JOURNAL, 
m 
y. > • 
CHAPTER IV, 
Sunday 1 2th, Weather pleasant—i-the river rising rapidly 
the drift wood descends in great quantities, and the current % 
seems to augment every moment. This may possibly be the 
annual flood. We were enabled to ascend the greater part of 
this morning with the towing line. 
In the afternoon, some distance above the old Otto village, 
S. W. side, I went on shore, and wandered several miles 
through shrubby hills, and saw several elk and deer, without 
being able to approach them. Towards evening I entered a 
charming prairie, and of the richest soil. Followed a rivulet 
until it formed a lake in the river bottom, its banks for six or 
eight feet a rich black earth. In pursuing the upland 1 might 
have fallen upon the Missouri six miles above, in the distance 
of a mile, the river forming here a considerable bend. The 
prairies or meadows to the water’s edge, enabled us to continue 
the greater part of this day with the line, 
Monday \3th. Water falling—rcontinued with the towing 
line. At ten, a fine breeze springing up, hoisted sail. Passed 
the river a> Boyer , and the houses of M‘Clelland, who wintered 
here. Some woody country hereabouts; but that on the upland 
Is very inferior, chiefly shrubby oak. A, short distance above this 
place we encountered a very difficult and rapid current, bin being 
luckily a little aided by the sail, we passed tolerably well-—We 
have now reached the highest point to which settlements will 
probably extend on the western side for many years. 
In the evening passed high clean meadows, called the Coun¬ 
cil Bluffs, from the circumstance of Lewis and Clark having 
held a council witlq the Qtto and Missouri Indians, when as¬ 
cending this river. It is a beautiful place—Encamped fqjj£ 
miies above this place on a large sand bar. In the course of 
this day found'the river crooked and narrow; it appeared in one 
place almost closed up by drift wood and sawyers. 
