Lewis: July 18, 1806
The party set out before sunrise and rode through open plains, crossing a high divide between the waters of the Rose River and Maria's River, from which several mountain ranges were visible. They paused at midday along a nearly dry creek to dine and graze the horses, passing through immense herds of buffalo, along with wolves, antelope, and some horses. Reaching Maria's River by 6 P.M., they killed two buffalo and camped in a cottonwood grove. Lewis ordered Drouillard and Joseph Fields to scout downstream the next morning, and he stood watch nightly with the men.
Friday July 18th 1806. We set out this morning a little before sunrise
ascended the river hills and continued our rout as yesterday through the
open plains at about 6 miles we reached the top of an elivated plain which
divides the waters of the rose river from those of Maria’s river. from
hence the North mountains, the South mountains, the falls mountains and
the Tower Mountain and those arround and to the East of the latter were
visible. our course led us nearly parrallel with a creek of Maria’s river
which takes it’s rise in these high plains at the place we passed them; at
noon we struck this creek about 6 ms. from its junction with Maria’s river
where we found some cottonwood timber; here we halted to dine and graize
our horses. the bed of this creek is about 25 yds. wide at this place but
is nearly dry at present, the water being confined to little pools in the
deeper parts of it’s bed. from hence downwards there is a considerable
quantity of timber in it’s bottom. we passed immence herds of buffaloe on
our way in short for about 12 miles it appeared as one herd only the whole
plains and vally of this creek being covered with them; saw a number of
wolves of both speceis, also Antelopes and some horses. after dinner we
proceeded about 5 miles across the plain to Maria’s river where we arrived
at 6 P.M. we killed a couple of buffaloe in the bottom of this river and
encamped on it’s west side in a grove of cottonwood some miles above the
entrance of the creek. being now convinced that we were above the point to
which I had formerly ascended this river and faring that a fork of this
stream might fall in on the Northside between this place and the point to
which I had ascended it, I directed Drewyer who was with me on my former
excurtion, and Joseph Fields to decend the river early in the morning to
the place from whence I had returned, and examine whether any stream fell
inn or not. I keep a strict lookout every night, I take my tour of watch
with the men.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Friday, July 18th, 1806. We set out this morning a little before sunrise, ascended the river hills, and continued our route as yesterday through the open plains. At about 6 miles we reached the top of an elevated plain which divides the waters of the Rose River from those of Maria's River. From here the North Mountains, the South Mountains, the Falls Mountains, and the Tower Mountain, along with those around and to the east of the latter, were visible. Our course led us nearly parallel with a creek of Maria's River which takes its rise in these high plains at the place we passed them. At noon we struck this creek about 6 miles from its junction with Maria's River, where we found some cottonwood timber. Here we halted to dine and graze our horses. The bed of this creek is about 25 yards wide at this place but is nearly dry at present, the water being confined to little pools in the deeper parts of its bed. From here downward there is a considerable quantity of timber in its bottom. We passed immense herds of buffalo on our way; in short, for about 12 miles it appeared as one herd only, the whole plains and valley of this creek being covered with them. We saw a number of wolves of both species, also antelopes and some horses.
After dinner we proceeded about 5 miles across the plain to Maria's River, where we arrived at 6 P.M. We killed a couple of buffalo in the bottom of this river and camped on its west side in a grove of cottonwood some miles above the entrance of the creek. Being now convinced that we were above the point to which I had formerly ascended this river, and fearing that a fork of this stream might fall in on the north side between this place and the point to which I had ascended it, I directed Drewyer, who was with me on my former excursion, and Joseph Fields to descend the river early in the morning to the place from which I had returned, and examine whether any stream fell in or not. I keep a strict lookout every night, and I take my turn of watch with the men.
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