[Clark:]
July 18th. Thursday 1805
a fine morning passed a Considerable river which falls in
on the Stard. Side and nearly as wide as the Missouri we call
[it] Dearbournes river after the Sety. of war. we thought it
prudent for a partey to go a head for fear our fireing Should
allarm the Indians and cause them to leave the river and take
to the mountains for safty from their enem[ie]s who visit them
thro this rout. I deturmined to go a head with a Small partey
a few days and find the Snake Indians if possible after brackfast
I took J. Fields Potts & my Servent proceeded on. the
Country So Hilley that we gained but little of the Canoes
untill in the evening I passed over a mountain on an Indian
rode by which rout I cut off Several Miles of the Meanderings
of the river, the roade which passes this mountain is wide and
appears to have been dug in maney places, we camped on a
Small run of Clear cold water, musquitors verry troublesom
the forepart of the evening I saw great maney Ibex. we
crossed two Streams of running water on those streams ordway
Creek I saw Several Beaver dams. the Countrey is
mountanious & rockey except the Valey &c. which is covered
with earth of a good quality without timber, The timber
which is principally pitch pine is Confined to the mountains,
the Small runs & Creeks which have water running in them
Contain Cotton-Willow, Willow, & aspin. trees all Small.
I Saw maney fine Springs & Streams of running water which
Sink & rise alternately in the Valies the water of those
Streams are fine, those streams which run off into the river
are damed up by the beaver from near ther mouthes up as
high as I could See up them
