June 8, 1804
June 8th Friday
Set out at Daylight proceeded on the Course of last night S 87° W 3
ms passed a Willow Island, from the Point of last Course S 81° W. 3 ms.
to a pt. on S. S. passd a ____ Isd. in the middle of the river, passd a
run
on the Ld S. above a pt. of rocks 3 ms. on which thir is a number of
Deer Licks, N 88° W. 3 Ms. to a pt L S. N. 83° W 2 ms. to the Mo of Mine
River, psd an Isd.— This river is 90 yards wide & navagable for
Perogues about 90 Ms. I went out on the L S. about 4 ms. below this R.
and found the Countrey for one mile back good Land and well watered the
hills not high with a gentle assent from the river, well timbered with
oake, walnit Hickory ash, &c. the land Still further back becoms thin
and open, with Black & rasp Berries, and Still further back the Plains
Commence, The french inform that Lead ore is found on this river in
Several places, it heads up between the Osagees & Kansas River the
right hand folk passes in a Short distance of the Missourie at the
antient Little Ozages Villages our hunter Killed, 2 Deer, after Staying
one hour at the mouth of this River, Cap Lewis went out & proceeded on
one Mile & came in, he fount the land in the point high and fine Course
N. 64° W 1 Ms. to a pt. on S. S. N. 80° W to the Lower pot a Id. on L. S.
passed a Small Isd. in the m. R. at (3 Ms.) met 3 men on a Caussee from
R Dis Soux, above The Mahar Nation loaded with fur. Camped on the Lower
point of an Id. L. S. called the Mills, here I found Kegs an Pummey
stone, and a place that fur or Skins had been burred by the hunters our
Hunters Killed 5 Deer, Some rain, the Countrey on the S. S. is Verry
fine
8th of June, Friday 1804
Set out this morning at Daylight proceeden on the Course of last night
Passed two willow Islands & a Small Creek above a Rock point on the L.
S. at 6 miles on which there is a number of Deer Licks, passed the Mine
River at 9 ms. this river is about 70 yards wide at its mouth and is
Said to be navagable for Perogues 80 or 90 ms. the main branch passes
near the place where the Little osage Village formerly Stood on the
Missouries, & heads between the Osarge & Kansias Rivers, the left hand
fork head with nearer Branches of the Osage River, The french inform
that Lead Ore has been found in defferent parts of this river, I took
Sjt. Floyd and went out 4 Ms. below this river, I found the land Verry
good for a Mile or 11/2 Ms. back and Sufficiently watered with Small
Streams which lost themselves in the Missouries bottom, the Land rose
gradeuelly from the river to the Summit of the high Countrey which is
not more that 120 foot above High Water mark, we joined the Boat &
Dined in the point above the mouth of this River, Capt. Lewis went out
above the river & proceeded on one mile, finding the Countrey rich, the
wedes & Vines So thick & high he came to the Boat— proceeded on passed
an Island and Camped at the lower point of an Island on the L. S.
Called the Island of mills about 4 ms. above Mine River at this place I
found Kanteens, Axs, Pumey Stone & peltrey hid & buried (I suppose by
some hunters) none of them (except the pumey Stone) was teched by one
of our party, our hunters Killed 5 Deer to day, Commenced raining Soon
after we Came too which prevented the party Cooking their provisions—
our Spies inform that the Countrey they passed thro on S. S. is a fine
high bottom, no water.
This day we met 3 men on a Cajaux from the River of the Soux above the
Mahar nation those men had been hunting 12 mo. & made about 900$ in
pelts. & furs they were out of Provesions and out of Powder. rained
this night
