Lewis: July 18, 1806

Friday July 18th 1806. We set out this morning a little before sunrise
ascended the river hills and continued our rout as yesterday through the
open plains at about 6 miles we reached the top of an elivated plain which
divides the waters of the rose river from those of Maria’s river. from
hence the North mountains, the South mountains, the falls mountains and
the Tower Mountain and those arround and to the East of the latter were
visible. our course led us nearly parrallel with a creek of Maria’s river
which takes it’s rise in these high plains at the place we passed them; at
noon we struck this creek about 6 ms. from its junction with Maria’s river
where we found some cottonwood timber; here we halted to dine and graize
our horses. the bed of this creek is about 25 yds. wide at this place but
is nearly dry at present, the water being confined to little pools in the
deeper parts of it’s bed. from hence downwards there is a considerable
quantity of timber in it’s bottom. we passed immence herds of buffaloe on
our way in short for about 12 miles it appeared as one herd only the whole
plains and vally of this creek being covered with them; saw a number of
wolves of both speceis, also Antelopes and some horses. after dinner we
proceeded about 5 miles across the plain to Maria’s river where we arrived
at 6 P.M. we killed a couple of buffaloe in the bottom of this river and
encamped on it’s west side in a grove of cottonwood some miles above the
entrance of the creek. being now convinced that we were above the point to
which I had formerly ascended this river and faring that a fork of this
stream might fall in on the Northside between this place and the point to
which I had ascended it, I directed Drewyer who was with me on my former
excurtion, and Joseph Fields to decend the river early in the morning to
the place from whence I had returned, and examine whether any stream fell
inn or not. I keep a strict lookout every night, I take my tour of watch
with the men.