Clark: July 17, 1806
Soaked by overnight rain, Clark's party gathered the horses and set out early, traveling down the Yellowstone (Rochejhone) River. They passed several creeks flowing from snow-capped mountains, which Clark named, including Otter River and Beaver River. He spotted his first pelican on the river. After dinner they continued over ridges and bottoms before camping opposite a small island. Game was shifting—more buffalo and deer, fewer elk—and Shannon killed a deer. Clark examined an abandoned Indian log-and-bark fort, which the Shoshone woman explained was built by war parties for defense when pursued.
Thursday 17th July 1806 The rain of last night wet us all. I had the
horses all Collected early and Set out, proceeded ove the point of a ridge
and through an open low bottom crossed a large Creek which heads in a high
Snow toped Mountain to the N W. imediately opposit to the enterance of the
Creek one Something larger falls in from the high Snow mountains to the S
W. & South those Creeks I call Rivers across they contain Some timber
in their Vallys at the distance of ____ Miles by water we arive at the
enterance of two Small rivers or large Creeks which fall in nearly opposit
to each other the one on the N E side is 30 yards wide. I call it Otter
River the other Beaver R below the enterance of this Creek I halted as
usial to let the Horses graze &c. I saw a Single Pelicon which is the
first which I have Seen on this river. after Dinner I proceeded on Down
the Rochejhone passing over a low ridge through a Small bottom and on the
Side of a Stoney hill for 2 miles and through a Small bottom and again on
the Side of a high hill for 11/2 M. to a bottom in which we Incamped
opposit a Small Island. The high lands approach the river on either side
much nearer than it does above and their Sides are partially covered with
low pine & Cedar, none of which are Sufficently large for Canoes, nor
have I Seen a Cotton tree in the low bottoms Sufficently large for that
purpose. Buffalow is getting much more plenty than they were above. not so
many Elk & more deer Shannon killed one deer. I Saw in one of those
Small bottoms which I passed this evening an Indian fort which appears to
have been built last Summer. this fort was built of logs and bark. the
logs was put up very Closely capping on each other about 5 feet and
Closely chinked. around which bark was Set up on end so as to Cover the
Logs. the enterance was also guarded by a work on each Side of it and
faceing the river. this work is about 50 feet Diameter & nearly round.
the Squaw informs me that when the war parties find themselves pursued
they make those forts to defend themselves in from the pursuers whose
Superior numbers might other wise over power them and cut them off without
receiveing much injurey on hors back &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday 17th July 1806. The rain of last night wet us all. I had the horses all collected early and set out, proceeded over the point of a ridge and through an open low bottom, crossed a large creek which heads in a high snow-topped mountain to the N.W. Immediately opposite to the entrance of the creek, one something larger falls in from the high snow mountains to the S.W. and south. Those creeks I call rivers, since they contain some timber in their valleys. At the distance of ____ miles by water we arrive at the entrance of two small rivers or large creeks which fall in nearly opposite to each other. The one on the N.E. side is 30 yards wide. I call it Otter River; the other, Beaver R. Below the entrance of this creek I halted as usual to let the horses graze, etc. I saw a single pelican, which is the first which I have seen on this river.
After dinner I proceeded on down the Rochejhone (Yellowstone), passing over a low ridge, through a small bottom, and along the side of a stony hill for 2 miles, and through a small bottom, and again on the side of a high hill for 1 1/2 miles, to a bottom in which we camped opposite a small island. The highlands approach the river on either side much nearer than they do above, and their sides are partially covered with low pine and cedar, none of which are sufficiently large for canoes; nor have I seen a cottonwood tree in the low bottoms sufficiently large for that purpose. Buffalo are getting much more plentiful than they were above. Not so many elk, and more deer. Shannon killed one deer.
I saw, in one of those small bottoms which I passed this evening, an Indian fort which appears to have been built last summer. This fort was built of logs and bark. The logs were put up very closely, capping on each other about 5 feet, and closely chinked, around which bark was set up on end so as to cover the logs. The entrance was also guarded by a work on each side of it and facing the river. This work is about 50 feet in diameter and nearly round. The squaw informs me that when the war parties find themselves pursued, they make those forts to defend themselves from the pursuers, whose superior numbers might otherwise overpower them and cut them off without receiving much injury on horseback, etc.
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