Lewis: July 19, 1806

Saturday July 19th 1806. Drewyer and J. Fields set out early this morning
in conformity to my instructions last evening. they returned at 1/2 after
12 OCk. and informed me that they had proceeded down the river to the
place from which I had returned on the ____ of June last and that it was 6
miles distant. they passed the entrance of buffaloe Creek at 2 ms. the
course of the river from hence downwards as far as they were is N. 80 E.
they killed 8 deer and two Antelopes on their way; most of the deer were
large fat mule bucks. having completed my observation of the sun’s
meridian Altitude we set out, ascended the river hills having passed the
river and proceeded through the open plains up the N. side of the river 20
miles and encamped. at 15 miles we passed a large creek on N. side a
little above it’s entrance; there is but little running water in this
creek at present, it’s bed is about 30 yds. wide and appears to come from
the broken Mountains so called from their raggid and irregular shape there
are three of them extending from east to West almost unconnected, the
center mountain terminates in a conic spire and is that which I have
called the tower mountain they are destitute of timber. from the entrance
of this creek they bore N. 10° W. the river bottoms are usually about 1/2
a mile wide and possess a considerable quantity of timber entirely
cottonwood; the underbrush is honeysuckle rose bushes the narrow leafed
willow and the bush which bears the acid red berry called by the french
engages grease de buff. just as we halted to encamp R. Fields killed a
mule doe. the plains are beautifull and level but the soil is but thin. in
many parts of the plains there are great quantities of prickly pears. saw
some herds of buffaloe today but not in such quantities as yesterday, also
antelopes, wolves, gees, pigeons, doves, hawks, ravens crows larks
sparrows &c. the Curlooe has disappeared.