In present South Dakota, the boats navigate a Missouri River bend full of islands and shallow, braided channels, and the barge nearly turns over. They then head up the wrong side of Troublesome Island and must turn back. Lewis adds rough blazing star and rigid goldenrod to his plant collection.
Passing Troublesome Island
we had Some difficulty owing to the river being Shallow. the Boat wheeled Several times and creened on hir Side So that we were obledged to Spring out and hold hir from oversetting. we hunted for the channel & were forced to turn back some distance & take another channel.—
—John Ordway
Prairie Dogs and Grouse
I walked on Shore Saw Several foxes Several Villages of Prarie dogs, and a number of Grouse
—William Clark
Rough Blazing Star Specimen
No. 58 12th September. growth of high & dry prarie—
—Meriwether Lewis[1]Liatris aspera, Moulton, ed., Herbarium, specimen 90.
Rigid Goldenrod Specimen
High dry prairies Septb: 12, 1804
—Meriwether Lewis[2]Solidago rigida, Moulton, ed., Herbarium, specimen 161.