University of Virginia Library

Chapter XII

FROM THE BEAVER'S HEAD TO THE GREAT DIVIDE

XII. August 11–16, 1805

Sunday 11th.. August 1805.

a COOL cloudy morning Some rain we Set out after
breakfast and proceeded on 3 men out a hunting.
about 3 miles came to a verry large prarie Island which
is 3000 miles from wood River or the mouth of the Missourie.
So we call it 3000 mile Island. we took up the L. Side of it
& had to hall over Several Shole places. Saw a nomber of
geese & ducks. one of the hunters joined us at noon. had
killed 3 three Deer & 2 otter, Some distance a head. the day
warm. the large flys troublesome. we proceeded on passed
Several Sunken ponds and low bottoms which is Soft and
boggy the beaver has cat many channels to their houses along
the Shores they are verry numerous in this valley. I think
they are more pleanty than ever we Saw them before. towards
evening we Came to a fiew Scattering cotton trees along the
Shore. the valley continues to be 8 or 10 miles wide and all
low Smooth prarie with timber. we See Mountains a head
Some distance which appear high. large Spots of Snow on
them. we Came 14 miles this day and Camped on a wet
bottom on the Stard. Side. the Mosquitoes troublesome, &c.

Monday 12th.. August 1805.

a clear morning 3 hunters out on Shore a hunting. we
proceeded on the current verry rapid. passed low Swampy
bottoms. about 2 oClock P. M. a hard Thunder Shower
arose rained a Short time. we then proceeded on the current
more rapid one of the large canoes was near turning over.
towards evening the hunters all came in had killed 3 deer and

seen Deer & a goat or antelope. Some timber along the
Shore. We came [blank space in MS.] miles and Camped at
a Smooth prarie & grove of timber.

Tuesday 13th.. August 1805.

cloudy. we Set out as usal & proceeded on. Several
hunters out a hunting. passed a handsom Spring run on the
L. Side. the hills make a little nearer the River. the valley
not So wide & a little higher dry and Smooth. Sun flowers &
grass Some places high & other places Short. Some pine
timber back on the high hills. we halted & took breakfast
near a high clift of rocks on L. Side above which the hills
make near the River. proceeded on. the current rapid the
plain continues on L. Side and hills on S. Side. Some Scattering
cotton trees along the River. we have caught a nomber
of Trout in this Stream. in the afternoon we passed fine
Springs & clifts of rocks on S. Side. the current not So rapid
in the afternoon Saw a nomber of large otter along the River.
Saw bald eagels ducks &c. took on board a Deer which the
hunters killed. Came 15 miles this day and Camped on the
Smooth prarie on L. S. Capt. Clark Shot a duck. considerable
of flax in these praries. Some of the men Save Some of
the Seed. 2 hunters did not join us this evening.

Wednesday 14th.. August 1805.

a clear cold morning. we did not Set out untill we took an
eairly breakfast. the 2 hunters Stayed out last night. the
water in the River is clear and Cold we are now drawing near
the Mountains. the upper part of the valley pleasant. passed
a Spring run or creek on S. Side a handsome valley Some distance
up it. Some Small timber on its Shores. about 10
oClock A. M. we came up to the hunters Camp. they had
killed 4 Deer & one antelope. we proceeded on the current
more rapid. obledged to hale the large canoes over Sholes &
rapids. the Shores & banks of the River Stoney. halted to
dine about one oClock at a dry part of the plain & fine groves
of cotten trees &c. proceeded on took on board a deer and a
goat which the hunters had hung on a limb of a tree. the

current continues verry rapid all day. Capt. Clark killed a
buck and one of the men killed a faun Deer. we Came miles[1]
and Camped on the L. Side at the foot of the Mountains, on
the Smooth plain at the upper end of the valley.

Thursday 15th.. August 1805.

a cold clear morning. we Set out as usal and proceeded on
entered the Mountains verry high clifts of rocks near the
River & Steep on each Side. passed Several Springs on L.
Side which run from under the Mountains. passed Several
bad rapids caught a nomber of fine Trout below the rapids.
the bottoms narrow timber Scarse, the River more Shallow
passed clifts of rocks & high rough mountains on each Side.
passed the Mouth of a creek on the Stard. Side, the warter of a
ridish coulour, considerable rapid and deep. abt. 7 paces wide.
2 hunters on a head. we passed where Capt. Lewis had left 3
or 4 Deer Skins the 10 ult. & proceeded on. the River Shallow
were obledged to hale the large canoes the most part of
the time passed Several cree[ks] clifts of rocks Steep up from
the River about 2 or 3 100 feet in many places. Some of the
knobs are covred with grass & a fine Scattering pitch pines on
them. the River crooked & difficult Some places Shole &
Some deep holes in which we caught a nomber of Trout. Capt.
Clark was near being bit by a rattle snake which was between
his legs as he was Standing on Shore a fishing. he killed [it]
& Shot Several others this afternoon. Came [blank space in
MS.] miles and Camped on L. Side at a narrow plain on which
was Some old Indian Camps.

Friday 16th.. August 1805.

a clear but verry cold morning. the Thurmometer Stood
at 47°. the water So cold that we delayed untill after breakfast.
one hunter out on a head. we proceeded on as usal
the current Swift passed a handsom Spring run on L. Side
on which is a fiew cotton trees. Capt. Clark our Intrepter &
wife walked on Shore and found a great nomber of fine berrys

which is called Servis berrys our Ints. wife gethered a pale full
& gave them to the party at noon where we halted at a grove
of cotton trees on L. S. our hunter who went out this morning
killed a verry large buck. two of our hunters Stayed out
last night, and have not returned yet. we name this place Servis
valley, from the abundance of these berrys along under the
hills &c. the 2 hunters joined us here & Informed us that the
River forks in about 5 miles a Strait course by land & they
think we can go no further than the forks with the crafts. 2
hunters Sent on to the forks to kill meat. we proceeded on
over verry Shallow & Swift water passed up a verry bad rockey
rapid where we had to waid up to our middle & hale the canoes
over the rapids. Saw Several fine Springs & a run above the
bad rapid passed high clifts of rocks and high hills on each
Side. found pleanty of currents the water not So bad above
the rapid. Came [blank space in MS.] miles this day and
Camped on a narrow bottom on L. Side. No timber we
could Scarsely find any but Small willow to boil our venison.