take up some traps which they had set up the river in the morning and have not yet arrived, it is supposed they have missed their way in the mountains as they intended to cut across a near road from where their traps were.
Monday 2^ Frost and very cold in the night. Fine weather during
the day. Proceeded 2 K hours 8 miles S.E. down the river and encamped at a small fork which falls in from the Eastward. All hands went off immediately to collect lodge poles, it was late when they arrived, proper wood is very scarce. Several of the men were out setting traps and some out hunting. T. Tevatcon killed an antelope, & Voriau one yesterday crossing the moun- tains, Kanota killed a deer^^ the day before J. Favel killed a deer which are the only animals besides beaver which has been killed by any of the party since we left the fort so that we would have been hungry had we been de- pending on the produce of the chase. The hunters observed the tracks of some Snake Indians in the mountains, supposed to be horse thieves follow- ing us seeking a chance to steal. Our two men who remained behind have not yet come up.
Tuesday 2^ Cold in the night, fine weather during the day. Did
not raise camp in order to allow the people time to make their lodge poles. Our horses are also in need of a little time to feed, the grass is every where so dry that the horses derive little nourishment from it. The two men who remained behind arrived with four beaver. They had to go back to our encampment in order to find the road. Tho' we saw only one family of Snake Indians, yet there were the tracks of plenty of them about our encampment after we left, they were no doubt concealed while we were on the river. Some of the men were out with their traps, 8 beaver taken.
Wednesday 26 Cold in the night, & cold cloudy weather during the
day. Raised camp and proceeded 3 % hours 1 1 miles S.E. down the river. The men out with their traps, 6 beaver taken. C. Plante killed an antelope. The tracks of horse thieves seen again.
Thursday 27 Raw cold weather. Continued our route 3 hours 10
miles S.E. down the river, part of the road very stony. The people out with their traps, 6 beaver taken. Some of the hunters were out in the mountains, but without success. Five horse thieves approached the camp last night but did not find an opportunity to steal.
Friday 28 Frost in the night, raw cold weather during the day.
Continued our journey down the river 4!^ hours 15 miles S.— part of the road very stony. The people out with their traps, 4 beaver taken. One of the men had a trap stolen by the Indians. We saw the track of these people, but cannot get a sight of any of themselves. T. Smith allowed one of his horses to stray off the road at or coming from the last encampment, and did not find him. Smith is a stupid lifeless fellow.
Saturday 2^ Fine weather. Did not raise camp, as a good many of
the men have their traps well set. Some of the people were out with their
