NARRATIVE OF 1853. 101 
He would go to Sun river in three days, keeping at the head of the coulées leading into the 
Missouri river. First night he would encamp at a spring; second night ata lake; water good, 
but no wood; third night on Sun river. Не goes up Sun river one day and strikes towards the 
mountains. Four days to ridge, where difficult parts occur; plenty of wood; water and grass 
improving all the time from this point. Ninth day.—Ascent to ridge difficult, requiring labor 
for wagons; descent good; camp on a stream, tributary of the Missouri, but west of this 
mountain. Tenth day.—Pass over'a level plain and camp on another tributary of the Missouri, 
called the Red Shell river. Eleventh day.—Go over Prickly Pear prairie and reach foot of 
next dividing ridge. "Twelth day.—Go over dividing ridge and reach a creek which flows into 
the Columbia. Pine timber, no rocks, and good road through. Thirteenth day.— Follow 
creek down, and camp a little distance this side of its entrance into the large river, Fourteenth 
day.—Follow creek down to Big river, and then follow Big river; it isa plain, good road. 
From this point it takes seven days of slow marches, good road, to go to the St. Mary's village. 
These Indians whom I interrogated had frequently crossed over to the upper waters of the 
Platte and Snake rivers, and they informed me that the whole country was open, and that there 
would be no difficulty in moving from Fort Benton, over quite a number of trails, to the 
emigrant route from the States, via Fort Laramie and South Pass, to Salt Lake; and they 
described the country as being, for the most part, a very desirable one, excellent for voyaging, 
and abounding in wood, grass, and water. The voyageur, Hammell, gave me the following 
account of Cadotte's Pass: 
Hammell says: ‘‘Follow the general course of the Missouri till you strike the Sun or Medicine 
river, a distance equal to three days' journey of 24 miles each. The roadis good, but you have 
to make such marches as will enable you to meet certain springs, in order to secure good 
camping places." 
“Medicine river is followed in the valley some 50 miles, when you reach the mountains. 
Good roads; timber plentiful, and grass good." ien 
He estimates Cypress mountain to be three days’ journey from this point, of forty miles each, 
alittle east of north. From that point to the Koutenay country the distance is eight days for 
Indians with fast horses, and ten days with slow horses. I began, now, to feel a good deal of 
apprehension in consequence of not hearing from the missing елестет who visited the Bear’s 
Paw, and it seriously interfered with my views in regard to жасатты; TR advance parties. 
I visited to-day the post of the other company, and will take this occasion to describe Fort 
Benton and Fort Campbell, together with the neighboring — 
Fort Benton (see sketch) stands on the eastern bank of the — I the Great Bend, 
and 3771 miles by the trail taken by me above Fort Union. - "vers, here perfectly trans- 
parent at most seasons of the year. The Teton river empties эде the Missouri six miles below 
Fort Benton; the Marias river twelve miles below; and Milk river 200 miles below, The Falls 
of the Missouri are 18 miles above this fort. The muddy character of the Missouri has its 
commencement at the mouth of Milk river, which takes its name from the whitish muddiness 
of its waters. The ascent from the wide grassy plain in = те m located to the high 
table-land is somewhat abrupt, the only passage on а level with the plain being close to the 
river on the south, and very narrow. Fort Benton is smaller бия Fort Union. fis front is 
made of wood, and the other sides of adobe or unburned brick. It usually contains about 
