22d.  The river rose during the night four inches.  The water is very rapid and crowded with concealed timber.  We passed two large islands and an extensive prairie on the south, beginning with a rich low land, and rising to the distance of seventy or eighty feet of rolling clear country.  The thermometer at three o’clock P.M. was at 87 degrees.  After coming ten and a half miles we encamped on the south, opposite a large creek called Fire Prairie river.

23d.  The wind was against us this morning, and became so violent that we made only three and a half miles, and were obliged to lie to during the day at a small island.  This is separated from the northern side by a narrow channel which cannot be passed by boats, being choaked by trees and drifted wood.  Directly opposite on the south, is a high commanding position, more than seventy feet above high water mark, and overlooking the river which is here of but little width; this spot has many advantages for a fort, and trading house with the Indians.[A] The river fell eight inches last night.

[Footnote A:  The United States built in September, 1808, a factory and fort at this spot, which is very convenient for trading with the Osages, Ayauways and Kanzas.]

The next day, 24th, we passed at eight miles distance, Hay Cabin creek coming in from the south, about twenty yards wide, and so called from camps of straw built on it; to the north are some rocks projecting into the river, and a little beyond them a creek on the same side, called Charaton Scarty; that is, Charaton like the Otter.  We halted, after making eleven and a half miles, the country on both sides being fine and interspersed with prairies, in which we now see numerous herds of deer, pasturing in the plains or feeding on the young willows of the river.

25th.  A thick fog detained us till eight o’clock, when we set sail, and at three miles reached a bank of stone coal on the north, which appeared to be very abundant:  just below it is a creek called after the bank La Charbonniere.  Four miles further, and on the southern side, comes in a small creek, called La Benite.  The prairies here approach the river and contain many fruits, such as plums, raspberries, wild apples, and nearer the river vast quantities of mulberries.  Our encampment was at thirteen miles distance on an island to the north, opposite some hills higher than usual, and almost one hundred and sixty or one hundred and eighty feet. 26th.  At one mile we passed at the end of a small island, Blue Water creek, which is about thirty yards wide at its entrance from the south.[A] Here the Missouri is confined within a narrow bed, and the current still more so by counter currents or whirls on one side and a high bank on the other.  We passed a small island and a sandbar, where our tow rope broke twice, and we rowed round with great exertions.  We saw a number of parroquets, and killed some deer; after nine and three quarter miles we encamped at the upper point