Monday, July 1.  After a severe day’s work captain Clarke reached our camp in the evening, accompanied by his party and all the baggage except that left at the six-mile stake, for which they were too much fatigued to return.  The route from the lower camp on Portage creek to that near Whitebear island, having been now measured and examined by captain Clarke was as follows: 

From our camp opposite the last considerable rapid to the entrance of Portage creek south 9 degrees east for three quarters of a mile:  thence on a course south 10 degrees east for two miles, though for the canoes the best route is to the left of this course, and strikes Portage one mile and three quarters from its entrance, avoiding in this way a very steep hill which lies above Portage creek; from this south 18 degrees west for four miles, passing the head of a drain or ravine which falls into the Missouri below the great falls, and to the Willow run which has always a plentiful supply of good water and some timber:  here the course turns to south 45 degrees west for four miles further; then south 66 degrees west three miles, crossing at the beginning of the course the head of a drain which falls into the Missouri at the Crooked Falls, and reaching an elevated point of the plain from which south 42 degrees west.  On approaching the river on this course there is a long and gentle descent from the high plain, after which the road turns a little to the right of the course up the river to our camp.  The whole portage is seventeen and three quarter miles.

At the Whitebear camp we were occupied with the boat and digging a pit for the purpose of making some tar.  The day has been warm, and the mosquitoes troublesome.  We were fortunate enough to observe equal altitudes of the sun with sextant, which since our arrival here we have been prevented from doing, by flying clouds and storms in the evening.

Tuesday, July 2d.  A shower of rain fell very early this morning.  We then despatched some men for the baggage left behind yesterday, and the rest were engaged in putting the boat together.  This was accomplished in about three hours, and then we began to sew on the leather over the crossbars or iron on the inner side of the boat which form the ends of the sections.  By two o’clock the last of the baggage arrived, to the great delight of the party who were anxious to proceed.  The mosquitoes we find very troublesome.

Having completed our celestial observations we went over to the large island to make an attack upon its inhabitants the bears, who have annoyed us very much of late, and who were prowling about our camp all last night.  We found that the part of the island frequented by the bear forms an almost impenetrable thicket of the broad-leafed willow:  into this we forced our way in parties of three; but could see only one bear, who instantly attacked Drewyer.  Fortunately as he was rushing on the hunter shot him through the heart within twenty paces and he fell,