Clark’s choice of alternatives only complicated the problem of his
cartographer. Lewis no doubt recognized the vast discrepancies between
Colter’s genuine depiction and Clark’s counterfeit so he evidently
decided upon a compromise of his own. How this expert reconciled the
conflicting data of the two map sheets into one pattern is at once a
masterpiece in cartography and psychology. The technique he adopted
might be called “double entry map making.” He used the Yellowstone Lake
part of Colter’s sketch as an element for a concealed map; it appears as
a mountain range. Such a grotesque range cannot be found in any of the
surrounding territory, but when visualized as a lake it is amazing how
it conforms to what a trapper traveling a logical route would have seen
of Yellowstone Lake, namely, the South Arm and Thumb. Lewis shied away
from any clear-cut representation of the geyser region. However, besides
including the disguised lake portion of Colter’s map, he did other
things to “poke fun” at Clark’s speculations. He drew Lake Eustis in the
manner of a gargoyle. It must have been deliberately “satanized.”
Nothing with such a preposterous shape was ever known among men. Why
didn’t Clark revolt at this representation? Surely he never drew
anything like that himself. That is not all of Lewis’ “fun making.” He
drew still another lake and gave it the shape of a deformed piece of
liver. Its appearance is ridiculous in the other extreme,[362] but, as
if to add insult to injury, Mr. Lewis raised a question as to this
lake’s legitimacy. Clark named it Biddle in honor of his patron,
Nicholas Biddle, whereas, upon the English version, the name appearing
is Riddle! Lewis was able to “get away” with this performance because
Clark did not see any proofs, only the published work.
[Illustration: J. N. Barry
“Double-entry” map of Yellowstone.]
[Illustration: Samuel Lewis’ “Double-entry” map. An attempt to
reconcile Colter’s draft of the Yellowstone country with Clark’s
obvious assumptions.]
[Illustration: When segregated these “concealed” elements give a
logical representation of what Colter undoubtedly saw, namely the
southwest arm and thumb of Yellowstone Lake.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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