Friday 30th.. August 1805.
a clear pleasant morning. we got all our horses up and
bought 3 more which makes 30 in all which we now have. we
got our loads ready. the guide which we engaged to go with
us tells us that we could go a road which would be Smooth &
leads to the Southward but we would be 2 days without water
and no game on that road. but he could Show us a hilley
rough roud [rout] over the mountains to the north of the
River which would take us in 15 days to Salt water, or in 10
days to a large fork of the River, where it would be navagable.
So we concluded to go that roud a part of these natives Set
out with their horses to go over on the Missourie after the
buffalow. about one oClock P. M. we got ready and Set out
with all our horses except 2 loaded with baggage. our hunter
killed three Deer this for[e]noon. we proceeded on down this
little River bottom crossed Several Spring runs passed Several
old camps or lodges. Came about 10 miles and Camped on
the bottom near the River.
