Tuesday 10th.  We proceeded on by a prairie on the upper side of Wolf river, and at four miles passed a creek fifteen yards wide on the south, called Pape’s creek after a Spaniard of that name, who killed himself there.  At six miles we dined on an island called by the French Isle de Salomon, or Solomon’s island, opposite to which on the south is a beautiful plain covered with grass, intermixed with wild rye and a kind of wild potatoe.  After making ten miles we stopped for the night on the northern side, opposite a cliff of yellow clay.  The river has neither risen nor fallen to day.  On the north the low land is very extensive, and covered with vines; on the south, the hills approach nearer the river, and back of them commence the plains.  There are a great many goslins along the banks.

Wednesday 11th.  After three miles sailing we came to a willow island on the north side, behind which enters a creek called by the Indians Tarkio.  Above this creek on the north the low lands are subject to overflow, and further back the undergrowth of vines particularly, is so abundant that they can scarcely be passed.  Three miles from the Tarkio we encamped on a large sand island on the north, immediately opposite the river Nemahaw.

Thursday 12th.  We remained here to day for the purpose of refreshing the party, and making lunar observations.  The Nemahaw empties itself into the Missouri from the south, and is eighty yards wide at the confluence, which is in lat. 39 degrees 55’ 56”.  Capt.  Clarke ascended it in the perioque about two miles to the mouth of a small creek on the lower side.  On going ashore he found in the level plain several artificial mounds or graves, and on the adjoining hills others of a larger size.  This appearance indicates sufficiently the former population of this country; the mounds being certainly intended as tombs; the Indians of the Missouri still preserving the custom of interring the dead on high ground.  From the top of the highest mound a delightful prospect presented itself—­the level and extensive meadows watered by the Nemahaw, and enlivened by the few trees and shrubs skirting the borders of the river and its tributary streams—­the lowland of the Missouri covered with undulating grass, nearly five feet high, gradually rising into a second plain, where rich weeds and flowers are interspersed with copses of the Osage plum; further back are seen small groves of trees; an abundance of grapes; the wild cherry of the Missouri, resembling our own, but larger, and growing on a small bush; and the chokecherry, which we observed for the first time.  Some of the grapes gathered to-day are nearly ripe.  On the south of the Nemahaw, and about a quarter of a mile from its mouth, is a cliff of freestone, in which are various inscriptions and marks made by the Indians.  The sand island where we are encamped, is covered with the two species of willow, broad and narrow leaf.