Lewis: August 3, 1806
Saturday August 3rd 1806. I arrose early this morning and had the perogue
and canoes loaded and set out at half after 6 A.M. we soon passed the
canoe of Colter and Collins who were on shore hunting, the men hailed them
but received no answer we proceeded, and shortly after overtook J. and R.
Fields who had killed 25 deer since they left us yesterday; deer are very
abundant in the timbered bottoms of the river and extreemly gentle. we did
not halt today to cook and dine as usual having directed that in future
the party should cook as much meat in the evening after encamping as would
be sufficient to serve them the next day; by this means we forward our
journey at least 12 or 15 miles Pr. day. we saw but few buffaloe in the
course of this day, tho a great number of Elk, deer, wolves, some bear,
beaver, geese a few ducks, the party coloured covus, one Callamet Eagle, a
number of bald Eagles, redheaded woodpeckers &c. we encamped this
evening on N. E. side of the river 2 ms. above our encampment of the 12th
of May 1805 soon after we encamp Drewyer killed a fat doe. the Fieldses
arrived at dark with the flesh of two fine bucks, besides which they had
killed two does since we passed them making in all 29 deer since yesterday
morning. Collins and Colter did not overtake us this evening.