Joan's Lewis & Clark Geek Page

July 31st Saturday, 1806

[Clark]   I was much disturbed last night by the noise of the buffalow which were about me.    one gang Swam the river near our Camp which alarmed me a little for fear of their Crossing our Canoes and Splitting them to pieces. Set out as usial about Sun rise    passed a rapid which I call wolf rapid  from the Circumstance of one of those animals being at the rapid. here the river approaches the high mountanious Country on the    N W. Side.    those hills appear to be composed of various Coloured earth and Coal without much rock     I observe Several Conical pounds [NB: mounds] which appear to have been burnt.     this high Country is washed into Curious formed mounds & hills and is cut much with reveens.    the Country again opens and at the distance of 23 miles below the Redston or War-har-sah   River I landed in the enterance of a Small river   on the Stard. Side 40 yards wid Shallow and muddy.    it has lately been very high.    haveing passed the Enterance of a River on the Lard Side 100 yards wide which has running water.     this river I take to be the one the Menetarries Call little wolf or Sa-a-shah [NB: Shah] River     The high Country is entirely bar of timber.    great quantities of Coal or carbonated wood is to be seen in every Bluff and in the high hills at a distance on each Side.   Saw more Buffalow and Elk and antilopes this evening than usial.    18 Miles below the last river on the Stard. Side, I passed one 60 yards wide which had running water.    this Stream I call oak-tar-pon-er or Coal [R] River   has very steep banks on each side of it.    passed Several large Brooks   Some of them had a little running water, also Several Islands    Some high black looking Bluffs and encamped on the Stard. Side on a low point.     the country like that of yesterday is open extencive plains.    as I was about landing this evening Saw a white bear and the largest I ever Saw eating a dead buffalow on a Sand bar.    we fired two Shot into him, we Swam to the main Shore and walked down the bank. I landed and fired 2 more Shot into this tremendious animal without killing him.    night comeing on we Could not pursue him he bled profusely. Showers all this day

Clark continues on down the Yellowstone, listing all the streams and wildlife and a grizzly bear he can't bring down.

July 30th Wednesday, 1806

[Lewis]  The rain still continued this morning it was therefore unnecessary to remain as we could not dry our baggage    I Consequently set out early as usual and pursued my rout downwards.    the currant being strong and the men anxious to get on they plyed their oars faithfully and we went at the rate of about seven miles an hour.    we halted several times in the course of the day to kill some bighorns being anxious to procure a few more skins and skeletons of this animal; I was fortunate enough to procure one other malle and female for this purpose which I had prepared accordingly.    seven others were killed by the party also 2 buffaloe one Elk 2 beaver with & a female brown bear with tallons 6¼ inches in length. I preserved the skin of this bear also with the tallons; it was not large and in but low order.    we arrived this evening at an island about 2 ms. above Goodriches Island and encamped on it's N. E. side.   the rain continued with but little intermission all day; the air is cold and extreemly disagreeable.    nothing extraordinary happened today

The rain continues as they are doing  seven miles per hour towards home.  The game killing continues as well as the specimen gathering.  Not much else to report.

July 29th Tuesday, 1806

[Clark]   a Slight rain last night with hard thunder and Sharp lightening accompanied with a violent N. E. wind. I Set out early this morning    wind So hard a head that w made but little way.    in the fore part of the day, I saw great numbers of Buffalow on the banks.    the country on either Side is like that of yesterday.    passed three large dry Brooks on the Stard. Side and four on the Lard Side.      great quantities of Coal in all the hills I passed this day.    late in the evening I arived at the enterance of a River which I take to be [NB: called by Indians] the Lazeka or Tongue River    it discharges itself on the Stard. Side and is 150 yards wide of water    the banks are much wider. I intended to encamp on an eligable  eable to drink, I crossed the rochejhone and encamped on an island close to the Lard. Shore.  The water of this river is nearly milk worm very muddy and of a [dark] lightish brown Colour. the Current rapid and the Chanel Contains great numbers of Snags. near its enterance there is great quantities of wood Such as is common in the low bottoms of the Rochejhone and Missouri.    [NB: it heads in Cote Noir with has 2 branches    1 heads with the Chayenne & 1 with one of the Big H's branches]   tho' I believe that the Country back thro' which this river passes is an open one where the water is exposed to the Sun which heats it in its passage.    it is Shallow and throws out great quantities of mud and Some cors gravel.     below this river and on the Stard Side at a fiew Miles from the Rochejhone the hills are high and ruged Containing Coal in great quantities.   Beaver is very plenty on this part of the Rochejhone. The river widens    I think it may be generally Calculated at from 500  yards to half a mile in width    more Sand and gravelly Bars than above. cought 3 cat fish.    they wer Small and fat.    also a Soft Shell turtle.

Clark continues down the Yellowstone and gives a preview of Montana's giant coal mines.

July 28th Monday, 1806

[Lewis]      The morning proved fair, I slept sound but fortunately awoke as day appeared, I awaked the men and directed the horses to be saddled, I was so soar from my ride yesterday that I could scarcely stand, and the men complained of being in a similar situation however I encourged them by telling them that our own lives as well as those of our friends and fellow travellers depended on our exertions at this moment; they were allert soon    prepared the horses and we again resumed our march; the men proposed to pass the missouri at the grog spring where rose river approaches it so nearly and pass down on the S. W. side, to this I objected as it would delay us almost all day to reach the point [EC: mouth of Marias] by this circuetous rout and would give the enemy time to surprise and cut off the party at the point if they had arrived there,   I told them that we owed much to the safety of our friends and that we must wrisk our lives on this occasion, that I should proceed immediately to the point and if the party had not arrived that I would raft the missouri a small distance above, hide our baggage and march on foot up the river through the timber untill I met the canoes or joined them at the falls; I now told them that it was my determination that if we were attacked in the plains on our way to the point that the bridles of the horses should be tied together and we would stand and defend them, or sell our lives as dear as we could.    we had proceeded about 12  miles on an East course when we found ourselves near the missouri; we heared a report which we took to be that of a gun but were not certain; still continuing down the N. E. bank of the missouri about 8 miles further, being then within five miles of the grog spring we heared the report of several rifles very distinctly on the river to our right, we quickly repared to this joyfull sound and on arriving at the bank of the river had the unspeakable satisfaction to see our canoes coming down.    we hurried down from the bluff on which we were and joined them striped our horses and gave them a final discharge imbrarking without loss of time with our baggage. I now learned that they had brought all things safe having sustaned no loss nor met with any accident of importance. Wiser had cut his leg badly with a knife and was unable in consequence to work.    we decended the river opposite to our principal cash which we proceeded to open after reconnoitering the adjacent country.    we found that the cash had caved in and most of the articles burried therin were injured; I sustained the loss of two very large bear skins which I much regret; most of the fur and baggage belonging to the men were injured.    the gunpowder corn flour poark and salt had sustained but little injury the parched meal was spoiled or nearly so.    having no time to air these things which they much wanted we droped down to the point to take in the several articles which had been buried at that place in several small cashes;   these we found in good order, and recovered every article except 3 traps belonging to Drewyer which could not be found.    here as good fortune would have it Sergt. Gass and Willard who brought the horses from the falls joined us at 1 P. M. I had ordered them to bring down the horses to this place in order to assist them in collecting meat which I had directed them to kill and dry here for our voyage, presuming that they would have arrived with the perogue and canoes at this place several days before my return.    having now nothing to detain us we passed over immediately to the island in the entrance of Maria's river to launch the red perogue, but found her so much decayed that it was imposible with the means we had to repare her and therefore mearly took the nails and other ironwork's about her which might be of service to us and left her.    we now reimbarked on board the white peroge and five small canoes and decended the river about 15 ms. and encamped on the S. W. side near a few cottonwood trees,   one of them being of the narrow leafed speceis and was the first of that kind which we had remarked on our passage up the river.    we encamped late but having little meat I sent out a couple of hunters who soon returned with a sufficient quantity of the flesh of a fat cow.    there are immence quantities of buffaloe and Elk about the junction of the Missouri and Maria's rivers.—    during the time we halted at the entrance of Maria's river we experienced a very heavy shower of rain and hail attended with violent thunder and lightning.

A joyous reunion if ever there was one.  The Party is once more at full strength and ready for whatever the Blackfeet might bring forth.  An all together real story of courage by Lewis and his three men.

July 27th Sunday, 1806

[Lewis] This morning at day light the indians got up and crouded around the fire, J. Fields who was on post had carelessly laid his gun down behid him near where his brother was sleeping, one of the indians the fellow to whom I had given the medal last evening sliped behind him and took his gun and that of his brothers unperceived by him, at the same instant two others advanced and seized the guns of Drewyer and myself, J. Fields seing this turned about to look for his gun and saw the fellow just runing off with her and his brothers he called to his brother who instantly jumped up and pursued the indian with him whom they overtook at the distance of 50 or 60 paces from the camp sized their guns and rested them from him and R Fields as he seized his gun stabed the indian to the heart with his knife    the fellow ran about 15 steps and fell dead;   of this I did not know untill afterwards, having recovered their guns they ran back instantly to the camp; Drewyer who was awake saw the indian take hold of his gun and instantly jumped up and sized her and rested her from him but the indian still retained his pouch, his jumping up and crying damn you let go my gun awakened me    I jumped up and asked what was the matter which I quickly learned when I saw drewyer in a scuffle with the indian for his gun. I reached to seize my gun but found her gone, I then drew a pistol from my holster and terning myself about saw the indian making off with my gun    I ran at him with my pistol and bid him lay down my gun [at the instant] which he was in the act of doing when the Fieldses returned and drew up their guns to shoot him which I forbid as he did not appear to be about to make any resistance or commit any offensive act, he droped the gun and walked slowly off, I picked her up instantly, Drewyer having about this time recovered his gun and pouch asked me if he might not kill the fellow which I also forbid as the indian did not appear to wish to kill us, as soon as they found us all in possession of our arms they ran and indeavored to drive off all the horses    I now hollowed to the men and told them to fire on them if they attempted to drive off our horses, they accordingly pursued the main party who were drving the horses up the river and I pursued the man who had taken my gun who with another was driving off a part of the horses which were to the left of the camp, I pursued them so closely that they could not take twelve of their own horses but continued to drive one of mine with some others; at the distance of three hundred paces they entered one of those steep nitches in the bluff with the horses before them    being nearly out of breath I could pursue no further, I called to them as I had done several times before that I would shoot them if they did not give me my horse and raised my gun, one of them jumped behind a rock and spoke to the other who turned around and stoped at the distance of 30 steps from me and I shot him through the belly,  he fell to his knees and on his wright elbow from which position he partly raised himself up and fired at me, and turning himself about crawled in behind a rock which was a few feet from him.    he overshot me, being bearheaded I felt the wind of his bullet very distinctly not having my shotpouch I could not reload my peice and as there were two of them behind good shelters from me I did not think it prudent to rush on them with my pistol which had I discharged I had not the means of reloading untill I reached camp; I therefore returned leasurely towards camp, on my way I met with Drewyer who having heared the report of the guns had returned in surch of me and left the Fieldes to pursue the indians, I desired him to haisten to the camp with me and assist in catching as many of the indian horses as were necessary and to call to the Fieldes if he could make them hear to come back that we still had a sufficient number of horses, this he did but they were too far to hear him.    we reached the camp and began to catch the horses and saddle them and put on the packs.    the reason I had not my pouch with me was that I had not time to return about 50 yards to camp after geting my gun before I was obliged to pursue the indians or suffer them to collect and drive off all the horses.    we had caught and saddled the horses and began to arrange the packs when the Fieldses returned with four of our horses; we left one of our horses and took four of the best of those of the indian's; while the men were preparing the horses I put four sheilds and two bows and quivers of arrows which had been left on the fire, with sundry other articles; they left all their baggage at our mercy.    they had but 2 guns and one of them they left    the others were armed with bows and arrows and eyedaggs.   the gun we took with us. I also retook the flagg but left the medal about the neck of the dead man that they might be informed who we were.    we took some of their buffaloe meat and set out ascending the bluffs by the same rout we had decended last evening leaving the ballance of nine of their horses which we did not want.    the    Feildses told me that three of the indians whom they pursued swam the river one of them on my horse.    and that two others ascended the hill and escaped from them with a part of their horses, two I had pursued into the nitch one lay dead near the camp and the eighth we could not account for but suppose that he ran off early in the contest. having ascended the hill we took our course through a beatiful level plain a little to the S of East.    my design was to hasten to the entrance of Maria's river as quick as possible in the hope of meeting with the canoes and party at that place having no doubt but that they would pursue us with a large party and as there was a band near the broken mountains or probably between them and the mouth of that river we might expect them to receive inteligence from us and arrive at that place nearly as soon as we could, no time was therefore to be lost and we pushed our horses as hard as they would bear.    at 8 miles we passed a large branch 40 yds. wide which I called battle river.    at 3 P. M. we arrived at rose river about 5 miles above where we had passed it as we went out, having traveled by my estimate compared with our former distances and couses about 63 ms.  here we halted an hour and a half took some refreshment and suffered our horses to graize; the day proved warm but the late rains had supplyed the little reservors in the plains with water and had put them in fine order for traveling, our whole rout so far was as level as a bowling green with but little stone and few prickly pears.    after dinner we pursued the bottoms of rose river but finding inconvenient to pass the river so often we again ascended the hills on the S. W. side and took the open plains; by dark we had traveled about 17 miles further, we now halted to rest ourselves and horses about 2 hours, we killed a buffaloe cow and took a small quantity of the meat.    after refreshing ourselves we again set out by moon light and traveled leasurely, heavy thunderclouds lowered arround us on every quarter but that from which the moon gave us light.    we contineud to pass immence herds of buffaloe all night as we had done in the latter part of the day.    we traveled untill 2 OCk in the morning having come by my estimate after dark about 20 ms.    we now turned out our horses and laid ourselves down to rest in the plain very much fatiegued as may be readily conceived.    my indian horse carried me very well in short much better than my own would have done and leaves me with but little reason to complain of the robery.

Lewis follows up yesterdays long post with another, well describing probably the most dangerous episode of the entire trek.  Certainly the courage of both Lewis and his men really stands out.  While Lewis lost his horse, he seems to be fairly pleased by the replacement, whose hooves almost certainly, would have been less tender.  All in all, one of the our group's most stunning encounters.

July 26th Saturday, 1806

[Lewis]   The morning was cloudy and continued to rain as usual, tho' the cloud seemed somewhat thiner. I therefore posponed seting out untill 9 A. M. in the hope that it would clear off but finding the contrary result I had the horses caught and we set out biding a lasting adieu to this place which I now call camp disappointment. I took my rout through the open plains S. E. 5 ms. passing a small creek at 2 ms. from the mountains wher I changed my direction to S. 75 E. for 7 ms. further and struck a principal branch of Maria's river 65 yds. wide, not very deep, I passed this stream to it's south side and continued down it 2 ms. on the last mentioned course when another branch of nearly the same dignity formed a junction with it, coming from the S. W.    this last is shallow and rappid; has the appearance of overflowing it's banks frequently and discharging vast torrants of water at certain seasons of the year.    the beds of both these streams are pebbly particularly the S. branch.    the water of the N. branch is very terbid while that of the S. branch is nearly clear not withstanding the late rains. I passed the S. branch just above it's junction and continued down the river which runs a little to the N of E 1 ms. and halted to dine and graize our horses.   here I found some indian lodges which appeared to have been inhabited last winter in a large and fertile bottom well stocked with cottonwood timber.    the rose honeysuckle and redberry bushes constitute the undergrowth there being but little willow in this quarter both these rivers abov their junction appeared to be well stocked with timber or comparitively so with other parts of this country.    here it is that we find the three species of cottonwood which I have remarked in my voyage assembled together    that speceis common to the Columbia I have never before seen on the waters of the Missouri, also the narrow and broad leafed speceis.   during our stay at this place R. Fields killed a buck a part of the flesh of which we took with us.    we saw a few Antelopes some wolves and 2 of the smallest speceis of fox of a redish brown colour with the extremity of the tail black.    it is about the size of the common domestic cat and burrows in the plains.    after dinner I continued my rout down the river to the North of Eat about 3 ms. when the hills putting in close on the S side I determined to ascend them to the high plain which I did accordingly, keeping the Fields with me; Drewyer passed the river and kept down the vally of the river. I had intended to decend this river with it's course to it's junction with the fork which I had ascended and from thence have taken across the country obliquely to rose river and decend that stream to it's confluence with Maria's river.   the country through which this portion of Maria's river passes to the fork which I ascended appears much more broken than that above and between this and the mountains. I had scarcely ascended the hills before I discovered to my left at the distance of a mile an assembleage of about 30 horses, I halted and used my spye glass by the help of which I discovered several indians on the top of an eminence just above them who appeared to be looking down towards the river I presumed at Drewyer. about half the horses were saddled.    this was a very unpleasant sight, however I resolved to make the best of our situation and to approach them in a friendly manner. I directed J. Fields to display the flag which I had brought for that purpose and advanced slowly toward them, about this time they discovered us and appeared to run about in a very confused manner as if much allarmed, their attention had been previously so fixed on Drewyer that they did not discover us untill we had began to advance upon them, some of them decended the hill on which they were and drove their horses within shot of it's summit and again returned to the hight as if to wate our arrival or to defend themselves. I calculated on their number being nearly or quite equal to that of their horses, that our runing would invite pursuit as it would convince them that we were their enimies and our horses were so indifferent that we could not hope to make our escape by flight; added to this Drewyer was seperated from us and I feared that his not being apprized of the indians in the event of our attempting to escape he would most probably fall a sacrefice.    under these considerations I still advanced towards them; when we had arrived at the distance of within a quarter of a mile of them, one of them mounted his horse and rode full speed towards us, which when I discovered I halted and alighted from my horse; he came within a hundred paces halted looked at us and turned his horse about and returned as briskly to his party as he had advanced; while he halted near us I held out my hand and becconed to him to approach but he paid no attention to my overtures.    on his return to his party they all decended the hill and mounted their horses and advanced towards us leaving their horses behind them, we also advanced to meet them. I counted eight of them but still supposed that there were others concealed as there were several other horses saddled. I told the two men with me that I apprehended that these were the Minnetares of Fort de Prarie and from their known character I expected that we were to have some difficulty with them; that if they thought themselves sufficiently strong I was convinced they would attempt to rob us in which case be their numbers what they would I should resist to the last extremity prefering death to that of being deprived of my papers instruments and gun and desired that they would form the same resolution and be allert and on their guard.    when we arrived within a hundred yards of each other the indians except one halted I directed the two men with me to do the same and advanced singly to meet the indian with whom I shook hands and passed on to those in his rear, as he did also to the two men in my rear; we now all assembled and alighted from our horses; the Indians soon asked to smoke with us, but I told them that the man whom they had seen pass down the river had my pipe and we could not smoke untill he joined us. I requested as they had seen which way he went that they would one of them go with one of my men in surch of him, this they readily concented to and a young man set out with R. Fields in surch of Drewyer. I now asked them by sighns if they were the Minnetares of the North which they answered in the affermative;   I asked if there was any cheif among them and they pointed out 3    I did not believe them however I thought it best to please them and gave to one a medal to a second a flag and to the third a handkercheif, with which they appeared well satisfyed.    they appeared much agitated with our first interview from which they had scarcely yet recovered, in fact I believe they were more allarmed at this accedental interview than we were.    from no more of them appearing I now concluded they were only eight in number and became much better satisfyed with our situation as I was convinced that we could mannage that number should they attempt any hostile measures.    as it was growing late in the evening I proposed that we should remove to the nearest part of the river and encamp together, I told them that I was glad to see them and had a great deel to say to them.    we mounted our horses and rode towards the river which was at but a short distance, on our way we were joined by Drewyer Fields and the indian.    we decended a very steep bluff about 250 feet high to the river where there was a small bottom of nearly ½ a mile in length and about 250 yards wide in the widest part,   the river washed the bluffs both above and below us and through it's course in this part is very deep; the bluffs are so steep that there are but few places where they could be ascended, and are broken in several places by deep nitches which extend back from the river several hundred yards, their bluffs being so steep that it is impossible to ascend them; in this bottom there stand tree solitary trees   near one of which the indians formed a large simicircular camp   of dressed buffaloe skins and invited us to partake of their shelter which Drewyer and myself accepted and the Fieldses lay near the fire in front of the sheter.    with the assistance of Drewyer I had much conversation with these people in the course of the evening. I learned from them that they were a part of a large band which lay encamped at present near the foot of the rocky mountains on the main branch of Maria's river one ½ days march from our present encampment; that there was a whiteman with their band; that there was another large band of their nation hunting buffaloe near the broken mountains and were on there way to the mouth of Maria's river where they would probably be in the course of a few days.    they also informed us that from hence to the establishment where they trade on the Suskasawan river is only 6 days easy march or such as they usually travel with their women and childred which may be estimated at about 150 ms.   that from these traders they obtain arm amunition sperituous liquor blankets &c in exchange for wolves and some beaver skins. I told these people that I had come a great way from the East up the large river which runs towards the rising sun, that I had been to the great waters where the sun sets and had seen a great many nations all of whom I had invited to come and trade with me on the rivers on this side of the mountains, that I had found most of them at war with their neighbours and had succeeded in restoring peace among them, that I was now on my way home and had left my party at the falls of the misouri with orders to decend that river to the entrance of Maria's river and there wait my arrival and that I had come in surch of them in order to prevail on them to be at peace with their neighbours particularly those on the West side of the mountains and to engage them to come and trade with me when the establishment is made at the entrance of this river to all which they readily gave their assent and declared it to be their wish to be at peace with the Tushepahs whom they said had killed a number of their relations lately and pointed to several of those present who had cut their hair as an evidince of the truth of what they had asserted. I found them extreemly fond of smoking and plyed them with the pipe untill late at night.    I told them that if they intended to do as I wished them they would send some of their young men to their band with an invitation to their chiefs and warriors to bring the whiteman with them and come down and council with me at the entrance of Maria's river and that the ballance of them would accompany me to that place, where I was anxious now to meet my men as I had been absent from them some time and knew that they would be uneasy untill they saw me.    that if they would go with me I would give them 10 horses and some tobacco.    to this proposition they made no reply, I took the first watch tonight and set up untill half after eleven; the indians by this time were all asleep, I roused up R. Fields and laid down myself; I directed Fields to watch the movements of the indians and if any of them left the camp to awake us all as I apprehended they would attampt to seal [steal] our horses.    this being done I fell into a profound sleep and did not wake untill the noise of the men and indians awoke me a little after light in the morning.—

Lewis and his detail's meeting with the Piegans inspires one of his longest posts.  Certainly his handling of this event demonstrated both his tact and courage.  The Piegans were one branch of of the Blackfoot confederation, the Bloods and Blackfeet themselves were the other members.  The were Algonquian-language people who had evidently moved west a good time ago.  They were closely tied to the Hudson Bay people of Canada and never much made up with American traders.  Some blamed this early meeting with Lewis and Clark for their future coldness.  Lewis exchanges with this group had to  have been conducted in sign language and serves to demonstrate his fluency in this medium.

July 25th Friday, 1806

[Clark] We Set out at Sunrise and proceeded on very well for three hours. Saw a large gange of Buffalow on the Lard Bank. I concluded to halt and kill a fat one, dureing which time Some brackfast was ordered to be Cooked. we killed 2 Buffalow and took as much of their flesh as I wished. Shields killed two fat deer and after a delay of one hour and a half we again proceeded on.    and had not proceeded far before a heavy shower of rain pored down upon us, and the wind blew hard from the S W.    the wind increased and the rain continued to fall. I halted on the Stard. Side had Some logs set up on [end?] close together and Covered with deerskins to keep off the rain, and a large fire made to dry ourselves. the rain continued moderately untill near twelve oClock when it Cleared away and become fair.    the wind Contined high untill 2 P M. I proceeded on after the [NB: rain] lay a little and at 4 P M arived at a remarkable rock   Situated in an extensive bottom on the Stard. Side of the river & 250 paces from it.    this rock I ascended and from it's top had a most extensive view in every direction. This rock which I shall Call Pompy's Tower is 200 feet high and 400 paces in secumphrance and only axcessable on one Side which is from the N. E the other parts of it being a perpendicular Clift of lightish Coloured gritty rock on the top there is a tolerable Soil of about 5 or 6 feet thick Covered with Short grass. The Indians have made 2 piles of Stone on the top of this Tower. The nativs have ingraved on the face of this rock the figures of animals &c. near which I marked my name and the day of the month & year. From the top of this Tower I Could discover two low Mountains & the Rocky Mts. covered with Snow S W.    one of them appeard to be extencive and bore S. 15° E.  about 40 miles.    the other I take to be what the indians Call the Little wolf Mtn. I can only see the Southern extremity of it which bears N 55° W about 35 Miles. The plains to the South rise from the distance of about 6 miles the width of the bottom gradually to the mountains in that derection.    a large Creek with an extencive Vally the direction of which is S. 25° E. meanders boutifully through this plain.    a range of high land Covered with pine  appears to run in a N. & S. direction approaching the river below.    on the Northerly Side of the river high romantic Clifts approach & jut over the water for Some distance both above and below.    a large Brook  which at this time has Some running muddy water falls in to the Rochejhone imediately opposit Pompys Tower.    back from the river for Some distance on that Side the hills are ruged & some pine back the plains are open and extensive.    after Satisfying my Self Sufficiently in this delightfull prospect of the extensive Country around, and the emence herds of Buffalow, Elk and wolves in which it abounded, I decended and proceeded on a fiew miles, Saw a gang of about 40 Big horn animals fired at them and killed 2 on the Sides of the rocks which we did not get. I directed the Canoes to land, and I walked up through a crevis in the rocks almost inaxcessiable and killed 2 of those animals one a large doe and the other a yearlin Buck. I wished very much to kill a large buck, had there been one with the gang I Should have killd. him.    dureing the time the men were getting the two big horns which I had killed to the river I employed my Self in getting pieces of the rib of a fish which was Semented within the face of the rock    this rib is [NB: about 3]  inchs diame in Secumpherance about the middle    [NB: the fallen rock is near the water—    the face    of the rock where rib is is perpendr.—    4 is. lengthwise, a little barb projects]    it is 3 feet in length tho a part of the end appears to have been broken off    I have Several peces of this rib    the bone is neither decayed nor petrified but very rotten.    the part which I could not get out may be Seen, it is about 6 or 7 Miles below Pompys Tower in the face of the Lard. Clift about 20 feet above the water.    after getting the big horn on board &c I proceeded on a Short distance and encamped,  an earlyer than I intended on accout of a heavy cloud which was comeing up from the S. S W. and Some appearance of a Violent wind. I walked out and killed a Small Buck for his Skin which the party are in want of for Clothes.    about Sunset the wind blew hard from the W. and Some little rain. I encamped on the Stard. Side imediately below the enteranc Shannons River about 22 Yards wide, and at this time discharges a great portion of water which is very Muddy.    emence herds of Buffalow about our as it is now running time with those animals the bulls keep Such a grunting nois which is very loud and disagreeable Sound that we are compelled to Scear them away before we can Sleep.    the men fire Several Shot at them and Scear them away.

The sandstone formation still bears Clark's name and is in Yellowstone County, Montana near Interstate Highway 94 not far from Billings.  Clark named it Pompy's tower after young Jean Baptiste Charbonneau whom he'd nicnamed Pomp.  Both captains, unfortunately, seem typical of that time's American men who saw the great herds of game and birds as inexhaustable and killing them was a great sport.

July 24th Thursday, 1806

[Lewis] At 8 A. M. the sun made it's appearance for a few minutes and I took it's altitude but it shortly after clouded up again and continued to rain the ballance of the day    I was therefore unable to complete the observations I wished to take at this place. I determined to remain another day in the hope of it's being fair.    we have still a little bread of cows remaining of which we made a kettle of mush which together with a few pigeons that we were fortunate enough to kill served us with food for this day. I sent the hunters out but they shortly returned without having killed anything and declared that it was useless to hunt within 6 or 8 miles of this place that there was no appearance of game within that distance.    the air has become extreemly cold which in addition to the wind and rain renders our situation extreemly unpleasant.    several wolves visited our camp today, I fired on and wounded one of them very badly.    the small speceis of wolf barks like a dog, they frequently salute us with this note as we pass through the plains.

Lewis and detail seems to have ran off all the game they've been reporting, and are down to mush and pigeons for the menu.  Coyotes are still enjoying small wolf status with Lewis although he seems to enjoy their voices.

July 23rd Wednesday, 1806

[Clark]    last night the wolves or dogs came into our Camp and eat most of our dryed meat which was on a scaffold    Labeech went out early agreeable to my directions of last evening. Sergt. Pryor and Windser also went out. Sgt. pryor found an Indian Mockerson and a Small piece of a roab, the mockerson worn out on the bottom & yet wet, and have every appearance of haveing been worn but a fiew hours before.    those Indian Signs is Conclusive with me that they have taken the 24 horses which we lost on the night of the 20th instant, and that those who were about last night were in Serch of the ballance of our horses which they could not find as they had fortunately got into a Small Prarie Serounded with thick timber in the bottom. Labeech returned haveing taken a great Circle and informed me that he Saw the tracks of the horses makeing off into the open plains and were by the tracks going very fast. The Indians who took the horses bent their course reather down the river.    the men finished both Canoes by 12 oClock to day, and I sent them to make Oars & get poles after which I sent Shields and Labeech to kill a fat Buffalow out of a gangue which has been in a fiew miles of us all day. I gave Sergt Pryor his instructions   and a letter to Mr. Haney  and directed that he G. Shannon & Windser take the remaining horses to the Mandans, where he is to enquire for Mr. H. Heney if at the establishments on the Assinniboin river  to take 12 or 14 horses and proceed on to that place and deliver Mr. Heney the letter which is with a view to engage Mr. Heney to provale on some of the best informed and most influential Chiefs of the different bands of Sieoux to accompany us to the Seat of our Government with a view to let them See our population and resources &c.    which I believe is the Surest garentee of Savage fidelity to any nation that of a Governmt. possessing the power of punishing promptly every aggression. Sergt. Pryor is directed to leave the ballance of the horses with the grand Chief of the Mandans untill our arival at his village    also to keep a journal of the of his rout courses distances water courss Soil production, & animals to be particularly noted.   Shields and Labeech killed three buffalow two of them very fat    I had as much of the meat Saved as we could Conveniently Carry.    in the evening had the two Canoes put into the water and lashed together    ores and everything fixed ready to Set out early in the morning, at which time I have derected Sergt. Pryor to Set out with the horses and proceed on to the enterance of the big horn river [NB: which we suppose to be at no great distance]   at which place the Canoes will meat him an Set him across the Rochejhone below the enterance of that river.

Clark is ready to abandon horseback travel and send the remaining horses off to the Mandans.  Their new canoes are ready and they have as much fat buffalo meat as they can carry. We'll see how this all comes off in the next few episodes.

July 22nd Tuesday, 1806

[Lewis] We set out very early this morning as usual and proceeded up the river.    for the first seven miles of our travel this morning the country was broken the land poor and intermixed with a greater quantity of gravel than usual; the ravines were steep and numerous and our horses feet have become extreemly soar in traveling over the gravel      we therefore traveled but slow.     we met with a doe Elk which we wounded but did not get her.    the river is confined closely between clifts of perpendicular rocks in most parts.    after the distance of seven miles the country became more level les gravly and some bottoms to the river but not a particle of timber nor underbush of any discription is to be seen.    we continued up the river on it's South side for 17 miles when we halted to glaize our horses and eat; there being no wood we were compelled to make our fire with the buffaloe dung which I found answered the purpose very well.    we cooked and eat all the meat we had except a small peice of buffaloe meat which was a little tainted.    after dinner we passed the river and took our course through a level and beautifull plain on the N. side. the country has now become level, the river bottoms wide and the adjoining plains but little elivated above them; the banks of the river are not usually more than from 3 to four feet yet it dose not appear ever to overflow them.    we found no timber untill we had traveled 12 miles further when we arrived at a clump of large cottonwood trees in a beautifull and extensive bottom of the river about 10 miles below the foot of the rocky mountains where this river enters them; as I could see from hence very distinctly where the river entered the mountains and the bearing of this point being S of West I thought it unnecessary to proceed further and therefore encamped resolving to rest ourselves and horses a couple of days at this place and take the necessary observations.     this plain on which we are is very high; the rocky mountains to the S. W. of us appear but low from their base up yet are partially covered with snow nearly to their bases.    there is no timber on those mountains within our view; they are very irregular and broken in their form and seem to be composed principally of clay with but little rock or stone.    the river appears to possess at least double the vollume of water which it had where we first arrived on it below; this no doubt proceeds from the avapparation [of] caused by the sun and air and the absorbing of the earth in it's passage through these open plains.   The course of the mountains still continues from S. E. to N. W.    the front rang appears to terminate abrubtly about 35 ms. to the N. W. of us.   I believe that the waters of the Suskashawan apporoach the borders of this river very nearly. I now have lost all hope of the waters of this river ever extending to N Latitude 50° though I still hope and think it more than probable that both white earth river and milk river extend as far north as latd. 50°—    we have seen but few buffaloe today no deer and very few Antelopes; gam of every discription is extreemly wild which induces me to beleive that the indians are now, or have been lately in this neighbourhood.    we wounded a buffaloe this evening but our horses were so much fatiegued that we were unable to pursue it with success.—

Sort of a disappointing day for Lewis in his quest for US access to the better parts of Canada.  Besides his horses are tired and sore-footed which wouldn't boost the overall morale much.  He should have followed Clarks example of making bootees for the horses out of buffalo hide.

July 21st Monday, 1806

[Clark]      This morning I was informed that Half of our horses were absent. Sent out Shannon Bratten, and Shabono to hunt them. Shabono went up the river Shanon down and Bratten in the bottom near Camp, Shabono and Bratten returned at 10 A M and informed me that they Saw no Signs of the horses. Shannon proceeded on down the river about 14 miles and did not return untill late in the evening, he was equally unsuckcessfull. Shannon informed me that he Saw a remarkable large Lodge   about 12 miles below, covered with bushes and the top Deckorated with Skins &c and had the appearance of haveing been built about 2 years. I Sent out two men on hors back to kill a fat Cow which they did and returned in 3 hours    the men work very diligiently on the Canoes    one of them nearly finished ready to put in the water. Gibsons wound is beginning to heal. I am in great hope that it will get well in time for him to accompany Sgt. Pryor with the horses to the Mandans. This evening late a very black Cloud from the S. E. accompanied with Thunder and lightning with hard winds which Shifted about and was worm and disagreeable. I am apprehensive that the indians have Stolen our horses, and probably those who had made the Smoke a fiew days passed towards the S. W. I deturmined to have the ballance of the horses guarded and for that purpose sent out 3 men, on their approach near the horses were So alarmed that they ran away and entered the woods and the men returned—    a Great number of Geese which raise their young on this river    passed down frequently Since my arival at this place.    we appear to be in the beginning of the buffalow Country.    the plains are butifull and leavel but the Soil is but thin Stoney   and in maney parts of the plains & bottoms there are great quantity of prickly pears. Saw Several herds of buffalow Since I arived at this Camp also antilops, wolves, pigions, Dovs, Hawks, ravins, Crows, larks, Sparrows, Eagles & bank martins  &c. &c. The wolves which are the constant attendants of the Buffalow are in great numbers on the Scerts of those large gangues which are to be Seen in every direction in those praries

Clark's group again has trouble with missing horses. We'll wait to see if his worry about losing them to marauding indians proves out.  Meanwhile Gibson's wound is healing and they're about ready to take to the water again.

June 20th Sunday, 1806

[Lewis] We set at sunrise and proceed through the open plain as yesterday up the North side of the river.    the plains are more broken than they were yesterday and have become more inferior in point of soil; a great quanty of small gravel is every where distributed over the surface of the earth which renders travling extreemly painfull to our bearfoot horses.    the soil is generally a white or whiteish blue clay, this where it has been trodden by the buffaloe when wet has now become as firm as a brickbat and stands in an inumerable little points quite as formidable to our horses feet as the gravel.    the mineral salts common to the plains of the missouri has been more abundant today than usual.    the bluffs of the river are about 200 feet high, steep irregular and formed of earth which readily desolves with water, slips and precipitates itself into the river as before mentioned frequentlly of the bluffs of the Missouri below which they resemble in every particular, differing essencially from those of the Missouri above the entrance of this river, they being composed of firm red or yellow clay which dose not yeald readily to the rains and a large quantity of rock.   the soil of the river bottom is fertile and well timbered, I saw some trees today which would make small canoes.    the timber is generally low.    the underbrush the same as before mentioned.    we have seen fewer buffaloe today than usual, though more Elk and not less wolves and Antelopes also some mule deer; this speceis of deer seems most prevalent in this quarter.    saw some gees ducks and other birds common to the country.    there is much appearance of beaver on this river, but not any of otter.     from the apparent decent of the country to the North and above the broken mountains I am induced to beleive that the South branch of the Suskashawan receives a part of it's waters from the plain even to the borders of this river  and from the brakes visible in the plains in a nothern direction think that a branch of that river decending from the rocky mountains passes at no great distance from Maria's river and to the N. E. of the broken mountains.    the day has proved excessively warm and we lay by four hours during the heat of it; we traveled 28 miles and encamped as usual in the river bottom on it's N. side.   there is scarcely any water at present in the plains and what there is, lies in small pools and is so strongly impregnated with the mineral salts that it is unfit for any purpose except the uce of the buffaloe.    these animals appear to prefer this water to that of the river.    the wild liquorice and sunflower are very abundant in the plains and river bottoms, the latter is now in full blume; the silkgrass and sand rush are also common to the bottom lands. the musquetoes have not been [very little] troublesome to us since we left the whitebear islands.—

Lewis explores the Marias river hoping its waters will provide an opening to the Saskatchewan River country for the US. Needless to say this was not the case but probably was worth doing.  With the sinkholes on the plains drying up the musquitoes are less troublesome.

July 19th Saturday, 1806

[Clark] I rose early and dressed Gibsons wound.    he Slept but very little last night and complains of great pain in his Knee and hip as well as his thy.    there being no timber on this part of the Rochjhone sufficintly large for a Canoe and time is pracious as it is our wish to get to the U States this Season, conclude to take Gibson in a little if he is not able to ride on down the river untill I can find a tree Sufficently large for my purpose. I had the Strongest and jentlesst Horse Saddled and placed Skins & blankets in Such a manner that when he was put on the horse he felt himself in as easy a position as when lying.    this was a fortunate circunstance as he Could go much more at his ease than in a litter.    passed Rose bud river   on Sd Side    [NB: So called by Indians; i. e. Itch-ke-pe (Rose) ar-ja (rivr) about 40 yds. saw many rs. bds., a beautiful]    I proceeded on about 9 miles, and halted to let the horses graze and let Gibson rest.    his leg become So numed from remaining in one position, as to render extreemly painful to him. I derected Shields to keep through the thick timber and examine for a tree sufficently large & Sound to make a Canoe, and also hunt for Some Wild Ginger  for a Poltice for Gibsons wound.    he joined me at dinner with 2 fat Bucks but found neither tree or Ginger.    he informed me that 2 white bear Chased him on horsback, each of which he Shot from his horse &c. Currents are ripe and abundant, i, e, the Yellow, black & purple spcies.    we passed over two high points of Land from which I had a View of the rocky Mounts. to the W. & S. S. E. all Covered with Snow. I also Saw a low mountain in an Easterly direction.     the high lands is partially Covered with pine and form purpendcular Clifts on either side.    after dinner I proceeded on    the high lands become lower on either Side and those of the Stard Side form Bluffs of a darkish yellow earth;   the bottom widens to Several Ms. on the Stard Side.    the timber which cotton wood principally Scattered on the borders of the river is larger than above. I have Seen Some trees which would make very Small Canoes. Gibsons thy became So painfull that he could not Set on the horse after rideing about 2 hours and a half    I directed Sergt Pryor and one man to continue with him under the Shade of a tree for an hour and then proceed on to the place I Should encamp which would be in the first good [NB: timber for canoes] for the below. (It may be proper to observe that the emence Sworms of Grass hoppers  have distroyed every Sprig of Grass for maney miles on this Side of the river, and appear to be progressing upwards.[)] about 4 Miles below the place I left Sergt. Pryor with Gibson    found some large timber near which the grass was tolerably good    I Encamped under a thick grove of those trees   which was not Sufficiently large for my purpose, tho' two of them would mak small Canoes. I took Shields and proceeded on through a large timbered bottom imediately below in Serch of better trees for Canoes, found Several about the Same Size with those at my Camp.    at dark I returned to Camp    Sergt. Pryor had arived with gibson.    after my arival at this place the hunters killed Seven Elk, four Deer, and I wounded a Buffalow very badly near the Camp imediately after I arived.    in the forepart of the day the hunters killed two deer an Antelope & Shot two Bear. Shabono informed me that he Saw an Indian on the high lands on the opposit Side of the river, in the time I was absent in the woods. I saw a Smoke in the Same direction with that which I had Seen on the 7th inst.    it appeared to be in the Mountains.

Gibson was injured yesterday while trying to get on his horse and failed, falling on a limb of a downed tree.  The limb penetrated his thy to some extent and was exceedingly painful.

Both captain's details are slaughtering game as if to make up for their lack of meat while on the Columbia.  Clark is still unable to find trees big enough for the canoe he wishes to build.

July 18th Friday, 1806

[Lewis] We set out this morning a little before sunrise    ascended the river hills and continued our rout as yesterday through the open plains    at about 6 miles we reached the top of an elivated plain which divides the waters of the rose river from those of Maria's river.    from hence the North mountains, the South mountains, the falls mountains and the Tower Mountain  and those arround and to the East of the latter were visible.    our course led us nearly parrallel with a creek of Maria's river which takes it's rise in these high plains at the place we passed them; at noon we struck this creek about 6 ms. from its junction with Maria's river  where we found some cottonwood timber; here we halted to dine and graize our horses.    the bed of this creek is about 25 yds. wide at this place but is nearly dry at present, the water being confined to little pools in the deeper parts of it's bed.    from hence downwards there is a considerable quantity of timber in it's bottom.    we passed immence herds of buffaloe on our way in short for about 12 miles it appeared as one herd only the whole plains and vally of this creek being covered with them; saw a number of wolves of both speceis,  also Antelopes and some horses.    after dinner we proceeded about 5 miles across the plain to Maria's river where we arrived at 6 P. M.    we killed a couple of buffaloe in the bottom of this river and encamped on it's west side in a grove of cottonwood some miles above the entrance of the creek.    being now convinced that we were above the point to which I had formerly ascended this river and faring that a fork of this stream might fall in on the Northside between this place and the point to which I had ascended it, I directed Drewyer who was with me on my former excurtion, and Joseph Fields to decend the river early in the morning to the place from whence I had returned, and examine whether any stream fell inn or not. I keep a strict lookout every night, I take my tour of watch with the men.

Lewis desires a better understaning of the drainages north of the Missouri.  Meanwhile he describes the herds of buffalo that never fail to amaze those unfamiliar with the great plains.  He also gives the coyote wolf stature.

July 17th Thursday, 1806

[Clark]   The rain of last night wet us all.    [NB: having no tent, & no covering but a buffaloe skin]    I had the horses all Collected early and Set out, proceeded ove the point of a ridge and through an open low bottom    crossed a large Creek which heads in a high Snow toped Mountain to the N W. imediately opposit to the enterance of the Creek one Something larger falls in from the high Snow mountains to the S W. & South    those Creeks I call Rivers across  they contain Some timber in their Vallys    at the distance of [blank] Miles by water we arive at the enterance of two Small rivers [NB: otter creeks]  or large Creeks which fall in nearly opposit to each other    the one on the N E side is 30 yards wide. I call it Otter River the other Beaver R  below the enterance of this Creek I halted as usial to let the Horses graze &C. I saw a Single Pelicon which is the first which I have Seen on this river.    after Dinner I proceeded on Down the Rochejhone passing over a low ridge through a Small bottom and on the Side of a Stoney hill for 2 miles and through a Small [NB: bottom] and again on the Side of a high hill for 1½ M. to a bottom in which we Incamped opposit a Small Island.   The high lands approach the river on either side much nearer than it does above and their Sides are partially covered with low pine & Cedar,   none of which are Sufficently large for Canoes, nor have I Seen a Cotton tree in the low bottoms Sufficently large for that purpose. Buffalow is getting much more plenty than they were above. not so many Elk & more deer Shannon killed one deer. I Saw in one of those Small bottoms which I passed this evening an Indian fort  which appears to have been built last Summer.    this fort was built of logs and bark.    the logs was put up very Closely    [NB: ends supporting each other] capping on each other about 5 feet [NB: high] and Closely chinked. around which bark was Set up on end so as to Cover the Logs.    the enterance was also guarded by a work on each Side of it and faceing the river.    this work is about 50 feet Diameter & nearly round.    the Squaw informs me that when the war parties [NB: of Minnits Crows &, who fight Shoshonees] find themselves pursued they make those forts to defend themselves in from the pursuers whose Superior numbers might other wise over power them and cut them off without receiveing much injurey on hors back &c.

Clark tours the Yellowstone and Sacagawea explains the use of an Indian built fort. they can't apparently, find a tree big enough to carve a canoe from.

July 16th Wednesday, 1806

[Clark] I gave Labeech promission to proceed on early  this morning a head and kill a fat Elk or Buffalow.    our horses haveing rambled to a long distance down the river detained us much later than Common.    we did not Set out untill 9 A M.    we had not proceeded on far before I saw a buffalow & Sent Shannon to kill it    this buffalow provd. to be a very fat Bull    I had most of the flesh brought on an a part of the Skin to make mockersons [NB: remarkable sort of bag round foot] for Some of our lame horses.    proceeded on down the river without finding any trees Sufficiently large for a Canoe about 10 miles and halted having passed over to an Island on which there was good food for our horses to let them graze & dine. I have not Seen Labeech as yet. Saw a large gangue of about 200 Elk and nearly as many Antilope    also two white or Grey Bear in the plains, one of them I Chased on horse back about 2 miles to the rugid part of the plain where I was compelled to give up the Chase    two of the horses was So lame owing to their feet being worn quit Smooth and to the quick, the hind feet was much the worst    I had Mockersons made of green Buffalow Skin and put on their feet which Seams to releve them very much in passing over the Stoney plains.    after dinner I proceeded on    Soon after I had set Out Labeech joined us with part of a fat Elk which he had killed. I passed over a Stoney point at which place the river runs Close to the high land on the N W. side    crossed a small Creek and Encamped on the river a little below its' Enterance.   Saw emence heards of Elk feeding on the oposit side of the river. I saw a great number of young gees in the river.    one of the men brought me a fish of a species I am unacquainted; it was 8 inches long formed like a trout.    it's mouth was placed like that of the Sturgeon    a red streak passed down each Side from the gills to the tail.   The rocks which the high lands are faced with and which may also be seen in perpendicular Straters in the high plains, is a dark freestone.    the greater part of this rock is of an excellent grit for Grindstones hard and sharp.    observe the Silkgrass   Sunflower  & Wild indigo  all in blume.    but fiew other flowers are to be seen in those plains. The river and Creek bottoms abound in Cotton wood trees, tho' none of them Sufficiently large for Canoes.    and the current of the Rochejhone is too rapid [NB: & not willing] to depend on Skinn canoes. [NB: which are not so easy managed & we did not know the river] no other alternetive for me but to proceed on down untill I can find a tree Sufficently large &c. to make a Canoe.—

Clarks part of the Group eats  high fare of fat buffalo and elk.  Meanwhile, some of their horses are really sore footed.  Back when I was a kid, a few men (who should have known better) would argue that indian horses never needed shoes.  Clark certainly needs some lucky horseshoes badly now but seems to make do somewhat with buffalo hides.

July 15th Tuesday, 1806

[Lewis]    Dispatched McNeal early this morning to the lower part of portage in order to learn whether the Cash and white perogue remained untouched or in what state they were.    the men employed in drying the meat, dressing deerskins and preparing for the reception of the canoes.    at 1 P. M. Drewyer returned without the horses and reported that after a diligent surch of 2 days he had discovered where the horses had passed Dearborn's river at which place there were 15 lodges that had been abandoned about the time our horses were taken; he pursued the tracks of a number of horses from these lodges to the road which we had traveled over the mountains which they struck about 3 ms. South of our encampment of the 7th inst. and had pursued this road Westwardly; I have no doubt but they are a party of the Tushapahs who have been on a buffaloe hunt. Drewyer informed that there camp was in a small bottom on the river of about 5 acres inclosed by the steep and rocky and lofty clifts of the river and that so closely had they kept themselves and horses within this little spot that there was not a track to be seen of them within a quarter of a mile of that place.    every spire of grass was eaten up by their horses near their camp which had the appearance of their having remained here some time.    his horse being much fatiegued with the ride he had given him and finding that the indians had at least 2 days the start of him thought it best to return.    his safe return has releived me from great anxiety. I had already settled it in my mind that a whitebear had killed him and should have set out tomorrow in surch of him, and if I could not find him to continue my rout to Maria's river. I knew that if he met with a bear in the plains even he would attack him.    and that if any accedent should happen to seperate him from his horse in that situation the chances in favour of his being killed would be as 9 to 10. I felt so perfectly satisfyed that he had returned in safety that I thought but little of the horses although they were seven of the best I had.    this loss great as it is, is not intirely irreparable, or at least dose not defeat my design of exploring Maria's river. I have yet 10 horses remaining, two of the best and two of the worst of which I leave to assist the party in taking the canoes and baggage over the portage and take the remaining 6 with me; these are but indifferent horses most of them but I hope they may answer our purposes. I shall leave three of my intended party, (viz ) Gass, Frazier and Werner, and take the two Feildses and Drewyer.    by having two spare horses we can releive those we ride.    having made this arrangement I gave orders for an early departure in the morning, indeed I should have set out instantly but McNeal road one of the horses which I intend to take and has not yet returned.    a little before dark McNeal returned with his musquet broken off at the breech,  and informed me that on his arrival at willow run [NB?: on the portage] he had approached a white bear within ten feet without discover him the bear being in the thick brush, the horse took the allarm and turning short threw him immediately under the bear; this animal raised himself on his hinder feet for battle, and gave him time to recover from his fall which he did in an instant and with his clubbed musquet he struck the bear over the head and cut him with the guard of the gun  and broke off the breech, the bear stunned with the stroke fell to the ground and began to scratch his head with his feet; this gave McNeal time to climb a willow tree which was near at hand and thus fortunately made his escape.    the bear waited at the foot of the tree untill late in the evening before he left him, when McNeal ventured down and caught his horse which had by this time strayed off to the distance of 2 ms. and returned to camp.    these bear are a most tremenduous animal; it seems that the hand of providence has been most wonderfully in our favor with rispect to them, or some of us would long since have fallen a sacrifice to their farosity.    there seems to be a sertain fatality attatched to the neighbourhood of these falls, for there is always a chapter of accedents prepared for us during our residence at them.    the musquetoes continue to infest us in such manner that we can scarcely exist; for my own part I am confined by them to my bier at least ¾ths of my time.    my dog even howls with the torture he experiences from them, they are always most insupportable, they are so numerous that we frequently get them in our thrats as we breath.—

Looks like the natives have indeed made off with some of Lewis's best horses. McNeal survives a really close encounter with the dreaded white bear, but ruins his rifle and the "musquetoes" seem to get worse.

July 14th Monday, 1806

[Clark]   Sent Sheilds a head to kill a deer for our brackfast and at an eaerly hour Set out with the party    Crossed Gallitines river which makes a Considerable bend to the N. E. and proceeded on nearly S. 78° E through an open Leavel plain    at 6 miles I Struck the river and crossed a part of it and attemptd to proceed on through the river bottoms which was Several Miles wide at this place, I crossed Several chanels of the river running through the bottom in defferent directions. I proceeded on about two miles crossing those defferent chanels all of which was damed with beaver in Such a manner as to render the passage impracticable and after Swamped as I may Say in this bottom of beaver    I was compelled to turn Short about to the right and after Some difficuelty made my way good to an open low but firm plain which was an Island ane extended nearly the Course I wished to proceed.    here the Squar informed me that there was a large road passing through the upper part of this low plain from Madicins river through the gap which I was Stearing my Course to. I proceeded up this plain 4 miles and Crossed the main Chanel of the river, having passed through a Skirt of cotton timber to an open low plain on the N E. Side of the river and nooned it.     the river is divided and on all the small Streams inoumerable quantities of beaver dams, tho' the river is yet navagable for Canoes. I overtook Shields Soon after I had set out; he had killed a large fat Buck. I saw Elk deer & Antelopes, and great deel of old Signs of buffalow.    their roads is in every direction. The Indian woman informs me that a fiew years ago Buffalow was very plenty in those plains & Vallies quit as the head of Jeffersons river, but fiew of them ever come into those Vallys of late years owing to the Shoshones who are fearfull of passing into the plains West of the mountains and Subsist on what game they Can Catch in the Mountains principally and the fish which they take in the E. fork of Lewis's river. Small parties of the Shoshones do pass over to the plains for a few days at a time and kill buffalow for their Skins and dried meat, and return imediately into the Mountains.    after Dinner we proceeded on a little to the South of East through an open leavel plain to the three forks of the E branch of Gallitines River  at about 12 miles, crossed the most Southerly of those forks and Struck an old buffalow road [NB: the one our Indn woman meant] which I kept Continuing nearly the Same Course up the middle fork Crossed it and Camped on a small branch of the middle fork on the N E. Side at the commencement of the gap of the mountain—  the road leading up this branch, Several other roads all old Come in from the right & left.    emence quantities of beaver on this Fork quit down, and their dams very much impeed the navigation of it from the 3 forks down, tho I beleive it practicable for Small Canoes by unloading at a fiew of the worst of those dams. Deer are plenty. Shannon Shields and Sergt. Pryor each killed one which were very fat much more So than they are Commonly at this Season of the year. The Main fork of Galletins River turn South and enter them mountains which are yet Covered with Snow. Madisens river makes a Great bend to the East and enter the Same mountain.    a leavel plain between the two rivers below the mountain.

Clark and his party are in and around the present city of Bozeman in Gallitin County, Montana.  There certainly is no shortage of game and beaver, too.  Clark remarks about how some of the deer are really fat.  Nothing improves the flavor of venison so much as fat.

July 13th Sunday, 1806

[Lewis]      removed above to my old station opposite the upper point of the white bear island.      had formed our camp and set Thompson &c at work to complete the geer for the horses.    had the cash opened      found my bearskins entirly destroyed by the water, the river having risen so high that the water had penitrated.    all my specimens of plants also lost.    the Chart of the Missouri fortunately escaped.     opened my trunks and boxes and exposed the articles to dry.    found my papers damp and several articles damp.    the stoper had come out of a phial of laudinum and the contents had run into the drawer and distroyed a gret part of my medicine in sucuh manner that it was past recovery.    waited very impatiently for the return of Drewyer    he did not arrive. Musquetoes excessively troublesome insomuch that without the protection of my musquetoe bier I should have found it impossible to wright a moment.    the buffaloe are leaving us fast and passing on to the S. East.    killed a buffaloe picker   [EC?: pecker]    a beatifull bird.

Lewis finds a cache flooded through the long winter and ruined most of it's goods.  The immense buffalo herds he reported two days ago are moving to the east, but game remains plentiful.

July 11th Friday, 1806

[Lewis]    the morning was fair and the plains looked beatifull    the grass much improved by the late rain.    the air was pleasant and a vast assemblage of little birds which croud to the groves on the river sung most enchantingly.    we set out early. I sent the hunters down Medicine river to hunt Elk and proceeded with the party across the plain to the white bear Islands which I found to be 8 ms. distant    my course S. 75 E.— through a level beautifull and extensive high plain covered with immence hirds of buffaloe.—    it is now the season at which the buffaloe begin to coppelate and the bulls keep a tremendious roaring we could hear them for many miles and there are such numbers of them that there is one continual roar.    our horses had not been acquainted with the buffaloe they appeared much allarmed at their appearance and bellowing.    when I arrived in sight of the whitebear Islands  the missouri bottoms on both sides of the river were crouded with buffaloe    I sincerely belief that there were not less than 10 thousand buffaloe within a circle of 2 miles arround that place. I met with the hunters at a little grove of timber opposite to the island where they had killed a cow  and were waiting our arrival.    they had met with no elk. I directed the hunters to kill some buffaloe as well for the benefit of their skins to enable us to pass the river as for their meat for the men I meant to leave at this place.    we unloaded our horses and encamped opposite to the Islands.    had the cow skined and some willows sticks collected to make canoes of the hides    by 12 OCk. they killed eleven buffaloe most of them in fine order.    the bulls are now generally much fatter than the cows and are fine beef. I sent out all hands with the horses to assist in buthering and bringing in the meat by 3 in the evening we had brought in a large quantity of fine beef and as many hides as we wanted for canoes covering shelters and geer. I then set all hands to prepare the two canoes [in order to pass the river]    the one we made after the mandan fassion with a single skin in the form of a bason  and the other we constructed of two skins on a plan of our own. we were unable to compleat our canoes this evening.    the wind blew very hard.    we continued our operations untill dark and then retired to rest. I intend giving my horses a couple of  days rest at this place and deposit all my baggage which is not necessary to my voyage up medicine [EC?: maria's] river.

Lewis and his detail kill the first buffalo since July of 1805. They're in Cascade County of Montana on the west bank of the Missouri.

July 10th Thursday, 1806

[Clark]   last night was very cold and this morning everything was white with frost and the grass Stiff frozend. I had Some water exposed in a bason in which the ice was ¾ of an inch thick this morning. I had all the Canoes put into the water and every article which was intended to be Sent down put on board, and the horses collected and packed with what fiew articles I intend takeing with me to the River Rochejhone, and after brackfast we all Set out at the Same time  & proceeded on Down Jeffersons river on the East Side through Sarviss [NB: Service] Vally and rattle snake mountain  and into that butifull and extensive Vally open and fertile which we Call the beaver head Vally which is the Indian name    in their language Har na Hap pap Chah.     from the No.  of those animals in it & a pt. of land resembling the head of one    this Vally extends from the rattle Snake Mountain down Jeffersons river as low as fraziers Creek  above the big horn mountain and is from 12 [NB: 10] to 30 [NB: 15] miles in width and [blank] [NB: about 50] miles on a direct line in length and Jeffersons river in passing through this Vally reives McNeals Creek,  Track Creek,   Phalanthrophy river, Wisdom river,  Fields river   and Fraziers Creek each throw in a considerable quantity of water and have innoumerable beaver and otter on them; the bushes in their low bottoms are the resort for great numbers of Deer, and in the higher parts of the Vally we see Antelopes scattered feeding. I saw also on the Sides of the rock in rattle snake mountain 15 big horn animals, those animals feed on the grass which grow on the Sides of the mountn. and in the narrow bottoms on the Water courses near the Steep Sides of the mountains on which they can make their escape from the pursute of wolves Bear &c.    at Meridian I halted to let the horses Graze having Come 15 Miles    I ordered the [NB: canoes] to land. Sergt. Ordway informed me that the party with him had Come on very well, and he thought the Canoes could go as farst as the horses &c. as the river now become wider and not So Sholl, I determined to put all the baggage &c. which I intend takeing with me to the river Rochejhone in the canoes and proceed on down with them myself to the 3 forks or Madisons & galletens rivers.    leaveing the horses to be taken down by Sergt. Pryor and 6 of the men of the party to accompany me to the river Rochejhone and directed Sergt. Pryor to proceed on moderately and if possible encamp with us every night.    after dinner had my baggage put on board and Set out, and proceeded on tolerable well to the head of the 3000 Mile Island on which we had encamped on the [NB: 11th] of Augt last.    the Canoes passed Six of my encampments assending,   opposit this island I encamped on the East side.   the Musquetors were troublesom all day and untill one hour after Sunset when it became Cool and they disappeared.    in passing down in the Course of this day we saw great numbers of beaver lying on the Shores in the Sun.    wild young Gees and ducks are common in this river.    we killed two young gees this evening. I saw several large rattle Snakes in passing the rattle Snake Mountain    they were fierce.

With most of the baggage loaded into the canoes and traveling with the rapid current, game everywhere, there's just not much roughing it left for our Party. Oh well, there's still the "musquetors" and cold nights.<p>

July 9th Wednesday, 1806

[Lewis]   Set out early and had not proceeded far before it began to rain.    the air extreemly cold.   halted a few minutes in some old lodges untill it cased to rain in some measure.    we then proceeded and it rained without intermission    wet us to the skin.

N. 80° E. 4 ms. through a handsome level wide bottom   in which there is considerable quanty of narrow leafed cottonwood timber.  the river is generally about 80 yds. wide rapid yet I think it migt be navigated.    it's bed is loose gravel and pebbles.    the banks low but seldom overflow.    water clear.

S 85 E 4 ms Still on the S W. side of the river through wide and level bottoms some timber. Joseph feilds killed a very fat buffaloe bull and we halted to dine.    we took the best of the meat as much as we could possibly carry on our horses.    the day con- tinuing rainy and cold I concluded to remain all day.      we feasted on the buffaloe.    saw a number of deer wolves and Antelopes.    killed two deer.

Another day where game is plentiful and fat. They're now in Cascade County Montana near today's Simms.

July 8th Tuesday, 1806

[Clark] Our horses being Scattered we were detained unill 8 A. M before we Set out.    we proceeded on down Willards Creek on the S. W. Side about 11 miles near which the Creek passes through the mountain    we then Steared S. 20° E. to the West branch of Jeffersons river in Snake Indian cove about 7 miles and halded two hours to let the horses graize.   after dinner we proceeded on down the forke which is here but Small    9 Miles to our encampment of 17 Augt.   at which place we Sunk our Canoes & buried Some articles, as before mentioned the most of the Party with me being Chewers of Tobacco become So impatient to be chewing it that they Scercely gave themselves time to take their Saddles off their horses before they were off to the deposit. I found every article Safe, except a little damp.   I gave to each man who used tobacco about two feet off a part of a role    took one third of the ballance myself and put up ⅔ in a box to Send down with the most of the articles which had been left at this place, by the Canoes this evening. I examined them and found then all Safe except one of the largest which had a large hole in one Side & Split in bow. The Country through which we passed to day was diversified high dry and uneaven Stoney open plains and low bottoms very boggy     with high mountains on the tops and North sides of which there was Snow, great quantities of the species of hysoop  & shrubs common to the Missouri plains are Scattered in those Vallys and hill Sides. The road which we have traveled from travellers rest Creek to this place an excellent road.  and with only a few trees being cut out of the way would be an excellent waggon road    one Mountain of about 4 miles over excepted which would require a little digging    The distance is 164 Miles—. Sheilds killed an antelope    [NB: this place is the head of Jeffer river where we left our canoes]

After untold months of abstaining, the chewers are re-united with their leaves, with nary a thought of what other good things might have been cached.  No mention of horse theft this day so guess they made it through one night without.  They'll get the canoes fixed up and it's all downhill from here.

July 7th Monday, 1806

[Clark] This morning our horses were very much Scattered; I Sent out men in every direction in Serch of them.    they brought all except 9 by 6 oClock and informed me that they could not find those 9: I then ordered 6 men to take horses and go different directions and at a greater distance    those men all returned by 10 A. M. and informed me that they had circles in every direction to 6 or 8 miles around Camp and could not See any Signs of them, that they had reasons to believe that the indians had Stolen them in the course of the night, and founded their reasons on the quallity of the horses, all being the most valuable horses we had, and Several of them so attached to horses of inferior quallity which we have they could not be Seperated from each other when driveing with their loads on in the course of the day. I thought it probable that they might be stolen by Some Skulking Shoshones, but as it was yet possible that they may have taken our back rout or rambled to a greater distance I deturmined to leave a Small party and hunt for them to day, and proceed on with the main party and all the baggage to the Canoes, raise them out of the water and expose them to the sun to dry by the time this party Should overtake me. I left Sergt. Ordway, Shannon, Gibson Collins & Labeech with directions to hunt this day for the horses without they Should discover that the Inds. had taken them into the Mountains, and prosue our trail &c.    at ½ past 10 A M I set out and proceeded on through an open rich vally crossing four large Creeks  with extensive low and mirey bottoms, and a Small river keeping the Course I had set out on S. 56° E    after crossing the river I kept up on the N E. side, Sometimes following an old road which frequently disappeared, at the distance of 16 miles we arrived at a Boiling Spring  Situated about 100 paces from a large Easterly fork of the Small river in a leavel open vally plain and nearly opposit & E. of the 3 forks of this little river which heads in the Snowey Mountains to the S E. & S W of the Springs.    this Spring [NB: 15 yds in circumc, boils up all over bottom which is Stoney] contains a very considerable quantity of water, and actually blubbers with heat for 20 paces below where it rises.    it has every appearance of boiling, too hot for a man to endure his hand in it 3 seconds. I directt Sergt. Pryor and John Shields to put each a peice of meat in the water of different Sises.    the one about the Size of my 3 fingers Cooked dun in 25 minits the other much thicker was 32 minits before it became Sufficiently dun.    this water boils up through some loose hard gritty Stone.    a little sulferish     after takeing dininer and letting our horses graize 1 hour and a half we proceeded on Crossed this easterly branch and up on the N. Side of this middle fork 9 miles crossed it near the head of an Easterly branch and passed through a gap of a mountain on the Easterly Side of which we encamped near some butifull [NB: Springs] which fall into Willards Creek.  I directed that the rambling horses should be hobbled, and the Sentinal to examine the horses after the moon rose.    Emence beaver sign.

Clark's party crosses to today's Big Hole Basin and is much impressed with a very hot springs.  They're lucky the local natives didn't get more horses in their raid and they'll have to keep a close night watch to avoid losing more.

July 6th Sunday, 1806

[Lewis]  Set out a little after sunrise  passed the creek a little above our encampment.

East 14 M. to the point at which the river leaves the extensive plains and enters the mountains   these plains I called the knob plains the prarie of the from the a number of knobs being irregularly scattered through it. passed the N. fork 1 of the Cokahlarishkit River  at 7 M. it is 45 yds. wide deep and rapid.   had some difficulty in passing it.  passed a large  crooked pond at 4 ms. further.   great Number of the burrowing squirrls in this prarie of the speceis common to the plains of Columbia.    saw some goats and deer.  the hunters killed one of the latter. the trail which we take to be a returning war-party of the Minnetares of Fort de prarie becomes much fresher.  they have a large pasel of horses.  saw Curloos, bee martains woodpeckeres plover robins,  doves, ravens, hawks and a variety of sparrows common to the plains also some ducks.; the North fork is terbid as is also the  main branch which is about 50 yds. wide.  the other streams are clear.  these plains continue their course S 75 E. and are wide where the river leaves them.  up this valley and  creek a road passes to Dearbourn's river and thence to the Missouri.—

N. 60 E 1 ½ up the river. here we halted and dine and our hunters overtook us with a deer which they had killed.  river bottoms narrow and country thickly timbered. Cottonwood and pine grow intermixed in the river bottoms musquitoes extreemely troublesome.  we expect to meet with the Minnetares and  are therefore much on our guard both day and night.   the bois rague in blume.— saw the common small blue flag  and peppergrass.  the southern wood and two other speceis of shrub are common in the prarie of knobs.   preserved  specemines of them. passed several old indian encamp- ments of stick brush lodges.—

S 80 E   2m. to two nearly equal forks of the river  here the road forks  also one leading up each branch   these are the forks of which I presume the indians made mention.  passed a creek on N. side 12 yds. wide shallow and clear.

N 75 E.   8m . to our encampment of this evening over a steep high  balld toped hill for 2 m. thence through and to the left of a  large low bottom 2 M.    thence three miles through a thick wood along the hill side bottoms narrow.  thence 1 m. to our  encampment on a large creek some little distance above it's mouth through a beatifull plain on the border of which we  passed the remains of 32 old lodges.   they appear to be those of the Minnetares as are all those we have seen today. killed another five deer and a beaver today.  encamped on the creek   much sign of beaver in this extensive bottom.

Lewis's detachment looks at new scenery and advances with great care, not knowing how the local natives will greet them.

July 5th Saturday, 1806

[Clark] I rose at day light this morning    despatched Labeash after a Buck which he killed late last evening; and I with the three men who I had Sent in Serch of a ford across the West fork of Clarks river, and examined each ford neither of them I thought would answer to pass the fork without wetting all the loads.    near one of those places pointed out by Colter I found a practiable foard and returned to Camp, ordered everything packed up and after Brackfast we Set out    passed 5 Chanels of the river which is divided by Small Islands    in passing the 6th & last Chanel Colter horse Swam and with Some dificuelty he made the Opposite Shore, Shannon took a different derection from Colter rained his horse up the Stream and passed over very well    I derected all to follow Shannon and pass quartering up the river which they done and passed over tolerably well the water running over the back of the 2 Smaller horses only.    unfortunately my trunk & portmantue Containing Sea otter Skins flags Some curiosites & necessary articles in them got wet, also an esortment of Medicine, and my roots.    about 1 mile we struk the East fork which had fallen and was not higher than when we passed it last fall    we had not proceeded up this fork more than 1 mile eer we struck the road by which we passed down last fall and kept it    at one mile we crossed the river at a very good foard and continued up on the East Side to the foot of the Mountain nearly opposite flour Crek  & halted to let our horses graze and dry our wet articles. I saw fresh Sign of 2 horses and a fire burning on the side of the road. I prosume that those indians are spies from the Shoshones. Shannon & Crusat killed each a deer this morning and J. Shields killed a female Ibex or bighorn on the side of the Mountain, this Animal was very meager. Shannon left his tomahawk at the place he killed his deer. I derect him to return for it and join me in the Vally on the East Side of this mountain.    gave Shields permission to proceed on over to the 1st Vally and there hunt untill my arival this evening at that place, after drying every article which detained us untill ½ past 4 P. M. we packed up and Crossed the Mountain into the vally where we first met with the flatheads  here I overtook Shields he had not killed any thing. I crossed the river which heads in a high peecked mountain Covered with Snow N. E. of the Vally at about 20 Miles.    Shields informed me that the Flat head indians passed up the Small Creek which we came down last fall about 2 miles above our Encampment of the 4th & 5th of, Septr. I proceeded up this South branch 2 Miles and encamped on the E. side of the Creek,  and Sent out several men to examine the road. Shields returned at dark and informed me that the best road turned up the hill from the creek 3 Miles higher up, and appeared to be a plain beaten parth.    as this rout of the Oat lash shoots can be followed it will evidently Shorten our rout at least 2 days and as the indians informed me last fall a much better rout than the one we came out.    at all events I am deturmined to make the attempt and follow their trail if possible    if I can prosue [EC: prosue = pursue] it my rout will be nearer and much better than the one we Came from the Shoshones, & if I should not be able to follow their road; our rout can't possibly be much wors. The hunters killed two deer this evening. The after part of the day we only come 8 miles makeing a total of 20 Miles—. Shannon Came up about Sunset haveing found his tomahawk.

Clark's detachment makes good progress using a more traveled trail that the one they used the previous fall.

July 4th Friday, 1806

[Lewis]  I arrose early this morning and sent out Drewyer and the Fieldses to hunt.    at 6. A. M. a man of the Pallote pellows side of the Rocky mountains; he had pursued us a  few days after our departure and overtook us at this place; he proved to be the same young man who had first attempted to pass the rocky mountains early in June last when we lay on the Kooskooske and was obliged to relinquish the enterprize in consequence of the debth and softness of the snow. I gave a shirt a handkercheif and a small quantity of ammunition to the indians.    at half after eleven the hunters returned from the chase unsuccessfull. I now ordered the horses saddled smoked a pipe with these friendly people and at noon bid them adieu.    they had cut the meat which I gave them last evening thin and exposed it in the sun to dry informing me that they should leave it in this neighbourhood untill they returned as a store for their homeward journey.    it is worthy of remark that these people were about to return by the same pass by which they had conducted us through the difficult part of the Rocky Mountains, altho they were about to decend Clark's river several days journey in surch of the Shale's their relations, sumstance which to my mind furnishes sufficient evidence that there is not so near or so good a rout to the plains of Columbia by land along that river as that which we came.    the several war routs of the Minetarees which fall into this vally of Clark's river concenter at traveller's rest beyond which point they have never yet dared to venture in pursuit of the nations beyond the mountains.    all the nations also on the west side of the mountain with whom we are acquainted inhabiting the waters of Lewis's river & who visit the plains of the Missouri pass by this rout.    these affectionate people our guides betrayed every emmotion of unfeigned regret at seperating from us; they said that they were confidint that the (the appellation they give the Minnetares) would cut us off.    the first 5 miles of our rout was through a part of the extensive plain in which we were encamped, we then entered the mountains with the East fork of Clark's river through a narrow confined pass on it's N. side continuing up that river five ms. further to the entrance of the Cokahlahishkit R which falls in on the N. E. side, is 60 yds. wide deep and rapid.    the banks bold not very high but never overflow.    the East fork below its junction with this stream is 100 yds. wide and above it about 90.    the water of boath are terbid but the East branch much the most so; their beds are composed of sand and gravel; the East fork possesses a large portion of the former.    neither of those streams are navigable in consequence of the rapids and shoals which obstruct their currents.    thus far a plain or untimbered country bordered the river which near the junction of these streams spread into a handsome level plain of no great extent; the hills were covered with long leafed pine and fir. I now continued my rout up the N. side of the Cokahlahishkit river through a timbered country for 8 miles and encamped in a handsom bottom on the river where there was an abundance of excelence grass for our horses.    the evening was fine, air pleasent and no musquetoes.    a few miles before we encamped I killed a squirrel of the speceis common to the Rocky Mountains and a ground squirrel of a speceis which I had never before seen, I preserved the skins of both of these  animals.

Lewis starts down river after parting with most of the Nez Perce and resumed his close consideration of the animal life.

July 3rd Thursday, 1806

[Clark]   we colected our horses and after brackfast    I took My leave of Capt Lewis and the indians and at 8 A M Set out with [blank] men   interpreter Shabono & his wife & child (as an interpreter & interpretess for the Crow Inds  and the latter for the Shoshoni) with 50  horses.    we proceeded on through the Vally of Clarks river  on the West Side of the [river] nearly South 18 [13?] Miles and halted on the upper Side of a large Creek, haveing Crossed 8 Streams 4 of which were Small.    this vally is from 10 to 15 Ms. in width tolerably leavel and partially timberd with long leaf & pitch pine,   Some cotton wood, Birch,   and Sweet willow   on the borders of the Streams. I observed 2 Species of Clover in this vally    one the white Clover Common in the Western parts of the U. States, the other Species which is much Smaller than either the red or white both it's leaf & blossom    the horses are excessively fond of this Species.    after letting our horses graze a Sufficient length of time to fill themselves, and taking dinner of Venison we again resumed our journey up the Vally which we found more boutifully versified with Small open plains covered with a great variety of Sweet cented plants, flowers & grass. this evening we Crossed 10 Streams 8 of which were large Creeks  which comes roleing their Currents with Velocity into the river.    those Creeks take their rise in the mountains to the West   which mountains is at this time Covered with Snow for about 1/5 of the way from their tops downwards. Some Snow is also to be Seen on the high points and hollows of the Mountains to the East of us.  our Course this evening was nearly South 18 Ms. making a total of 36 miles today.    we encamped on the N. Side of a large Creek  where we found tolerable food for our horses. Labeish killed a Deer this evening. We Saw great numbers of deer and 1 bear today. I also observed the burring Squirel of the Species Common about the quawmarsh flatts West of the Rocky Mountains.   Musquetors very trobulesom.—    one man Jo: Potts very unwell this evening owing to rideing a hard trotting horse; I give him a pill of Opiom which Soon releve him.

Clark, and the bulk of the Party head off up the Bitterroot River. The game seems pleni