* 
^4^ ■ ■ JOUTtNAL, 
v^othe good bottoms on botli sides of the river, bii^ 
not larp'c ' also a number of b-rautiful small islands 
covered with cotton wood. We saw a number of 
moiincain sbeep. Yesterd-iy our men killed three 
of thcQi, that hud remarkable larc^e horns ; one pair 
weighed 5 pounds. We passed a small river on 
the No nil side abbut il o'clock. The water is not 
so rapid to day m usual, but continues high. In the 
aiternoon we passed a creek about 30 yards wide, 
and several small islands. We went 24 miles and 
encamped on u small island. 
Sunday 2nd. We embarked early in a fine morn- 
ing*. The hills come t:l(5||||||^n the rive r^ but are not 
so high rxov so broken, as we found them a short dis- 
^ t^nce lower down, ^'bis- forenoon we passed two 
creeks,' one on each side, !^nd several isktnds cover- 
ed ^^te^.^otton wood ; t^t there is not a stick of tim- 
ber to b#seen any vvhc^ upon the hills. Some of 
the hunters killed a brown bear in a small bottom-on 
the south side, and naving come 18 miles we encam- 
ped just above the bottpoi on the same side, at ths: 
mouth of a large river: * 
Alonday 3rd, We crbssed over to the point be- 
tween the two rivers and encamped there. The com- 
mandino: officers could not determine which of these 
•'J 
livers or branches, it was proper to take ; and there- 
fore concluded to send a small party up each of them. 
Myself and two men vi^ent up the South branch, and 
a Serjeant 'and two more up the North. The parties 
went up the tv»"o branches about 1 5 miles. We 
found the South branch rapid with a great many 
Islands and the general course South West. The 
other papty reported the North branch as less rapid, 
and not so deep as the other. The North bremch is- 
,186 vards wide and the South 372 vards. The 
water of the South branch is clear, arid that of the 
North muddy. About a mile and an half up the 
lioini from tlie confluericej a handsome small river 
