University of Virginia Library

Friday 2nd.. August 1805.

a fine pleasant morning. we Set out eairly and proceeded
on the River is now Small crooked Shallow and rapid.
passed bottoms of cotton timber &c. Saw abundance of beaver
Sign, trees a foot over which had newly been cut down. Saw
a pond which was made by the beaver damming up the water
as in ma[n]y places. passed a high bank in which was a village
of what is called bank Swallows. high hills a little back
from the River on each Side of the River. considerable of
pine on them, & covered with Short grass. I have a pain in
my Shoulder. we proceeded on passed large beautiful bottom
prarie on each Side, & bottoms of timber. Saw a nomber of
old Indian Camps. the beaver houses are verry pleanty &
ponds where they resort. the day warm. we proceeded on
passed a nomber of Islands and bottoms. the River Shallow
and rapid. passed Smoth praries &c. Saw 2 grey Eagles
which had nests on the top of dry trees. Came 14 ¾ miles
this day & Camped on a Smoth plain on L. Side. Saw a gang
of Elk back under the hills. the country back from the River
is broken & Mountainous.