ich we had yet seen: for he passed a skirt of their territory for
seven miles. He also saw near the hills a flock of the mountain cock or
a large species of heath hen with a long pointed tail, which the Indians
below had informed us were common among the Rock mountains. Having
finished his course of ten miles west across a bend, he continued two
miles N. 80 degrees W. and from that point discovered some lofty
mountains to the northwest of Tower mountain and bearing N. 65 degrees
W. at eighty or one hundred miles distance: Here he encamped on the
north side in a handsome low ground, on which were several old stick
lodges: there had been but little timber on the river in the forepart of
the day, but now there is a greater quantity than usual. The river
itself is about eighty yards wide, from six to ten feet deep, and has a
strong steady current. The party had killed five elk, and a mule-deer;
and by way of experiment roasted the burrowing squirrels, which they
found to be well flavoured and tender.

Thursday 6. Captain Lewis was now convinced that this river pursued a
direction too far north for our route to the Pacific, and therefore
resolved to return; but waited till noon to take a meridian altitude.
The clouds, however, which had gathered during the latter part of the
night continued and prevented the observation: part of the men were sent
forward to a commanding eminence, six miles S. 70 degrees W; from which
they saw at the distance of about fifteen miles S. 80 degrees W. a point
of the south bluff of the river, which thence bore northwardly. In their
absence two rafts had been prepared, and when they returned about noon,
the party embarked: but they soon found that the rafts were so small and
slender that the baggage was wet, and therefore it was necessary to
abandon them, and go by land. They therefore crossed the plains, and at
the distance of twelve miles came to the river, through a cold storm
from the northeast, accompanied by showers of rain. The abruptness of
the cliffs compelled them, after going a few miles, to leave the river
and meet the storm in the plains. Here they directed their course too
far northward, in consequence of which they did not meet the river till
late at night, after having travelled twenty-three miles since noon, and
halted at a little below the entrance of Lark creek. They had the good
fortune to kill two buffaloe which supplied them with supper, but spent
a very uncomfortable night wi