FROM FORT BENTON TO THE FLATHEAD CAMP. 
305 
the second fork of the Judith river, which was somewhat similar to the first above mentioned; it 
contained but little water, and that brackish. The grass here we found to be good, but no wood 
was to be seen for miles around; there were a few willows growing in places on the banks of the 
fork, which, in addition to furnishing us fuel for cooking, were made use of by the Indians for 
building a shelter from the dew and rain. The ends of the longer ones they would sharpen and 
stick into the ground, bending them in the form of a semicircle. These willow houses, the 
remains of which are often seen in the prairies, afford a very comfortable lodging, and withstand 
the effect of the heaviest rains or winds. The valley of the tributary of the Judith river on 
which we encamped is about five hundred yards wide, the river being exceedingly tortuous. 
The grass in the valley, which was the buffalo grass, we found to be very abundant, and it 
proved for our animals to be exceedingly nutritious. Up to 12 p. m. was beautiful, with a pleas¬ 
ant moonlight, when it commenced raining and continued for two hours in torrents, which gave 
each of us a wet and uncomfortable bed for the remainder of the night; at 2 a. m. it cleared off 
and became a beautiful starlight morning. The wolves, as usual, gave us their nightly serenade. 
September 12, 1853.—Monday commences mild and pleasant, the thermometer 47° Fall. We 
resumed our journey at twenty minutes to 7 a. m.; our course being in a direction south of east, 
over a very beautiful and level prairie road. The grass on the prairie, and even in the valley, 
we found very dry ; water, as yesterday, being exceedingly scarce until we struck the main 
branch of Judith river, which, taking its rise in the main chain of the Belt mountains, we found 
to be a stream of most beautifully clear, cold water, with a rapid current, the water being from 
eighteen inches to two feet deep; its banks also, as far as I could observe in either direction, were 
of a gravelly formation. This stream winds through a very beautiful but narrow valley, which, 
during high water, is the bed of the stream. The eastern portion of the Belt mountains being 
called the Judith mountains, might lead one to suppose that the Judith river takes its rise in the 
Judith mountains, but such is not the case. On our road the so-called Judith mountains lay to 
our left, while the main chain of the Girdle or Belt mountains lay to our right. The low ranges 
might with propriety have no separate and distinct names, as they are separated by a gap or pass 
fifteen or sixteen miles wide; but when taken together they form a belt or girdle, the concavity of 
which is turned towards the north. The name has been applied to them of the Girdle or Belt 
mountains. Five or six miles farther we struck another tributary of the Judith river, coming from 
the west with a rapid current, being from fifteen to twenty feet wide; water clear and cool, and 
very excellent. The grass on this stream we found to be good, its banks being totally unwooded. 
I saw in the distance still another tributary coming from the so-called Judith mountains, on 
the banks of which were scattered a few pines and cotton-woods. The grass on the Judith river 
where we made the crossing was not good; its banks are unwooded, both where we crossed it 
and as far up and down as we could see. The Judith mountains, as also the approaches to 
them, are well wooded—the pine tree abounding. At 12 m. we halted on the main tributary to 
the Judith mountains, where we remained an hour and a half, having travelled a distance of sev¬ 
enteen miles from our camp of last night. Just before reaching this tributary, we saw to our 
front, and at a distance of five or six miles, a large band of buffalo coming towards us, which 
caused us to think we were approaching the Flathead camp. Game we found to be more abundant 
than on any day since leaving the Missouri. We succeeded in securing four buffalo, which were 
killed by the Indians with us. Elk in large bands, and many ducks, were seen during the day. 
Resuming our journey along the last mentioned tributary of the Judith river, our course lay over 
a beautiful and level prairie, the grass of which was abundant and excellent. Still continuing 
to have the main chain of the Belt mountains to our right, and the Judith mountains to our left, 
at half-past 4 p. m. we came in sight of the Snow mountains, a range south of the Muscle Shell, 
which at a distance appears higher than either the Belt or the Judith mountains, and whose 
snow-capped peaks now towered high above the surrounding country. At the same time, we 
struck a small stream vrith an exceedingly rapid current, taking its rise in the Judith mountains, 
39 / 
