18 EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1800 TO A. D. 1832. 
Fork, on Governor Stevens’ map. Having ascended this last creek to its source, they crossed 
the Bitter Root mountains with difficulty, and came upon the sources of the Koos-koos-ky. 
Unable to follow this stream through its cafions, they wandered to the north among the mount- 
ains, suffering great hardships, and being compelled to eat their horses from want of food, 
until finally they reached the Koos-koos-ky where it is navigable for canoes. Having con- 
structed boats, they sailed down that stream to Lewis’ river, passing several dangerous rapids 
on the way. They next followed Lewis’ Fork to the Columbia river,* which they explored to 
its mouth, reaching the Pacific in December. Winter quarters were established at Fort 
Clatsop, where they remained till the latter part of March, 1806. 
The expedition started again in April and returned by nearly the same route to the mouth 
of Traveller’s Rest creek, experiencing some embarrassment from the snows and from the 
want of forage, and being often compelled to subsist upon horse and dog flesh. At the mouth 
of Traveller’s Rest creek the party divided; Captain Lewis, with one portion, proceeded up 
the Hell Gate river to the Cokalahiskit river, (Blackfoot Fork,) and thence up the latter to its 
source; crossing the divide between the Columbia and the Missouri by what Governor Stevens 
calls Lewis and Clarke’s Pass, although Captain Clarke did not go through it. Next proceeding 
northwardly to the sources of Maria’s river, Captain Lewis followed this stream to its mouth, 
and then passing down the Missouri he overtook and joined Captain Clarke. Captain Clarke, 
on separating from Captain Lewis at Traveller’s Rest creek, proceeded up the Bitter Root 
river to its source, and crossing the dividet between the Missouri and Columbia by a much 
more favorable route than that examined by the party on their outward journey, reached 
the point on the Jefferson Fork where the canoes had been left. He passed down this stream 
to its junction with Gallatin’s Fork ; ascending the latter stream a short distance, he crossed the 
divide between it and the Yellowstone, and then journeyed down this river to a point where 
timber was found sufficiently large to make canoes. These he constructed, and thus navigated 
the river to its mouth. Floating thence leisurely down the Missouri, he was soon afterwards 
joined by Captain Lewis, and the two parties, ‘‘happily united,’’ returned together to the 
regions of civilization. 
It does not appear from the journal I have read that the explorers relied much upon deter- 
minations for longitudes. That of the mouth of the Platte was taken by them half a degree 
too far west; that of the mouth of the Yellowstone accords well with the best recent determi- 
* The Columbia river derives its name from the American trading ship Columbia, commanded by Captain Gray, who 
entered its mouth in 17 92, and examined it as far as Gray's bay. He shortly afterward met the celebrated navigator Van- 
couver, to whom he gave a chart m his discoveries. Vancouver visited the river and his lieutenant, Broughton, 
explored it more than one hündred miles, 
The existence of ive Vl inn D before the visits of Gray and mem the information concerning it 
was vague and uncertain. One or two unsuccessful attempts had been made to discover its mouth, where it is supposed a 
Spanish ship was wrecked in early times. — 
The name Oregon was at one time applied to the Columbia, and from this cireumstance the ROY of Oregon Nias derived 
its name. . The word seems to have originated in a work by Jonathan Carver, published in London in 1778, and the subject is 
ably discussed in Mr, Greenhow’s History of Oregon and California, from which I make two quotations : **In the preceding 
extracts from Carvers book, embracing all that he has said respecting his Oregon or Great River of the West, there is 
certainly nothing calculated to establish the identity of the stream to which those vague descriptions and allusions apply, 
with the Columbia or any other river" © ۶ ‘* As to the name Oregon, cr the authority for its use, the traveller i is silent ; 
and nothing has been learned from any source, though much labor has been expended in attempts to discover its meaning 
and derivation : it was most probably invented by Carver.’ 
1 Lieutenant Mullan calls this the Bighole Mountain Pass. 
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