May " - Met a Kootenai band near the head of Flathead lake -At the Bay of the Kalispels he was invited by the Coeur d'Alènes to visit their country and he accordingly made a detour to Coeur d'Alène lake where the Indians were encamped - Remained several days in their country - Passed by the site of the modern Spokane City and thence to the sources of Mill creek, which he descended all the way to Fort Colville.
May 30th embarked in a skiff on the Columbia -Five men drowned in a rapid a little above Fort Okinagan - Stopped at Fort Okinagan - Visited Fort Walla Walla and the Protestant mission at the Dalles - Passed the Dalles by boat but portaged around the Cascades - Arrived safely at Fort Vancouver on the morning of June 8th - Ascended the Willamette valley to the Willamette Falls and thence to the mission of St. Paul which was Reverend Blanchet's residence.
Having completed his business with Blanchet and McLoughlin, Father De Smet set out on his return journey June 30th -Ascended the Columbia as far as Fort Walla Walla - Thence northerly across the Nez Percé and Spokan deserts to the Coeur d'Alène lake-Thence via St. Joseph river and over the mountains to Missoula river, and thence up the Bitter Root to St. Mary's Mission.
Father De Smet had been strongly advised by the Reverend Blanchet, Governor McLoughlin and others to return to the United States for personal and material succor for the missions, and accordingly, after arranging for the commencement of two new residences, one among the Kalispels of the Bay and another among the Coeur d'Alènes, he made preparations for departure.
Accompanied by two Indians to serve as guides and hunters, Father De Smet set out on his journey July 29th - Ascended the Bitter Root to its source - Crossed the Divide to the headwaters of the Big Hole - August 2d to August 15th spent in the plain of the Three Forks with the Flatheads