A Noble River n Saturday, June 8, 1805, with five days of
exploration and study behind him, Meriwether Lewis stamped his
considered opinion with a grand gesture — perhaps with a twinge
of homesickness. Only a week earlier, Clark had affectionately
named a river after young Julia (Judith) Hancock, whom he was to
marry in 1808. Now it was Lewis's turn. He had no way of knowing
that Blackfeet Indians had already named it Bear River. |The
whole of my party to a man except myself were fully perswaided
that this river was the Missouri, but being fully of opinion
that it was neither the main stream or that which it would be
advisable for us to take, I determined to give it a name and in
honour of Miss Maria W____d. [Wood] called it Maria's River.|
With apologies to his cousin Maria, Lewis continued, |It is true
that the hue of the waters of this turbulent and troubled stream
but illy comport with the pure celestial virtues and amiable
qualifications of that lovely fair one; but on the other hand it
is a noble river.