We followed soon after sunrise.  At six miles the ridge terminated and we had before us the cheering prospect of the large plain to the southwest.  On leaving the ridge we again ascended and went down several mountains, and six miles further came to Hungry creek where it was fifteen yards wide, and received the waters of a branch from the north.  We went up it on a course nearly due west, and at three miles crossed a second branch flowing from the same quarter.  The country is thickly covered with pine timber, of which we have enumerated eight distinct species.  Three miles beyond this last branch of Hungry creek we encamped, after a fatiguing route of eighteen miles.  The road along the creek is a narrow rocky path near the borders of very high precipices, from which a fall seems almost inevitable destruction.  One of our horses slipped and rolling over with his load down the hill side, which was nearly perpendicular and strewed with large irregular rocks, nearly a hundred yards, and did not stop till he fell into the creek:  we all expected he was killed, but to our astonishment, on taking off his load, he rose, and seemed but little injured, and in twenty minutes proceeded with his load.  Having no other provision we took some portable soup, our only refreshment during the day.  This abstinence, joined with fatigue, has a visible effect on our health.  The men are growing weak and losing their flesh very fast:  several are afflicted with the dysentery, and eruptions of the skin are very common.

Friday 20.  Captain Clarke went on through a country as rugged as usual, till on passing a low mountain he came at the distance of four miles to the forks of a large creek.  Down this he kept on a course south 60 degrees west for two miles, then turning to the right, continued over a dividing ridge where were the heads of several little streams, and at twelve miles distance descended the last of the rocky mountains and reached the level country.  A beautiful open plain partially supplied with pine now presented itself.  He continued for five miles when he discovered three Indian boys, who, on observing the party, ran off and hid themselves in the grass.  Captain Clarke immediately alighted, and giving his horse and gun to one of the men went after the boys.  He soon relieved their apprehensions and sent them forward to the village about a mile off with presents of small pieces of riband.  Soon after the boys had reached home, a man came out to meet the party, with great caution, but he conducted them to a large tent in the village, and all the inhabitants gathered round to view with a mixture of fear and pleasure these wonderful strangers.  The conductor now informed captain Clarke by signs, that the spacious tent was the residence of the great chief, who had set out three days ago with all the warriors to attack some of their enemies towards the southwest; that he would not return before fifteen or eighteen days, and that in the meantime there were