The water is extremely transparent; the low grounds are narrow, but possess as much wood as those of the Missouri.

The river has every appearance of being navigable, though to what distance we cannot ascertain, as the country which it waters is broken and mountainous.

In honor of the Secretary of War we called it Dearborn's River." General Henry Dearborn, who was then Secretary of War, in Jefferson's administration, gave his name, a few years later, to a collection of camps and log-cabins on Lake Michigan; and in due time Fort Dearborn became the great city of Chicago.

Continuing, the journal says: "Being now very anxious to meet with the Shoshonees or Snake Indians, for the purpose of obtaining the necessary information of our route, as well as to procure horses, it was thought best for one of us to go forward with a small party and endeavor to discover them, before the daily discharge of our guns, which is necessary for our subsistence, should give them notice of our approach.

If by an accident they hear us, they will most probably retreat to the mountains, mistaking us for their enemies, who usually attack them on this side.".