OCR Text |
Show Lewis and Clat•ke's Expedition tancc of hvo miles {U\S!:!Ofl n. rapid of no great e.langer, wltich they called Wolf rapid, frum seeing a "olf in them. At this place commences a range of highlands. These highlands have no tim be~·, and aa·e composed of earth of difl'crent colours, witlwut much roc)i, but SUJlpliml throughout with great quantities or coal, ot· carbonated wood. Artc1• 1mssing these hills the country again opens into extensive plains, like those passed yestel'day, and the river is diversified with islands, and partially supplied with water by a g•·cat numbca· of wide, but nearly th·y hroolis. •Thus eighteen miles below the camp i a shallow, muddy stream on the left, one humh·ed yards wide, and supposed to be that lin own among the Indians by the name of Saaslm, or Littlewolf river: five miles hclow on the right side is another J•iver, forty yard · wide, aml four feet in depth, which, from tlae steep coal banks on ca.ch sicle, they eallecl Oaktaroup, or Coal river; and at eighteen miles fua·thcr a thia·d stream of sixty yards in width, to which they gave the name of Gibson's l'ivct·. Ilaving made sixty-six miles, they halted for the night, and Ju t as they huulcd, saw the largest white b~ar that any of the }l:trty had ever IJdore seen, devouring n <lead buffaloc on a sandbar. They lired two balls into bim, and he then ::i\Htrn to the main land and walked along the shore. Captain (;hu·ke }ml'sued him, and lodged two more b~l.lls in his body; but though he bled pt•ofusely he made his escape, as night }>rcvented them from following him, The next day, Suotlay, August 1, a high wind from ahead madcthewa· ter rough, and retarded their }woga·ess, and as it 1·ained du· ring the whole day, their situation in the open boats was very disagreeable. 'rhc country bears in every respect the !~ a me apprarance as that of yesterday, though there is some nsh timber in the bottom, and low pine and cedar on the 'idrs of the hills. Tho current of the river is less rapid, l:as more soft mml, and is more obstt•ucted by sandbars, and the rain has given an unusual quantity of water to the llj> the JJ/issoun. bt•ooks. 'l'he hulntloe now appear in vast numhcr!5. A herd happened to he on their way across the l'ivcr. Such was the mulUtude or these animals, that although the river, inclu( ling a.n island. over which they passed was a. mile in Jongth, the hc•·tl stretehed as thicl~ as they could swim, eomvletcly ft·om one side to the otlaea·, and the p•u·ty was obliged t.o sto1• fo•· an hour. rrhry eonsolNl Uwmsdvcs for the drlay hy ldlling four of tho herd, and then p•·occech•cl till at the dis~ tance of l'o•·ty-fhr miles on an ishmtl, bdow whieh two other hc1·ds of buffaloc. as HUtlH.',rous as the fir t, soon after eros~, cd the river. Monday, 2. rrhc rivt'r is now about a mile wide, less rapid, nnd more divitlcd by isl:wcls and h<u·s of sand and mml tban hitherto: the low t;•·ounds too ar·o mol'c extcusivc, nncl contain a greater qua.nt ity ol' ·ot ton wood, ash, ancl willow trees. On the northwest is a low, level plain; on the sout.h~ ast some l'ugged hills, on which we !3aw, without heiug ahlc to aJ>proach, some of the higho1·ns. rl'he hufi'aloe and elk, as well as the pu1·suc•·s of both, the" ohes, ~u·c in g1·eat numbers. On each side of the rivet· at·e several ch·y brooks; but tho only strc'am or any size is that t.lwy called Ibex rivea·, on the a·ight, about thit·ty yards wiclc, and sixteen miles from the camp. rrhe bmu· which gave so much trouhlc on tho ltcatl of the Missom·i, al'C CCjU:llly Herce in th i ' qu:utel'. rrhis morninh one ol' (hem, which was on a saucllmt• as the boat passed, raisecl himself on his hi1Hl feet, ancl aftet• looking at the pat·ty, plunged in ami swam tow ~u·ds them. Ile was J'Cceived with tha·c.•e balls in the holly; he then turned rouucland made for the shore. Towal'ds evening anolher entered the water to swim a.cl'oss. Captain Clarke orclered the boat towards the shore, ami Just as the heat· landccl, shot the animal in the head. H i>•·oved to lJc the largest female tht·y had ever seen, and so old that its tusks were worn <1uitc smooth. The boats esca11Cd with diHieulty between t.wn herds of butl'aloc, which weyc crossing tbc river, and would probably have agaiA detained the pllrty. ~mong the elk of |