with that of the small frogs which are common to the lagoons and swamps of the U States.— I saw great quantities of gees feeding in the bottoms, of which I shot one. saw some deer and Elk, but they were remarkably shy. I also met with great numbers of Grouse or prarie hens as they are called by the English traders of the N. W. these birds appeared to be mating; the note of the male is kuck, kuck, kuck, coo, coo, coo. the first part of the note both male and female use when flying. the male also dubbs something like the pheasant, but by no means as loud. after breakfast Capt. Clark walked on the Std. shore, and on his return in the evening gave me the following account of his ramble. "I ascended to the high country, about 9 miles distant from the Missouri. the country consists of beatifull, level and fertile plains, destitute of timber I saw many little dranes, which took their rise in the river hills, from whence as far as I could see they run to the N. E." these streams we suppose to be the waters of Mous river a branch of the Assinniboin which the Indians informed us approaches the Missouri very nearly, about this point. "I passed," continued he, "a Creek about 20 yards wide," which falls into the Missouri; the bottoms of this creek are wide level and extreemly fertile, but almost entirely destitute of timber. the water of this creek as well as all those creeks and rivulets which we have passed since we left Fort Mandan was so strongly impregnated with salts and other miniral substances that I was incapable of drinking it. I saw the remains of several camps of the Assinniboins; near one of which, in a small ravene, there was a park which they had formed of timber and brush, for the purpose of taking the Cabrie or Antelope. it was constructed in the following manner. a strong pound was first made of timbers, on one side of which there was a small apparture, sufficiently large to admit an Antelope; from each side of this apparture, a curtain was extended to a considerable distance, widening as they receded from the pound.— we passed a rock this evening standing in the middle of the river, and the bed of the river was formed principally of gravel. we encamped this evening on a sand point on Lard. side. a little above our encampment the river was confined to a channel of 80 yards in width.

APRIL 18,  1805

At this  fine morning, Lewis and Clark set out at an early hour. After breakfast that morning, Captain Clark walked on Stad. shore, while the party were assending by means of their toe lines, Lewis walked with them on the bank; found a species of pea bearing a yellow flower, which  seldom rises more than 6 inches high, the leaf and stalk resembles that of the common gardin pea, the root is pirenial. Lewis also saw several parsels of buffaloe's hair hanging on the rose bushes, which had been bleached by exposure to the weather and became perfectly white. Lewis killed the Buffaloe yesterday and he had cast his long hare, and the poll which remained was very thick, fine, and about 2 inches in length. At 5 they proceed, and shortly after met with Captain Clark, who had killed an Elk and a deer and was wating for Lewis` arrival. After it all Clark and lewis took their supper and hided from the strong wind in a shelter at night.

APRIL 19,  1805

The wind blew so hard that morning from North-west  that Lewis and Clark dared not to venture their canoes on the river. The wind detained them through the couse of this day, so they were fortunate in having placed themselves in a safe harbour. The party killed one Elk and a beaver that day. The beaver of that part of the Missouri are larger, fatter, more abundant and better clad with fur than those of any other part of the country that Lewis have yet seen; he have remarked also that their fur is much darker.

APRIL 20,  1805

This day Lewis and Clark set out at 7 o`clock, soon after they set out a bank fell in near one of the Canoes which like to have filled her with water, the wind became hard and waves so rough that Lewis and Clark  proceeded with their  little canoes with much risque, their situation was such after setting out that they were obliged to pass round the 1st point or lay exposed to the blustering winds and waves. Then they came to a butifull Glade on the South about 1 mile below Captain Lewis who had walked through the point, left his coat and a deer on the bank which Clark  took on board.   Short distance below Clark`s  camp stood a small scaffold of about 7 feet high. Underneath a disceased body and articles of belongings. It was customary with the Assinniboins, Mandans, Minetares who scaffold their dead to sacrefice the favorite horses and doggs of their disceased relations, with a view of their being servicable to them in the land of sperits.

APRIL 21,  1805

Set out at an early hour  this morning,  Captain  Clark walked on shore; the wind above  a head was not violent. The country through which they  passed was very simelar in every rispect to that through which they  have passed for several days. They  saw immence herds of buffaloe Elk deer and Antelopes. Captain  Clark killed a buffaloe and 4 deer in the course of his walk today; and the party with Lewis  killed 3 deer, 2 beaver, and 4 buffaloe calves. The latter everyone found very delicious. lewis thinks it equal to any veal he ever tasted. Later they passed one large and two small creeks on the Lard. side, but neither of them discharge any water at present. The wind blew so hard this evening that they  were obliged to halt several hours. They reached the place of incampment after dark, which was on the Lard. side a little above White earth river which discharges itself on the Stard. side. The valley was covered with Elk and buffaloe. In addition Lewis and Clark saw a great number of gees today as usual, also some swan and ducks.

APRIL 22,  1805

I found a Lewis` part of diary about this day, so here I put it to let you know everything about the time, spent this day by Lewis and Clark:

Monday April 22cd 1805.
Set out at an early hour this morning; proceeded pretty well untill breakfat, when the wind became so hard a head that we proceeded with difficulty even with the assistance of our toe lines. the party halted and Cpt. Clark and myself walked to the white earth river which approaches the Missouri very near at this place, being about 4 miles above it's entrance. we found that it contained more water than streams of it's size generally do at this season. the water is much clearer than that of the Missouri. the banks of the river are steep and not more than ten or twelve feet high; the bed seems to be composed of mud altogether. the salts which have been before mentioned as common on the Missouri, appears in great quantities along the banks of this river, which are in many places so thickly covered with it that they appear perfectly white. perhaps it has been from this white appearance of it's banks that the river has derived it's name. this river is said to be navigable nearly to it's source, which is at no great distance from the Saskashawan, and I think from it's size the direction which it seems to take, and the latitude of it's mouth, that there is very good ground to believe that it extends as far North as latitude 50°.— this stream passes through an open country generally.— the broken hills of the Missouri about this place exhibit large irregular and broken masses of rocks and stones; some of which tho 200 feet above the level of the water seem at some former period to have felt it's influence, fo they appear smoth as if woarn by the agetation of the water. this collection consists of white & grey gannite, a brittle black rock, flint, limestone, freestone, some small specimens of an excellent pebble and occasionally broken stratas of a stone which appears to be petrefyed wood, it is of a black colour, and makes excellent whetstones. Coal or carbonated wood pumice stone lava and other mineral apearances still continue. the coal appears to be of better quality; I exposed a specimen of it to the fire and found that it birnt tolerably well, it afforded but little flame or smoke, but produced a hot and lasting fire.— I asscended to the top of the cutt bluff this morning, from whence I had a most delightfull view of the country, the whole of which except the vally formed by the Missouri is void of timber or underbrush, exposing to the first glance of the spectator immence herds of Buffaloe, Elk, deer, & Antelopes feeding in one common and boundless pasture. we saw a number of bever feeding on the bark of the trees alonge the verge of the river, several of which we shot, found them large and fat. walking on shore this evening I met with a buffaloe calf which attatched itself to me and continued to follow close at my heels untill I embarked and left it. it appeared allarmed at my dog which was probably the cause of it's so readily attatching itself to me. Capt Clark informed me that he saw a large drove of buffaloe pursued by wolves today, that they at length caught a calf which was unable to keep up with the herd. the cows only defend their young so long as they are able to keep up with the herd, and seldom return any distance in surch of them.

APRIL 25,  1805

The wind was more moderate this morning, but still hard; Lewis and Clark set out at an early hour. The water friezed on the oars this morning as the men rowed. About 10 oclock A.M. the wind began to blow so violently that they were obliged to lye too. Lewis` dog had been absent during the last night, and Lewis was fearfull they had lost him altogether, however, much to Lewis` satisfaction the dog joined people at 8 o`clock this morning. The wind had been so unfavorable to their progress for several days past, and seeing but little prospect of a favourable chang; knowing that the river was crooked, from the report of the hunters who were out yesterday, and beleiving that they were at no very great distance from the Yellow stone River; Lewis determined, in order as mush as possible to avoid detention, to proceed by land with a few men to the entrance of that river and make the necessary observations to determine it's position, which he hoped to effect by the time that Capt. Clark could arrive with the party. They proceeded about four miles, when falling in with some bufaloe Lewis killed a yearling calf, which was in good order; they soon cooked and made a hearty meal of a part of it, and renewed their march rout, which lay along the foot of the river hills. When they had proceeded about four miles, Lewis ascended the hills from where he had a most pleasing view of the country, perticularly of the wide and fertile values formed by the Missouri and the Yellowstone rivers. Lewis could not discover the junction of the rivers immediately, they being concealed by the woods, however, sensible that it could not be distant he determined to encamp on the bank of the Yellow stone river which made it's appearance about 2 miles South of him. In their way to the place Lewis had determined to encamp, they met with two large herds of buffaloe, of which they killed three cows and a calf. On rejoining Captain  Clark, the 26th in the evening, he informed Lewis, that at 5 P.M. after Lewis left Clark, the wind abated in some measure and Clark proceeded a few miles further and encamped.

APRIL 26,  1805

Lewis investigates the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers while Clark, a days much behind Lewis, leds the group to rejoin  Lewis. Clark: “ In the evening I walked down and joined the party at their encampment; found them all in good health, and much pleased at having arrived at this long wished for spot, we ordered a dram to be issued to each person; this soon produced the fiddle, and they spent the evening with much hilarity, singing & dancing, and seemed as perfectly to forget their past toils, as they appeared regardless of those to come.”

APRIL 27,  1805

Lewis describes an area that would become Fort Union Trading Post in 1829, " on the point of the high plain at the lower extremity of this lake I think would be the most eligible site for an establishment." Clark after taking the azmuth of the Sun and brackfasting, set out wind moderate and a head, at 11 o`clock the wind rose and continued to blow verry hard a head from the North-west untill 4 o`clock P M, which blew the sand off the points in such clouds as almost covered Clark and his people on the opposit bank, at 4 Clark set out from his unpleasent situation and proceeded on, Captain Lewis walked on shore in the point to examine and view the country and could not get to the boats untill night, saw great numbers of Goats or antilopes, Elk, Swan Gees and Ducks, no buffalow today Clark saw several beavers and much sign, Clark shot one in the head which imediately sunk, althogh the game of different kinds are in abundance they kill nothing.

APRIL 28,  1805

Set out this morning at an early hour; the wind was favourable and Lewis and Clark employed their sails to advantage. Captain Clark walked on shore this morning, and Lewis proceeded with the party. The country through which they passed this day was open as usual and very broken on both sides near the river hills, the bottoms were level fertile and partially covered with timber. The hills and bluffs exhibit their usual mineral appearances, some birnt hills but no appearance of Pumicestone; coal was in great abundance and the salts still increase in quantity; the banks of the river and sandbars were incrusted with it in many places and appear perfectly white as if covered with snow or frost.— the woods were green at that time, but  the plains and meadows appear to abate of the verdure those below exhibited some days past. Lewis past three small runs today. Two falling in on the Stard. and one on the Lard. side, they were small to afford a little water and head a few miles back in the hills. Expeditors saw great quantities of game today; consisting of the common and mule deer, Elk, Buffaloe, and Antelopes; also four brown bear, saw a tree nearly 3 feet in diameter that had been felled by them. Captain Clark in the course of his walk killed a deer and a goose; and saw three black bear; he thinks the bottoms are not so wide as they have been for some days past.

APRIL 29,  1805

 Lewis and another hunter kill a large grizzly bear, which had never before been described for science. The Corps marvels at the abundance of game; they kill their first grizzly bear near the Yellowstone River in Montana.

Lewis encounters a pair of bears: " we fell in with two brown or yellow bear; both of which we wounded; one of them made his escape, the other after firing on him pursued me seventy or eighty yards. The Indians may well fear this anamal equipped as they generally are with their bows and arrows…"

Moreover as it was the last day of their journey at this month I give you a piece out of Lewis` and Clark`s diaries:

Monday April 29th 1805.  (Lewis)

Set out this morning at the usual hour; the wind was moderate; I walked on shore with one man. about 8 A.M. we fell in with two brown or yellow bear; both of which we wounded; one of them made his escape, the other after my firing on him pursued me seventy or eighty yards, but fortunately had been so badly wounded that he was unable to pursue so closely as to prevent my charging my gun; we again repeated our fir and killed him. it was a male not fully grown, we estimated his weight at 300 lbs. not having the means of ascertaining it precisely. The legs of this bear are somewhat longer than those of the black, as are it's tallons and tusks incomparably larger and longer. the testicles, which in the black bear are placed pretty well back between the thyes and contained in one pouch like those of the dog and most quadrupeds, are in the yellow or brown bear placed much further forward, and are suspended in seperate pouches from two to four inches asunder; it's colour is yellowish brown, the eyes small, black, and piercing; the front of the fore legs near the feet is usually black; the fur is finer thicker and deeper than that of the black bear. these are all the particulars in which this anamal appeared to me to differ from the black bear; it is a much more furious and formidable anamal, and will frequently pursue the hunter when wounded. it is asstonishing to see the wounds they will bear before they can be put to death. the Indians may well fear this anamal equiped as they generally are with their bows and arrows or indifferent fuzees, but in the hands of skillfull riflemen they are by no means as formidable or dangerous as they have been represented. game is still very abundant we can scarcely cast our eyes in any direction without percieving deer Elk Buffaloe or Antelopes. The quantity of wolves appear to increase in the same proportion; they generally hunt in parties of six eight or ten; they kill a great number of the Antelopes at this season; the Antelopes are yet meagre and the females are big with young; the wolves take them most generally in attempting to swim the river; in this manner my dog caught one drowned it and brought it on shore; they are but clumsey swimers, tho on land when in good order, they are extreemly fleet and dureable. we have frequently seen the wolves in pursuit of the Antelope in the plains; they appear to decoy a single one from a flock, and then pursue it, alturnately relieving each other untill they take it. on joining Capt Clark he informed me that he had seen a female and faun of the bighorned anamal; that they ran for some distance with great aparent ease along the side of the river bluff where it was almost perpendicular; two of the party fired on them while in motion without effect. we took the flesh of the bear on board and proceeded. Capt. Clark walked on shore this evening, killed a deer, and saw several of the bighorned anamals. there is more appearance of coal today than we have yet seen, the stratas are 6 feet thick in some instances; the earth has been birnt in many places, and always appears in stratas on the same level with the stratas of coal. we came too this evening in the mouth of a little river, which falls in on the Stard. side. This stream is about 50 yards wide from bank to bank; the water occupyes about 15 yards. the banks are of earth only, abrupt, tho not high— the bed, is of mud principally. Capt Clark, who was up this streeam about three miles, informed me that it continued about the same width, that it's current was gentle and it appeared navigable for perogus it meanders through an extensive, fertile, and beautifull vally as far as could bee seen about N. 30°W. there was but one solitary tree to be seen on the banks of this river after it left the bottom of the Missouri. the water of this river is clear, with a brownish yelow tint. here the highlands receede from the Missouri, leaving the vally formed by the river from seven to eight miles wide, and reather lower then usual.- This stream my friend Capt. C. named Marthas river

29th of April Monday 1805   (Clark)

Set out this morning at the usial hour. the wind is moderate & from the N E had not proceeded far eer we Saw a female & her faun of the Bighorn animal on the top of a Bluff lying, the noise we made allarmed them and they came down on the Side of the bluff which had but little Slope being nearly purpindicular, I directed two men to kill those anamals, one went on the top and the other man near the water they had two Shots at the doe while in motion without effect, Those animals run & Skiped about with great ease on this declivity & appeared to prefur it to the leavel bottom or plain. Capt Lewis & one man walkd on Shore and he killed a yellow Bear & the man with him wounded one other, after getting the flesh of the bear on bord which was not far from the place we brackfast, we proceeded on Saw 4 gangus of buffalow and great numbers of Antelopes in every direction also Saw Elk and Several wolves, I walked on Shore in the evening & killed a Deer which was So meager as to be unfit for use The hills Contain more Coal, and has a greater appearance of being burnt that below, the burnt parts appear on a parrilel with the Stratiums of Coal, we Came too in the mouth of a Little river on the S. S. which is about 50 or 60 yards from bank to bank, I was up this Stream 3 miles it continues its width and glides with a gentle Current, its water is about 15 yards wide at this time, and appears to be navagable for Canoes &c. it meanders through a butifull & extencive vallie as far as can be Seen about N 30° W. I saw only a Single tree in this fertile vallie The water of the River is clear of a yellowish Colour, we call this river Martheys river in honor to the Selebrated M. F

Here the high land widen from five to Eight miles and much lower than below, Saw Several of the big horn animals this evening. The Wolves distroy great numbers of the antilopes by decoying those animals Singularly out in the plains and prosueing them alternetly, those antelopes are Curious and will approach any thing which appears in motion near them &c.