The northern extremity of that chain north 73 degrees west at the distance of eighty miles.

To the same extremity of the second chain north 65 degrees west one hundred and fifty miles.

To the most remote point of a third and continued chain of these mountains north 50 degrees west about two hundred miles.

The direction of the first chain was from south 20 degrees east to north 20 degrees west; of the second, from south 45 degrees east to north 45 degrees west; but the eye could not reach their southern extremities, which most probably may be traced to Mexico.  In a course south 75 degrees west, and at the distance of eight miles is a mountain, which from its appearance we shall call Fort Mountain.  It is situated in the level plain, and forms nearly a square, each side of which is a mile in extent.  These sides, which are composed of a yellow clay with no mixture of rock or stone whatever, rise perpendicularly to the height of three hundred feet, where the top becomes a level plain covered, as captain Lewis now observed, with a tolerably fertile mould two feet thick, on which was a coat of grass similar to that of the plain below:  it has the appearance of being perfectly inaccessible, and although the mounds near the falls somewhat resemble it, yet none of them are so large.

CHAPTER XII.

The party embark on board the canoes—­Description of Smith’s river—­Character of the country, &c.—­Dearborne’s river described—­Captain Clarke precedes the party for the purpose of discovering the Indians of the Rocky mountains—­Magnificent rocky appearances on the borders of the river denominated the Gates of the Rocky mountains—­Captain Clarke arrives at the three forks of the Missouri without overtaking the Indians—­The party arrive at the three forks, of which a particular and interesting description is given.

Monday, July 15.  We rose early, embarked all our baggage on board the canoes, which though light in number are still heavily loaded, and at ten o’clock set out on our journey.  At the distance of three miles we passed an island, just above which is a small creek coming in from the left, which we called Fort Mountain creek, the channel of which is ten yards wide but now perfectly dry.  At six miles we came to an island opposite to a bend towards the north side; and reached at seven and a half miles the lower point of a woodland at the entrance of a beautiful river, which in honour of the secretary of the navy we called Smith’s river.  This stream falls into a bend on the south side of the Missouri, and is eighty yards wide.  As far as we could discern its course it wound through a charming valley towards the southeast, in which many herds of buffaloe were feeding, till at the distance of twenty five miles it entered the Rocky mountains, and was lost from our view.  After dining near this place we proceeded on four and three quarter miles to the head of an island; four and a quarter miles beyond which is a second island on the left; three and a quarter miles further in a bend of the river towards the north, is a wood where we encamped for the night, after making nineteen and three quarter miles.