Clark
Sunday May 27th as we were Setting out this morning two Canoos loaded with Bever elk Deer Skins & Buffalow Robes, from the Mahars [Omaha] nation, they inform that they left that place 2 months, a gentle Breese from the S. E,
N: 71 W. |
3 |
Miles to a point on the Labd Side opposit the lower point of
[blank] Island, passed a willow Island on the L. Sd opposit
the upper Point of the Isd we Camped on last night |
S 82° W |
6 |
ms to a pt: on Lbd Side passed the lower pt. of a Isd
Passed 4 Casiex [cajeux] 3 from Grand Osage one form the
Parnees [Pawnees], Passed two Isd. on the S Side a Creek of
20 yrds Wide on the Lb. Side near the upper point, this
Creek is Called Ash Creek
|
N 74° W |
1 ½ |
Miles to pt. on Lbd. Sd nearly opst. the upper pt. of the big
Island called [blank] Isle, on the Stbd Side back of this Isd.
Coms in Otter R & two other Creeks, |
S 70° W. |
5 |
M: to a Pt. on St Sd opposit Gasconnade River passing a pt.
on Lbd Side |
we camped on an Isd in the mouth of Gasconade R , this river is 157 yards wide a butifull stream of clear water. 19' foot Deep Hills on the lower Side
Clark
May 27th Sunday 1804
as we were pushing off this Morning two Canoos Loaded with fur &c. Came to from the Mahars [NB: Mahar
] nation, [NB: living 730 miles above on the Missouri
] which place they had left two months, at about 10 oClock 4 Cajaux or rafts loaded with furs and peltres came too one from the
Paunees
, [NB: Paunees on the river Platt
] the other from Grand Osage, they informed nothing of Consequence, passed a Creek on the Lbd Side Called
ash Creek
20 yds wide, passed the upper point of a large Island on the Stbd Side back of which Comes in three Creeks one Called Orter Creek, her[e] the men we left hunting Came in we camped on a Willow Island in the mouth of Gasconnade River. George Shannon Killed a Deer this evening
Course & Distance 27th May.
N 71°W. |
3 |
ms to pt. Lbd. Sd. pd. an Isd. |
S 82°W. |
6 |
ms. to pt Lbd. Sd. pd. 2 Isd. a Creek |
N 74°W. |
1 ½ |
ms. to pt Lbd. Sd. pd. upr. pt by Isd. & 2 Creeks |
S. 70°W. |
5
|
ms. to pt. opsd. the Gasconnade R
|
|
15 ½ |
|
Whitehouse
Sunday 27th May 1806. a fair morning. we Set out eairly. passed a creek called ash Creek, on the N. Side high clifts on the South Side. proceeded on in the afternoon we arived at the Mouth of Gasganade River on South Side, and camped on an Island opposite the mouth of Sd. River.—
Sunday May 27th This morning we set out early, having fine weather, passed a creek, called Ash Creek, laying on the North side of the River. On the south side of the River lay high Clifts. we proceeded on, and in the afternoon we arrived at the Mouth of the Gasconade River; laying on the south side of the Mesouri. We encamped on an Island opposite the Mouth of said River. The Gasconade River lies in Latitude 38° 44' 35 North, and course of the River Mesouri being still nearly West. The Gasconade River is 104 Miles from the River due De Bois (or Wood River) & lies in Latitude 38° 44' 35S North.
To the side of this entry and covered by it is a column of barely legible numbers that appear to be the previous day's distances, with a total of 18.
Cajeu (plural, cajeux) was a French-Canadian term for a small raft, especially one made by lashing together two canoes. McDermott (GMVF), 41.
At this point there is a small sketch under the entry, of document 15, showing a river bend and an island.
The Gasconade River enters the Missouri at present Gasconade, Gasconade County, Missouri. MRC map 5; MRM map 13.
These men had been trading with the Great (or Grand) Osages, probably on the Osage River in Missouri.
Probably later Frame, or Frene, Creek, entering the Missouri at present Hermann, Gasconade County, Mo. . MRC map 5; MRM map 13.
Probably L'Outre (more properly
la loutre
in French) Island. MRC map 5.
The literal translation of its early name, Rivière à la Loutre, in Montgomery County, Missouri. Ibid.
George Drouillard and John Shields; see above, [May 26].
Gasconade River at Gasconade, Gasconade County.
White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus.
There is no ready explanation for Whitehouse using this later date. It seems inconceivable that he would be rewriting the journal in 1806 and get his dates confused.
The latitude and mileage do not appear in the original version of Whitehouse's journal, but they agree with Clark's figures; see Clark's Field Notes entry for [August 17, 1804]. The sentence appears to have been crowded in between entries.