outlet there are vast columns of rock torn from the mountain which are strewed on both sides of the river, the trophies as it were of the victory.  Several fine springs burst out from the chasms of the rock, and contribute to increase the river, which has now a strong current, but very fortunately we are able to overcome it with our oars, since it would be impossible to use either the cord or the pole.  We were obliged to go on some time after dark, not being able to find a spot large enough to encamp on, but at length about two miles above a small inland in the middle of the river we met with a spot on the left side, where we procured plenty of lightwood and pitchpine.  This extraordinary range of rocks we called the Gates of the Rocky mountains.  We had made twenty-two miles; and four and a quarter miles from the entrance of the gates.  The mountains are higher to-day than they were yesterday.  We saw some big-horns, a few antelopes and beaver, but since entering the mountains have found no buffaloe:  the otter are however in great plenty:  the musquitoes have become less troublesome than they were.

Saturday 20.  By employing the towrope whenever the banks permitted the use of it, the river being too deep for the pole, we were enabled to overcome the current which is still strong.  At the distance of half a mile we came to a high rock in a bend to the left in the Gates.  Here the perpendicular rocks cease, the hills retire from the river, and the vallies suddenly widen to a greater extent than they have been since we entered the mountains.  At this place was some scattered timber, consisting of the narrow-leafed cottonwood, the aspen, and pine.  There are also vast quantities of gooseberries, serviceberries, and several species of currant, among which is one of a black colour, the flavour of which is preferable to that of the yellow, and would be deemed superior to that of any currant in the United States.  We here killed an elk which was a pleasant addition to our stock of food.  At a mile from the Gates, a large creek comes down from the mountains and empties itself behind an island in the middle of a bend to the north.  To this stream which is fifteen yards wide we gave the name of Potts’s creek, after John Potts, one of our men.  Up this valley about seven miles we discovered a great smoke, as if the whole country had been set on fire; but were at a loss to decide whether it had been done accidentally by captain Clarke’s party, or by the Indians as a signal on their observing us.  We afterwards learnt that this last was the fact; for they had heard a gun fired by one of captain Clarke’s men, and believing that their enemies were approaching had fled into the mountains, first setting fire to the plains as a warning to their countrymen.  We continued our course along several islands, and having made in the course of the day fifteen miles, encamped just above an island, at a spring on a high bank on the left side of the river.  In the latter