OCR Text |
Show passed four small islands, two on each side, and at fifteen miles from our encampment rcac11cd a spring which thr men called Grog spring: it is on the northern shore, and at the point where Tansy ther app•·oaches within one hun ~ drcd yards of the Missouri. F'rom tl1is place we proceedc{l tbrcc miles to a low bluff on the north opposite to an island, and spent the night in an olt.l Indian cncamJIIDcnt. The bluffs under whieh we tmssrd were composed of a blackish clay and coal for about eighty feet, above which for thirty or forty feet is a brownish yellow earth. '"l'be river is very rapid and obstructed by bars of gravel and stone of different shapes and sizes, so that three of our canoes were in great danger in the course of the day. We had a few droj>S of'rain about two o'clock in the afternoon. The only animals we killed were elk and deer; but we saw great numbers of rattlesnakes. '"I'hursday, 13. 'l'be morning was fair and there was aome dew on the ground. After passing two islands we reached at the distance of a mile and a half a small rapid atream fifty yards wide, emptying itself on tbe south, rising in a mountain to the southeast about twehc or fifteen miles distant, and at this time covered with snow. As it is the chan~ nel for the melted snow of that mountain we called it Snow river: opposite to its entrance is another island: at one mile and three quartct·s is a black bluff or slate on the south; nine miles beyond which, after passing ten islands, we came to on the southern shore ncar an old Indian fortified camp, opposite the lower point of an island, having made thirteen miles. The number or islands and shoals, the rapidity or the river, and the quantity of large stones, rendered the navigation very disagreeable: along the banks we distinguished several low bluffs or clifi's of slate. There were great numbers of geese and goslin~s; the geese not being able to Hy at this season. Gooseberries are ripe and in great abundance; the yellow cut•rant is also common, but not yet ripe. Our game coniisted of buffaloc and goats. Up the ~lissom·r. Fl'iday, 14. Again tlte day is fine. We made two miles to a small island in the southern bend, after passing seve~ ral bad •·apids. 'I'hc current Lrcomes indeed swifter as we ascend, and the canoes ft·equently rccchc water as we drag them with difficulty along. At the distance of six miles "\\'O reaclwcl mtiltain Clarke's cam1> on the fourth, "hich is on the north side and opposite to a large s•·avclly hal'. Ilrro the man sent hy r.aptain Lc"i joinec1 us with the }llcasing inttlligcncc that he had discovered the falls, and was conl'inced that the course we were tmrsuing was that. of the true 1\lissouri. At a mile and a half we reached the upper point of an island, three quarters of a mile beyond which we encamJ>ed on tlae south, after making only ten and a quarter miles. Along the t•iver was but little timber, but much ltard slate in the bluffs. Saturday, 15. '"fhe morning being warm and fair we set out at the usual hour, but proceeded with great di:ffi. ~ulty in consequence of the inct·eased ra1tidity of the cur~ rent. The channel is constantly obstructed bJ rocks and dangerous rapids. During the whole progress the men are in the water hauling the canoes, and walking on sharp rock• and round stones which cut their feet or cause them to fall. The rattlesnakes too arc so numerous that the men arP constantly on theh· guard against being bitten by them; yet they beat• the fatigues with the most undiminished cheerfulness. We hear the t·oar of the falls very distinctly this morning. At three and three quarter miles we came to a t·ock in a bend to the south, resembling a tower. At six and three <1uarter miles we reached a large creek on the south, which aftet· one of our men we called Shields's creek. It is ra1>id in its course, about thirty yards wide, and on sending a person five miles up it proved to J1ave a fall of fifteen feet, and some timber on its low ground. Above this river the bluffs of the Missouri are of r·ed earth mixed with stratas of black stone; below it we passed some white <•lay in the banks which mixes with water in f'very respect Jikf" |