of cascades.

Many days were spent there in a long and laborious portage, for
everything had to be carried a distance of twelve miles before
the quiet water above the falls was reached.

How the coming of the white man has changed the region about the
falls! The game has disappeared; an important city, supported by
the enormous water-power, is growing up; while the smoke rising
from extensive plants for reducing the gold, silver, and copper
ores mined in the Rocky Mountains floats out over the country.

Proceeding up the river, the party reached the Gate of the Mountains--a
picturesque spot where the stream leaves the mountains through
a narrow defile between high and jagged cliffs and enters upon
its long course across the Great Plains (Fig. 68). Gradually the
river became smaller, and at last the travellers came to the point
where it divided into three branches, to which they gave the names
of Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson forks. The party made their
way up the latter fork, which flowed from a westerly direction.

[Footnote: FIG. 68.--THE GATE OF THE MOUNTAINS

The Missouri River at the entrance to the Rocky Mountains]

Now they began to look anxiously for the Indians, from whom it
would be necessary to get horses to transport their baggage when
the river should become too small for the canoes. This region was
inhabited by the Shoshones. It may well be asked how it happened that
these Indians had horses, since no white people had ever visited them
before. Their purchase of horses came about through the processes
of trade with the tribes to the south, who in turn came in contact
with the Spanish of New Mexico.

One or the other of the leaders kept in advance, on the lookout for
the Indians. At last Captain Lewis, while crossing the divide at
the head of the stream which they had been following, came suddenly
upon several Indians. After overcoming their fear by presents, he
accompanied them to their camp and induced them to return with
horses to assist the party.

Upon reaching the Pacific side of the continental divide the explorers
were in doubt as to which way to proceed. No man had been before them,
and the Indians told stories of fearful deserts to the southwest
(probably the Snake River plains), and said that the mountains were
too steep for the horses, and the rivers too rapid for canoes.

If you will examine a map of the country about the head of the
Jefferson fork of the Missouri, you will not wo