of all which we have made notes & shall avail ("1804 ourselves in the prosecution of our voyage. [November
Thermom^at 8h p.m. Extremes 45°-79° Made this day 9 miles 257 perches; amounting in the whole to 196 miles 256 perches from the mouth of the red river to the Post of the Washita; and by the old computation 90 leagues.
Thermometer in air 520 in river water 640 Wednesday 7* Clear. Finding from past experience that the boat in which we have come up, would be improper for the continuation of our voyage, we made enquiry this morning for other craft, but it appears there is no great choice of boats at this place; prepared also for astronomical observation: being greatly interrupted by visitants who came to offer services &c we were prevented from making any useful observation untill noon & even then we were incommoded: the Sun's meridian altitude gave the Lat: 32° 29' 5 2". 5 but I was not perfectly satisfied with this observation; from the Causes mentioned I suspect the altitude was taken a little too late, & shall hope to correct if necessary by future observations. Therm' at 8h p.m. 67? Extremes 52°-8o?
Thermom! in air 53? in river water 58? Thursday 8*.h Cloudy. This was a disagreeable, damp and cold day: made further enquiry for small boats with
\%oA \ little success; found only one, which with anNovemberj other Qf the same burthen might answer our purpose: no observation made this day. Upon viewing the Country on the East of the river, it is evidently alluvial; the surface is equal with a gentle slope from the river towards the rear of the plantations; the land here is of excellent quality, being a rich black mold to the depth of a foot, under which there is a friable loam of a brownish liver color, which very probably will itself become a good soil when broken up & exposed to the influences of the elements. Therm! at 8^ p.m. 56? Extremes 530-61°
Friday 9* Thermom- in air 420 in river water 61° Cloudy, damp & cold. Continued our search for proper vessels and heard of a flat-bottomed barge, which we expect will be very suitable, with the reduced loading we intend to carry with us, the boat will probably draw only 1 2 inches water: no observation, it being dark, cloudy & disagreeable all day. Extremes of the thermometer 42°—7 2°
Saturday 10? Thermom! in air 40? in river water 5 8° Clear—calm—this day having the appearance of being fine & serene, prepared for observation; and in the course of the day took altitudes of the Sun for the regulation of the watch and the magnetic variation: at noon found the Latitude
by by a fine observation to be 3 2° 20' ?c", this dif- ("1804
r r 1 r 1 *. » T • ^v. 1 November
fers from that of the 7TM by 17 ;I g1ve the pre- <■
ference to the result of this day, for reasons already mentioned; In the afternoon took distances of the moon from the Sun to the west of her and in the evening took distances of the moon from a Arietis to the east of her, which may be considered as a complete series for the determination of the Longitude.
Having hired the barge and agreed to give 1 dollar p- day for the use of her, we had her brought along side: She is upwards of 50 feet long & 8*4 feet in breadth built tollerably flat, her bottom being still a little convex & being pretty well formed for running. This boat with some improvements is probably the best form for penetrating up shallow rivers, she is undoubtedly too long, as we shall certainly meet with short turns among logs & perhaps rocks, the passage of which might be facilitated by a shorter boat: got her loaded before the evening with a view to set off early next morning. She made some water—found about bed time, that she had made a great deal of water; kept her baled all night. Thermom! at 8h p.m. 34? Extremes
4°°-72°
Thermometer in air 24? in river water 53? Sunday 11* Clear — calm.— Got the Barge hauled ashore and caulked, which detained us untill the after