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Show 6 Lewis ttnd Cla1·ke's Exptditiou places of deposits for fish for a great length of time. There were no enti•·e houses standing, and we saw only two Indians who bad visited the narrows, but we were overtaken by two others, who accompanied us on horseback down the river inform in,... us that they meant to proceell by land down ' C) ' to the great river. Nine and a hall' miles below Dt·cwy~r s river, we passed another rapid, and three and a half mtles farther reached some high cliffs in a bend to the left. Here after passing the timbers or. house, which were preserved on forks, we encamped on the right side, near a collection of graves, such as we had seen above. The co~ntry was still an open plain without tim bet·, and our day's JOUl'ney had no variety, except the fishing houses which are scattered near the situations convenient for fishing, but are now empty. Our two Indian companions S(lCnt the night with us. Monday H~o The wind was high ti·om the southwest du-ring the evening, and this morning it changed to the west, and the weather beourne very cold until about twelve o'clock, wllen it shifted to the southwest, und continm.'d in that quarter during the rrst of 1hr day. We set out early, and after passing some swift water, rratlwd at two and a half miles a rock ot' a very singulas· a})pea •·am·c. H was ~ituatt.·d on a point to the left, at some clistance from the ascending country, very high and large, and rcsl'mbling in its shape ' the hull of a ship. At five miles we passed a rapid; at eight another rapid, and a small island on the J•jght, and at ten and a half a small island on the right.. We halted a mile and a half below for the )>nrpose of examining a much larger and mm·e dangerous rapid than those we had yet passed. It. is three miles in length, and very difficult to navi; ate. We had scarcely set out, when thl'ce of the canoes stuck fast in endeavouring to avoid the roeks in the channel; soon after in passing two small rocl~y islands, one of the canoes struck a rock, but was [ll'eventt\d fs·om upsctt ing, and fortunately we aU art·ived safe at the lower end of the l'apid. Here we dined, and then proceeded, and soon reach- U1> tile Jllissouri. ed another rapid oll both sides of the river, 'vhich was divi, ded by an island. As we were descending it one of the boats was driven orosswise against a rock in the middle of the current. The crew attempted to get her off, but the waves dashed over her, and she soon filled; they got out. on the rock and held her above water with great exm·t.ion, till another canoe was unloaded and sent to her relief; but thrJ could not. p1·event a g•·cat (lt•al of her ba~gag" from floating <lown the stream. As soon as she was lightenrd, she was hun·icd down the channel leaving the crew on the rock. 'fhcy were brought off by the rest of the party, and tbf' canoe itself, and nearly all that had been ·washed overboard was recovrl'cd. 'rhe chief loss was the bedding of two of the men, a tomal•awk, and some small articles. But all the rest wct·c wet, and though by dryiug we were able to save the JlOwdet·, ull the loose packages of whjcb WCl'e in this boat, yet we lost all the roots and otl1er 1n·ovisions, which at·c spoilt. by the water. In order to diminish the loss as far as was in our I>ower, we halted for the night ou an island, and exposed every thing to dry. On landing we fountl some split timber for houses which the Indians hatl very securely coYered with stone, and also a place where they had deJ)OSit· e£1 their fish. We have hitherto abstained sm·upulously from taking any thing belonging to the Indians; but on this occasion We Wet•e COill(lelled to depart from this rule; and a!J there was no other timber to be found in any direction for firewood, and no owner appeared ft·om whom it could be purchased. we used a part ol' these split planks, bearing in mind our obligation to repay the propl'ietor whenever we should dis~ovct· him. 'l'he only game which ''e observed were geese and ~ucks, of the latter we killed some. and a few of the blue-winged teal. Our journey was Jiftecn miles in length. Tuesday 15. rrhc morning was {'aia·, and being obliged to remain for the purpose of drying the baggage, we sent out the hunters to the plains, but they t•eturncd at ten o'clockf |
