The Travels of Captains Lewis and Clarke from St. Louis, by Way of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific Ocean; Performed in the Years 1804

by Meriwether Lewis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1809. ... elevated soil; on the left was a high hill (300 feet) covered with lofty pine trees. The banks of the river present more the appearance of upland soil, the under stratum being a pale yellowish clay, and the alluvial soil of a dirty white, surmounted by a thin covering of a brown, vegetable earth. The trees improve in appearance, growing to a considerable size and height, though yet inferior to those on the alluvial banks of the Mississippi. After passing the " Bayau de Hachis,' on the left, points of high land, not subject to be overflowed, frequently touch the river, and the valley is said to be more than a league-in breadth on both sides. On the left are pine hills called " Code de Champignole," The river is not more than fifty or sixty yards wide. On the morning of the 20th they passed a number of sand beaches, and some rapids, but found good depth of water between them. A creek called " Chemin Convert," which forms a deep ravine in the high lands, here enters the river; almost immediately above this is a rapid where the water in the river is confined to a channel of about forty yards in width; above it they had to quit the main channel, on account of the shallowness and rapidity of the water, and pass along a narrow channel of only sixty feet without a guide, a stranger might take this passage for a creek. Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, and the northern latitude they were in, they this day met with an alligator. The banks of the river are covered with cane, or thick under-brush, frequently so interwoven with thorns and briars as td be impenetrable. Birch, maple, holly, and two kinds of wood to which names have not yet been given, except "water side wood," are here met with; as also persimons and small black grapes. The margin of the...

72 pages, Paperback

Published February 3, 2012

About the author

Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase.