THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 489 



from their roost, and had we been on shore could have 

 accounted for more than one of them. The prairies are 

 becoming more common and more elevated; we have seen 

 more evergreens this day than we have done for two weeks 

 at least. This evening is dark and rainy, with lightning 

 and some distant thunder, and we have entered the mouth 

 of the Big Sioux River, ^ where we are fastened for the 

 night. This is a clear stream and abounds with fish, and 

 on one of the branches of this river is found the famous 

 red clay, of which the precious pipes, or calumets are 

 manufactured. We will try to procure some on our re- 

 turn homeward. It is late; had the weather been clear, 

 and the moon, which is full, shining, it was our inten- 

 tion to go ashore, to try to shoot Wild Turkeys ; but as 

 it is pouring down rain, and as dark as pitch, we have 

 thrown our lines overboard and perhaps may catch a fish. 

 We hope to reach Vermilion River day after to-morrow. 

 We saw abundance of the birds which I have before 

 enumerated. 



May llf, Simday. It rained hard and thundered dur- 

 ing the night; we started at half-past three, when it had 

 cleared, and the moon shone brightly. The river is 

 crooked as ever, with large bars, and edged with prairies. 

 Saw many Geese, and a Lonf^-billed Curlew, One poor 

 Goose had been wounded in the wing; when approached, 

 it dived for a long distance and came up along the 

 shore. Then we saw a Black Bear, swimming across the 

 river, and it caused a commotion. Some ran for their 

 rifles, and several shots were fired, some of which almost 

 touched Bruin; but he kept on, and swam very fast. 

 Bell shot at it with large shot and must have touched 



^ Which separates Iowa from South Dakota. Here the Missouri ceases 

 to separate Nebraska from Iowa, and begins to separate Nebraska from 

 South Dakota. Audubon is therefore at the point where these three States 

 come together. He is also just on the edge of Sioux City, Iowa, which 

 extends along the left bank of the Missouri from the vicinity of Floyd's 

 Bluff to the Big Sioux River. — E. C. 



