Lewis and Clark
We are camped on unique claylike soil that glows white and blue. Thetexture of the clay indicates that the buffalo had trampled here recently,and the ridges and bumps make it difficult for the horses to navigatewithout stumbling. We decided to take this opportunity to improve our axesby replacing their handles and sharpening their blades. With these newtools, we managed to quickly and easily chop down a few large trees withwhich to build canoes. Each tree formed one large canoe: they would be adecent twenty-eight feet long and between 16 and 18 inches deep. These areto be the canoes used for a side trip carried out by one of our party. Theywill travel and navigate the rivers here and endeavor to gain the favor of Our stock of horses are exhausted, tired from all their work, theirmuscles obviously sore because they seem cranky, reluctant to move, andtesty. We need to take better care of them over the next few days, for they
Part of us will transport the horses to the Mandans,where they will try to talk to the Indians there. We can also use some of the goods weprocure from the fur traders to bribe the Indians, especially the Sioux. We soon encounter a sizable stream, which weascertain must have its source in the nearby mountains. Rains are interfering considerably with the navigational process. Moreover, our food supplies are dwindling dangerously low. Our expedition intends to bring back Indian Chiefs to the United States sothat we can create peaceful contracts and finally place the Indians insubmission. Although many of these bands have proved to be aggressive, we are certainthey can be cowed into compliance. Those Indians arefrequently violent, but hopefully our men will not need to use violenceright away. The journey turns out to be done in vain, for we cannotfind its source. The canoes are finished in a matter of days, remarkably. We also becomemore certain that it was the Indians who stole the horses, as we comeacross further signs of their presence such as their characteristic shoes. However, in themiddle of the night some wolves come and eat up the meat. They are also told to take detailed notes for navigational purposes and tospeak with the British fur traders, who can trade us some needed materialsfor horses.
Common topics in this essay:
Entry July,
Indians Indians,
Chiefs United,
Sioux Rains,
food supplies,
fur traders,
difficult horses,
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