Even Are We So Fortunate As To Find A Branch
Of That River, The Timber Which We Have Hitherto Seen
In these mountains
does not promise us any fit to make canoes, so that our chief
dependence is on meeting
Some tribe from whom we may procure horses.
Our consolation is that this southwest branch can scarcely head with
any other river than the Columbia; and that if any nation of Indians
can live in the mountains we are able to endure as much as they can,
and have even better means of procuring subsistence."
Chapter XII
At the Sources of the Missouri
The explorers were now (in the last days of July, 1805) at the head
of the principal sources of the great Missouri River, in the fastnesses
of the Rocky Mountains, at the base of the narrow divide that separates
Idaho from Montana in its southern corner. Just across this divide
are the springs that feed streams falling into the majestic Columbia
and then to the Pacific Ocean. As has been already set forth, they named
the Three Forks for President Jefferson and members of his cabinet.
These names still survive, although Jefferson River is the true Missouri
and not a fork of that stream. Upon the forks of the Jefferson Lewis
bestowed the titles of Philosophy, Wisdom, and Philanthropy,
each of these gifts and graces being, in his opinion, "an attribute
of that illustrious personage, Thomas Jefferson," then President of the
United States. But alas for the fleeting greatness of geographical honor!
Philosophy River is now known as Willow Creek, and at its mouth, a busy little
railroad town, is Willow City. The northwest fork is no longer Wisdom,
but Big Hole River; deep valleys among the mountains are known as holes;
and the stream called by that name, once Wisdom, is followed along
its crooked course by a railroad that connects Dillon, Silver Bow,
and Butte City, Montana. Vulgarity does its worst for Philanthropy;
its modern name on the map is Stinking Water.
On the thirtieth of July, the party, having camped long enough to unpack
and dry their goods, dress their deerskins and make them into leggings
and moccasins, reloaded their canoes and began the toilsome ascent
of the Jefferson. The journal makes this record: -
"Sacajawea, our Indian woman, informs us that we are encamped
on the precise spot where her countrymen, the Snake Indians,
had their huts five years ago, when the Minnetarees of Knife River
first came in sight of them, and from whom they hastily retreated
three miles up the Jefferson, and concealed themselves in the woods.
The Minnetarees, however, pursued and attacked them, killed four men,
as many women, and a number of boys; and made prisoners of four
other boys and all the females, of whom Sacajawea was one.
She does not, however, show any distress at these recollections,
nor any joy at the prospect of being restored to her country;
for she seems to possess the folly, or the philosophy, of not
suffering her feelings to extend beyond the anxiety of having
plenty to eat and a few trinkets to wear.
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