The following is from Paul Wilhelm, Duke of Wurttemburg, Travels in North Ameri-
ca 1822-1824, University of Oklahoma Press, 1973, translated by W. Robert
Nitske.
ca 1822-1824, University of Oklahoma Press, 1973, translated by W. Robert
Nitske.
At five o’clock(on the afternoon of June 9) we passed a small saline creek(Petite
Saline) which would not arouse the interest of the traveler except for its large con-
tent of salt, which might in time make it quite valuable. From now on the stream
was bordered by long, low banks, battures, or high, timber covered land, cotes
bases, alternating with one another. The water in the Missouri had fallen so much
that I could notice many places where the bottom of the river bed became visible
and even formed sandbars. In may places the water was so shallow that even
our flat-bottomed boat could hardly be pushed ahead, and only with the aid of
poles. With great difficulty and strenuous work, we succeeded in making two
miles beyond the saline creek, and in the night we had to endure a slight rain with
a sultriness which attracted an insufferable number of flies and mosquitoes.
Despite the utmost weariness we could not sleep.
Saline) which would not arouse the interest of the traveler except for its large con-
tent of salt, which might in time make it quite valuable. From now on the stream
was bordered by long, low banks, battures, or high, timber covered land, cotes
bases, alternating with one another. The water in the Missouri had fallen so much
that I could notice many places where the bottom of the river bed became visible
and even formed sandbars. In may places the water was so shallow that even
our flat-bottomed boat could hardly be pushed ahead, and only with the aid of
poles. With great difficulty and strenuous work, we succeeded in making two
miles beyond the saline creek, and in the night we had to endure a slight rain with
a sultriness which attracted an insufferable number of flies and mosquitoes.
Despite the utmost weariness we could not sleep.
The morning of the tenth requited us, for the air became cool, and by poling and
rowing we had arrived at an island, the Ile du Grand Manitou (Terrapin Island),
whose banks consist of many shelves. It is two miles long but narrow and partial-
ly overgrown with cottonwoods. At eleven o’clock we reached the point of this
island. I estimated the distance from this point to the saline creek at five English
miles. At daybreak the hunters started out and came back with a fallow deer. On
the hooks which I had set out a fine fish of the sheat-fish family was caught. I took
it to be a Cataphractus costatus, one which I had not seen until then. Of the scaly
fish, several excellent kinds are found in the waters of the northwest of America.
All fish of prey, their scales, often forming an impenetrable armor over the whole
body, are so strong that they can resist the effect of firearms.
rowing we had arrived at an island, the Ile du Grand Manitou (Terrapin Island),
whose banks consist of many shelves. It is two miles long but narrow and partial-
ly overgrown with cottonwoods. At eleven o’clock we reached the point of this
island. I estimated the distance from this point to the saline creek at five English
miles. At daybreak the hunters started out and came back with a fallow deer. On
the hooks which I had set out a fine fish of the sheat-fish family was caught. I took
it to be a Cataphractus costatus, one which I had not seen until then. Of the scaly
fish, several excellent kinds are found in the waters of the northwest of America.
All fish of prey, their scales, often forming an impenetrable armor over the whole
body, are so strong that they can resist the effect of firearms.
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