90 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



would have been useful in case of an attack from Blackfeet, yet 

 they added very materially to our cares, and gave us some trouble 

 by their noise, confusion, and singing at night. 



On the 14th, we travelled but about six miles, when a halt was 

 called, and we pitched our tents upon the banks of the noble 

 Shoshone or Snake river. It seems now, as though we were 

 really nearing the western extremity of our vast continent. We 

 are now on a stream which pours its waters directly into the 

 Columbia, and we can form some idea of the great Oregon river 

 by the beauty and magnitude of its tributary. Soon after we 

 stopped, Captain W., Richardson, and two others left us to seek 

 for a suitable spot for building a fort, and in the evening they 

 returned with the information that an excellent and convenient 

 place had been pitched upon, about five miles from our present 

 encampment. On their route, they killed a buffalo, which they 

 left at the site of the fort, suitably protected from wolves, &c. 

 This is very pleasing intelligence to us, as our stock of dried 

 meat is almost exhausted, and for several days past we have 

 been depending almost exclusively upon fish. 



The next morning we moved early, and soon arrived at our 

 destined camp. This is a fine large plain on the south side of 

 the Portneuf, with an abundance of excellent grass and rich soil. 

 The opposite side of the river is thickly covered with large timber 

 of Cottonwood and willow, with a dense undergrowth of the 

 same, intermixed with service-berry and currant bushes. 



Most of the men were immediately put to work, felling trees, 

 making horse-pens, and preparing the various requisite materials 

 for the building, while others were ordered to get themselves in 

 readiness for a start on the back track, in order to make a hunt, 

 and procure meat for the camp. To this party I have attached 

 myself, and all my leisure time to-day is employed in preparing 

 for it. 



Our number will be twelve, and each man will lead a mule with 



