Marias River decision camp — Joseph Whitehouse: June 8, 1805
The day began cloudy and cold with a southwest wind, clearing to pleasant weather by 9 a.m., during which the men aired out the Indian trade goods. Snow-capped mountains were visible to the west, and both forks of the Missouri ran high from melting snow. Captain Lewis returned at 3 p.m. from a 60-mile scout up the north fork, reporting abundant game and timber. Believing it bent too far north, he chose the south fork as their route. He named the north fork Maria's River and the middle fork Tansey River. Hunters brought in elk, deer, and a beaver; light rain fell at evening.
OME cloudy. the wind blew cold from the S. W. Sev-
S eral men went out to hunt. about g oC. cleared off
pleasant. the Indian goods &c put out to air. we Saw
the high mountain to the west of us covered with Snow. the
South fork of the Missourie is high & of a yallow coulour to
day, & the North fork more white & rile than before, owing as
we expect to the rains & Snow melting above, on the moun-
tains. about 3 oClock P. M. Cap! Lewis & party returned to
Camp, & Informed us that they had been about 60 miles dis-
tant up the north fork, had traveled through high plains the
greater part of the way. they found that the N. fork keeps its
bigness, pleanty of water, considerable of timber in the bottoms
& an amence cite [sight] of game. they killed a great deal of
Elk Buffalow Deer &c. &c. but Cap! Lewis thinks that the
N. fork bears too far North for our course to cross the Moun-
tains, for if we Should take the wrong River, we Should have
more mountains to cross & further to go by land to git to the
Columbia River, which we have to descend to the west. So
the Cap conclude to take the South fork & proceed, and
named the North fork River Mariah, but it has the resem-
blence of the Missourie below the forks in everry respect, & the
middle fork they name Tanzey River the water &c. of which
resembles the Missourie also. the men in Camp generally em-
ployed Dressing Skins &c. towards evening the hunters all
returned had killed sev! Elk 13 deer and one beaver. the
wind blew from the East, a light Shower of rain this evening.
VOL. VII. —7 [97]
LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNALS _ [Juneg
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Some cloudy. The wind blew cold from the southwest. Several men went out to hunt. About 9 o'clock it cleared off pleasant. The Indian goods, etc., were put out to air. We saw the high mountain to the west of us covered with snow. The south fork of the Missourie (Missouri) is high and of a yellow color today, and the north fork more white and riled than before, owing, as we expect, to the rains and snow melting above on the mountains.
About 3 o'clock P.M. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and party returned to camp, and informed us that they had been about 60 miles distant up the north fork, and had traveled through high plains the greater part of the way. They found that the north fork keeps its bigness, plenty of water, considerable timber in the bottoms, and an immense sight of game. They killed a great deal of elk, buffalo, deer, etc. But Capt Lewis thinks that the north fork bears too far north for our course to cross the mountains, for if we should take the wrong river, we should have more mountains to cross and farther to go by land to get to the Columbia River, which we have to descend to the west. So the captains conclude to take the south fork and proceed, and named the north fork River Mariah (Marias), but it has the resemblance of the Missourie below the forks in every respect; and the middle fork they name Tanzey (Tansy) River, the water, etc., of which resembles the Missourie also.
The men in camp were generally employed dressing skins, etc. Toward evening the hunters all returned, having killed several elk, 13 deer, and one beaver. The wind blew from the east. A light shower of rain this evening.
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