Travelers’ Rest near present-day Lolo, MT — Joseph Whitehouse: September 10, 1805
On a clear, pleasant morning, the captains decided to halt for the day to take observations, rest the horses, and send hunters out for meat before crossing the mountain ahead. Hunters returned in the evening with four deer, a fawn, two ducks, and several geese. The area held cottonwood, choke cherries, elder, willow, service bushes, and pitch pine, with snow still visible on nearby mountains. Three Flathead Indians pursuing 22 horses stolen by Snake Indians arrived at camp; one agreed to guide the party over the mountain while the other two continued the chase.
a clear pleasant morning. not So cold as usal. as our road
leads over a mountain to our left, we conclu[de] our Captains
conclude to Stay here this day to take observations, and for
the hunters to kill meat to last us across the mountain and for
our horses to rest &c. Several men and all the best hunters
went out a hunting considerable of cotton timber on this
creek the choke cherries abound on its bottoms. the natives
has lately gethered an amence quantities of them here for food,
as they mooved up. considerable of Elder willow and Servis
bushes along the Creek &c. theo [though] the day is warm
the Snow does not melt on the M°%a Short distance from us.
considerable of pitch pine on the mountains, but the Snow
makes them look like the middle of winter. the valley and
plains are pleasant. towards evening the hunters all came or
returned to Camp had killed 4 Deer 2 ducks a faun deer and
Several geese. towards evening one of the hunters went up
the creek a Short distance came across three Indians a horse-
back they appeared afraid of him untill he lay down his gun
they then came up to him in a friendly manner and took him
on behind one of them and rode verry fast down to our Camp.
they belong to the nation of flat heads. 2 of our hunters was
down the River in cite of the forks to day, and allow it to be
about 15 miles down the valley. these three natives tell us
that they lay in hearing of our guns all day and was afraid to
come to us. they tell us that two of the Snake Indians has
Stole 22 of their horses, and these three are in persuit of them.
one Stayed to pilot us over the mou: the other 2 proceeded
on in order to ride all night after them, intending to git their
horses if possable. our guide tells us that these waters runs in
to Mackinzees River as near as they can give an account, but
he is not acquainted that way. So we go the road he knows.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear, pleasant morning, not as cold as usual. As our road leads over a mountain to our left, our Captains conclude to stay here this day to take observations, and for the hunters to kill meat to last us across the mountain, and for our horses to rest, etc. Several men and all the best hunters went out hunting. There is a considerable amount of cottonwood timber on this creek, and choke cherries abound in its bottoms. The natives have lately gathered an immense quantity of them here for food as they moved up. There is a considerable amount of elder, willow, and serviceberry bushes along the creek, etc. Though the day is warm, the snow does not melt on the mountains a short distance from us. There is a considerable amount of pitch pine on the mountains, but the snow makes them look like the middle of winter. The valley and plains are pleasant.
Toward evening the hunters all returned to camp, having killed 4 deer, 2 ducks, a fawn deer, and several geese. Toward evening one of the hunters went up the creek a short distance and came across three Indians on horseback. They appeared afraid of him until he laid down his gun; they then came up to him in a friendly manner and took him on behind one of them, and rode very fast down to our camp. They belong to the nation of Flatheads. Two of our hunters were down the river in sight of the forks today, and reckon it to be about 15 miles down the valley.
These three natives tell us that they lay within hearing of our guns all day and were afraid to come to us. They tell us that two of the Snake Indians have stolen 22 of their horses, and these three are in pursuit of them. One stayed to pilot us over the mountains; the other two proceeded on in order to ride all night after them, intending to get their horses if possible. Our guide tells us that these waters run into Mackinzees River, as near as they can give an account, but he is not acquainted that way. So we go the road he knows.
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