The expedition passed the mouth of the Platte River with some difficulty. To the west of them lay the Sand Hills, similar to other terrain the explorers witnessed.

Photo courtesy Ron Kurtzer.

July 21, 1804. Clark: This Great river being much more rapid than the Missourie forces its Current against the opposit Shore. The Current of this river comes with great velosity roleing its Sands into the Missouri, filling up its Bead & Compelling it to incroach on the S [North] Shore. We found great dificuelty in passing around the Sand at the Mouth of this River. Capt. Lewis and Myself with 6 men in a perogue went up this Great river Platt about 2 [one] Miles, found the Current verry rapid roleing over Sands, passing through different Channels none of them more than five or Six feet deep. July 27, 1804. Clark: I took one man R. Fields and walked on Shore with a view of examoning Som Mounds on the L. S. of the river     those Mounds I found to be of Different hight Shape & Size, Some Composed of sand some earth & Sand     the hightest next to the river all of which covered about 200 acres of land, in a circular form.     on the Side from the river a low bottom & small Pond.

More about the people July 20, 1804. Clark: From this evenings encampment a man may walk to the Pani [Pawnee] Village on the S bank of the Platt river in two days, and the Otteaus [Otos] in one day... as those Indians are now out in the Praries following & Hunting the buffalow, I fear we will not see them. July 28, 1804. Clark: G. Drewyer brought in a Missourie Indian which he met with hunting in the Praire.     This Indain is one of the fiew remaining of that nation, & lives with the Otteauz, his Camp about 4 Miles from the river,     he informs that the 'great gangue' of the Nation were hunting the Buffalow in the Plains. August 3, 1804. Clark: after Brakfast we collected those Indians under an owning of our Main Sail, in presence of our Party paraded & Delivered a long Speech to them expressive of our journey and wishes of our Government, Some advice to them and Directions how they were to conduct themselves. The prinicpal Chief for the Nation being absent, we Sent him the Speech flag Meadel & Some Cloathes. after hering what they had to say Delivered a Medal of Second Grade to one for the Ottos & one for the Missourie and present 4 medals of a third Grade to the inferior chiefs two for each tribe.

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