through the encampment & then returned
with us the road runs 20 degrees south of
west 7 miles then turned 10 d[e]gress North
of west at half past 12 we came in sight of
70 Indian Horses & Mules soon we came in
sight of a large Pawnee Indian village on the
north side of the lou fork & also a large one on
the south side of it. we drove on by the villages
& they soon began to sally out to come to us. we
camped in a half moon the bank of the river
forming A parallel line in front the indians to the
number of about 200 on the south side of
the river came down to the shore some waided
over about 75 came into camp including the
grand chief of the Nation with many war chiefs
we met them Before we left the ground & made
them presents of about 4 lbs of tobacco 15 lbs lead
powder fish Hooks beads flour salt &c but still
they were not satisfied considering our num
bers they thought they ought to have had
more & when we left the ground they appeared vary
dissatisfied we however Harnessed up our teams & drove on
to looking glass creek & camped at its mouth for the night
upon the bank of the loop fork after our Horses were turned
out we were called together & in consequence of the dissat
isfaction of the Indians A guard of 100 men was called
for the quorum of the Twelve with nearly the whole
camp volunteered to stand guard one half the fore part
of the night & the other the latter part we had A picket
guard also of 5 men & mules at a time I with my mule
was on picket guard. we had hard wind & rain in the
Afternoon which continued A part of the time while I
was on guard I rolled myself up oin my buffalo & let the wind
& rain beat onto me we were releaved at about 1 oclok
& went to rest. But no Indians appeared during the
night
~ Thursday
22 we crossed the looking glass 15 minutes to 9, & then
continued a westerly course there were A good many auter
on the looking glass. we arived at Beaver Creek at 12 oclok there
are some Beaver on this creek ^about one mile above its mouth^ Professor Pratt took the meridian
observation of the sun by the sextant for the Lat which was
found to be 41° 25' 13". Also found the magnetic needle
to vary about 12 degrees east. And found the Barometer at half
past 12, 28.711, the attached Thermometer standing at
68° And the detached thermometer at 67° & Also took an obser
vation of the sun for the ^true^ time in the morning it is 10 miles
between the two creeks which we travled this forenoon. we
crossed Beaver creek at half past 2 oclok, the road runs about
south west. the water was about to the deds [beds] of our wagg-
ons it was a rough steep bank to come out of about 12
men hitched a hook & roap to the tongue of each waggon
& puled them up; Beaver Creek is lined with scattering
timber cottonwood & willows. we travled 7 miles &
came to the Pawnee Mishionary station & camped for
the night the road was Bluff was skirted with some
through the encampment & then returned
with us the road runs 20 degrees south of
west 7 miles then turned 10 dgress North
of west at half past 12 we came in sight of
70 Indian Horses & Mules soon we came in
sight of a large Pawnee Indian village on the
north side of the lou fork & also a large one on
the south side of it. we drove on by the villages
& they soon began to sally out to come to us. we
camped in a half moon the bank of the river
forming a parallel line in front the indians to the
number of about 200 on the south side of
the river came down to the shore some waided
over about 75 came into camp including the
grand Chief of the Nation with many war chiefs
we met them before we left the ground & made
them presents of about 4 lbs of tobacco 15 lbs lead
powder fish hooks beads flour salt &c but still
they were not satisfied considering our num
bers they thought they ought to have had
more & when we left the ground they appeared vary
dissatisfied we however harnessed up our teams & drove on
to looking glass creek & camped at its mouth for the night
upon the bank of the loop fork after our horses were turned
out we were called together & in consequence of the dissat
isfaction of the Indians a guard of 100 men was called
for the quorum of the Twelve with nearly the whole
camp volunteered to stand guard one half the fore part
of the night & the other the latter part we had a picket
guard also of 5 men & mules at a time I with my mule
was on picket guard. we had hard wind & rain in the
afternoon which continued a part of the time while I
was on guard I rolled myself up in my buffalo & let the wind
& rain beat onto me we were releaved at about 1 oclok
& went to rest. But no Indians appeared during the
night
~ Thursday
22 we crossed the looking glass 15 minutes to 9, & then
continued a westerly course there were a good many auter
on the looking glass. we arived at Beaver Creek at 12 oclok there
are some Beaver on this creek about one mile above its mouth Professor Pratt took the meridian
observation of the sun by the sextant for the Lat which was
found to be 41° 25' 15". Also found the magnetic needle
to vary about 12 degrees east. And found the barometer at half
past 12, 28. 711, the attached Thermometer standing
at 68° and the detached thermometer at 67° & also took an obser
vation of the sun for the true time in the morning it is 10 miles
between the two creeks which we travled this forenoon. we
crossed Beaver creek at half past 2 oclok, the road runs about
south west. the water was about to the beds of our waggons it was a rough steep bank to come out of about 12
men hitched a hook & roap to the tongue of each waggon
& puled them up; Beaver Creek is lined with scattering
timber cottonwood & willows, we travled 7 miles &
came to the Pawnee Mishionary station & camped for
the night the Bluff was skirted with some
"Journal (January 1, 1847 – December 31, 1853)," April 21, 1847 - April 22, 1847, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed December 18, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/rkn2