Missouri River approaching Cannonball River — Patrick Gass: October 18, 1804

some frost. We set sail early, and a hunter went up each
shore. Having proceeded two miles we met a couple of
Frenchmen ina canoe, who had been up at the Mandan nation
hunting, and met with a party of that nation, who robbed
them of their arms, ammunition and some fur which they had ;
and therefore they had to return down the river; but, meet-
ing us, went back in hopes of recovering their property. We
passed a small river, on the south side called Cannon-ball
river. Several hunters went out here. We passed a creek on
the north side, called Fish creek, on which J killed a deer. At
night we encamped or the south side, and all the hunters
came in having killed six deer, four goats and a pelican.