University of Virginia Library

Thursday 17th July 1806

The rain of last night wet us all (having no tent & no covering
but a buffaloe skin). I had the horses all collected early and
set out, proceeded ove[r] the point of a ridge and through an
open low bottom crossed a large creek which heads in a high
Snow toped Mountain to the N W. imediately opposit to
the enterance of the creek one something larger falls in from
the high snow mountain to the S. W. & South those Creeks
I call Rivers Across[27] they contain Some timber in their
Vallys at the distance of [blank space in MS.; Biddle, 10 1/2]
Miles by water we arive at the enterance of two small rivers or
large creeks which fall in nearly opposit to each other the
one on the N E side is 30 yards wide. I call it Otter River
the other Beaver R[28] below the enterance of this Creek I
halted as usial to let the Horses graze &c. I saw a single
Pelicon which is the first which I have seen on this river.
after Dinner I proceeded on Down the Rochejhone passing
over a low ridge through a small bottom and on the side of
a Stoney hill for 2 Miles and through a Small (bottom) and
again on the Side of a high hill for 1 1/2 M. to a bottom in
which we Encamped opposit a small Island. The high lands
approach the river on either side much nearer than it does
above and their sides are partially covered with low pine &
cedar, none of which are sufficiently large for Canoes, nor have
I seen a Cotton tree in the low bottoms sufficiently large for
that purpose. Buffalow is getting much more plenty than
they were above. not so many Elk & more deer Shannon
killed one deer. I saw in one of those small bottoms which I
passed this evening an Indian fort which appears to have been

built last summer. this fort was built of logs and bark. the
logs was put up very closely (ends supporting each other) lapping
on each other about 5 feet (high) and closely chinked. around
which bark was set up on end so as to cover the Logs. the
enterance was also guarded by a Work on each side of it and
faceing the river. this work is about 50 feet Diameter &
nearly round. the Squaw informs me that when the war
parties (of Minnit Crows &c, who fight Shoshonees) find themselves
pursued they make those forts to defend themselves in
from the pursuers whose superior numbers might otherwise
over power them and cut them off without receiveing much
injurey on horsback &c.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Courses Distances Computed & Remarks 17th. July

                         

			mile by water
N. 30°. E.	I 1/2	Miles on the course to a Larboard bend under a hill, river makeing a bend to the Stard. Side in which there is 3 islands covered with timber	3
N. 65°. E.	5	Miles on the course to the Enterance of two large Creeks one on each side imediately opposit each other which I call Rivers a Cross a great preportion of timber on both of those creeks. river making two bends to the Stard. Side in this Course. High Snow Mts. W. N W, and those to the S.W is also covered with S.	9
N. 76°. E.	1 1/2	Miles to the enterance of a brook in the Lard. Bend	1 1/2
N. 85°. E.	3	Miles on the course to a Brook in a Lard. Bend passed a small Island river bending a little to the Stard. Side. Current rapid	3 1/2
S. I5°.E.	3	Miles on the course to the enterance of Thy snag'd Creek on the Stard. Side.[29] river passing under a high rocky hill from 1 to 2 Miles	5
S. 60°. E.	3	Miles on the Course to the enterance of a large creek on the Lard. Side, crooked and 30 Yds wide which I call Otter River a large creek or Small river falls in nearly opposit Beaver R. much timber on both of those streams. the water of a Milky colour. passed' islands. Saw a single pelican & a pen to catch birds	5 1/2
S. 40°. E.	3	Miles to a high point on the Lard. Side opposit a high clift in the opposit bend, the river haveing made a bend to Std. in which there is 2 large Islands	5
N. 80°. E.	4	Miles on the Course to a Clift under a high pine hill on the Lard. side passing the 272 enterance of a large Creek on the Stard. Side which I call Brattens Ck.[30] and 10 islands in this course	8
S. 60°. E.	3	Miles to the enterance of a Small Brook on the Stard. Side passing one large Island. an old indian fort of logs & bark. river passed at the foot of a high hill on the Larboard Side	4 1/2
N. 80°. E.	3	Miles to the enterance of a Small Creek on the Stard. Side, passing 2 large & 5 small Islands, the river passing under a high pine hill for 2 Miles. rocky	5
N. 60°. E.	3	Miles to a point of wood in the Lard. Bend, passed 3 islands. the bottoms are narrow and low on each side of the river, not exceeding 1/2 a mile in width. Encpd	5
Ms.	33	by Land    Ms. by water	55