OCR Text |
Show Lewis and Clarke's Expedition where we now are, that the timber of which they ~peak is similar to that which we have seen for a few days past, which consists of nothing more than a few straggling small pine and dwarf cedar, on the summits of' the hills, nine-tenths of the ground being totally destitute of wood, and covered 'vith a short. grass, aromatic herbs, and an immense quantity of prickly peat·s: though the pa1•ty who explored it fot• eight miles represented low grounds on the river as well supplied with cottonwood of a tolel'ablc size, and of an excellent soil. They also r eported that the country is broken and i•·regular like that near our camp; that about Ji ve miles up a handsome river about fifty yar·ds wide, which we named after Chaboncau's wife, Sabcajah\Veah, OJ' llirdwoman's river, discharges itself into the Musclt·shell on the north or upper side. Another party found at the foot of" the southern hilJs, about four miles fr·om the Missouri, a fine bold spring, which in this country is so rare that since we left the Mandans we have found only one of a similar kind, and that was under the bluffs on the south side of the Missouri, at some distance from it, and about five miles uelow the Yellowstone: with this exception all the small fountains of which we have met. a numbet· are impregnated with the salts which are so abundant here, and with whioh the Missouri is itself most probably tainted, though to us who have been so much accustomed to it, the taste is not pet·cep· tible. Among the game to-day we observed two la t·gc owls, with remarkably long feathers resembling cars on tbc sides of the head, which we presume are the hooting owls, though they at•c larger and their colours are brighter than those common in the lJnited States. Tuesday 21. The morning being very fine we were able to employ the rope, and made twenty miles to our camp on the north. 'rbe shores of the river are abrupt, bold and composed of a black and yellow clay, the bars lJeing formed of black mud, nnd a small ps·oportion of fine sand; the eurl'ent strong. In its cou1•se the Missoul'i makes a sudden Up the .Missouri. 228 and extensive bend towards the south, to receive the waters of the Muscleshell. '"rhe neck of land thus formed. though itself high is lower than the surrounding country, and makes a waving valley extending for a great distance to the northward, with a fertile soil which, though without wood, produces a fine tul'f of low grass, some herbs and vast quantities of prickly 11car. The country on the south is high, broken, and crownrd with some pine and dwarf cedar; the leaf of this pine is longe1· than that of the common pitch or r ed pine of Yit•ginia, the cone is longer and narrower, the imbrications wider and thicker·, and the whole frequently covered v~· ith rosin. During the whole day the bends of the river are shol't and sudden; and the points covel'cd with some cottonwood, la •·ge or broad leaved willow, and a small quantity of redwood; the undergrowth consisting of wild r oses, and the lJu~hes of the small honeysuckle. The mineral appearances on the river are as usual. 'Ve do not find the grouse or prairie hen so abundant as below, and think it probable that they retire from the river to the plains during this season. The wind had been moderate during the fore part ofthe day, but continued to rise towards evening, and about dark veered to northwest, and blew a storm all night. Wt> had encamped on a bar on the nor·th, opposite the lower point of an island,\\ ltich from this eircumstanee we called Windy island; but we were so annoyed by clouds of dust and sand that we could neitlwr eat nor sleep, and were forced to I'eDlOVe our camp at eigbt o'clock to the foot of' an adjoining hill, which shielded us in some degree from the wind: we procured elk, deer, and buff'aloe. Wednesday 22. The wind blew so violently that it was deemed prudent to wait till it had abated, so that we did not leave the camp till ten o'clock, when we proceeded principally by the towline. We passed Windy island which is about three quarte1•s of a mile in length: and five and a half miles above it a lar~e island in a bend to the no1•th: |