July 11, 1806
July 11th 1806.
the morning was fair and the plains looked beatifull the grass much
improved by the late rain. the air was pleasant and a vast assemblage
of little birds which croud to the groves on the river sung most
enchantingly. we set out early. I sent the hunters down Medicine river
to hunt Elk and proceeded with the party across the plain to the white
bear Islands which I found to be 8 ms. distant my course S. 75 E.-
through a level beautiful) and extensive high plain covered with
immence birds of buffaloe.— it is now the season at which the buffaloe
begin to coppelate and the bulls keep a tremendious roaring we could
hear them for many miles and there are such numbers of them that there
is one continual roar. our horses had not been acquainted with the
buffaloe they appeared much allarmed at their appearance and bellowing.
when I arrived in sight of the whitebear Islands the missouri bottoms
on both sides of the river were crouded with buffaloe I sincerely
belief that there were not less than 10 thousand buffaloe within a
circle of 2 miles arround that place. I met with the hunters at a
little grove of timber opposite to the island where they had killed a
cowl and were waiting our arrival. they had met with no elk. I directed
the hunters to kill some buffaloe as well for the benifit of their
skins to enable us to pass the river as for their meat for the men I
meant to leave at this place. we unloaded our horses and encamped
opposite to the Islands. had the cow skined and some willows sticks
collected to make canoes of the hides by 12 OCk. they killed eleven
buffaloe most of them in fine order. the bulls are now generally much
fatter than the cows and are fine beef. I sent out all hands with the
horses to assist in buthering and bringing in the meat by 3 in the
evening we had brought in a large quantity of fine beef and as many
hides as we wanted for canoes shelters and geer. I then set all hands
to prepare two canoes the one we made after the mandan fassion with a
single skin in the form of a bason and the other we constructed of two
skins on a plan of our own. we were unable to compleat our canoes this
evening. the wind blew very hard. we continued our operations untill
dark and then retired to rest. I intend giving my horses a couple of
days rest at this place and deposit all my baggage which is not
necessary to my voyage up medicine river.
Friday 11th July 1806
Sent on 4 of the best hunters in 2 Canoes to proceed on a fiew miles a
head and hunt untill I came up with them, after an early brackfast I
proceeded on down a very crooked Chanel, at 8 a. m I overtook one Canoe
with a Deer which Collins had killed, at meridian passed Sergt. Pryors
Camp near a high point of land on the left Side which the Shoshones
call the beavers head. the wind rose and blew with great violence from
the S W imediately off Some high mountains Covered with Snow. the
violence of this wind retarded our progress very much and the river
being emencly Crooked we had it imediately in our face nearly every
bend. at 6 P M I passed Phalanthrophy river which I proceved was very
low. the wind Shifted about to the N. E. and bley very hard tho much
wormer than the forepart of the day. at 7 P M I arrived at the
Enterance of Wisdom River and Encampd. in the Spot we had encamped the
6th of August last. here we found a Bayonet which had been left & the
Canoe quite safe. I directed that all the nails be taken out of this
Canoe and paddles to be made of her Sides & here I came up with Gibson
& Colter whome I had Sent on a head for the purpose of hunting this
morning, they had killed a fat Buck and 5 young gees nearly grown.
Wisdom river is very high and falling. I have Seen great Nos. of Beaver
on the banks and in the water as I passed down to day, also some Deer
and great numbers young gees, Sand hill cranes &c. &c. Sgt. Pryor left
a deer on the shore
