Clark: July 19, 1806

Saturday 19th July 1806. I rose early and dressed Gibsons wound. he Slept
but very little last night and complains of great pain in his Knee and hip
as well as his thy. there being no timber on this part of the Rochjhone
sufficintly large for a Canoe and time is pracious as it is our wish to
get to the U States this Season, conclude to take Gibson in a litter if he
is not able to ride on down the river untill I can find a tree Sufficently
large for my purpose. I had the Strongest and jentlesst Horse Saddled and
placed Skins & blankets in Such a manner that when he was put on the
horse he felt himself in as easy a position as when lying. this was a
fortunate circunstance as he Could go much more at his ease than in a
litter. passed Rose bud river on Sd Side I proceeded on about 9 miles, and
halted to let the horses graze and let Gibson rest. his leg become So
numed from remaining in one position, as to render extreemly painfull to
him. I derected Shields to keep through the thick timber and examine for a
tree sufficently large & Sound to make a Canoe, and also hunt for Some
Wild Ginger for a Poltice for Gibsons wound. he joined me at dinner with 2
fat Bucks but found neither tree or Ginger. he informed me that 2 white
bear Chased him on horsback, each of which he Shot from his horse &c.
Currents are ripe and abundant, i, e, the Yellow, black & purple
spcies. we passed over two high points of Land from which I had a View of
the rocky Mounts. to the W. & S. S. E. all Covered with Snow. I also
Saw a low mountain in an Easterly direction. the high lands is partially
Covered with pine and form purpendcular Clifts on either side. afer dinner
I proceeded on the high lands become lower on either Side and those of the
Stard Side form Bluffs of a darkish yellow earth; the bottom widens to
Several Ms. on the Stard Side. the timber which cotton wood principally
Scattered on the borders of the river is larger than above. I have Seen
Some trees which would make very Small Canoes. Gibsons thy became So
painfull that he could not Set on the horse after rideing about 2 hours
and a half I directed Sergt Pryor and one man to continue with him under
the Shade of a tree for an hour and then proceed on to the place I Should
encamp which would be in the first good timber for canoes for the below.
It may be proper to observe that the emence Sworms of Grass hoppers have
distroyed every Sprig of Grass for maney miles on this Side of the river,
and appear to be progressing upwards. about 4 Miles below the place I left
Sergt. Pryor with Gibson found some large timber near which the grass was
tolerably good I Encamped under a thick grove of those trees which was not
Sufficiently large for my purpose, tho two of them would mak small Canoes.
I took Shields and proceeded on through a large timbered bottom imediately
below in Serch of better trees for Canoes, found Several about the Same
Size with those at my Camp. at dark I returned to Camp

Sergt. Pryor had arived with gibson. after my arival at this place the
hunters killed Seven Elk, four Deer, and I wounded a Buffalow very badly
near the Camp imediately after I arived. in the forepart of the day the
hunters killed two deer an Antelope & Shot two Bear. Shabono informed
me that he Saw an Indian on the high lands on the opposit Side of the
river, in the time I was absent in the woods. I saw a Smoke in the Same
direction with that which I had Seen on the 7th inst. it appeared to be in
the Mountains.