Mer. Lewis
July 16, 1805
“early this morning we passed about 40 little booths formed of willow bushes to shelter them from the sun; they appeared to have been deserted about 10 days; we supposed that they were snake Indians. they apperaed to have a number of horses with them- this appearance gives me much hope of meeting with these people shortly.”

Mer. Lewis
July 17, 1805
“The sunflower is in bloom and abundant in the river bottoms. The Indians of the Missouri particularly those who do not cultive maze make great uce of the seed of this plant for bread, or use it in thickening their soope.”

William Clark
July 18, 1805
“in the evening I passed over a mountain on an Indian rode by which rout I cut off Several miles of the Meandering of the River, the roade. . .is wide and appears to have been dug in maney places.”

Mer. Lewis
July 19, 1805
“every object here wears a dark and gloomy aspect. the tow(er)ing and projecting rocks in many places seem ready to tumble on us. . .from the singular appearance of this place I called the gates of the rocky mountains.”