University of Virginia Library

Tuesday 8th.. July 1806

Our horses being scattered we were detained untill 8 A.M
before we set out. we proceeded on down Willards Creek on
the S.W. side about 11 miles near which the Creek passes
through the mountain we then Steared S. 20°. E. to the West
branch of Jeffersons river in Snake Indian cove[10] about 7 Miles

and halted two hours to let the horses graize. after dinner we
proceeded on down the forke which is here but small 9 Miles
to our encampment of 17 Augt. at which place we Sunk our
Canoes & buried some articles, as before mentioned the most
of the Party with me being Chewers of Tobacco become so
impatient to be chewing it that they scercely gave themselves
time to take their saddles off their horses before they were off
to the deposit. I found every article safe, except a little damp.
I gave to each man who used tobacco about two feet off a part
of a role took one third of the ballance myself and put up 2/3
in a box to send down with the most of the articles which had
been left at this place, by the canoes to Capt. Lewis, as it was
late nothing could be done with the canoes this evening. I
examined them and found them all safe except one of the
largest which had a large hole in one Side & Split in bow.
The country through which we passed to day was diversified
high dry and uneaven Stoney open plains and low bottoms
very boggy with high mountains on the tops and North sides
of which there was Snow, great quantities of the Species of
hysoop & shrubs common to the Missouri plains are scattered
in those Vallys and hill sides. The road which we have traveled
from travellers rest Creek to this place (this place is the
head of Jeffer river where we left our canoes) [is] an excellent
road.

Course Distance &c. July 8th.

           

		Miles
S. 40°. E.	down the Creek keeping on the S W. side of the Creek passing several small branches from the mountains to our right	11.
S. 20°. E.	passing through a gap at 3 miles and thro' an open plain on either side of the Gap to the West branch of Jeffersons river	7.
East	down the said branch of Jeffersons river to a high point of land and struck the road from the Canoes to the Snake indian vally on Lewisis river on which we passed last summer	4.
N. 45°. E.	down the fork to the forks of Sd river at which place we made a Deposit & left our canoes & Encamped	5.
		Miles 27.

[This] road and with only a few trees being cut out of the
way would be an excellent waggon road one Mountain of about
4 miles over excepted which would require a little digging
The distance is 164 Miles. Shields killed an Antelope.