Clark: July 19, 1806

Saturday, 19th July 1806. I rose early and dressed Gibson's wound. He slept very little last night and complains of great pain in his knee and hip as well as his thigh. There being no timber on this part of the Rochjhone sufficiently large for a canoe, and time being precious as it is our wish to get to the U. States this season, I concluded to take Gibson in a litter, if he is not able to ride, on down the river until I can find a tree sufficiently large for my purpose. I had the strongest and gentlest horse saddled and placed skins and blankets in such a manner that when he was put on the horse he felt himself in as easy a position as when lying. This was a fortunate circumstance, as he could go much more at his ease than in a litter.

Passed Rose Bud River on the starboard side. I proceeded on about 9 miles, and halted to let the horses graze and let Gibson rest. His leg became so numbed from remaining in one position as to render it extremely painful to him. I directed Shields to keep through the thick timber and examine for a tree sufficiently large and sound to make a canoe, and also to hunt for some wild ginger for a poultice for Gibson's wound. He joined me at dinner with 2 fat bucks, but found neither tree nor ginger. He informed me that 2 white bears chased him on horseback, each of which he shot from his horse, etc.

Currants are ripe and abundant, i.e., the yellow, black, and purple species. We passed over two high points of land from which I had a view of the Rocky Mountains to the W. and S.S.E., all covered with snow. I also saw a low mountain in an easterly direction. The high lands are partially covered with pine and form perpendicular cliffs on either side.

After dinner I proceeded on. The high lands become lower on either side, and those on the starboard side form bluffs of a darkish yellow earth; the bottom widens to several miles on the starboard side. The timber, which is cottonwood principally, scattered on the borders of the river, is larger than above. I have seen some trees which would make very small canoes. Gibson's thigh became so painful that he could not sit on the horse, and after riding about 2 hours and a half I directed Sergeant Pryor and one man to continue with him under the shade of a tree for an hour and then proceed on to the place I should camp, which would be in the first good timber for canoes for the below.

It may be proper to observe that the immense swarms of grasshoppers have destroyed every sprig of grass for many miles on this side of the river, and appear to be progressing upwards. About 4 miles below the place I left Sergeant Pryor with Gibson, I found some large timber near which the grass was tolerably good. I camped under a thick grove of those trees, which were not sufficiently large for my purpose, though two of them would make small canoes. I took Shields and proceeded on through a large timbered bottom immediately below in search of better trees for canoes, and found several about the same size as those at my camp. At dark I returned to camp.

Sergeant Pryor had arrived with Gibson. After my arrival at this place the hunters killed seven elk, four deer, and I wounded a buffalo very badly near the camp immediately after I arrived. In the forepart of the day the hunters killed two deer, an antelope, and shot two bears. Shabono (Charbonneau) informed me that he saw an Indian on the high lands on the opposite side of the river during the time I was absent in the woods. I saw a smoke in the same direction as that which I had seen on the 7th instant. It appeared to be in the mountains.