Missouri River near Musselshell River — Patrick Gass: May 25, 1805

canoes came up; and about 7 proceeded on our voyage. The
forenoon was pleasant. We passed two creeks opposite to
each other on the opposite sides of the river. About 12 we
passed a bottom on the North side with one solitary tree on
it, upon which there was an eagle’s nest. The bottoms here
are very small. As we went on this afternoon some of the
party killed three of what the French and natives call moun-
tain sheep; but they very little resemble sheep, except in the
head, horns and feet. They are of a dun colour except on the
belly and round the rump, where they are white. The horns
of the male are very large; those of the female small. They
* Tt is said that bears, beavers, otters and such animals will sink unless shot dead.
88 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
have a fine soft hair. Captain Clarke calls them the Ibex, and
says they resemble that animal more than any other. They
are in size somewhat larger than a deer. The hills here are
very high and steep. One of our men in an attempt to climb
one, had his shoulder dislocated; it was however replaced
without much difficulty. These hills are very much washed
in general: they appear like great heaps of clay, washing away
with every shower; with scarcely any herbs or grass on any
of them. This evening we passed an island all prairie except
a few trees on the upper end of it. We went 18 miles and
encamped on the South side.