JOURNAL, 
221 
ascended with little difficulty, more than twelve hundred miles. 
The Kansas nation of Indians reside upon it. 
In the evening we passed the litttle river Platte, navigable 
with canoes fifty or sixty miles, and said to abound with beaver. 
We encamped near a mile above it, having made about fifteen 
miles. 
In the course of this day, we find the river, in most places,, 
extremely narrow, and the sand bars very extensive. 
Monday 29th. Somewhat cloudy this morning—A light 
breeze from the S. E. At seven, breakfasted under sail. At 
nine, reached a beautiful island, called Diamond island, fifteen 
miles above the Kansas. From this, there is a long reach of six 
or eight miles. The weather is fine—the breeze still con¬ 
tinuing. 
At three o’clock we had made twenty-four miles. The wind, 
from the change of the course of the river, could not serve us 1 . 
We lost two hours in passing one of the most difficult places I 
have seen on the river: after which, we had a fair wind again, 
until night. 
Passed in the course of this day, some beautiful country on 
both sides: the upland chiefiy S. W and a greater proportion 
of prairie than we have yet seen. The river generally narrow, 
and the sand bars of great extent. 
Having made about thirty miles, we encamped a short dis¬ 
tance below Buffidoe island, opposite a range of hills, and at the 
upper end of a long view. During the whole of the day, we saw 
astonishing quantities of game on the shore; particularly de.ey 
and turkeys. The buffaloe or elk are not yet seen. 
Tuesday 30 th. Last night there was much thunder and 
lightning, out little rain. At day light embarked with a favor- 
able wind, which continued until seven, when, from the course of 
the river, the wind failed us for an houx. The river extremely 
crooked. Mr. Lisa and myself went on shore, and each killed 
a deer. There were great numbers of them sporting on the sand 
bars. There are great quantities of snipes, of a beautiful plu¬ 
mage, being a curious mixture of dove color, and white. I saw 
one of a different kind, which was scarlet underneath the wingjb 
