Snake Expedition^ 1825-1826 343 Thursday, 15th. Raised traps and started; only 2 beaver. Hunters off in quest of food. Route is stony. In the moun- tains snow is to be seen — the hills covered with wormwood; rivers scarce ; poor prospect of beaver ; found a small creek and camped ; distance 9 miles. Course S. S. E. ; 3 sheep killed this day. Friday, i6th. Started early with camp. Our hunters off before daylight over route ; for 4 miles a fine valley, then S. E over hills; encamped on same brook as last night. Hunters came in with 3 deer. One saw an Indian scampering off. This must be a Snake. Consequently had our horses well guarded during the night within call of camp. Saturday, 17th. Started early. Horses safe this day. S. E. for 4 miles across a high mountain covered with firs ; de- scended to a large plain, crossed due S. and fell on another fork of the River of the Falls and camped; nearly 100 traps set out ; in crossing the mountains we saw 40 huts of Indians not more than 10 days abandoned, resembling in form and shape those I saw last Fall in the lower Snake country; con- cluded they must be Snake Indians. Of course we shall soon see them. This day 8 miles. Sunday, i8th. Had remainder of our traps set, as I want to give the river a chance and rest our horses. Being on the border of the Snake Land we require to watch by day and night and regulate our march accordingly in case Winter should be severe. Winter mild; no cause to complain. God grant it may remain so; 14 beaver this day. Monday, 19th. Cloudy, with showers of rain; fine weather for hunting beaver. We did not raise camp. This day took 38 beaver. Tuesday, 20th. Really warm. One-third of traps are in the rear. I did not raise camp. If this river had not been visited by the Nez Perces it would have yielded 400 to 500
beaver. This day 21 beaver. Many of the trappers have ob-----
