JOURNAL. 
223 
huy some roots at the villages, and in the evening 
returned with a good supply aceompanied by some 
of the natives. 
Saturday 7th. We had a cloudy mornings with a 
few droj)s of rain. I went over with five of our party 
to the village, on the other side of the river ; and 
while we were going some snow fell. The greater 
part o-f the natives were out hunting. In the evening 
we all returned to camp, except two, who remained 
at the village. Some of the natives again came to 
visit us, one of whom gave a horse to one of our men, 
who is very fond of conversing with them and of 
learning their language. 
Sunday 8th. There v/as a pleasant morning ; and 
our two m«en came over from the village, and a hun- 
ter, who had been out, returned without killing any 
thing. Several of the natives still stay about our 
camp, and are of opinion we cannot cross the moun-- 
tains for some time yet. W e, however, mean to- 
remove a short distance to where the hunting is 
better. 
Monday 9th.. This was a fine pleasant day. We 
caught all our horses and hoppled them, so that we 
might get them easily to-morrow. Wie aVso ex-- 
changed some mares with young colts, and some of 
the horses who had not got quite well, for others 
more capable of bearing the fatig-ue of crossing the 
mountains* 
Tuesday Wth, We c€|Ilected all our horses, but 
one, and set out accompanied by several of the na=' 
lives, travelled about twelve miles^ and arrived at 
what we call the Coiii -mas flat, where we first met 
the natives after crossing the Rocky M/juntains lastt 
fall. Here we encamped and some hunters went 
Qut. The com-mas i>Tows in great abundance on* 
this plain; and at tl is time looks beciutifol, bein^ 
in full bloom with fiowers of a pale blue <:olom%.-««. 
