FROM BITTER ROOT VALLEY TO FLATIIEAD LAKE AND KOOTENAY RIVER. 525 



were encamped on the northern edge of the prairie. We found still camped here Mr. CVden, 

 who had awaited our return from the Kootenay river, and, very fortunately for us, he had, a few 

 days previous to our arrival, received a supply of goods and provisions from Fort Vancouver, for 

 we arrived at his camp without an iota of provisions. He willingly supplied us with a sufficiency 

 to last us to the Bitter Root valley. We had here the luxury of a cup of coffee and a piece of 

 bread, which having been without for many weeks, none could appreciate more than ourselves. 

 Our animals being much jaded, we remained here a day to rest and recruit, where we found the 

 grass green and abundant, and on the following day, (May 2,) securing the services of an Indian 

 boatman to ferry us across the Clark s fork, we camped on its right bank, being unable to cross 

 on account of the high wind. Early on the morning of the 3d of May we crossed everything in 

 safety to the opposite bank. Our boat was a bark canoe, such as is used by the Pend d Oreilles 

 of the lake light, but exceeding fragile. The river here is three hundred ya/ds wide, flowing with 

 a very gentle current. Thence travelling up the left bank of the river, for a distance of twelve 

 miles, we turned more to the north, up the left bank of the Jocko river, crossing the Course des 

 Femmes creek at its mouth, where we encamped for the night. We were favored to-day with 

 mild and beautiful weather, which, together with the bright green grass, the blooming and bud 

 ding of the trees, and the many beautiful and varied flowers that lined our pathway, rendered the 

 day truly worthy of the month of May. 



May 4. Resuming our march this morning at an early hour, we reached the Hell Gate river 

 at 1 p. m., which we found much swollen, deep, and very rapid. It here became necessary to 

 build rafts, and setting the party at work, in three hours we made two rafts, and had everything 

 ready for crossing. Gabriel, with one of the men and an Indian woman and her children, who 

 had accompanied us from the Camash prairie, were on one raft, Mr. Adams, myself, and my 

 remaining man being on the other. There was a point of land projecting from the opposite shore 

 which it was our intention to strike, if possible; yet so impetuous was the current, that we moved 

 in the channel with a headlong velocity, landing about a quarter of a mile down on the same 

 side from which we started. Here so great was the current, that it was impossible to stop the raft, 

 but we were thrown with frightful force against rocks, fallen trees, bushes, islands, in fact every 

 thing that formed an obstruction in the stream. Haifa mile from our point of starting the current 

 divided into two channels, carrying us to the opposite shore ; here we were brought against a large 

 fallen tree, the limbs of which we seized to stop the raft ; but so strong was the current that we 

 could not stem it for a moment, but moved with an awful swiftness down the stream. In our 

 attempt to hold on by the limbs of the tree, I was knocked overboard, compelling me to swim 

 with my clothes ; I succeeded in reaching the raft, with the aid of one of my men, who dragged 

 me out of the water. At this place we lost our poles, and were thus left to the chances of fortune. 

 We then stripped to facilitate our swimming, and on nearing a rocky island each man, with a line 

 that had been made fast to the raft, sprang overboard, as the last resort to save ourselves and the 

 raft ; here, by dint of perseverance and hard labor, we succeeded in holding it, allowing it to drift 

 gradually against some fallen timber that lay at the end of the island. To the left of this rocky 

 island lay another formed of fallen timber, but between the raft and the latter island lay a broad 

 gulf of water, flowing with a most impetuous current; here we had sufficient time to build a log 

 bridge, and throw everything from the raft to the island. We succeeded in saving the greater 

 portion of our property ; but just as the last bale was removed from the raft, already two feet under 

 water, the water dashed over it, and in a few minutes it was broken to pieces and carried down 

 this much dreaded river. Gabriel had been more successful, but had been compelled to swim 

 with a cord three times, and with the aid of a horse, before he succeeded in landing in safety. 

 And here I am compelled to bear testimony to the great energy, courage, and activity displayed 

 by Mr. Adams on an occasion when our whole party came near being drowned : already fatigued 

 by swimming, w^ading, and walking over rocks and stones, he threw everything from our raft to 

 the island. Here we were, then, on a desolate island, naked, with abroad stream still between 



