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Show 3418 Lewis and Clcwkt's E .. CjJcditwu, whicl1 at·e no·w ripe, in order to make the experiment. Our game consisted of deer and antelope, antl we saw a number of geese and ducks just beginning to fly, and some cranes. Among the inferior animals we have an abundance of the large biting or hare fly, of which there are tw() species, one black, the othe1· smaller ami brown, except the head which is green. r:l'he green or blowing flies unite with them in swat·ms to attack us, and seem to have relieved the eye-gnats who have now disappeared. The musquitoes too are inJargc quantities, but not so troublesome as they were below. Through the valley are scattered bogs, and some very good turf, the earth of which the mud is composed is of a white or bluish white colour, and seems to be argilaceous. On all ~~ three rivers, but particularly on the Philanthropy, are Immense quantities of beaver, otter and muskrat. A tour camp there was an abundance of rosebushes and briars, but so little timber that we were obliged to use willow brush for fuel. Tbe night was again cloudy which prevented the lunar observations. d" On our right is the point of a hiooh plain which our In- b , Ian woman recognizes as the place called the Beaver's-head from a supposed resemblance to that object. This she says ~s not fa~ from the summer retreat of her countrymen, which Is on. a river beyond the mountains, and runniug to the west. She Is therefore certain that we shall meet them either on tbis river, or on that 1· mme d.m teI y west of Hs source which judging ft·om its present size, cannot be far distant. ~ersua-ded of ~le ~bsolute necessity of procuring horses to cross the mountat~s, It was det~rmined that one of us should proceed in the mornmg to the head of the river~ and penetrate the mountains till be found the Shoshonees or some other nation who co~ld assist us in transporting our baggage, the greater part of Which we shall becom{Jelled to leave without the aid of horses. Friday 9. The morning was fair and fine. We set off early, and procaeded on Yel'.f well, though there were more Up the Missouri. t apids in the river than yesterday. At eight o'clock we halted for breakfast, part of which consisted of two fine geese killed before we stopped. Here we were joined by Shannon for whose safety we had been so uneasy. The <lay on which he left us on }tis way up Wisdom river, after hunting for some time and not seeing the party arrive, he returned to the place wher~ he had left us. Not finding us tber('\ he supposed we had passed him, and be therefore marched up the river during all the next day, when he was convinced that we had not gone on, as the river was no longer navigable. He now followed the course of the river down to the forks, and then took the branch which we are pursuing. During the three days of hi& absence, he had been much wearied with his march, but had lived plentifuJiy, and brought the skins of three deer. As far as he had ascended Wisdom river it kept its course obliquely down towards the Jefferson. Immediately after breakfast, captain Lewis took Drewycr, Shields and M'Neal, and slinging their kna11sacks they set out with a resolution to meet some nation of Indians before they returned, howeYer long they might be separated from the party. He directed his course across the low ground to the plain on the right, leaving the Beaver's-head about two miles to the left. Aftet• walking eight miles to the river, which they waded, they went on to a commanding point from which he saw the place at which it enters the mountain, but as the distance would not permit his reaching it this evening, be descended towards the river, and after travelling eight miles further, encamped for the evening some miles below the mountain. They passed before reaching their camp a handsome little stream formed by some large springs which rise in the wide bottom on the left side of' the river. Ill their way they killed two antelopes, and took with them enough of the meat for their supper and breakfast tht; next morning. |