Missouri River Breaks area — Joseph Whitehouse: May 11, 1805

a clear cold morning, a white frost last night. Some of the
party caught 2 beaver last night. we Set off eairly, and pro-
ceeded on passed black bluffs on the S. S. and hills on each
1 This is the stream called by Lewis, Big Dry River. — Ep.
[ 80 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
as
Side partly covred with low ceeder. we Saw large gangs of
buffaloe in the bottoms on Each Side of the River. towards
evening one of the party wounted a brown bair, and was
chased by it to the perogues. Several hunters went to his
assistance and killed it it was nearly of the Same discription
as the other we killed Several days ago. we fount it fat and
good meat. Cap! Clark who walked on Shore killed 2 buf-
faloe and 2 deer (one beaver also). one of the men kill?
another buffaloe. we Saw hills on the N. S. partly covred
with pitch pine the first we have Seen. the country begins
to be hilley and broken, but verry rich Soil the bottoms on
the River chiefly covred with cottonwood timber, which is
filled with Game Some Smoth plains under the hills covred
with wild hysop. we came 17 miles and Camped on the
South Side before night on account of dressing the bair, which
detained us untill night &c. passed 2 or 3 small runs to
day, &c.