Jefferson River ascending toward divide — John Ordway: August 2, 1805
The party set out early and continued upriver along a now small, crooked, shallow, and rapid stream. They passed cottonwood bottoms, abundant beaver lodges with freshly cut trees and tiered dams, a high bank pocked with swallow nests, beautiful prairie bottoms, and several old Indian camps on the south side. Pine-covered hills and rocky bluffs rose in the distance. The weather was warm. After traveling about 14 miles past islands and birch and cottonwood bottoms, they camped on a smooth plain on the left bank, spotting grey eagles and a herd of elk.
eairly and proceeded on. The River is now Small crooked Shallow
and rapid, passed bottoms covered with cotton Timber. Saw
abundance of beaver lodges to day. Some trees newly cut down
by them. Saw pond where they darned up the water one dam
above another which is curious to behold, passed a high bank in
which was villages of bank Swallows passed large beautiful
bottom praries on each side and bottoms of timber &. C. Saw
Several old Indian Camps on S. Side. Some of the high hills look
black with pine timber and Solid rocks. &.C. the day warm, we
proceeded on. passed a nomber of Islands, and bottoms covd with
cotton & birch timber, passed Smooth prarie. Saw Several grey
Eagles &C. we Came 14f miles to day and Camped on the edge
of a Smooth plain on L. Side.3 Saw a gang of Elk back under the
hills, the country in general back from the river is broken and
mountaineous.
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Early, and proceeded on. The river is now small, crooked, shallow, and rapid. We passed bottoms covered with cottonwood timber. Saw an abundance of beaver lodges today. Some trees were newly cut down by them. Saw a pond where they had dammed up the water, one dam above another, which is curious to behold. Passed a high bank in which were villages of bank swallows. Passed large, beautiful bottom prairies on each side, and bottoms of timber, etc. Saw several old Indian camps on the south side. Some of the high hills look black with pine timber and solid rocks, etc. The day was warm. We proceeded on. Passed a number of islands, and bottoms covered with cottonwood and birch timber. Passed smooth prairie. Saw several gray eagles, etc. We came 14 miles today and camped on the edge of a smooth plain on the left side. Saw a gang of elk back under the hills. The country in general back from the river is broken and mountainous.
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