Wednesday 19.  The wind blew violently to-day, as it did yesterday, and as it does frequently in this open country, where there is not a tree to break or oppose its force.  Some men were sent for the meat killed yesterday which fortunately had not been discovered by the wolves.  Another party went to Medicine river in quest of elk, which we hope may be induced to resort there, from there being more wood in that neighborhood than on the Missouri.  All the rest were occupied in packing the baggage and mending their moccasins, in order to prepare for the portage.  We caught a number of the white fish, but no catfish or trout.  Our poor Indian woman, who had recovered so far as to walk out, imprudently ate a quantity of the white apple, which with some dried fish occasioned a return of her fever.

The meridian altitude of the sun’s lower limb, as observed with octant by back observation, was 53 degrees 15’, giving as the latitude of our camp, 47 degrees 8’ 59” 5"’.

Thursday 20.  As we were desirous of getting meat enough to last us during the portage, so that the men might not be diverted from their labour to look for food, we sent out four hunters to-day:  they killed eleven buffaloe.  This was indeed an easy labour, for there are vast herds coming constantly to the opposite bank of the river to water; they seem also to make much use of the mineral water of the sulphur spring, but whether from choice, or because it is more convenient than the river, we cannot determine, as they sometimes pass near the spring and go on to the river.  Besides this spring, brackish water or that of a dark colour impregnated with mineral salts, such as we have frequently met on the Missouri, may be found in small quantities in some of the steep ravines on the north side of the river opposite to us and at the falls.

Captain Clarke returned this evening, having examined the whole course of the river and fixed the route most practicable for the portage.  The first day, 17th, he was occupied in measuring the heights and distances along the banks of the river, and slept near a ravine at the foot of the crooked falls, having very narrowly escaped falling into the river, where he would have perished inevitably, in descending the cliffs near the grand cataract.  The next day, 18th, he continued the same occupation and arrived in the afternoon at the junction of Medicine and Missouri rivers:  up the latter he ascended, and passed at the distance of a mile an island and a little timber in an eastwardly bend of the river.  One mile beyond this he came to the lower point of a large island; another small island in the middle of the river, and one near the left shore at the distance of three miles, opposite to the head of which he encamped near the mouth of a creek which appeared to rise in the South mountain.  These three islands are opposite to each other, and we gave them the name of the Whitebear islands from observing some of those animals on them.