NARRATIVE OF 1853. 121 
In the execution of this duty he proceeded up the valley of the Sun river to its forks ; thence 
continued on to the Dearborn; and thence made his way to the entrance of Cadotte’s Pass. 
Although his provisions were giving out, and his party were on short allowance, he made a 
very thorough and satisfactory examination. AsI approached the divide I found one of his 
camps, showing that he had preceded me but two days. It is a source of much regret to me 
that it was impracticable to delay the party to run a line of spirit levels over the difficult 
portions of the route in the neighborhood of the mountains, and over the pass itself. Sonfe 
twenty miles down the valley I came across one of Mr. Lander's camps; and I learned, on 
joining Lieutenant Donelson, that he had not reported to him on his approach to the mountains, 
as was expected, but had probably preceded him to the Bitter Root valley. 
BLACKFOOT VALLEY TO FORT OWEN. 
September 26.—The gentlemen not required by my rapid trip to the westward—namely, 
Dr. Suckley, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Kendall—now joined the main party, and we pushed on 
over the Blackfoot prairie, (called in Lewis and Clark’s Narrative the Prairie of the Knobs, ) 
and after a march of thirty-odd miles came to a beautiful camp, near what is known in the 
country as the Cafion. To show the condition of the animals of the expedition, I will observe 
that, as I passed by the mules of the supply train, (for I remained somewhat late in camp this 
morning to confer with Lieutenant Donelson, the whole party being several miles on the march 
before I started,) I observed that their rate of travel, on a fast walk, was from four to four and 
a half miles per hour; and the advance of the train moved thirty miles that day, getting into 
camp early, the animals being apparently not fatigued. We had hardly made up our camp- 
fire, when, seeing a black bear and two cubs close by, we felt sure that we should have bear 
meat for supper; but, although all the voyageurs were on their track, they finally made their 
escape. 
September 27.—We started about seven o'clock, and soon entered the Cañon—not, properly 
speaking, a сайоп, for throughout its extent, until you reach the debouche of Hell-Gate, there 
is no special difficulty on the trail, nor would there be excessive work to open a good wagon road. 
But a good many sharp spurs come down close upon the river, throwing the trail well back, or 
involving a crossing of the stream to avail one's self of the prairies invariably found opposite 
each of these spurs. Much of the country was of a very excellent description, abounding in 
timber, well watered, and with soil of an excellent quality. A much better road would be 
found by leaving the trail of yesterday some ten miles before reaching our camp, crossing 
the Blackfoot river, keeping on its south bank and coming into the immediate valley of the 
Blackfoot, nearly two-thirds of the way down the cafion, and only six miles from the junction 
of the Blackfoot and Hell-Gate forks. Emerging from the cañon we come into a wide, open 
valley, commencing half a mile before reaching the mouth of the Blackfoot, continuing down 
the valley of the Hell-Gate until we enter the Hell-Gate ronde, a large, extensive tract of many 
miles in circuit, and where the Hell-Gate joins its waters to the Bitter Root. Crossing the 
Hell-Gate at a good ford, we continued up its valley and reached a most excellent camp on the 
west side of the Hell-Gate, some twenty miles from Fort Owen. We observed a trail passing 
over the side-hills east of the Bitter Root river, which is pursued in high water. 
September 28.— Started at half-past seven o' clock. Keeping up the west bank of the Bitter 
Root river we crossed two streams—one being the Traveller's Rest creek of Lewis and Clark; 
and passing through a grove of pine timber, in 12} miles, crossed the Bitter Root river, just 
16s ; 
