Canoe Camp on Clearwater River — Patrick Gass: October 5, 1805

canoe making, we collected all our horses and branded them,
in order to leave them with the Indians, the old chief having
promised that they should be well taken care of. In the
evening we got two of our canoes into the water.
During the sixth most of the hands were engaged at the
other canoes; and we buried our saddles and some ammuni-
tion. The morning of the seventh was pleasant, and we put
the last of our canoes into the water; loaded them, and found
that they carried all our baggage with convenience. We had
four large ones; and one small one, to look ahead. About 3
o’clock in the afternoon we began our voyage down the river,
and found the rapids in some places very dangerous. One of
our canoes sprung a leak. We therefore halted and mended
her, after going twenty miles. The hills come close on the
river on both sides; where there are a few pine trees. Back
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION © 153
from the river the tops of the hills, to a great distance are
prairie land; and the country level.