520 FROM RITTER ROOT VALLEY TO FLATHEAD LAKE AND KOOTENAY RIVER. 
d’Oreille Indian. Some years ago the father of this man had horses stolen from him by the 
Blackfeet. In retaliation he stole a number from the Blackfeet, and put them on this island, all 
of which he intended for the benefit of his children. There is now a band of sixty or seventy 
horses, and only a few days ago they took off a band of forty-five. The lake makes many bends; 
at its greatest width I estimated it to be eight miles. Travelling a distance of fifteen miles, we 
reached a small creek emptying into the lake, and called the “ Eclehu.” Here we found en¬ 
camped four lodges of Pend d’Oreilles; and as the grass was excellent, I concluded to camp, and 
give our animals a hearty repast, as it was possible that we should have a rugged and difficult 
country to the north, which would require our animals to be in good condition to withstand the 
fatigues of the journey. The Indians here camped, as those we met on yesterday, were engaged 
in fishing for the salmon-trout. They had traps set, and had been very successful. The weather 
to-day has been exceedingly gloomy and disagreeable, raining during the greater portion of 
the day, and at times exceedingly heavy. I found the soil of the country passed over to-day 
exceedingly fertile, and it is well adapted to grazing. The lake, as on yesterday, we found 
skirted with small pine and cedar; all the hills and mountains, however, bordering the lake, are 
well timbered with the pine. We were told by the guide that one mile from the “Eclehu” is a 
small but beautiful lake; it was only a short distance from our trail, but was hid from view by a 
low ridge of hills. 
April 22 .—We were visited last night by a cold snow-storm, which continued unabated until 
nearly 11a. m., when it cleared off, and became bright sunshine for a short time. I had con¬ 
cluded to remain in camp during the day; but thinking it to result in greater advantage to the 
party to progress on our journey, we started at 11.30 a. m., along the western border of the Flat- 
head lake. At 12 m. it commenced snowing again, and continued throughout the day, with great 
force ; but the ground being warm, it melted as fast as it fell. Our trail to-day lay through an 
immense pine forest, in the greater part of which the light of day is ever excluded. We found 
the travelling more difficult than on any day out; the great numbers of fallen logs and large trees 
impeded our progress, compelling us many times to go around them for many yards from the 
trail. This pine forest extends to within a few feet of the lake. The pine is very excellent, 
growing high and straight, and very thick. 
When the day shall arrive when civilization and the enterprise of the whites shall have fre¬ 
quented this region, this immense forest, bordering the lake, will prove of immense value to 
Washington Territory, and yield an abundant revenue to the industrious hand. The lake, along 
our whole course to-day, has a width of nearly five miles, being still bordered on the east by a 
high range of snow capped-mountains. We crossed three small brooks emptying into the lake, 
in one of which we found a fish weir, set by the Indians, for catching the salmon-trout. Towards 
evening, gaining a high point of view on the western border of the lake, we had an excellent 
prospect of the country to the east; we could trace the windings of a large stream flowing through 
two high snow-covered ranges of mountains, and emptying into the lake about three miles from 
the point where the Clark’s fork enters it. This stream was represented by the Indians to be 
nearly as large as the Clark’s fork. This latter stream enters the lake at the northeast end; I 
could, with my glass, trace its windings for some miles above the mouth of the inlet. About two 
miles above this mouth is the mouth of a small stream, called the Swan river, that flows from the 
east. We saw many geese and ducks, to-day, in the lake ; but, besides a single grouse, our fare 
consisted of dried buffalo-meat. Travelling a distance of eighteen miles, we encamped at the 
north end of the lake. It was at the edge of a pine thicket; but as this was the last place that we 
would find g=rass for our animals for many miles, we encamped here, though at the risk of losing 
them in woods. I have remarked, that on this lake we have found the weather much more cool 
than before reaching it. We made three camps, and on each night we found the weather very 
cold. Our camping-ground of this night was represented to me by the Indians as a great resort 
for their tribe and the half-breeds of the country some years ago, as in the mountains bordering 
