[Lewis—apparently the first draft:]
August 2ed. 1805
We resumed our march this morning at sunrise the weather
was fair and wind from N. W. finding that the river still boar
to the south I determined to pass it if possible to shorten our
rout this we effected about five miles above our camp of last
evening by wading it. found the current very rappid about
90 yards wide and waist deep. this is the first time that I ever
dared to make the attempt to wade the river, tho' there are
many places between this and the three forks where I presume
it migh[t] be attempted with equal success. the valley
th[r]ough which our rout of this [day] lay and through which
the river winds it's meandering course is a beatifull level plain
with but little timber and that on the verge of the river. the
land is tolerably fertile, consisting of a black or dark yellow
loam, and covered with grass from 9 Inches to 2 feet high.
the plain ascends gradually on either side of the river to the
bases of two ranges of mountains which ly parrallel to the
river and which terminate the width of the vally the tops of
these mountains were yet partially covered with snow while we
in the valley were suffocated nearly with the intense heat of
the midday sun. the nights are so could that two blankets are
not more than sufficient covering. we found a great [many]
courants, two kinds of which were red, others yellow deep
purple and black. also black goosburies and service buries
now ripe and in full perfection, we feasted su[m]ptuously on
our wild fruit particularly the yellow courant and the deep
purple servicebury which I found to be excellent the courrant
grows very much like the red currant common to the gardens
in the atlantic states tho' the leaf is somewhat different and the
growth taller. the service burry grows on a smaller bush and
differs from ours only in colour and the superior excellence of
it's flavor and size, it is of a deep purple. this day we saw an
abundance of deer and goats or antelopes and a great number
of the tracks of Elk; of the former we killed two. we continued
our rout along this valley which is from six to eight
Miles wide untill sun set when we encamped for the night on
the river bank having traveled about 24 miles. I feel myself
perfectly recovered of my indisposition and do not doubt being
able to pursue my march with equal comfort in the morning.
