496 MISSOURI RIVER FROM GREAT FALLS TO MOUTH OF MILK RIVER. 
cluding to look into the matter further, he took a seat to await our approach. When nearly oppo- 
site to him, he arose on his hind legs and looked at the novelty a moment, then, with extended 
arms and an open countenance, advanced towards us till the water was somewhat above his 
knecs, and there awaited our approach. But he had not to wait long, for two ounce-balls from 
our rifles gave bim a fatal wound, with which he was only able to crawl about one hundred 
yards, to fall, for the last time, a victim of misplaced confidence. He measured seven feet from 
tip of nose to tail—not over a medium size, if it is that. Buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, ducks, and 
geese, were observed in unusual numbers to-day. Camped about 4 o’clock in the Big Dry fork 
of the Missouri. Distance travelled, 25.5 miles. 
October 6.—Remained in camp on account of high winds. The Big Dry river, near which we 
camped, is quite remarkable at this season; though its bed is four hundred and seventy-two 
yards wide, (about the width of the Missouri at this point,) there is not a drop of water in it. 
Its bed is composed of fine brown sand, like that of the Missouri, and it has a wide valley quite 
well wooded, and but for want of water, would be, in every respect, as respectable a river as 
the Missouri. During the early part of the season, it throws in a considerable amount of water; 
and even now, is said to contain a little above its mouth, which finds its way to the Missouri by 
seeping through the sands below the bottom. 
October 7—On the morning of the 7th we left the shore, with the pleasing anticipation of soon 
passing the mouth of the Milk river. The channel was found to be worse than it had been for 
many days, for the water was often divided by sand-bars into many channels of nearly the same 
dimensions. 
About half-past 10 o’clock we passed ‘ El Paso” Point, where the steamboat of that name 
had unloaded its cargo, the outfit for the Blackfoot trading-post in the summer of 1853. This is 
the highest point to which a steamboat has yet ascended the river. 
About 2 p. m. we landed at the mouth of the Milk river, which, though very low, measured 
120 yards in width. Its bottom is very similar to that of the Missouri at its junction; its valley 
is broad and well wooded. Distance of the mouth of the river from last camp, 21 miles. 
The only objects of the survey of that portion of the Missouri to which the foregoing journal 
relates, was to ascertain its geographical position and to collect facts bearmg upon its naviga- 
bility by steamboats. The depth of water, and other important features, as found in the latter 
part of September, have already been noted; what remains now, then, to be spoken of, are the 
changes to which the river is subject at different seasons of the year, together with the conclusions 
to be drawn therefrom. 
In this latter part, it is necessary to depend somewhat upon local information. It is, however, 
very reliable, as it comes from members of the Fur Company, who have lived in the country for 
years. 
The fact of this part of the river lying near its sources in the Rocky mountains, would natu- 
rally lead one to suppose that the changes in its volume of water from month to month would be - 
nearly the same, for the same month, from year to year. This is found to be the case as winter 
breaks up and warmer weather gradually comes on in the spring, the ice becomes rotten, and — 
the river swollen by the melting of the snow in the valley; and as early as the first of May, the 
river is clear. Such is the great range of elevation, and consequently the great range of temper- 
ature, covered by this feeding reservoir of snow, that instead of melting in the short space of a 
month and swelling the river to a torrent, the process of melting commences with the valleys in 
early spring, and goes on gradually to higher elevations as the season advances, constantly 
diminishing, of course, till August, when all that has a sensible effect upon the river is expended, 
when it commences falling more rapidly till the latter part of September. 'The minimum addi- 
tional depth of water above that of the latter part of September, according to the information 
above referred to, is as follows, viz: For the 1st of June, 3 feet; 1st of July, 24 feet; 1st of 
August, 2 feet; and 1st of September, 1 foot. 
