Tuesday 24th.. Sept. 1805.
a clear pleasant morning. we went out eairly a hunting
our horses, which were Scatered all over the plain. Saw a vast
nomber of horses which belong to the natives, the most of
which are in good order and good horses in general. Saw a
nomber of Squaws digging the wild potatoes in the plains. the
Soil verry rich and lays handsom for cultivation. we loaded
up our horses. one man Sent back in the mountains to look
for the 2 horses which was lost about 8 oClock we Set out
and proceeded on. the day warm. had a fine road mostly
plain, Some Scatering large pitch pine, but little water. Several
of the men Sick, by eating hearty of the Sweet food and
Sammon. towards evening we came on the branch or fork of
Columbian River, and followed down it Some distance, and
went on a Small prarie Island and Camped. a hard rapid at
the foot of this Island which the natives tell us is the last bad
rapid in this fork of [the] River the hunters joined us with
4 Deer & 2 Sammon which they had killed. Several of the
natives followed after us and Camped with us. high hills each
Side of the River thinly covred with pine but not large enofe
for canoes, but we expect to find Some near, So that we may
leave our horses in the care of a chief and go down by water to
the ocean.
