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380 JOURNAL OF ALEXANDER Ross

about ten Piegans, murderers of our people, were burnt to death. The road in the defile we passed from the Missouri to this river is a Piegan and Blackfoot pass of most dangerous sort for a lurking enemy; and yet all the freemen dispersed by twos and twos. The rules are totally neglected. Here birds are singing and spring smiles. All traps out for the first time since we left the fort.

Friday 30th. Only forty-two beaver. Remain in camp today. Three people slept out in spite of rules and I had to threaten not to give single ball to them if they did not abide by the rules. All promised fair and all is quiet.

May, Saturday 1st. Fifty-five beaver today.

Thursday 6th. On a rough calculation all the beaver in camp amount to 600 skins, one-tenth of our expected returns.

Monday 10th 26. This morning I proposed that a small party should go on a trip of discovery for beaver across the range of mountains which bounds this river on the west in the hope of finding the headwaters of Reid's River which enters the main Snake River below the fall, on which a post was begun by Mr. McKenzie in 1819. I might say begun by Mr. Reid in 1813. For this trip, I could get only three men.

Tuesday llth. Took fifty beaver and shifted camp.

Wednesday 12th. Caught fifty beaver. Went up to head- waters of the river. This is the defile where in 1819 died John Day 27 ; a little farther on the three knobs so conspicuous for being seen.

Monday 17th 28. Resolved to make a cache here. Hiding furs in places frequented by Indians is a risky business.

Wednesday 19th. Got a drum made for the use of the camp. It is beat every evening regularly at the watch over the horses and to rouse all hands in the morning.

Wednesday 26th 29. Again at Canoe Point on Salmon River.

26 The party is now probably at the junction of the Salmon and the Pah- simari Rivers, in Custer County, Idaho; see page 59 of "The Fur Hunters."

27 Evidently the John Day of the Astor party, who became a Northwest Com- pany trapper under Donald McKenzie. See page 62 of "Fur Hunters."

28 Now about to start on a profitless trip across the ridge of Salmon River Range directly west. See page 64 of "Fur Hunters."

29 The party has returned from the trip to the westward; see page 67 of "Fur Hunters."