left side of the river. It rises in the mountains to the east and forms
a handsome valley for some miles from its mouth, where it is a bold
running stream about seven yards wide: we called it M'Neal's creek,
after Hugh M'Neal one of our party. Just above this stream and at the
distance of four miles from our camp is a point of limestone rock on the
right, about seventy feet high, forming a cliff over the river. From the
top of it the Beaver's-head bore north 24 degrees east twelve miles
distant, the course of Wisdom river, that is the direction of its valley
through the mountains is north 25 degrees west, while the gap through
which the Jefferson enters the mountains is ten miles above us on a
course south 18 degrees west. From this limestone rock we proceeded
along several islands, on both sides, and after making twelve miles
arrived at a cliff of high rocks on the right, opposite to which we
encamped in a smooth level prairie, near a few cottonwood trees; but
were obliged to use the dry willow brush for fuel. The river is still
very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many
shoals, over which the canoes were to be dragged, that the men were in
the water three fourths of the day. They saw numbers of otter, some
beaver, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes, but they killed nothing
except a single deer. They, however, caught some very fine trout, as
they have done for several days past. The weather had been cloudy and
cool during the forepart of the day, and at eight o'clock a shower of
rain fell.

Wednesday 14. In order to give time for the boats to reach the forks of
Jefferson river, captain Lewis determined to remain here and obtain all
the information he could collect with regard to the country. Having
nothing to eat but a little flour and parched meal, with the berries of
the Indians, he sent out Drewyer and Shields, who borrowed horses from
the natives, to hunt for a few hours. About the same time the young
warriors set out for the same purpose. There are but few elk or
blacktailed deer in this neighbourhood, and as the common red-deer
secrete themselves in the bushes when alarmed, they are soon safe from
the arrows, which are but feeble weapons against any animals which the
huntsmen cannot previously run down with their horses. The chief game of
the Shoshonees, therefore, is the antelope, which when pursued retreats
to the open plains, where the horses have full room for the chase. But
such is