om our camp opposite the last considerable rapid to the entrance of
Portage creek south 9 degrees east for three quarters of a mile: thence
on a course south 10 degrees east for two miles, though for the canoes
the best route is to the left of this course, and strikes Portage one
mile and three quarters from its entrance, avoiding in this way a very
steep hill which lies above Portage creek; from this south 18 degrees
west for four miles, passing the head of a drain or ravine which falls
into the Missouri below the great falls, and to the Willow run which has
always a plentiful supply of good water and some timber: here the course
turns to south 45 degrees west for four miles further; then south 66
degrees west three miles, crossing at the beginning of the course the
head of a drain which falls into the Missouri at the Crooked Falls, and
reaching an elevated point of the plain from which south 42 degrees
west. On approaching the river on this course there is a long and gentle
descent from the high plain, after which the road turns a little to the
right of the course up the river to our camp. The whole portage is
seventeen and three quarter miles.

At the Whitebear camp we were occupied with the boat and digging a pit
for the purpose of making some tar. The day has been warm, and the
mosquitoes troublesome. We were fortunate enough to observe equal
altitudes of the sun with sextant, which since our arrival here we have
been prevented from doing, by flying clouds and storms in the evening.

Tuesday, July 2d. A shower of rain fell very early this morning. We then
despatched some men for the baggage left behind yesterday, and the rest
were engaged in putting the boat together. This was accomplished in
about three hours, and then we began to sew on the leather over the
crossbars or iron on the inner side of the boat which form the ends of
the sections. By two o'clock the last of the baggage arrived, to the
great delight of the party who were anxious to proceed. The mosquitoes
we find very troublesome.

Having completed our celestial observations we went over to the large
island to make an attack upon its inhabitants the bears, who have
annoyed us very much of late, and who were prowling about our camp all
last night. We found that the part of the island frequented by the bear
forms an almost impenetrable thicket of the broad-leafed willow: into
this we forced our way in parties of three; but could see only one bear,
who in