Nez Perce villages on Clearwater — Patrick Gass: September 23, 1805

10
146 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
but the day was fine; and at 9 o’clock we continued our
march. Having proceeded about a mile, we came to a small
glade, where our hunters had found a horse, and had killed,
dressed and hung him up. Capt. Clarke, who had gone for-
ward with the hunters, left a note informing us that he and
they intended to go on to the valley or level country ahead,
as there was no chance of killing any game in these desert
mountains. We loaded the meat and proceeded along the
mountains. At noon we stepped and dined, on our horse
flesh: here we discovered that a horse, having Capt. Lewis’s
clothes and baggage on him, had got into the bushes while we
were loading the meat, and was left behind. One of the men
therefore was sent back, but returned without finding him.
Two other men with a horse were then sent back, and we con-
tinued our march along the ridge, where there are rocks, that
appear to be well calculated for making millstones ; and some
beautiful tall cedars among the spruce pine. Night came on
before we got off this ridge, and we had much difficulty in
finding water. The soil on the western side of the mountains
appears much better than on the east; and not sorocky. We
can see the valley ahead, but a great way off.