He also purchased with deer-skins three dogs,-- an animal
which has now become a favorite food, for it is found to be
a strong, healthy diet, preferable to lean deer or elk, and
much superior to horseflesh in any state. With these he
proceeded along the south side of the river, and joined us
in the evening."

Above the rapids the party encountered two tribes of
Indians from whom they endeavored to buy horses, for
they were now approaching a point when they must leave
the river and travel altogether by land. One of these
tribes was known as the Weocksockwillacums, and the
other was the Chilluckittequaws. These jaw-breaking
names are commended to those who think that the Indian
names of northern Maine are difficult to handle. Trees
were now growing scarcer, and the wide lowlands spread
out before the explorers stretched to the base of the Bitter
Root Mountains without trees, but covered with luxuriant
grass and herbage. After being confined so long to the
thick forests and mountains of the seacoast, the party
found this prospect very exhilarating, notwithstanding the
absence of forests and thickets. The climate, too, was
much more agreeable than that to which they had lately
been accustomed, being dry and pure.

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