Chapter 6 - Looking for Indians through Chapter 9 - The White Men's Fort Summary

In Chapter 6 - Looking for Indians, Clark relates the events of the early portion of the trip. Traveling from St. Charles the expedition moves several hundred miles up the Missouri River. They are pestered by mosquitoes and gnats and use buffalo grease as a sort of insect repellent. On the river, they meet Pierre Dorion who has a Yankton Sioux wife. Believing that Dorion will be able to communicate with the Sioux, they hire him on as a translator. As the expedition travels upriver they are surprised to not see Indians—later they learn the Indians are away from the river hunting buffalo. Clark describes the area as "like the Garden of Eden" (p. 33) because of its lush greenery and...