University of Virginia Library

Monday July 21st. 1806.

We set out at sunrise and proceeded a short distance up the
North side of the river; we found the ravines which made in
on this side were so steep and numerous that we passed the
river in doing which the pack horse which carried my instruments
missed the ford and wet the instruments. this accident
detained us about half an ho[u]r. I took the Instruments
out wiped them and dryed their cases, they sustained no material
injury. we continued on the S. side of the river about
3 miles when we again passed over to the N. side and took
our course through the plains at some distance from the river.
we saw a large herd of Elk this morning. the buffaloe still
become more scarce, at 2 P. M. we struck a northern branch
of Maria's river about 30 yds.. wide at the distance of about 8
miles from it's entrance. this stream is closely confined between
clifts of freestone rocks the bottom narrow below us
and above the rocks confine it on each side; some little timber
below but not any above; the water of this stream is
nearly clear. from the appearance of this rock and the apparent
hight of the bed of the streem I am induced to beleive
that there are falls in these rivers somewhere about their junction.
being convinced that this stream came from the mountains
I determined to pursue it as it will lead me to the most
no[r]thern point to which the waters of Maria's river extend
which I now fear will not be as far north as I wished and expected.[27]

after dinner we set out up the North branch keeping
on it's S. side; we pursued it untill dark and not finding any
timber halted and made a fire of the dung of the buffaloe. we
lay on the south side in a narrow bottom under a Clift. Our
provision is nearly out, we wounded a buffaloe this evening
but could not get him.

Courses and distances July 21st. 1806.

       

S. 80°. W.	15 ms.	with the river upward. it forks at the extremity of this course and the main or Southern branch bears S. 75 W. about 30 ms. to the mountains
N. 40° W.	6 M.	up the North branch. 30 yd. wide confined closly between clifts of rocks, shallow rapid and not navigable
N. 25°. W.	7 M.	still with the N. fork upwards. we struck the river at 2 miles from the commencement of this course, passed it and continued on it's South side. hills broken. land poor.
Miles	28