306 
FROM FORT BENTON TO THE FLATHEAD CAMP. 
which we called Buffalo creek, from the great numbers of buffalo seen on its banks. This stream 
was unwooded, its water being clear, cool, and limpid, in which were to be seen great numbers 
of mountain trout, some of which our Indians succeeded in catching. The grass along its 
borders was excellent and green. Our camp of this night was at the foot of the largest peak of 
the main chain of the Judith mountains. About 8 p. m. we were startled by the approach from 
the mountains of a large grizzly bear, that came running with full speed into our camp. The 
horses were frightened, and were preparing for a stampede, when their picket-ropes held them 
fast. Mr. Rose, who was on watch at the time, and our Indians, had secured their guns; but 
seeing them, he turned to the right, and soon was seen scampering away across the prairie. The 
night was exceedingly mild and beautiful, the moon shining clear and bright till after 12 p. m. 
Our camp was a scene of feasting and good cheer, having killed an abundance of buffalo during 
the day ; the meat at night was served up boiled, baked, roasted, and fried. This was a grand 
season for the Indians; they sat up half the night aroung the camp-fires, cooking—our fuel con¬ 
sisting of the wood left by a Blackfoot camp. The Judith mountains are a great resort for the 
Blackfeet Indians during the summer season, as game of all kinds is found in abundance ; and 
here, too, they procure poles for their travels and lodges, and everywhere were to be seen their 
old camping-grounds, one of which was chosen by our guide for our night’s camp, as there was 
here found an abundance of wood. 
Having then plenty of wood and an abundance of meat, the Indians had no difficulty in serving 
up for themselves a rich repast; and around the high blazing fires were to be seen roasting the 
fat tender-loin ribs, and all the choice pieces of the buffalo, in addition to the many ducks killed 
during the day. They rested content and perfectly happy. 
September 13, 1S53.—Commences mild and pleasant, the thermometer at sunrise being 53° 
Fahrenheit. On rising this morning we found our camp surrounded by buffalo, so numerous 
were they in this vicinity. Between the main chains of the Girdle and Judith mountains, and 
near the gap between them, is a large and beautiful prairie, well grassed, with numerous streams 
flowing through it, where the buffalo congregate in vast numbers; so that the traveller may be 
well assured to find an abundance of game, both of the buffalo and antelope, as large bands of 
the latter were to-day seen along the margin of the western tributary of the Judith river, which 
are so tame and gentle as to allow the hunter to approach them within a very few yards, so 
unconscious of danger are they, and which, when frightened, run off a few yards, stop, and look 
their pursuers in the face with the greatest curiosity. They are often killed by the hunter, who, 
after following them for some time, crouches himself in the grass, when they will turn back to 
see what has happened, when, on reaching within killing distance, they often become victims to 
the unerring rifle. 
Our course lay this morning, till near noon, a few degrees east of south : first, over a partially 
broken country, and then over a most beautiful and large prairie that extends from the Muscle 
Shell river to within thirty miles of a spur of the Girdle mountains, covered with very fine.grass. 
We had this morning a very fine view of the Snow mountains, which rear their lofty snow-cov¬ 
ered summits far above the country for miles around. Game we found on this day exceedingly 
abundant—the hills and prairies, as far as the eye could reach, being perfectly alive and black 
with buffalo: not less than from ten to twenty thousand might be seen in bands running over the 
prairies. One of our Indians ran into a large band, and, having selected one of the fattest, he 
singled him out from the rest and brought him down immediately on our pathway. We were not 
in want of game this day, as we killed, during the morning, two large buck antelopes, the meat of 
which we found exceedingly fine: this, with the buffalo, made us an abundant supper at night. 
We nooned this day at the source of a small stream that empties into the Muscle Shell river, 
after having made a journey of twelve miles. During the afternoon our journey lay over the 
prairie already mentioned, to the Muscle Shell river, which we reached at 5 p. m., making five 
days from Fort Benton, where we struck the river. I estimated it to be one hundred and thirty 
