Thursday July 31st. 1806.
The rain still continuing I set out early and proceeded on
as fast as possible. at 9 A. M. we fell in with a large herd of
Elk of which we killed 15 and took their skins. the bottoms
in the latter part of the day became wider better timbered and
abound in game. the party killed 14 deer in the course of
the day without attempting to hunt but little for them. we
also killed 2 bighorns and 1 beaver; saw but few buffaloe.
the river is still rising and excessively muddy more so I think
than I ever saw it. we experienced some very heavy showers
of rain today. we have been passing high pine hills all day.
late in the evening we came too on the N. E. side of the river
and took she[l]ter in some indian lodges built of sticks, about
8 ms. below the entrance of North mountain creek. these
lodges appeared to have been built in the course of the last
winter. these lodges with the addition of some Elk skins
afforded us a good shelter from the rain which continued to
fall powerfully all night. I think it probable that the minnetares
of Fort de Prarie visit this part of the river; we meet
with their old lodges in every bottom.
