544 FROM FORT BENTON TO LATITUDE 49 30 . 



winter. Passed over a level or slightly-rolling plain, and in fifteen miles reached Nah-too-see or 

 Medicine river, eight miles from its mouth. Having directed the men where to encamp, I rode 

 down the river. Sun river, at its junction with the Missouri, is one hundred and seventy-five 

 yards wide ; deep, with a strong current. It does not overflow its banks, although they are no 

 more than six to eight feet high. It is different from other streams in this country, in passing a 

 broad valley bounded by hills of easy slope. The course of the Missouri is here northeast, and 

 its banks are low. The soil is a light, sandy loam, of considerable fertility, and bears a luxu 

 riant crop of grass. The timber is poor, consisting of cotton-wood of small growth, white wil 

 low, birch, and box alder. As a location for an agency and farm, this does not compare favora 

 bly with the Highwood river, where the soil is better, timber and stone abundant, and the 

 distance to the head of navigation on the Missouri only eighteen miles, while from here it is 

 thirty-five miles. Saw a large number of geese, two of which I killed. Reached camp at sun 

 down. Made to-day 19.66 miles. 



May 13. This is a clear, warm morning. Up early, and at 8 o clock started up the river. 

 The travelling is very bad. Heavy storms have passed here lately, and quantities of hail are 

 still to be seen in the hollows, and the ground is so soaked with rain that the horses sink to their 

 fetlocks in mud as tenacious as glue. Finding it impossible to travel here, we made a detour to 

 the right, keeping on the hills, where the road is better. Struck the river again in a few miles, 

 and continued up the river. Noticed to-day many birds commonly seen in the Western States, 

 as the meadow lark, red-winged blackbird, cow birds, pigeon hawk, black eagle, robin, swallow, 

 plover, mallard duck, teal, &c. It is impossible for me to procure specimens of birds, as I have 

 no fine shot. 



Procured several varieties of flowers, which were carefully preserved. The river is becoming 

 shoaler and more rapid. The country continues the same as near the mouth. Encamped at an 

 early hour at the foot of a large island more heavily timbered than any point below. Half a 

 mile below my camp is where the main train crossed the river, and, passing to the north of Crown 

 Butte, entered the Blackfoot Pass. Crown Butte and the Big Knee near it are lofty, fiat-topped 

 buttes, called by the Indians the Rattlers, and are prominent land-marks, indicating the position 

 of the Blackfoot Pass and Lewis and Clark s Pass. They can be seen from the Highwood 

 mountains, sixty miles distant. Made to-day 23| miles. 



May 14, Sunday. To-day we remained in camp, as I am opposed to travelling on the Sab 

 bath when there is not the slightest necessity for so doing. After breakfast 1 walked up the 

 river, in the hope of finding some specimens for the natural history collection, but was entirely 

 unsuccessful. Excepting a number of new flowers, I saw nothing worth collecting. Returned 

 to camp at sundown. Barometrical observations have been taken at proper points upon the 

 route, and also observations in camp. 



May 15. Morning clear and pleasant, but cool. Passed up the valley, keeping close to the 

 river, and in five miles came to a flat-topped butte ; continued along its base in a narrow bottom, 

 and in twenty miles found that the river washed the base of the butte, which is here of gray 

 sandstone, rendering farther progress in this direction impracticable. Turned back, and made a 

 long detour to the right, and struck the river again opposite two large islands, and here we en 

 camped, having made 24.52 miles. One mile from here we crossed Mr. F. W. Lander s trail, 

 which is not correctly laid down on the map. The river does not fork here, and channels be 

 tween islands must have been mistaken for the three forks laid down. Collected to-day six new 

 varieties of flowers, but saw no snakes or reptiles. Country the same as passed over yesterday ; 

 grass luxuriant ; hills low, and no coulees. Night clear and cool. 



May 16. Moved early, keeping now on the high ground, and cutting the bends of the river as 

 the valley is becoming narrow. Country more broken, and soil better than I have yet seen. 

 River bends more to the west, and we are now travelling directly towards the mountains, the 

 more lofty of which are covered with snow. On our right, about the centre of the great semi- 



