JOURNAL. 
261 
deer. We then continued our voyage to sunset and 
encamped. We had a few musketoes, but they 
were not so bad as we had found them higher up the 
river. 
Sunday \4ih. In a fine morning we proceeded on 
early and went very well, until 3 o'clock when we 
met three large batteaux loaded with merchandizcj 
going up to different nations of Indians for the pur- 
pose of trade. The people in them were very glad 
io see us, and gave us some whiskey, pork, and biscuit. 
We remained with them two hours and again went 
on. We killed five deer on the bcrnk to day as we 
floated down : and saw a fine young horse. At sun« 
set we encamped on a small island. 
Monday ISth. The morning was pleasant and we 
epbarked early. In a short time we killed a fine 
large elk ; at 1 1 o'clock passed the Kan^on river, 
and encarnped It sunset. 
Tuesday. \6th. This was another pleasant day* 
We proceeded on early, and at 9'ciock met a larg^ 
periogue with eight men, going to trade with the 
Ponis nation of Indians on the river Platte about 
.Seventy or eighty miles from its mouth. At 1 1 wei 
met a batteaux and two canoes going up to the Kano- 
was nation, who live on a river of the same name. 
We halted with them a v/hile, then proceeded on^ 
and at sunset encamped on an island. 
JVedncaday 17///. We Avent on early and had a 
pleasant day, but very warm. One of ovir party last 
night caught a large catfish, supposed to weigh 100 
pounds. We got a gTeat many papaws on our way 
to day : a kind of fruit in great abundance on the 
Missoui i from the river Platte to its mouth ; ihd 
also down the Mississippi. About 1 1 o'clock v/e pas-- 
sed through a bad part of the river, v/here it v/as 
so filled with sawyers that we could hardly find room 
to pass through safe. About two in the afternoon 
we met a large keel-bout, commanded by a Captaiia 
