-
"The party continues to be occupied with the boat, the cross-bars
for which are now finished, and there remain only the strips
to complete the woodwork. The skins necessary to cover it have
already been prepared; they amount to twenty-eight elk-skins
and four buffalo-skins. Among our game were two beaver, which we
have had occasion to observe are found wherever there is timber.
We also killed a large bull-bat or goatsucker, of which there
are many in this neighborhood, resembling in every respect
those of the same species in the United States. We have not
seen the leather-winged bat for some time, nor are there any
of the small goatsucker in this part of the Missouri. We have
not seen that species of goatsucker called the whippoorwill,
which is commonly confounded in the United States with the large
goatsucker which we observe here. This last prepares no nest,
but lays its eggs on the open plains; they generally begin to sit
on two eggs, and we believe raise only one brood in a season;
at the present moment they are just hatching their young."
Dr. Coues says that we should bear in mind that this was written
"when bats were birds and whales were fishes for most persons."
The journal confounds bats, which are winged mammals, with goatsuckers,
or whippoorwills, which are birds.
The second of July was an interesting date for the explorers.
On that day we find the following entry in their journal: -
"A shower of rain fell very early this morning. We then
despatched some men for the baggage left behind yesterday,
and the rest were engaged in putting the boat together.
This was accomplished in about three hours, and then we began
to sew on the leather over the crossbars of iron on the inner
side of the boat which form the ends of the sections.
By two o'clock the last of the baggage arrived, to the great
delight of the party, who were anxious to proceed.
The mosquitoes we find very troublesome.
"Having completed our celestial observations, we went over to the large
island to make an attack upon its inhabitants, the bears, which have annoyed
us very much of late, and were prowling about our camp all last night.
We found that the part of the island frequented by the bears
forms an almost impenetrable thicket of the broad-leaved willow.
Into this we forced our way in parties of three; but could see only
one bear, which instantly attacked Drewyer. Fortunately, as he was
rushing on, the hunter shot him through the heart within twenty
paces and he fell, which enabled Drewyer to get out of his way.
We then followed him one hundred yards, and found that the wound
had been mortal.
"Not being able to discover any more of these animals, we returned
to camp.
