Lewis: August 7, 1806

Thursday August 7th 1806. It began to rain about midnight and continued
with but little intermission until 10 A.M. today. the air was cold and
extreemly unpleasant. we set out early resolving if possible to reach the
Yelowstone river today which was at the distance of 83 ms. from our
encampment of the last evening; the currant favoured our progress being
more rapid than yesterday, the men plyed their oars faithfully and we went
at a good rate. at 8 A.M. we passed the entrance of Marthy’s river which
has changed it’s entrance since we passed it last year, falling in at
preasent about a quarter of a mile lower down. at or just below the
entrance of this river we meet with the first appearance of Coal birnt
hills and pumicestone, these appearances seem to be coextensive. here it
is also that we find the first Elm and dwarf cedar on the bluffs, the ash
first appears in the instance of one solletary tree at the Ash rapid,
about the Elk rapid and from thence down we occasionly meet with it
scattered through the bottoms but it is generally small. from Marthy’s
river to Milk river on the N. E. side there is a most beautifull level
plain country; the soil is much more fertile here than above. we overtook
the Feildses at noon. they had killed 2 bear and seen 6 others, we saw and
fired on two from our perogue but killed neither of them. these bear
resort the river where they lie in wate at the crossing places of the game
for the Elk and weak cattle; when they procure a subject of either they
lie by the carcase and keep the wolves off untill they devour it. the bear
appear to be very abundant on this part of the river. we saw a number of
buffaloe Elk &c as we passed but did not detain to kill any of them.
we also saw an unusual flight of white gulls about the size of a pigeon
with the top of their heads black. at 4 P.M. we arrived at the entrance of
the Yellowstone river. I landed at the point and found that Capt. Clark
had been encamped at this place and from appearances had left it about 7
or 8 days. I found a paper on a pole at the point which mearly contained
my name in the hand wrighting of Capt. C. we also found the remnant of a
note which had been attatched to a peace of Elk’s horns in the camp; from
this fragment I learned that game was scarce at the point and musquetoes
troublesome which were the reasons given for his going on; I also learnt
that he intended halting a few miles below where he intended waiting my
arrival. I now wrote a note directed to Colter and Collins provided they
were behind, ordering them to come on without loss of time; this note I
wraped in leather and attatced onto the same pole which Capt. C. had
planted at the point; this being done I instantly reimbarked and decended
the river in the hope of reaching Capt. C’s camp before night. about 7
miles below the point on the S. W. shore I saw some meat that had been
lately fleased and hung on a pole; I directed Sergt. Ordway to go on shore
examine the place; on his return he reported that he saw the tracks of two
men which appeared so resent that he beleived they had been there today,
the fire he found at the plce was blaizing and appeared to have been
mended up afresh or within the course of an hour past. he found at this
place a part of a Chinnook hat which my men recognized as the hat of
Gibson; from these circumstances we included that Capt. C’s camp could not
be distant and pursued our rout untill dark with the hope of reaching his
camp in this however we were disappointed and night coming on compelled us
to encamp on the N. E. shore in the next bottom above our encampment of
the 23rd and 24th of April 1805. as we came too a herd of buffaloe
assembled on the shore of which we killed a fat cow.-