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ought down by the stream。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
The game is in great quantities； but the buffalo are not so numerous as they were some days ago； two rattlesnakes were seen to…day； and one of them was killed。 It resembles those of the Middle Atlantic States； being about thirty inches long； of a yellowish brown on the back and sides； variegated with a row of oval dark brown spots lying transversely on the back from the neck to the tail； and two other rows of circular spots of the same color on the sides along the edge of the scuta； there are one hundred and seventy…six scuta on the belly； and seventeen on the tail。〃
Two days later； the journal records that one of the party killed a grizzly bear； 〃which； though shot through the heart； ran at his usual pace nearly a quarter of a mile before he fell。〃
The mouth of the Musselshell River； which was one of the notable points that marked another stage in the journey； was reached on the twentieth of May。 This stream empties into the Missouri two thousand two hundred and seventy miles above its mouth； and is still known by the name given it by its discoverers。 The journal says：
〃It is one hundred and ten yards wide； and contains more water than streams of that size usually do in this country； its current is by no means rapid； and there is every appearance of its being susceptible of navigation by canoes for a considerable distance。 Its bed is chiefly formed of coarse sand and gravel； with an occasional mixture of black mud； the banks are abrupt and nearly twelve feet high； so that they are secure from being overflowed； the water is of a greenish…yellow cast； and much more transparent than that of the Missouri； which itself； though clearer than below； still retains its whitish hue and a portion of its sediment。 Opposite the point of junction the current of the Missouri is gentle； and two hundred and twenty…two yards in width； the bed is principally of mud； the little sand remaining being wholly confined to the points； and the water is still too deep to use the setting…pole。
〃If this be； as we suppose； the Musselshell； our Indian information is that it rises in the first chain of the Rocky mountains not far from the sources of the Yellowstone； whence in its course to this place it waters a high broken country； well timbered； particularly on its borders； and interspersed with handsome fertile plains and meadows。 We have reason； however； to believe； from their giving a similar account of the timber where we now are； that the timber of which they speak is similar to that which we have seen for a few days past； which consists of nothing more than a few straggling small pines and dwarf cedars on the summits of the hills； nine…tenths of the ground being totally destitute of wood； and covered with short grass； aromatic herbs； and an immense quantity of prickly…pear； though the party who explored it for eight miles represented the low grounds on the river to be well supplied with cottonwood of a tolerable size； and of an excellent soil。 They also report that the country is broken and irregular； like that near our camp； and that about five miles up； a handsome river； about fifty yards wide； which we named after Chaboneau's wife； Sacajawea's or the Bird…woman's River； discharges into the Musselshell on the north or upper side。〃
Later explorations have shown that the Musselshell rises in the Little Belt Mountains； considerably to the north of the sources of the Yellowstone。 Modern geography has also taken from the good Sacajawea the honor of having her name bestowed on one of the branches of the Musselshell。 The stream once named for her is now known as Crooked Creek： it joins the river near its mouth； in the central portion of Montana。 The journal； under date of May 22； has this entry：
〃The river ＇the Missouri＇ continues about two hundred and fifty yards wide； with fewer sand…bars； and the current more gentle and regular。 Game is no longer in such abundance since leaving the Musselshell。 We have caught very few fish on this side of the Mandans； and these were the white catfish； of two to five pounds。 We killed a deer and a bear。 We have not seen in this quarter the black bear； common in the United States and on the lower parts of the Missouri； nor have we discerned any of their tracks。 They may easily be distinguished by the shortness of the talons from the brown； grizzly； or white bear； all of which seem to be of the same species； which assumes those colors at different seasons of the year。 We halted earlier than usual； and camped on the north； in a point of woods； at the distance of sixteen and one half miles ＇thus past the site of Fort Hawley； on the south＇。〃
Notwithstanding the advance of the season； the weather in those great altitudes grew more and more cold。 Under date of May 23； the journal records the fact that ice appeared along the edges of the river； and water froze upon their oars。 But notwithstanding the coolness of the nights and mornings； mosquitoes were very troublesome。
The explorers judged that the cold was somewhat unusual for that locality； inasmuch as the cottonwood trees lost their leaves by the frost； showing that vegetation； generally well suited to the temperature of its country； or habitat； had been caught by an unusual nip of the frost。 The explorers noticed that the air of those highlands was so pure and clear that objects appeared to be much nearer than they really were。 A man who was sent out to explore the country attempted to reach a ridge （now known as the Little Rocky Mountains）； apparently about fifteen miles from the river。 He travelled about ten miles； but finding himself not halfway to the object of his search； he returned without reaching it。
The party was now just westward of the site of the present town of Carroll； Montana； on the Missouri。 Their journal says：
〃The low grounds are narrow and without timber； the country is high and broken； a large portion of black rock and brown sandy rock appears in the face of the hills； the tops of which are covered with scattered pine； spruce； and dwarf cedar； the soil is generally poor； sandy near the tops of the hills； and nowhere producing much grass； the low grounds being covered with little else than the hyssop； or southernwood； and the pulpy…leaved thorn。 Game is more scarce； particularly beaver； of which we have seen but few for several days； and the abundance or scarcity of which seems to depend on the greater or less quantity of timber。 At twenty…four and one…half miles we reached a point of woodland on the south； where we observed that the trees had no leaves； and camped for the night。〃
The 〃hyssop； or southernwood；〃 the reader now knows to be the wild sage； or sage…brush。 The 〃pulpy…leaved thorn〃 mentioned in the journal is the greasewood ； and both of these shrubs flourish in the poverty…stricken； sandy； alkaline soil of the far West and Northwest。 The woody fibre of these furnished the only fuel available for early overland emigrants to the Pacific。
The character of this country now changed considerably as the explorers turned to the northward； in their crooked course； with the river。 On the twenty…fifth of May the journal records this：
〃The country on each side is high； broken； and rocky； the rock being either a soft brown sandstone； covered with a thin stratum of limestone； or else a hard； black； rugged granite； both usually in horizontal strata； and the sand…rock overlaying the other。 Salts and quartz； as well as some coal and pumice…stone； still appear。 The bars of the river are composed principally of gravel； the river low grounds are narrow； and afford scarcely any timber； nor is there much pine on the hills。 The buffalo have now become scarce； we saw a polecat ＇skunk＇ this evening； which was the first for several days； in the course of the day we also saw several herds of the bighorned animals among the steep cliffs on the north； and killed several of them。〃
The bighorned animals； the first of which were killed here； were sometimes called 〃Rocky Mountain sheep。〃 But sheep they were not； bearing hair and not wool。 As we have said； they are now more commonly known as bighorns。
The patience of the explorers was rewarded； on Sunday； May 26； 1806； by the