Clear very warm weather, a little breeze of wind down the river which prevented the heat from being so oppressive as yesterday. Continued our route before 3 o'clock and encamped late a little above the Grand Rapid.[98] In ascending a piece of strong current doubling a point in the evening, two of the boats got aground and sustained some injury, one of them put ashore & gummed, the other went on to the encampment, & had not time to repair. Traded some beaver from the Indians along the River. Wed.y. 29 Clear weather and notwithstanding there was a nice breeze down the river the heat was oppressive. We were detained gumming the boat till hear 5 o'clock when we embarked and proceeded to Fort Nez Perces[99] where we remained at 12 o'clock and had boats immediately unloaded, and the cargoes examined. These were landed here from the five boats independent of the gentlemen and mens private baggage 262 pieces, viz. (Laments) boat Mr. McLeod passenger 47 pieces.--Ignace's boat J. Work passenger 52 pieces.--P. La (Course's?) boat, Mr. Dease passenger 53 pieces.--Grosse (Chalon's?) boat 55 pieces and Thomas Tagouche's boat 55 pieces. Thursday 30th. Notwithstanding it blew strong from the N. W. the heat was oppressive, the sand, and wood about the fort were absolutely burning. In the evening there was a great deal of thunder and lightening with heavy squalls of wind and a few drops of rain, the wind sometimes quite hot. Mr. McLeod occupied the greater part of this day separating the pieces belonging to the different posts. July 1825 Friday 1 Blowing strong from the N. W. A party having to make a trip up the South branch[100] to trade horses, (150 if possible,) the forenoon was occupied in making up an assortment of goods for that purpose and a 1/2 past 1 o'clock Mr. Dease accompanied by Mr. Dears,[101] myself and 28 men, embarked in two boats and proceeded to a little up the South branch where we encamped for the night.--Several Indians were about the entrance of the river, purchased a few salmon from them, mostly small ones at about 2 inches of tobacco each.--Our boats are very light laden, and the men well armed. Mr. McLeod & 10 men remain at the Fort. Satd.y. 2 Clear, and notwithstanding a pleasant breeze from the N. W., very warm. Embarked at 3 oclock and pursued our journey up the river till past 6 when we encamped for the night. Made a good days march, as the men worked constant and very hard.--The current was uniformly very strong, and the water high, though it has fallen at least 1-1/2 or 2 feet from its greatest height this season.--The shores are generally high, some places steep rocks, at others undulating hills, the vegetation on which seems to be burnt up with the heat and has a barren appearance. Here and there along the river, bushes and grass appear green, having not been deprived of moisture. Passed several Indian lodges and traded 42 fresh and 9 dry salmon for 1-1/2 yards of Tobacco. The salmon are all of a small size.