378 JOURNAL OF ALEXANDER Ross
the top of the mountain is about one and a half miles. Here is a small creek, the source of the Missouri, in this direction between which and the source of the Flathead River is scarce a mile distant. The creek runs a course nearly S. SE. fol- lowing- the road through the mountain till it joins a principal branch of the Missouri beyond the Grand Prairie 19 . For twelve miles, the road had been made through five feet deep snow but the wind had filled it up again. The last eight miles we had to force our way through snow gullies. At 4 p. m. we encamped on the other side of the defile without loss or acci- dent. Distance today, eighteen miles. This high land is a horn of the Rocky Mountains, called the Blue Mountains. It is the dividing ridge 20 between the Nez Perces and Snake Na- tions and terminates near the Columbia. The delay has cost loss of one month and to the freemen 1 ,000 beaver. Two men should winter here and keep the road open at all seasons.
Friday 16th. Encamped here to make lodge poles for the voyage.
Saturday 17th. Proceeded to the main fork 21 of Missouri hobbled our horses and set watch. It was on this flat prairie 400 Piegans came up with Mr. McDonald 22 last fall and a freeman named Thomas Anderson from the east side of the mountains was killed.
Monday 19th. As we are on dangerous ground, I have drawn up the following rules :
(1) All hands to raise camp together and by call.
(2) The camp to march as close as possible.
(3) No person to run ahead.
(4) No persons to set traps till all hands camp.
(5) No person to sleep out of camp.
These rules which all agreed to were broken before night.
Wednesday 21st. Thirty beaver today. The freemen will
keep no watch on their horses but to tie them and sleep fast.
19 Big Hole Prairie, Beaverhead County, Montana, well described and illus- trated in Stevens' Pac. Ry. Report already cited.
20 Very nearly correct. The Blue Mountain Range of Eastern Oregon and Washington really is a continuation of the mountain range that crosses Idaho and joins the continental divide at the head of the Bitter Root Valley of Montana.
21 Meaning the Big Hole or Wisdom River.
22 Finan McDonald, who led the Snake Expedition in 1823.
