August 24th Satturday. 1805.
Set out verry early this morning on my return passed
down the [Berry] Creek at the Mouth Marked my name
on a pine Tree, proceed[ed] on to the bottom above the
Creek & Brackfast on buries & delayed 1 hour, then proceeded
on up the river by the Same rout we decended to the
place I left my party where we arrived at 4 oClock, (I sliped
& bruised my leg verry much on a rock) the party had killed
several phesents and cought a fiew Small fish on which they
had Subsisted in my absence. also a heath hen, near the size
of a Small turkey.
I wrote a letter to Capt Lewis informing him of the prospects
before us and information rec[ei]ved of my guide which
I thought favourable &c. & Stating two plans one of which
for us to pursue &c. and despatched one man & horse and
directed the party to get ready to march back, every man
appeared disheartened from the prospects of the river, and
nothing to eate, I Set out late and Camped 2 miles above,
nothing to eate but Choke Cherries & red haws, which act in
different ways So as to make us Sick, dew verry heavy, my
beding wet in passing around a rock the horses were obliged
to go deep into the water.
The plan I stated to Capt Lewis if he agrees with me we
shall adopt is. to procure as many horses (one for each man)
if possible and to hire my present guide who I sent on to him
to interigate thro' the Intptr. and proceed on by land to Some
navagable part of the Columbia River, or to the Ocean, depending
on what provisions we can procure by the gun aded to the
Small Stock we have on hand depending on our horses as
the last resort.
a second plan to divide the party one part to attempt this
deficuelte river with what provisions we had, and the remainde[r]
to pass by Land on ho[r]se back Depending on our gun &c.
for Provisions &c. and come together occasionally on the
river.
[17]
the 1
st. of which I would be most pleased with &c.
I saw Several trees which would make Small Canoes and by
putting 2 together would make a Siseable one, all below the
last Indian Camp Several miles
