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Show Lewis and Clarlu~'s Expedition falling in on the south. From the objects we had just passed we called this stream Sbughter river. Hs low grounds arc narrow, and contain scarcely any timber. Soon after landing it began to blow and rain, and as there was no prospect of getting wood for fuel farther on, we fixed our camp on the north, three quarters of a mile above Slaughte1· river. After the labours of the day we gave to each man a dram, and such was the effect of long abstinence from spirituous liquors, that from the small quantity of half a gill of rum, several of the men were considerably affected by it, and all very much exhilirated. Our game to-day consisted of an elk and two beaver. 'l'bursday, so. The rain which commenced last evening continued with little intermission till eleven this morning, when the high wind which accompanied it having abated, we set out. More rain bas now fallen than we have bad since the :1st of September last, and many circumstances indicate our approach to a climate differing considerably from that of the country through which we have been passing: the air of the open country is astonishingly dry and pure. Obset·ving that the case of our sextant, though perfectly seasoned, shrank and the joints opened, we tr·icd several ext,eriments, by which it apllCared that a tablespoon full or water exposed in a saucer to the air would evatJorate in thirty-six hours, when the mercury did not stand higher than the temperate point at the greatest heat of the day. 'l""he river, notwithstanding the rain, is much clearer than it was a tew days past; but we advance with great labour and ditlicult.y; the rapid current, the ripples and rocky points rendering the navigation more embarrassing than even that of yestet•day, in addition to which the banks are now so slippery after the rain, that the men who draw the canoes can scarcely walk, and the earth and stone constantly falling down the high bluffs make it dangerous to pass under them; still however we are obliged to make usc of the cord, as the wind is strong ahead, the em·rent too rapid for oars, anti too deep for the Up tlle .Missou,·i. pole. In this way we passed at the distance of five and a half miles a smallt·ivulet in a bend on the north, two miles further an island on the same side, half a mile beyond which eame to a grove of trees at the entl·ance of a run in a bend to the south, and encam]led for the night on the northe1·n sl1ot·e. 'l'he eight miles whieh we madt>: to-day cost us much trouble. 'l'hc air was cold and rendered more disagreeable by the raiu, which fell in several s1iglat showers in the cout•se of the day; our cords too bt·oke several times, but fortunately without injury to the boats. On ascending the l1ills ncar the river, one of the I>arty found that there was snow mixed with the rain on the heights: a little back of these tlte country becomes perfectly level on both sides of the J:iver. There is now no timber on the hilJs, and only a few scattering cottonwood, ash. box-alder, and willows, along the water. In the course of the day we passed several encampments oflndians, the most recent or which seemed to have been evacuatetl ahout five weeks since, and ft·om the seyeral ap ~ parent dates we supposed that they were made by a band of about one hundred lodges who were tL·avclling slowly UI> the river. Althougla no part of' the Missouri from the ~Iinne tarces to this place exhibit signs of permanent settlements, yet none seem exempt from the transient visits of bunting pat·ties. We know that the Minnetarees of the Missouri extend tbeh· excursions on the south side of the river, as high as the Yellowstone; and the Assiniboins ,·isit the northern side, most probably as high as Porcupine river. All the lodges between that place and the Rocky mountains we supposed to belong to the Minnetarees of f01·t de Prairie, who live on the south fork of the Saskashawan. Friday, St. We proceeded in two periogucs, leaving the canoes to bring on the meat of two buffaloes killed last evening. Soon after we set off it began to ra.in, and though it ceased at noon, the weather continued cloudy during the rest of the day. The obstructions of yesterday still remain and fatigue tlu~ men excessively: the banks are so slippery |