University of Virginia Library

Friday 18th July 1806

as we were about Setting out this morning two Buffalow Bulls
came near our Camp Several of the men shot at one of them.
their being near the river plunged in and Swam across to the
oppposit Side and there died. Shabono was thrown from his
horse to day in pursute of a Buffaloe, the ho[r]se unfortunately
steping into a Braroe hole fell and threw him over his head.
he is a good deel brused on his hip sholder & face. after
brackfast I proceeded on as usial, passd. over points of ridges
so as to cut off bends of the (river) crossed a small muddy
brook on which I found great quantities of the Purple, yellow
low & black currents ripe. they were of an excellent flavour.
I think the purple superior to any I have ever tasted. The
river here is about 200 yards wide rapid as usial and the
water gliding over corse gravel and round stones of various
sizes of an excellent grite for whetestones. the bottoms of the

river are narrow. the hills are not exceeding 200 feet in hight
the sides of them are generally rocky and composed of rocks
of the same texture of a dark colour of Grit well calculated for
grindstones &c. The high bottoms is composed of gravel
and stone like those in the chanel of the river, with a mixture
of earth of a dark brown colour The country back from the
river on each side is generally open wavering plains. Some
pine is to be seen in every direction in those plains on the
Sides of the hills &c. at 11 A.M. I observed a Smoke rise
to the S.S.E in the plains towards the termonation of the rocky
mountains in that direction (which is covered with snow) this
Smoke must be raisd. by the Crow Indians in that direction as
a Signal for us, or other bands. I think it most probable that
they have discovered our trail and takeing us to be Shoshones
&c. in Serch of them the Crow Indians (now at peace with them)
to trade as is their custom, have made this Smoke to Shew
where they are—or otherwise takeing us to be their Enemy
made this signal for other bands to be on their guard. I halted
in a bottom of fine grass to let the horses graze. Shields
killed a fat Buck on which we all Dined. after dinner and a
delay of 3 hours to allow the horses time to feed, we set out
at 4 P.M. I set out and proceeded down the river through
a butifull bottom, passing an Indian fort on the head of a
Small island near the Lard shore and Encamped on a small
Island seperated from the Lard Shore by a very narrow
Chanel.[31] Shields killed a Buffalow this evening which caused
me to halt sooner than common to save some of the flesh
which was so rank and Strong that we took but very little.
Gibson in attempting to mount his horse after Shooting a deer
this evening fell and on a Snag and sent it nearly (two) inches
into the Muskeler part of his thy. he informs me this
snag was about 1 inch in diameeter burnt at the end. this is
a very bad wound and pains him exceedingly. I dressed the
wound.

Course Distance & remarks July 18th. 1806

                   

			Ms. by water
East	3	Miles to a Stard. Bend passing at the foot of a high pine hill rocky and steep on the Lard. Side. passed several Islds	4 1/2
N. 62°. E.	4 1/2	Miles on the course to the enterance of a small creek in a Lard. Bend opposit to three Islands, passing several small islands, high lands on the Stard. Side bottoms narrow on the Lard Side. (Saw a smoke S. 30°. W. discover the Big horn mountain which is low, at S, 80°. E	7
S. 8°. E.	2 1/2	Miles on the Course to a bend on the Stard. Side passed Several Islands. river washing the base of a high ruged stoney hill on the Lard Side	4
East	3 1/2	Miles on the course to a Stard. Bend passing a high point at 2 Miles on the Lard. Side a narrow bottom on the Stard. Side. the hills are high on each Side partially covered with pine. country ruged and Stoney emence qtty of Prickley pears	6
N. 20°. E.	2	Miles on the course to a Lard Bend. river washing the base of the high land on the Starboard Side at one Mile. the bottoms on the Larboard side a quarter of a Mile wide	3 1/2
N. 72°. E.	3 1/2	Miles on the course to a Lard Bend passd. the enterance of a large dry Creek & 3 islands an old indian fort on an island close to the Lard shore. river washing the foot of the Stard Hills .	5
S. 45°. E.	6	Miles on the course to a high hill on the Stard. side at the foot of which the river passes, haveing made several Short bends in which there is several islands. the bottoms 1/2 a Mile wide on the stard Side. a good proportion of Cotton wood and willow on the borders of the river on each Side	11
S. 82°. E.	1	Mile to the head of a Small island close to the Lard Shore. river makeing a bend to the Stard. under the high lands which is ruged and stoney encamped on the Island Gibson Snaged his thye	2
Ms.	26	by land    by water Ms.	43