Music Welcome to snoozecast. The podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us on snoozecast.com and follow us on Instagram at snoozecast where you'll find behind the scenes content. If you enjoy our show, please write a review on the podcast's app. Also, share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by our Patreon supporters, including our newest Patreon, Gala. Thank you Gala, and by, a fair morning. Tonight, we'll read from the journals of Lewis and Clark. The Lewis and Clark expedition, from 1803 to 1806, was the United States' expedition to cross the newly acquired Western portion of the country. The Corps of Discovery was a select group of army and civilian volunteers. Under the command of Captain Mary Weather Lewis and his close friend, Lieutenant William Clark. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition shortly after the Louisiana purchase in 1803 to explore and to map the newly acquired territory. To find a practical route across the western half of the continent, the campaign's secondary objectives were scientific and economic. To study the area's plants, animal life, geography, and to establish trading. The expedition returned to Jefferson with maps, sketches, and journals in hand. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now take a few deep breaths. Clark, May 14, 1804. Monday, rain the four part of the day. I determined to go as far as St. Charles of French Village seven leagues up the Missouri, And waited that place until Captain Lewis could finish the day. I determined to go as far as St. Charles, a French village, seven leagues up the Missouri, and waited that place until Captain Lewis could finish the business in which he was obliged to attend to at St. Louis and join me by land from that place 24 miles. By this movement I calculated that if any alterations in the loading of the vessels, or other changes necessary, that they might

be made at St. Charles.

I set out at four o'clock P.M., in the presence of many of the neighboring inhabitants, and

proceeded on under a gentle breeze up the Missouri to the upper point of the first island four miles. Camped on the island, which is situated close on the right or starboard side, an opposite the mouth of a small creek called Cold Water. A heavy rain this afternoon. The course of this day nearly west wind from northeast. Lewis May 15th, 1804.

Tuesday at Rain... Louis, May 15, 1804. Tuesday, it rained during the greater part of last night and continued until 7 o'clock am. After which the party proceeded, passed two islands, and encamped on the Starboard shore at Mr. Fifre's landing opposite an island, the was fair. Some wild geese with their young broods were seen today. The barge run foul. Several times. On logs. And in one instance, it was with much difficulty they could get her off. Happily no injury was sustained. Though the barge was several minutes in imminent danger. This was caused by her being too heavily laden in the stern. Persons a custom to the navigation of Missouri and the Mississippi also below the mouth of this river, uniformly take the precaution to load their vessels heaviest in the bow. Now they ascend the stream in order to avoid the dangerous incident of running a foul of the concealed timber which lies in great quantities in the beds of these rivers. Clark, May 15, 1804. Tuesday. alled all last night, and this morning until seven o'clock, all our fire extinguished. Some provisions on the top got wet. I sent two men to the countryside to hunt, and proceed on at nine o'clock. it on 9 miles and camped at a Mr. Pip landing just below a coal bank. I sent to the settlements in the prairie and purchased fowls. Past a small island near the center of the river, running into several logs this afternoon. did Mr. Piper's Landing. Clark, May 16, 1804. Wednesday, a fair morning, set out at 5 o'clock past the coal hill. This hill appears to contain great quantities of coal and also ore of a rich appearance having greatly the resemblance of silver. Arrived opposite St. Charles at 12 o'clock. This village is at the foot of a hill, a number of spectators who flocked to the bank to see the party. It contains about a hundred different houses, and about 450 inhabitants principally French. People appear poor, polite, harmonious, and extremely kind. The country around I am told is beautiful. Interspersed with prairies in timber, alternately, and has a number of American settlers, I was invited to dine with a Mr. Deussette. This gentleman was once a merchant from Canada, from misfortunes to loss of a cargo soul to the late Judge Turner. He has become somewhat reduced. He has a charming wife, an elegant situation on the hill, surrounded by orchards and an excellent garden, a fine day. Clark, May 17, 1804. Thursday. A fair day but compelled to punish for misconduct. A keelboat came up today. Several of the inhabitants came aboard today. We received several species of vegetables from the inhabitants today. A sergeant and four men of the party, destined for the Missouri expedition, will convene at 11 o'clock today on the quarter deck of the boat and form themselves into a court marshal to hear and determine the evidences against William Warner and Hugh Hall for being absent last night without leave, contrary to orders, and John Collins for being absent without leave, second for behaving in an unbecoming manner at the ball last night. Thirdly, for speaking in a language last night, after his return, tending to bring into disrespect the orders of the commanding officer. Clark, May 18, 1804. Friday, a fine morning. I had the boat reloaded so as to cause them to be heavier in the bow than a stern. Received from Mr. Lion 136 pounds to Paco, Mr. Choto gave out tin cups and three knives to the French hands. Mr. Lars me returned from the Kikapoo town today. out for St. Louis, Mr. DuSet, made me a present of river cats and some herbs. Our French hands bring me eggs, milk, etc. and two keel boats arrived from Kentucky today loaded with whiskey, hats, and etc. The wind blows hard from the southwest. Clark May 19, 1804 Saturday Wind last night from the southwest followed by rain which lasted some hours. A cloudy morning. I heard of my brother's illness today, which has given me much concern. I was invited to a ball in the village. It is not in my power to go. I let several of the men go. Our fields killed the deer. Seven ladies visited me today. Louis May 20, 1804.

Sunday. The morning was fair, and the weather pleasant, at 10 o'clock am. I was joined by Captain Stoddard and many other respectable inhabitants of St. Louis, who had engaged to accompany me to the village of St. Charles, accordingly at twelve, after bidding an affectionate adieu to my hostess, that excellent woman the spouse of Mr. Peter Choto, and some of my fair friends of St. Louis, we set forward to that village in order to join my friend, companion, and fellow laborer, Captain William Clark, who had previously arrived in that place, with the party destined for the discovery of the interior of the continent of North America. The first five miles of our route lay through a beautiful high-level and fertile prairie,

which encircles the town of St. Louis from northwest to southeast.

The lands through which we then passed are somewhat broken up fertile plains and woodlands

are here indiscriminately dispersed and tell you arrive within three miles of the village, when the woodland commences, and continues to Missouri. The latter is extremely fertile. At half after 1 pm, our progress was interrupted by the approach of a thunderstorm from the northwest, and we concluded to take shelter in a little cabin, until the range would be over. Accordingly, we lighted and remained about an hour and a half. The clouds continued to follow each other in rapid succession. In so much that there was but little prospect of its ceasing to rain this evening. As I had determined to reach St. Charles

this evening, and knowing that there was now no time to be lost, I sat forward in the rain. Most of the gentlemen continued with me. We arrived at half after six and joined Captain Clark, found the party in good health and spirits. We subbed this evening with a Spanish ensign named Teong. At an early hour I retired to rest on board the barge. St. Charles is situated on the north bank of the Missouri, 21 miles above its junction with the Mississippi, and about the same distance northwest from St. Louis.

It is bisected by one principal street about a mile in length running nearly parallel with the river. The plane on which it stands is narrow, though sufficiently elevated to secure it against the annual inundations of the river, which usually happened in the month of June.

And in their rear it is terminated by a range of small hills. The village contains a chapel, 112 houses, and about 450 inhabitants. Their houses are generally small and ill-constructed. A great majority of the inhabitants are miserly poor, illiterate, and when at home excessively lazy. Though they are polite, hospitable, and by no means deficient in point of natural genius, they live in a perfect state of harmony among each other. They place implicit confidence in the doctrines of their spiritual pastor, the Roman Catholic priest, as they yield passive obedience to the will of their temporal master, the commandment. A small garden of vegetables is the usual extent of their cultivation, and this is commonly imposed on the old men and boys, the men in the vigour of life consider the cultivation of the earth a degrading occupation. And in order to gain the necessary subsidence for themselves and families, either undertake hunting voyages on their own account, or engage themselves as hirelings to such persons as possess sufficient capital to extend their traffic to the natives of the interior parts of the country. On those voyages in either case, they are frequently absent from their families or homes the term of 6, 12, or 18 months, and always subjected to severe and incessant labor, exposed to weather and climate, and dependent on chance or accident alone for food or relief in the event of amality. These people are principally the descendants of the Canadian French. Unconsulting with my friend, Captain Clark, I found it necessary that we should postpone

or departure until 2 p.m. the next day.

And accordingly gave orders to the party

to hold themselves in readiness to the part at that hour.

Captain Clark now informed me that having gotten

all the stores on board the barge on the evening of the 13th of May. He determined to leave at the mouth of River Duwad the next day, and to ascend the Missouri as far as the village of St. Charles. He has to wait my arrival, this movement while advanced us a small distance on our route, would also enable him to

determine whether the vessels had been judiciously loaded, and if not timely to make the necessary altercations. Accordingly at 4 p.m., he embarked with a party in the presence of a number of the neighboring citizens who had assembled simple to witness his departure during the four part of this day it rained excessively hard. The course and distance of this day was west four miles the wind from northeast. Clark, May 20, 1804. Sunday. A cloudy morning, rained, and there was a hard wind last night. I gave the party leave to go in here a sermon today delivered by a Roman Catholic priest. At three o'clock, Captain Lewis, accompanied by the officers and several gentlemen of St. Louis arrived in a heavy shower of rain. It rained the greater part of this evening. Clark, May 21, 1804. Monday All the four part of the day was spent arranging our party and procuring the different articles necessary for them at this place. Set out at half past three o'clock under three cheers from the gentlemen on the bank and proceeded on to the head of the island three miles. Soon after we set out today, a hard win accompanied with a hard rain came upon us, which lasted with short intervals all night. Clark, May 22, 1804. Tuesday, a cloudy morning. We were delayed by one hour for four Frenchmen who got liberties to return to arrange some business they had forgotten in town. It took a clock we proceeded on, passed several small farms on the bank and a large creek. The camp of kickapouse told me several days ago that they would come on and hunt, and by the time I got to their camp they would have some provisions for us. We camped in a bend at the mouth of a small creek. Soon after we came to the Kikapus, they arrived with four deer as a present, for which we gave them two quartz of whiskey. This day we passed several islands and some high lands on the starboard side, and very hard water. Clark, May 23, 1804. Wednesday. We set out early and ran into a log. This detained us one hour, but we proceeded the course of last night, two miles to the mouth of a creek. I visit a large island and a settlement. On this creek, 30 or 40 families are settled, crossed to the settlement and took in our and Joe fields who had been sent to purchase corn and butter. Many people came to see us. We also passed a large cave about 120 feet wide, 40 feet deep and 20 feet high. Many different images are painted on the rock

at this place. Stopped about one mile beyond for Captain Lewis who had ascended the cliffs,

which is at the said cave 300 feet high, hanging over the water.

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