Wednesday 17, we set out early, and at four miles distance joined captain Lewis at foot of the rapids, and after breakfast began the passage of them:  some of the articles most liable to be injured by the water were carried round.  We then double manned the canoes, and with the aid of the towing-line got them up without accident.  For several miles below the rapids the current of the Missouri becomes stronger as you approach, and the spurs of the mountains advance towards the river, which is deep and not more than seventy yards wide:  at the rapids the river is closely hemmed in on both sides by the hills, and foams for half a mile over the rocks which obstruct its channel.  The low grounds are now not more than a few yards in width, but they furnish room for an Indian road which winds under the hills on the north side of the river.  The general range of these hills is from southeast to northwest, and the cliffs themselves are about eight hundred feet above the water, formed almost entirely of a hard black granite, on which are scattered a few dwarf pine and cedar trees.  Immediately in the gap is a large rock four hundred feet high, which on one side is washed by the Missouri, while on its other sides a handsome little plain separates it from the neighbouring mountains.  It may be ascended with some difficulty nearly to its summit, and affords a beautiful prospect of the plains below, in which we could observe large herds of buffaloe.  After ascending the rapids for half a mile we came to a small island at the head of them, which we called Pine island from a large pine tree at the lower end of it, which is the first we have seen near the river for a great distance.  A mile beyond captain Lewis’s camp we had a meridian altitude which gave us the latitude of 46 degrees 42’ 14” 7"’.  As the canoes were still heavily loaded all those not employed in working them walked on shore.  The navigation is now very laborious.  The river is deep but with little current and from seventy to one hundred yards wide; the low grounds are very narrow, with but little timber and that chiefly the aspen tree.  The cliffs are steep and hang over the river so much that often we could not cross them, but were obliged to pass and repass from one side of the river to the other in order to make our way.  In some places the banks are formed of rocks, of dark black granite rising perpendicularly to a great height, through which the river seems in the progress of time to have worn its channel.  On these mountains we see more pine than usual, but it is still in small quantities.  Along the bottoms, which have a covering of high grass, we observe the sunflower blooming in great abundance.  The Indians of the Missouri, and more especially those who do not cultivate maize, make great use of the seed of this plant for bread or in thickening their soup.  They first parch and then pound it between two stones until it is reduced to a fine meal.  Sometimes they add a portion of water, and drink it