Missouri River above Great Falls, Gates of the Mountains — Patrick Gass: July 22, 1805

pleasant: passed some fine springs on the southern shore,
and a large island near the northern; On the south side the
country is level to a good distance, but on the north the hills
come close to the river. At breakfast our squaw informed us
she had been at this place before when small. Here we got a
quantity of wild onions. At half past 9, we proceeded on
again; passed a large island at noon; and in the afternoon,
more islands; and came to a place where Captain Clarke and
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION | s115
his party were encamped. They told us they had seen the
same smoke, which we had discovered a few days ago, and
found it had been made by the natives, who they supposed
had seen some of us, and had fled, taking us for enemies.
We went 17 miles and an half and encamped on an island ;
where we found the musquitoes very bad. We saw to day
several banks of snow on a mountain west of us.