Clark: July 10, 1806

Thursday July 10th 1806 last night was very cold and this morning
everything was white with frost and the grass Stiff frozend. I had Some
water exposed in a bason in which the ice was 3/4 of an inch thick this
morning. I had all the Canoes put into the water and every article which
was intended to be Sent down put on board, and the horses collected and
packed with what fiew articles I intend takeing with me to the River
Rochejhone, and after brackfast we all Set out at the Same time &
proceeded on Down Jeffersons river on the East Side through Sarviss Vally
and rattle snake mountain and into that butifull and extensive Vally open
and fertile which we Call the beaver head Vally which is the Indian name
in their language Har na Hap pap Chah. from the No. of those animals in it
& a pt. of land resembling the head of one this Vally extends from the
rattle Snake Mountain down Jeffersons river as low as fraziers Creek above
the big horn mountain and is from 12 to 30 miles in width and ____ miles
on a direct line in length and Jeffersons river in passing through this
Vally reives McNeals Creek, Track Creek, Phalanthrophy river, Wisdom
river, Fields river and Fraziers Creek each throw in a considerable
quantity of water and have innoumerable beaver and otter on them; the
bushes in their low bottoms are the resort for great numbers of Deer, and
in the higher parts of the Vally we see Antelopes scattered feeding. I saw
also on the Sides of the rock in rattle snake mountain 15 big horn
animals, those animals feed on the grass which grow on the Sides of the
mountn. and in the narrow bottoms on the Water courses near the Steep
Sides of the mountains on which they can make their escape from the
pursute of wolves Bear &c. at Meridian I halted to let the horses
Graze having Come 15 Miles I ordered the to land. Sergt. Ordway informed
me that the party with him had Come on very well, and he thought the
Canoes could go as farst as the horses &c. as the river now become
wider and not So Sholl, I deturmined to put all the baggage &c. which
I intend takeing with me to the river Rochejhone in the canoes and proceed
on down with them myself to the 3 forks or Madisons & galletens
rivers. leaveing the horses to be taken down by Sergt. Pryor and 6 of the
men of the party to accompany me to the river Rochejhone and directed
Sergt. Pryor to proceed on moderately and if possible encamp with us every
night. after dinner had my baggage put on board and Set out, and proceeded
on tolerable well to the head of the 3000 Mile Island on which we had
encamped on the 11th of Augt last. the Canoes passed Six of my encampments
assending, opposit this island I encamped on the East side. the Musquetors
were troublesom all day and untill one hour after Sunset when it became
Cool and they disappeared. in passing down in the Course of this day we
saw great numbers of beaver lying on the Shores in the Sun. wild young
Gees and ducks are common in this river. we killed two young gees this
evening. I saw several large rattle Snakes in passing the rattle Snake
Mountain they were fierce.