Travelers’ Rest – party splits: Lewis north, Clark south — Patrick Gass: July 1, 1806
The expedition rested at their camp to recover from the strenuous mountain crossing, with hunters bringing in twelve deer and accompanying Indians remaining nearby. The party planned to split: some heading to the falls of the Missouri, others to the Jefferson River canoe cache, with Captain Lewis intending to explore Maria's River and Captain Clark possibly descending the Yellowstone. On July 3rd, after a pleasant morning, Lewis and Clark separated, traveling down and up Clark's River respectively. Gass's group rafted across the forks and camped on the north branch, called Isquet-co-qual-la. Mosquitoes were severe.
mained here to rest ourselves and horses after the severe
fatigue of coming over the mountains, and some hunters went
out. The Indians still continue with us. Here the party is
to be separated; some of us are to go straight across to the
falls of the Missouri and some to the head waters of Jefferson
river, where we left the canoes. At the falls we expect to be
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION © 253
subdivided, as Capt. Lewis, myself and four or five men intend
to go up Maria’s river as far as the 5oth degree of latitude;
and a party to remain at the falls to prepare harness and other
things necessary for hauling our canoes and baggage over the
portage. Perhaps Capt. Clarke, who goes up the river here,
may also take a party and go down the Riviere Jaune, or
Yellow-stone river. In the afternoon our hunters came in,
and had killed twelve deer, most of them in good order.
W ednesday 2nd. We continued here during this day, which
was fine and pleasant, fixing our loading and making other
arrangements for our separation. One of our hunters went
out and killed two deer. The musquitoes are very trouble-
some at this place.
254 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
CHAP. XXIII.
HURSDAY 3rd. We had again a fine morning: collected
iB our horses and set out. Captain Lewis and his party
went down Clarke’s river, and Captain Clarke with the rest of
the party went up it. All the natives accompanied Captain
Lewis. We proceeded on down Clarke’s river about 12 miles,
when we came to the forks: and made three rafts to carry
ourselves and baggage over. The river here is about 150
yards wide, and very beautiful. We had to make three trips
with our rafts, and in the evening got all over safe; when we
moved on up the north branch, which is our way over to the
falls of the Missouri, and after travelling a mile and an half
encamped for the night. Two hunters went out and killed
three deer. The musquitoes are worse here than I have known
them at any place, since we left the old Maha-village on the
Missouri. ‘This north branch of the river is called by the
natives Isquet-co-qual-la, which means the road to the buf-
faloe.*
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We remained here to rest ourselves and our horses after the severe fatigue of coming over the mountains, and some hunters went out. The Indians still continue with us. Here the party is to be separated; some of us are to go straight across to the falls of the Missouri, and some to the head waters of Jefferson river, where we left the canoes. At the falls we expect to be subdivided, as Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis), myself, and four or five men intend to go up Maria's river as far as the 50th degree of latitude; and a party will remain at the falls to prepare harness and other things necessary for hauling our canoes and baggage over the portage. Perhaps Capt. Clarke (Capt. Clark), who goes up the river here, may also take a party and go down the Riviere Jaune, or Yellowstone river. In the afternoon our hunters came in, having killed twelve deer, most of them in good condition.
Wednesday 2nd. We continued here during this day, which was fine and pleasant, arranging our loads and making other preparations for our separation. One of our hunters went out and killed two deer. The mosquitoes are very troublesome at this place.
CHAP. XXIII.
Thursday 3rd. We had again a fine morning: we collected our horses and set out. Captain Lewis and his party went down Clarke's river, and Captain Clarke with the rest of the party went up it. All the natives accompanied Captain Lewis. We proceeded on down Clarke's river about 12 miles, when we came to the forks, and made three rafts to carry ourselves and baggage over. The river here is about 150 yards wide, and very beautiful. We had to make three trips with our rafts, and in the evening got everyone over safely; then we moved on up the north branch, which is our route over to the falls of the Missouri, and after traveling a mile and a half we camped for the night. Two hunters went out and killed three deer. The mosquitoes are worse here than I have known them at any place since we left the old Maha-village on the Missouri. This north branch of the river is called by the natives Isquet-co-qual-la, which means the road to the buffalo.
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