They were also very much annoyed with the spines of the prickly pear, a species of cactus, which, growing low on the ground, is certain to be trampled upon by the wayfarer.

The spines ran through the moccasins of the men and sorely wounded their feet.

Thus, under date of June twenty-fourth, the journal says (It should be understood that the portage was worked from above and below the rapids):-- "On going down yesterday Captain Clark cut off several angles of the former route, so as to shorten the portage considerably, and marked it with stakes.

He arrived there in time to have two of the canoes carried up in the high plain, about a mile in advance.

Here they all repaired their moccasins, and put on double soles to protect them from the prickly pear, and from the sharp points of earth which have been formed by the trampling of the buffalo during the late rains.