按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ooted enemies by fixing their homes in the tall cottonwoods。 In other words； they roost high。
The Assiniboins from the north had lately been on their spring hunting expeditions through this region； just above the Little Missouri；and game was scarce and shy。 The journal； under the date of April 14； says：
〃One of the hunters shot at an otter last evening； a buffalo was killed； and an elk； both so poor as to be almost unfit for use； two white ＇grizzly＇ bears were also seen； and a muskrat swimming across the river。 The river continues wide and of about the same rapidity as the ordinary current of the Ohio。 The low grounds are wide； the moister parts containing timber； the upland is extremely broken； without wood； and in some places seems as if it had slipped down in masses of several acres in surface。 The mineral appearance of salts； coal； and sulphur； with the burnt hill and pumice…stone； continue； and a bituminous water about the color of strong lye； with the taste of Glauber's salts and a slight tincture of alum。 Many geese were feeding in the prairies； and a number of magpies； which build their nests much like those of the blackbird； in trees； and composed of small sticks； leaves； and grass； open at the top； the egg is of a bluish…brown color； freckled with reddish…brown spots。 We also killed a large hooting…owl resembling that of the United States except that it was more booted and clad with feathers。 On the hills are many aromatic herbs； resembling in taste； smell； and appearance the sage； hyssop； wormwood； southernwood； juniper； and dwarf cedar； a plant also about two or three feet high； similar to the camphor in smell and taste； and another plant of the same size； with a long； narrow； smooth； soft leaf； of an agreeable smell and flavor； which is a favorite food of the antelope； whose necks are often perfumed by rubbing against it。〃
What the journalist intended to say here was that at least one of the aromatic herbs resembled sage； hyssop； wormwood； and southernwood； and that there were junipers and dwarf cedars。 The pungent…smelling herb was the wild sage； now celebrated in stories of adventure as the sage…brush。 It grows abundantly in the alkali country； and is browsed upon by a species of grouse known as the sage…hen。 Junipers and dwarf cedars also grow on the hills of the alkali and sage…brush country。 The sage belongs to the Artemisia family of plants。
Four days later； the journal had this interesting entry：
〃The country to…day presented the usual variety of highlands interspersed with rich plains。 In one of these we observed a species of pea bearing a yellow flower； which is now in blossom； the leaf and stalk resembling the common pea。 It seldom rises higher than six inches； and the root is perennial。 On the rose…bushes we also saw a quantity of the hair of a buffalo； which had become perfectly white by exposure and resembled the wool of the sheep； except that it was much finer and more soft and silky。 A buffalo which we killed yesterday had shed his long hair； and that which remained was about two inches long； thick； fine； and would have furnished five pounds of wool； of which we have no doubt an excellent cloth may be made。 Our game to…day was a beaver； a deer； an elk； and some geese。 。 。 。
〃On the hills we observed considerable quantities of dwarf juniper； which seldom grows higher than three feet。 We killed in the course of the day an elk； three geese； and a beaver。 The beaver on this part of the Missouri are in greater quantities； larger and fatter； and their fur is more abundant and of a darker color； than any we have hitherto seen。 Their favorite food seems to be the bark of the cottonwood and willow； as we have seen no other species of tree that has been touched by them； and these they gnaw to the ground through a diameter of twenty inches。〃
And on the twenty…first of April the journal says：
〃Last night there was a hard white frost； and this morning the weather was cold； but clear and pleasant； in the course of the day； however； it became cloudy and the wind rose。 The country is of the same description as within the few last days。 We saw immense quantities of buffalo； elk； deer； antelopes； geese； and some swans and ducks； out of which we procured three deer and four buffalo calves； which last are equal in flavor to the most delicious veal； also two beaver and an otter。〃
As the party advanced to the westward； following the crooked course of the Missouri； they were very much afflicted with inflamed eyes； occasioned by the fine； alkaline dust that blew so lightly that it sometimes floated for miles； like clouds of smoke。 The dust even penetrated the works of one of their watches； although it was protected by tight； double cases。 In these later days； even the double windows of the railway trains do not keep out this penetrating dust； which makes one's skin dry and rough。
On the twenty…fifth of April； the explorers believed； by the signs which they observed； that they must be near the great unknown river of which they had dimly heard as rising in the rocky passes of the Great Divide and emptying into the Missouri。 Captain Lewis accordingly left the party； with four men； and struck off across the country in search of the stream。 Under the next day's date the journal reports the return of Captain Lewis and says：
〃On leaving us yesterday he pursued his route along the foot of the hills； which be descended to the distance of eight miles； from these the wide plains watered by the Missouri and the Yellowstone spread themselves before the eye； occasionally varied with the wood of the banks； enlivened by the irregular windings of the two rivers； and animated by vast herds of buffalo； deer； elk； and antelope。 The confluence of the two rivers was concealed by the wood； but the Yellowstone itself was only two miles distant； to the south。 He therefore descended the hills and camped on the bank of the river； having killed； as he crossed the plain； four buffaloes； the deer alone are shy and retire to the woods； but the elk； antelope； and buffalo suffered him to approach them without alarm； and often followed him quietly for some distance。〃
The famous water…course； first described by Lewis and Clark； was named by them the Yellow Stone River。 Earlier than this； however； the French voyageurs had called the Upper Missouri the Riviere Jaune； or Yellow River； but it is certain that the stream； which rises in the Yellowstone National Park； was discovered and named by Lewis and Clark。 One of the party； Private Joseph Fields； was the first white man who ever ascended the Yellowstone for any considerable distance。 Sent up the river by Captains Lewis and Clark； he travelled about eight miles； and observed the currents and sand…bars。 Leaving the mouth of the river； the party went on their course along the Missouri。 The journal； under date of April 27； says：
〃From the point of junction a wood occupies the space between the two rivers； which at the distance of a mile come within two hundred and fifty yards of each other。 There a beautiful low plain commences； widening as the rivers recede； and extends along each of them for several miles； rising about half a mile from the Missouri into a plain twe