Rocky Mountains. 309 



through which, after removing several rafts, trees, Sec, they 

 found their way into the river. Thus, after fourteen days of 

 incessant fatigue, toil and danger, doubt and uncertainty, they 

 at length gained the river above the Great Raft, contrary to 

 the decided opinion of every person who had any knowledge 

 of the difficulties they had to encounter. 



The distance from Natchitoches to the point where the 

 party entered Red river above the Great Raft is two hun- 

 dred and one miles by the meanders of their route. Above 

 the raft the river is two hundred and thirty yards wide, thir- 

 ty-four feet deep, and has a very gentle current. The banks 

 are ten or twelve feet high. On the north side the lands rise 

 considerably, at a little distance, and arc covered with heavy 

 forests of oak, poplar, and red cedar. 



At the Coashatay village,* about twenty miles above the 



* The latitude of this point, acccording to the observations of the Ex- 

 ploring party, has been ascertained by Lieutenant Graham. 



Coashatay village, June 27th,fl806. Observed 



the double meridian altitude of star Antares [a. deg. m, s. 



Scorpii) . . . . . 62 30 25 



Index error of sextant, . . . 2 1-2 



Correction for refraction, 



True meridian altitude of star Antares 



Meridian zenith distance, do. 

 Declination of Antares for reduced time, 



Latitude, . . . . 



deg. m. s. 

 June 30th. Double meridian alt. Antares . 62 3120 



Index error ..... 1 05 



2) 62 30 15 



31 15 07 1-2 



