Great Falls Portage — Joseph Whitehouse: July 1, 1805
On a clear morning, the party set out against a rapid current, passing springs, cedar and pine timber, and rocky cliffs as the hills lowered. They realized they had not yet entered the second mountain chain and spotted high snow-capped peaks ahead. The wide, island-filled river presented several difficult rapids. Hunters killed a beaver and four deer. Around 2 o'clock, strong winds and light rain set in. They found an Indian bow and retrieved a deerskin and note left by Captain Clark reporting fresh horse tracks but no Indians. They traveled 19 miles and camped on the south bank.
a clear morning. we Set out as usal, and proceeded on the
current rapid. Saw Several Springs along the Shores. one of
the men killed a beaver. the pine and ceeder timber pleanty
along the Shores. passed clifts of rocks on each Side but
the hills make off lower. we find that we have not entered the
2″ chain of Mountains but can discover verry high white toped
mountains Some distance up the River. the River verry wide
and full of Islands. the current verry rapid in general. passed
over Several verry bad rapids which was difficult to pass. our
hunter on Shore killed 4 Deer. the wind blew hard at 2 oClock
& a light Sprinkling of rain. we found an Indian bow. took
on board a Deer Skin which Cap! Clark had left with a note,
that they had Seen no Indians, but had Seen fresh horse tracks.
considerable of cotton & ceeder timber on the Islands &c.
Came 19 miles this day, and Camped on the South Side of
the River. found Servis berrys &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear morning. We set out as usual, and proceeded on. The current was rapid. We saw several springs along the shores. One of the men killed a beaver. The pine and cedar timber were plentiful along the shores. We passed cliffs of rocks on each side, but the hills make off lower. We find that we have not entered the 2nd chain of mountains, but can discover very high white-topped mountains some distance up the river. The river is very wide and full of islands. The current is very rapid in general. We passed over several very bad rapids which were difficult to pass. Our hunter on shore killed 4 deer. The wind blew hard at 2 o'clock, and there was a light sprinkling of rain. We found an Indian bow. We took on board a deer skin which Cap! Clark (Capt. Clark) had left with a note, that they had seen no Indians, but had seen fresh horse tracks. There was considerable cottonwood and cedar timber on the islands, etc. Came 19 miles this day, and camped on the south side of the river. Found serviceberries, etc.
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