Rocky Mountains. 7 



morning. Their fatigue was aggravated by thirst, as they 

 met with no water nor any shade except that of project- 

 ing rocks in the higher parts of the mountain. They chose 

 a different route from that which they had taken in ascend- 

 ing, intending to descend to the river, with the hope of being 

 able to travel along its bed. They were obliged to assist each 

 other in lowering themselves down precipices, which they 

 would have found it impossible to pass singly. On the southern 

 declivity of the mountain they met with a few ripe currants, 

 but these were hard and juiceless, of a sweetish taste, and ag- 

 gravated instead of alleviating their thirst, and were probably 

 the cause of a violent headach with which several of the party 

 were affected soon after eating them. There were also found a 

 few large and delicious raspberries, of a species approaching 

 the flowering raspberry, [Rubus odoratus^ but Avith smaller 

 leaves and a more branching stem. 



After descending from the more precipitous parts about 

 the summit of the mountain, they crossed a long and rugged 

 tract, buried, and rendered almost impassable by boulders 

 and fragments which had fallen from above, and were at 

 length so fortunate as to find a spring of cool water, and a 

 shade in a narrow ravine, where they sat down to rest, and 

 dine on the provision they had brought. 



The men who were with them stopped in the same ravine, 

 a few rods below. One of these, immediately after drink- 

 ing the water, was violently attacked with headach, vomit- 

 ing, and purging, which increased to such an alarming de- 

 gree that he was presently unable to stand upon his feet. 

 As it was feared he would not soon recover strength enough 

 to walk, Mr. Peale undertook to return alone to camp, and 

 give notice of his situation, and return with medicine and 

 assistance. 



He descended along a rough and obstructed ravine until 

 he arrived at the Platte, but found the valley so confined 

 as to be impassable, and again directed his course across the 



