August 06, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
A little after dark last evening a violent storm arrose to the N.E. and shortly after
came on attended with violent Thunder lightning and some hail; the rain fell in a mere
torrant and the wind blew so violently that it was with difficulty I could have the small
canoes unloaded before they filled with water; they sustained no injury. our situation was
open and exposed to the storm. in attending to the canoes I got wet to the skin and
having no shelter on land I betook myself to the orning of the perogue which I had, formed
of Elkskin, here I obtained a few hours of broken rest; the wind and rain continue almost
all night and the air became very cold. we set out early this morning and decended
the river about 10 miles below Porcupine river [Poplar River; See May 3, 1805.]
when the wind became so violent that I laid by untill 4 P.M. the wind then abaiting
in some measure we again resumed our voyage, and decended the river about 5 miles below
our encampment of the 1st of May 1805 where we halted for the night on the S.W. side of
the river. [Lewis camped approximately ten miles east of Poplar, MT.]
after halting we killed three fat cows and a few buck. we had
previously killed today 4 deer a buck Elk and a fat cow. in short game is so
abundant and gentle that we kill it when we please. the Feildses went on ahead this
evening and we did not overtake them. we saw several bear in the course of the
day.--
August 06, 1806
John Ordway
a fair morning. we loaded up our canoes and Set out as usal and proced. on
about 10 A. M. passd. the mo. of 2000 mile Creek. [Redwater
River, MT.] the wind rose high So halted.
the hunters went out and killed Several deer. we delayed about 3
hours then proceeded on in the evening we Camped at a large bottom S.
Side [About ten miles east of the town of Poplar, MT.]
a fat Elk killd. and 2 fat buffaloe we took Some of the fattest of the
meat. the buffaloe Elk and all kinds of game are pleanty and very tame &C
&C.--
August 06, 1806
Patrick Gass
We embarked early, and had a fine morning, but high wind. At 12 o'clock the wind
blew so violent that it became dangeous to go on, and we halted; and some of the men went
out and shot a large buck, but not dead and he got into the river; when two of them
pursued in a canoe and caught him. Having remained here three hours, we again went
on until night and encamped. We have yet seen nothing of the two hunters [Colter
and Collins.] who had been left behind in the small canoe.
August 06, 1806
William Clark
I rose very wet. about 11 P M last night the wind become very hard for a fiew
minits Suckceeded by Sharp lightning and harde Claps of Thunder and rained for about 2
hours very hard after which it continued Cloudy the balance of the night. as we were
about Setting out a female Big horn animal came on the bluff imediately above us and
looked down. I derected Labeech to Shoot it which he did, after Skinning this animal
we Set out and proceeded on to a Sand bar on the S W. Side below the enterance of White
earth river where I landed and had the meat Skins and bedding all put out to dry.
wind hard from the N W. I halted on the N W. Side of this river in the bend above the
white earth river, where I saw where the Indians had been digging a root which they eate
and use in Seup [NB: Soup] [Breadroot, Scurf Pea, Pomme Blanche, Prairie Turnip, Psoralea
esulenta. See Lewis's description May 8, 1805.], not more than 7 or 8 days
past. This morning a very large Bear of white Specis, discovered us floating in the water
and takeing us, as I prosume to be Buffalow imediately plunged into the river and prosued
us. I directed the men to be Still. this animal Came within about 40 yards of us,
and tacked about. we all fired into him without killing him, and the wind So high
that we could not pursue hi[m], by which means he made his escape to the
Shore badly wounded. I have observed buffalow floating down which I suppose must have been
drounded in Crossing above. more or less of those animals drown or mire in passing
this river. I observed Several floating buffalow on the R. Rochejhone imediately below
where large gangues had Crossed. The wind blew hard all the after part of the day. I
derected the men to dress their Skins except one which I took with me and walkd. through
the bottom to the foot of the hills I killed five deer and the man with me killed
2. four others were killed in the Course of the day by the party only 2 of those
deer were fat owing as I suppose to the Musquetors which are So noumerous and troublesom
to them that they Cannot feed except under the torments of millions of those Musquetors.
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