Jefferson River ascending toward divide — Joseph Whitehouse: August 2, 1805
On a fine, warm day, the party set out early and traveled about 14 miles up an increasingly small, crooked, shallow, and rapid river. They passed cottonwood bottoms, prairies, and islands, observing abundant beaver sign, freshly cut trees, and beaver ponds. They noted a bank swallow colony in a high riverbank, old Indian camp sites, two grey eagles nesting in dry trees, and a herd of elk under the hills. Pine-covered hills rose beyond the river, with broken, mountainous country further back. Whitehouse mentioned a pain in his shoulder. They camped on a smooth plain on the left side.
a fine pleasant morning. we Set out eairly and proceeded
on the River is now Small crooked Shallow and rapid.
passed bottoms of cotton timber &c. Saw abundance of beaver
Sign, trees a foot over which had newly been cut down. Saw
a pond which was made by the beaver damming up the water
as in ma[n]y places. passed a high bank in which was a vil-
lage of what is called bank Swallows. high hills a little back
from the River on each Side of the River. considerable of
pine on them, & covered with Short grass. I have a pain in
my Shoulder. we proceeded on passed large beautiful bottom
prarie on each Side, & bottoms of timber. Saw a nomber of
old Indian Camps. the beaver houses are verry pleanty &
ponds where they resort. the day warm. we proceeded on
passed a nomber of Islands and bottoms. the River Shallow
and rapid. passed Smoth praries &c. Saw 2 grey Eagles
which had nests on the top of dry trees. Came 1434 miles
this day & Camped on a Smoth plain on L. Side. Saw a gang
of Elk back under the hills. the country back from the River
is broken & Mountainous.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A fine pleasant morning. We set out early and proceeded on. The river is now small, crooked, shallow, and rapid. We passed bottoms of cottonwood timber, etc. Saw abundance of beaver sign, trees a foot across which had newly been cut down. Saw a pond which was made by the beavers damming up the water, as in many places. Passed a high bank in which was a village of what is called bank swallows. High hills a little back from the river on each side. Considerable pine on them, and covered with short grass. I have a pain in my shoulder.
We proceeded on, passed large beautiful bottom prairie on each side, and bottoms of timber. Saw a number of old Indian camps. The beaver houses are very plenty, and ponds where they resort. The day warm. We proceeded on, passed a number of islands and bottoms. The river shallow and rapid. Passed smooth prairies, etc. Saw 2 gray eagles which had nests on the top of dry trees. Came 14 3/4 miles this day and camped on a smooth plain on the L. (left) side. Saw a gang of elk back under the hills. The country back from the river is broken and mountainous.
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