Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 14.djvu/414



372 JOURNAL OF ALEXANDER Ross

porting that N. W. currency was done away with and their ac- counts would be settled with Quebec currency or sterling. This pleased. All is quiet. S. E.

Sunday 15th. Remained in camp on account of bad weather and for hunters who brought in four wild horses and seven deer. These horses are claimed by the Flathead tribes; those who kill them have to pay four skins Indian currency. Wind high.

Monday 16th. On our journey early. Delayed by a pour, rain, sleet, snow. Passed the Forks, left main branch Flathead River followed up Jacques Fork 6 till we made a small rivulet on the south side which our people named Riviere Maron. Country is pleasant, animals small and lean. Traps produced nothing. Course S. E., distance nine miles.

Tuesday 17th. Left camp early, the people grumbling to remain. Passed three lodges of Tete Pletes. Francois Rivet 7 caught a beaver ; but the wolves devoured it, skin and all. Course S. SE., distance twelve miles.

Wednesday 18th. Remained in camp to hunt and refresh horses before entering the mountains. I appointed Vieux Pierre to head the Iroquois, Mr. Montour 8 the Ft. de Prairie 9 Half Breeds, and myself the remainder so the sentiments of the camp may be known by a council : among so many unruly, ill-tongued villains. Four elk and twenty-five small deer brought to camp. Louis killed nine with ten shots.

Friday 20th. 10 Detained in camp by sleet and rain.

Saturday 21st. Antoine Valle's boy died.

Monday 23rd. Passed the defile 11 of the mountains between Jacques and Courtine forks. End of defile had a view of noted place called Hell's Gate, so named from being frequented by

6 The Jocko, which flows into the Flathead at Dixon, Montana; this stream, so named after Jacques Raphael Finlay, an intelligent half-breed and one of David Thompson's men, in 1809.

7 Afterward a settler on French Prairie in the Willamette Valley.

8 Mr. Ross' clerk; doubtful whether the Nicholas Montour of David Thomp- son's time.

9 A general term meaning the prairie forts of the company on the Saskatchewan River.

10 See page n of "Fur Hunters."

n Coriacan Defile through which the No. Pac. Ry. now passes; the view of Missoula and the Bitter Root Valley is as fine now as it was in 1824.