Missouri River near Yellowstone approach — John Ordway: April 22, 1805

passed a high bluff on S. S. and a handsom bottom and plains
on the N. S. which was covered with buffaloe & buffaloe calfs,
Elk deer &.C. and large gangs on the opposite Shore I think
that we Saw at one view nearly one thousand animels. they are
not to day verry wild for we could go within a 100 yards of them
in open view of them before they would run off and then they
would go but a Short distance before they would Stop and feed
again, We delayed about 2 hours & proceeded on. passed bluffs
on N. S. where we dined & delayed again on ace* of the high
wind, aired Some articles which got wet in a small canoe
proceeded on with the towing lines. Saw a buffaloe Calf which
had fell down the bank & could not git up again, we helped it
up the bank and it followed us a Short distance (the river raised
4 Inches last [night] & a white frost) we have seen a great nom-
ber of dead buffaloe lying on each shore all the way from the
little Missourie R. we Suppose that they Got drownded attempt-
ing to cross on the Ice last fall before it got Strong, we Camped in
a bottom covered with c.w. timber & rabbit berry bushes on the
S. S.2 the beaver has cut down large trees along this bottom.
Saw a great nomber of their houses. Cap* Clark. Shot a large
one. G. Drewyer went after dark to set his traps & Shot an-
other. N. B. Came only 10 miles today) one man found [and]
killd a spoted snake.