Clark: July 4, 1806

Friday July 4th 1806 I order three hunters to Set out early this morning
to hunt & kill Some meat and by 7 A.M. we Collected our horses took
braekfast and Set out proceeded on up the Vally on the West Side of Clarks
river crossing three large deep and rapid Creeks, and two of a Smaller
Size to a Small branch in the Spurs of the mountain and dined. the last
Creek or river which we pass’d was So deep and the water So rapid that
Several of the horses were Sweped down Some distance and the Water run
over Several others which wet Several articles. after Crossing this little
river, I observed in the road the tracks of two men whome I prosume is of
the Shoshone nation. our hunters joined us with 2 deer in tolerable order.
on the Side of the Hill near the place we dined Saw a gange of Ibex or big
horn Animals I Shot at them running and missed. This being the day of the
decleration of Independence of the United States and a Day commonly
Scelebrated by my Country I had every disposition to Selebrate this day
and therefore halted early and partook of a Sumptious Dinner of a fat
Saddle of Venison and Mush of Cows (roots) after Dinner we proceeded on
about one mile to a very large Creek which we assended Some distance to
find a foard to cross in crossing this creek Several articles got wet, the
water was So Strong, alto the debth was not much above the horses belly,
the water passed over the backs and loads of the horses. those Creeks are
emensely rapid has great decnt the bottoms of the Creek as well as the low
lands on each Side is thickly covered with large Stone after passing this
Creek I inclined to the left and fell into the road on which we had passed
down last fall near the place we had dined on the 7th of Sept. and
continued on the road passing up on the W. Side of Clarks river 13 miles
to the West fork of Sd. river and Encamped on an arm of the same I Sent
out 2 men to hunt, and 3 in Serch of a foard to pass the river. at dark
they all returned and reported that they had found a place that the river
might be passed but with Some risque of the loads getting wet I order them
to get up their horses and accompany me to those places &c. our
hunters killed 4 deer to day. we made 30 ms. to day on a course nearly
South Vally from 8 to 10 mes. wide. contains a good portion of Pitch pine.
we passed three large deep rapid Creeks this after noon