Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 14.djvu/421



SNAKE COUNTRY EXPEDITION, 1824 379

Thursday 22nd. Thirty-five beaver taken, six feet left in the trap. Twenty- five traps missing. Boisterous weather today. The freemen left their horses to chance, nor did they collect them during the storm at night.

Discordant people fill up the cup Indifference and folly will soon drink it up But loss and misfortune must be the lot When care and attention are wholly forgot.

Friday 23rd. Bad weather keeps us in camp. That scamp the Salteux and worthless fellow his nephew threaten to leave because I found fault with them for breaking the rules. If they attempt it, I am determined to strip them naked.

Saturday 24th. Crossed beyond the boiling fountain 23 , snow knee deep. We encamp in the spot where the Flathead and Nez Perces fought a battle four years ago. Herds of buf- falo grazing here : sixteen killed. The camp is now under guard. Half the people snow blind from the sun glare.

Monday 26th. Crossed to Middle Forks 24 of the Missouri, smaller than the first fork with which it unites ten miles from here. A large herd of buffalo here ; upwards of twenty killed, two young calves brought to camp alive. This is a Piegan trail where three years ago, the freemen had battle with the Piegans and a Nez Perces' lad was shot last year.

Tuesday 27th. After camping, we mounted the brass gun and shot it three times for practice.

Wednesday 28th. Forty-four beaver to camp today.

Thursday 29th. Leaving the Missouri, crossed over to the Nez Perces River called the Salmon River 25. It is a branch of the river on which Lewis and Clarke fell in leaving the Mis- souri for the Pacific. Followed up the middle fork of Missouri to its source, then ascending a hill fell on the waters of the Salmon. Passed a deserted Piegan camp of thirty-six lodges. This place is rendered immemorial as being the place where

23 The warm springs near Jackson P. O., Beaverhead County, Montana.

24 That is, he crossed the low divide to Grasshopper Creek near Bannock; the Beaverhead River would be his Middle Fork of the Missouri.

25 He has now crossed over to the Lemhi River, a branch of the Salmon River, which flows into the Snake, and is in Idaho. See page 53 of "The Fur Hunters."