Lewis: July 7, 1806
July 7 1806. Set out at 7 A.M. N. 75 E. 6 M. with the road through a level
beatifull plain on the North side of the river much timber in the bottoms
hills also timbered with pitch pine. no longleafed pine since we left the
praries of the knobs. crossed a branch of the creek 8 yds. wid. on which
we encamped at 1/4 m. also passed a creek 15 yd. wide at 1/4 further.
North 6 ms.passed the main creek at a mile 1/2 and kept up it on
the wright hand side through handsom plain bottoms to the foot of a ridge
which we ascended the main stream boar N W & W. as far as I could see
it a wright hand fork falls into this creek at 1 M. above the commencement
of this course.
N. 15 E. 8 m. over two ridges and again striking the wrighthand fork at 4
ms. then continued up it on the left hand side much appearance of beaver
many dams. bottoms not wide and covered with low willow and grass. halted
to dine at a large beaver dam the hunters killed 3 deer and a fawn. deer
are remarkably plenty and in good order. Reubin Fields wounded a moos deer
this morning near our camp. my dog much worried.
N. 10 E. 3 m. up the same creek on the east side through a handsome narrow
plain.
N 45 E. 2 m. passing the dividing ridge betwen the waters of the Columbia
and Missouri rivers at 1/4 of a mile from this gap which is low and an
easy ascent on the W. side the fort mountain bears North Eaast, and
appears to be distant about 20 Miles. the road for one and 3/4 miles
desends the hill and continues down a branch.
N. 20 W. 7 ms. over several hills and hollows along the foot of the
mountain hights passing five small rivulets running to the wright. saw
some sighn of buffaloe early this morning in the valley where we encamped
last evening from which it appears that the buffaloe do sometimes
penetrate these mountains a few miles. we saw no buffaloe this evening.
but much old appearance of dung, tracks &c. encamped on a small run
under the foot of the mountain. after we encamped Drewyer killed two
beaver and shot third which bit his knee very badly and escaped
