The Lodge Was Shaped Like A Cone,
Sixty Feet In Diameter At The Base And Tapering Towards The Top.
The
Poles of which it was constructed were forty-five feet long.
The interior was strangely decorated, the tops of the
Poles being
ornamented with eagles' feathers, and from the centre hung a stuffed
buffalo-hide. A buffalo's head and other trophies of the chase
were disposed about the wigwam. The valley, as the explorers
descended the river, was very picturesque and wonderful.
On the north side the cliffs were wild and romantic, and these
were soon succeeded by rugged hills, and these, in turn, by open
plains on which were descried herds of buffalo, elk, and wolves.
On the twenty-seventh of July, having reached the Bighorn,
one of the largest tributaries of the Yellowstone, the party
have this entry in their journal: -
"They again set out very early, and on leaving the Bighorn took
a last look at the Rocky Mountains, which had been constantly
in view from the first of May. The [Yellowstone] river now
widens to the extent of from four hundred to six hundred yards;
it is much divided by islands and sandbars; its banks are
generally low and falling in; it thus resembles the Missouri
in many particulars, but its islands are more numerous,
its waters less muddy, and the current is more rapid.
The water is of a yellowish-white, and the round stones,
which form the bars above the Bighorn, have given place to gravel.
On the left side the river runs under cliffs of light,
soft, gritty stone, varying in height from seventy to one
hundred feet, behind which are level and extensive plains.
On the right side of the river are low extensive bottoms,
bordered with cottonwood, various species of willow,
rose-bushes, grapevines, redberry or buffalo-grease bushes,
and a species of sumach; to these succeed high grounds
supplied with pine, and still further on are level plains.
Throughout the country are vast quantities of buffalo, which,
as this is the running-season, keep up a continued bellowing.
Large herds of elk also are lying on every point, so gentle that they
may be approached within twenty paces without being alarmed.
Several beaver were seen in the course of the day; indeed, there is
a greater appearance of those animals than there was above
the Bighorn. Deer, however, are by no means abundant,
and antelopes, as well as bighorns, are scarce."
It is noticeable that the explorers, all along their route,
gave to streams, rocks, mountains, and other natural features of
the country many names that appear to us meaningless and trifling.
It would appear that they used up all the big names,
such as Jefferson, Gallatin, Philosophy, Philanthropy, and the like,
and were compelled to use, first, the names of their own party,
and then such titles as were suggested by trifling incidents.
For example, when they reached a difficult shoal on the
Yellowstone River, they named that Buffalo Shoal because they found
a buffalo on it; and Buffalo Shoal it remains unto this day.
In like manner, when they reached a dangerous rapid, twenty miles
below that point, they saw a bear standing on a rock in the stream;
and Bear Rapid the place was and is named. Bear and buffalo
were pretty numerous all the way along that part of the river
which they navigated in July. They had now rejoined the boats,
and on the last day of July, when camped at a point two miles
above Wolf Rapid (so called from seeing a wolf there), the buffalo
were continually prowling about the camp at night, exciting much
alarm lest they should trample on the boats and ruin them.
In those days, buffalo were so numerous that they were a
nuisance to travellers; and they were so free from fear of man
that they were too familiar with the camps and equipage.
On the first of August we find this entry in the journal
of the party: -
"The buffalo now appear in vast numbers. A herd happened to be on their
way across the river. Such was the multitude of these animals that,
though the river, including an island over which they passed,
was a mile wide, the herd stretched, as thickly as they could swim,
from one side to the other, and the party was obliged to stop for an hour.
They consoled themselves for the delay by killing four of the herd;
and then having proceeded for the distance of forty-five miles [in
all to-day] to an island, below which two other herds of buffalo,
as numerous as the first, soon after crossed the river."
Again, on the very next day, we find this entry: -
"The river was now about a mile wide, less rapid, and more
divided by islands, and bars of sand and mud, than heretofore;
the low grounds, too, were more extensive, and contained a greater
quantity of cottonwood, ash, and willows. On the northwest was a low,
level plain, and on the southeast some rugged hills, on which we saw,
without being able to approach them, some bighorns. Buffalo and elk,
as well as their pursuers, the wolves, were in great numbers.
On each side of the river there were several dry beds of streams,
but the only one of any considerable size was one to which they
gave the name of Ibex River, on the right, about thirty yards wide,
and sixteen miles from their encampment of the preceding night.
The bear, which had given them so much trouble at the head of
the Missouri, they found equally fierce here. One of these animals,
which was on a sand-bar as the boat passed, raised himself
on his hind feet, and after looking at the party for a moment,
plunged in and swam towards them; but, after receiving three balls
in the body, he turned and made for the shore. Towards evening
they saw another enter the water to swim across; when Captain Clark
directed the boat towards the shore, and just as the animal landed
shot it in the head.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 97 of 105
Words from 101116 to 102139
of 110166
