NARRATIVE OF 1855. 213 
because the wide and open valley through which we pass now narrows somewhat, being at 
times only about one-quarter to one-third of a mile wide. As we entered this cafion we found 
the Blackfoot to flow sluggishly through it, with low banks five feet above the water level. 
The river is somewhat winding, yet requiring the trail to pass over only very low spurs. This 
cafion is generally wooded, and there is some fallen timber on the trail, but nothing in the way 
of serious obstruction to animals, and plats of grass were found from point to point sufficient 
for very good camping grounds. As we entered the сайоп, it may be remarked, we passed 
over the bluff already referred to, making at one point a height of 120 feet above the river, 
which gave us avery excellent view of the country to the south, and the southeastern tributary 
already referred to. The width of the open valley here is some fifteen miles. The divide sepa- 
rating these two branches of the Blackfoot, both having their sources in the Rocky mountains, 
was wooded, and from 400 to 500 feet high. То the north, a hill immediately overlooking the 
cafion was about the same height. Iwill observe that the prairie valley of the Blackfoot, 
for the last twenty-two miles before entering the cafion, has an average width of ten miles, 
with three large creeks coming from the north and one from the south. This does not include 
the prairie spurs and divide between the Blackfoot valley and the Hell-Gate, nor does it include 
the prairies to be found on these various tributaries, some of them very extensive. 
But to continue on in the сайоп. The first eight miles have been sufficiently described. 
Barometrical observations were taken at necessary points, and the streams were found to be 
sluggish all the way. Three miles and a half further brought us out of the cafion into a fine 
opening of the prairie known as the Belly. The general width of the caiion was two-thirds of 
a mile. Towards its upper portion, that is for the last three miles and a half, there were no 
falls in the river, but the current was rapid. Some crossings of the stream will be required 
either in the construction of a railroad or a wagon road; the timber growth on the side hills 
becoming smaller. The next seven miles and a half takes us through the beautiful Belly 
prairie of the upper Blackfoot, beautifully wooded on the adjacent spurs, and with cotton-wood 
in the immediate valley of the stream; well watered, and grass luxuriant. In the first mile 
and a half of this distance we cross two streams coming in from the left. After crossing the 
second of these streams we continue along its banks for some three miles. This portion of 
the valley averages in width some four miles, and near the middle portion of it about six miles 
wide. Here, again the Blackfoot flows with a rapid current, but few falls; the banks are low. 
The greater portion of the Belly prairie is intervaleland. After travelling half a mile further we 
left our trail and went south to the Blackfoot, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, where we 
encamped. I have thus been particular in describing the Belly prairie of the Blackfoot river, 
because, being so near the divide of the Rocky mountains, as will appear by the account of 
to-morrow’s journey, I desired to present the character of this country as shown in one of its 
mountain valleys. 
LEWIS AND CLARK’S PASS AND APPROACHES—BIG BLACKFOOT TO SUN RIVER. 
Sunday, July 22.—Leaving camp early this morning, and starting from the point where 
we left the trail yesterday to camp on the Blackfoot, in two miles and a half we reached a 
large tributary coming in from the north, which was named by Mr. Doty, in his trip in 1854, 
as Lander’s Fork. This name I have thought it best to retain.’ At this point I despatched а 
train, in charge of Mr. Higgins, up Lander’s Fork, along the usual travelled trail, to Lewis 
and Clark's Pass, and continued up the Big Blackfoot myself, with my secretary, Mr. Doty, 
and my from interpreter, Mr. Sohon, in order to make the connection of the railroad line from 
