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Show SJ6 grass ft•om nine inches to two feet high; possesses Imtasmall proportion of timber. and that consists almost entirely of a few narrow-leafed coUonwood distributed along the ' 'ergr of the r·iver. The soil of the plain is tolerably fertile, and consists of a black or dark yellow loam. It gradually ascends on each side to the bases of two ranges of high uaountains which lie parrallr.l to the river; the tops of them are yet in pat~t ~overed with snow. and while in the valley we are nearly suffocated with heat during the day, and at night. the air is so cold that two blankets are not more than sufficient covering. In 11assing through the hills we obsPrved some large cedar trees, and some juniper also. From l<'1·azier's creek we went three and three quarter miles, and encamped on the left side, l1aving come thirteen miles. Dh·cctly opl>O· site our camp is a lar•ge creek which we call Field's creek, from Reuben Fields, one of our men. Soon after we halted two of the hunters went out and returned with five deer, which, with one bighorn, we killed in coming through the mountain on which we dined; and the elk left by captain Lewis. We were again well supplied with fresh meat. In the cout·se of the day we saw a brown bear but were not able to shoot him. Friday, August 2. Captain Lewis, who slept in the valley a few miles above us, resumed his journey early, and after making five miles and finding that the river still bore to the south, determinrd to cross it in hopes of sborl ening the route: for the first time therefore he waded aet·oss it, although there are probably many places above the faJJs where it might be attempted with equal safety. The river was about ninety yards wide, the current rapid, and about waist deep: the bottom formed or smooth pebble with a small mixture of coarse gravel. lie then continued along the left bank of the river till sunset and encampell, after travelling twenty. four miles. lie met no fresh tracl{s of Indians. Throughout the valley are scattered the bones and excrement of the buffalae of an old date, but there seems no hope of meeting the animals themselves in the roounu • Ujl the JJiissorwi. 337 \ains: he saw an abundance of deer· and antrlo}le, and many tracks of ell' and bear. Jiaving killetl two dcc1' they feasted sumptuously, with a desert of cut'l'ants of different colours; two spccie,cs of red, others yellow, deep }Hll'ple, and black: to these wct·e added black gooscuct•ries and deep purple serviceberries, somewhat laq;ct· than ours, fr·om which it differs also in colour, size, and the superior excellence of its flavour. In the low grounds of the •·iYcr· were many beaverdams formed of willow brush, mud, aml gt·avcl, so closely interwoven that they resist the water perfectly: some of them were five feet high and ovel'flowed spvet·al aca·es of land. In the meantime we 1woceedrd ou slowly, the current being so strong as to require the utmost exertions of the men to make any advance even with the aid of the cord and pole, the wind being from the northwest. rrhc river is full of large and small islands, aml the plain cut by great numbers of bayous or cl1annels, in which are multitudes of beaver. In the course of the day we passPd some villages of barking squirrels: we saw several rattlcsnakPs in the plain; young ducks, both of the duckon-mallard aud red-headed fishing duck s11ecies; some geese; also the black woodpecker, ~nll a large herd of elk. The channel, em·rcnt, banks, and genet•al appearance of the river, arc like that of yesterday. At fourteen and three quarter miles we rca~hed a rallid creek or bayou about thit·ty yards wille, to winch we gave the name of Bit·th creek. After making seventeen miles we halted in a smooth plain in a bend towards the. left. Saturday, 3. Catltain Lewis continued his course alon~ the river through the valley, which continued much as Jt was yesterday, except that it now widens to neady twelve miles: the I,lains too arc more bt·oken and have some scattered pine near the mountains, where they rise higher than hitherto. In tbe level parts of the plains antl tlae river bot· toms there is no timber except small cottonwood near the margin, and an underg[·owth of narrow-leafed willow, small honeysuckle, rosebushes! currants, serviceberry, andgoose-voT .. J. X X |