JOURNAL 
'north of west a considerable distance, and then to 
the south of west. The party while out kilM 1$ 
deer and some elk. From the appearance or' the 
liver where they left it to return, they supposed it 
might be navigable a considerable distance further.* 
They saw no mountains ahead, but one off towards**- 
the north : it was not covered with snow like those 
we had seen. Both these rivers abound in fish ; and 
we caught some of different kinds, but not large. 
' About five o'clock in. the afternoon the weather be- 
came cloudy and cold, and it began to rain. The 
officers concluded that the south branch was the most 
proper to ascend, which they think is the Missouri.. 
The other they called Maria's river. At dark the 
rain ceased. 
Sunday 9th, A fine morning. It was thought 
adviseable to leave the large periogue here and pari^ 
of the stores and baggage, and some of the men were 
engaged in digging a case jto bury them in. The wa- 
ter of the Missouri changed this morning to its for- 
mer colour. The day was fine, but the wind blew 
hard from the northwest. One of the men killed au 
excellent fat buffaloe. There is a quantity of goose- 
berry and clioak-cherry bushes on the point, and also 
some rabbit berries. 
Monday lOth. W e hauled our large periogue on 
an island in the mouth of Maria's river, and covered 
it over with'%rush. We then began to examine and 
assort our effects to see what would be least wanted 
and most proper to leave ; but abaut two it began to 
rain and blow so hard, we were obliged to desist. The 
rain continued only an hour, and in the evening v/e 
loaded the rest of the craft, and left the remainder of 
our stores and baggage to be buried, consisting of 
corn, pork, flour, some powder and lead, and other 
^.nicies amounting to about one thousand pounds 
weight. 
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