Lewis: July 21, 1806
The party set out at sunrise along the north side of the river, but steep ravines forced them to cross repeatedly. During one crossing, a pack horse missed the ford and soaked Lewis's instruments, though they suffered no real damage after being dried. They observed a large elk herd while buffalo grew scarcer. At 2 P.M. they reached a northern branch of Maria's River, which Lewis decided to follow to determine its northernmost extent. Camping in a narrow bottom under a cliff, they burned buffalo dung for fuel, with provisions running low after failing to recover a wounded buffalo.
Monday July 21st 1806. We set out at sunrise and proceeded a short
distance up the North side of the river; we found the ravines which made
in on this side were so steep and numerous that we passed the river in
doing which the pack horse which carried my instruments missed the ford
and wet the instruments. this accident detained us about half an hor. I
took the Instruments out wiped them and dryed their cases, they sustained
no naterial injury. we continued on the S. side of the river about 3 miles
when we again passed over to the N. side and took our course through the
plains at some distance from the river. we saw a large herd of Elk this
morning. the buffaloe still become more scarce. at 2 P.M. we struck a
northern branch of Marias river about 30 yds. wide at the distance of
about 8 miles from it’s entrance. this stream is closely confined between
clifts of freestone rocks the bottom narrow below us and above the rocks
confine it on each side; some little timber below but not any above; the
water of this stream is nearly clear. from the appearance of this rock and
the apparent hight of the bed of the streem I am induced to beleive that
there are falls in these rivers somewhere about their junction. being
convinced that this stream came from the mountains I determined to pursue
it as it will lead me to the most nothern point to which the waters of
Maria’s river extend which I now fear will not be as far north as I wished
and expected. after dinner we set out up the North branch keeping on it’s
S. side; we pursued it untill dark and not finding any timber halted and
made a fire of the dung of the buffaloe. we lay on the south side in a
narrow bottom under a Clift. our provision is nearly out, we wounded a
buffaloe this evening but could not get him.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Monday, July 21st, 1806. We set out at sunrise and proceeded a short distance up the north side of the river. We found that the ravines coming in on this side were so steep and numerous that we crossed the river. In doing so, the pack horse carrying my instruments missed the ford and got the instruments wet. This accident delayed us about half an hour. I took the instruments out, wiped them, and dried their cases; they sustained no significant damage. We continued on the south side of the river for about 3 miles, when we again crossed over to the north side and took our course through the plains at some distance from the river. We saw a large herd of elk this morning. The buffalo are still becoming more scarce.
At 2 P.M. we struck a northern branch of Marias river, about 30 yards wide, at a distance of about 8 miles from its entrance. This stream is closely confined between cliffs of freestone rock; the bottom is narrow below us, and above, the rocks confine it on each side. There is some little timber below, but none above. The water of this stream is nearly clear. From the appearance of this rock and the apparent height of the bed of the stream, I am led to believe that there are falls in these rivers somewhere near their junction.
Being convinced that this stream came from the mountains, I decided to follow it, as it will lead me to the most northern point to which the waters of Maria's river extend, which I now fear will not be as far north as I wished and expected. After dinner we set out up the north branch, keeping on its south side. We pursued it until dark and, not finding any timber, halted and made a fire from buffalo dung. We lay on the south side in a narrow bottom under a cliff. Our provisions are nearly gone. We wounded a buffalo this evening but could not retrieve it.
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