University of Virginia Library

August 25th.. Sunday 1805.

Set out verry early and halted one hour at the Indian Camp,
they were kind gave us all a little boiled Sammon & dried
buries to eate, abt. half as much as I could eate, those people
are kind with what they have but excessive pore & Durtey.
we proceeded on over the mountains we had before passed to
the Bluff we Encamped at on the 21st. instant where we arrived
late and turned out to hunt & fish, Cought Several Small
fish, a party of Squars & one man with Several boys going
down to guathe[r] berries below, my guide got two Sammon
from this party which made about half a Supper for the party,
after Dark Shannon came in with a beaver which the Party
suped on Sumptiously. one man verry Sick to day which detained
us verry much I had three hunters out all day, they
saw one Deer, killed nothing. one of the Party Saw 9 Elk on
a Mountain to our right assending, amongst the Pine timber
which is thick on that side


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Course & Distance Down Columbia [Lemhi and Salmon] river by
Land, as I Decended &c.

                                 
N. W.  18 miles from the Indian Camp to the forks [of Salmon R]
crossed the [Lemhi] river twice, passed Several old 
[Aug 20 camps on the East Side and a Camp of Several lodges
at a were [weir] on the west Side, passed a roade on 
[Aug 21 the left leading up the main West fork [i.e. Salmon
above the Lemhi] below the last Camp, Several Small
branches falls in on each Side [of the Lemhi], a high
mountain on each Side, [of Salmon and Lemhi together] 
N. 15°. W.  14 miles to a Island passed [a] high red Clift on the right
Side passed a large [Tower] Creek [on the right] at 
[Aug 21 9 miles up which a roade passes large bottom below. 
[Aug 22 Several Spring runs falling from the mountains on the
left. passed a Creek on the right. 
N. 30° W.  2 to the top of a mountain the river one mile to the left 
NW  10 miles with the general Course of the river, passed
over the Spurs of four mountains almost inexcessable
[Aug. 22] and two Small runs on the right to Some Indian
Camps at the mouth of a Small river [Fish cr.] on the
right up which a road passes passed Several Islands,
and Small bottoms between the mountains. 
West  3 miles on the right Side to the assent of a mountain,
passed over one Spur of the Same Mountain passed
2 Islands, & a bottom in which berris were plenty. 
S.W.  5 miles to a verry bad rapid & Camped, a Small run on
the left. passed perpendicular Clift where we were 
[Aug. 22 obliged to go into the water passed Several places on
Stones & sides of Mountains, one Island & several
rapids, all the way rapids at intervales 
N.W.  3 miles high Clifts on each Side no road [left men here
West  2 Miles d° d°. passed bad rapids Scercely possible to 
[Aug. 23 pass down or up 
N.W.  6 miles to a large Creek on the Right Side, passed verry
bad rapids & a number of riffles, Mountains high
and Steep verry Stoney no bottoms except the Creek
& a little above 
South  1 Mile to the Mouth of a Small run on the right a Small
Island and rapid 
N.W.  6 Miles up the Run [Berry Creek Aug. 23] thro a piney
countrey large & lofty hills high 


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S.W.  1 m. to the river at a Small bottom passed over a gap
in the Mountns. from the top of which I could See the
hollers of the river for 20 miles to a verry high 
[End of reconnoissance][18]   Mountain on the left, at which place my guide made
Signs that the bad part of the river Comsd. and much
worst than any I saw &c. &c. 
miles  70 returned. 6 bad rapids. many others 

 
[18]

The bracketed emendations in this "Course and Distance" are in pencil, and
apparently in Coues's handwriting.—Ed.