Monday 12th May 1806
a fine Morning great number of Indians flock about us as usial. after
brackfast I began to administer eye water and in a fiew minits had near
40 applicants with Sore eyes, and maney others with other Complaints
most Common Rhumatic disorders & weaknesses in the back and loins
perticularly the womin. the Indians had a grand Council this morning
after which we were presented each with a horse by two young men at the
instance of the nation. we caused the chiefs to be Seated and gave then
each a flag a pint of Powder and 50 balls to the two young men who had
presented the horses we also gave powder and ball. The broken arm or
Tun na the mootoolt pulled off his leather Shirt and gave me. I in
return gave him a Shirt. we retired into the Lodge and the natives
Spoke to the following purpote, i e they had listened to our advice and
that the whole nation were deturmined to follow it, that they had only
one heart and one tongue on this Subject. explained the Cause of the
War with the Shoshones. they wished to be at peace with all nations &
Some of their Men would accompany us to the Missouri &c. &c. as a great
number of men women & Children were wateing and requesting medical
assistance maney of them with the most Simple Complaints which Could be
easily releived, independent of maney with disorders intirely out of
the power of Medison all requesting Some thing, we agreed that I Should
administer and Capt L--to here and answer the Indians. I was closely
employed until 12 P.M. administering eye water to about 40 grown
persons. Some Simple Cooling Medicenes to the disabled Chief, to
Several women with rhumatic effections & a man who had a Swelled hip
&c. &c-. in the evening three of our horses were brought all in fine
order. we have now only Six remaining out. we gave to each a Chief a
pint of Powder and 50 Balls a Small flag and to the two young men who
delivered us the horses we gave also powder & Ball and Some blue wompom
& ribin. all appeared much pleased-. Those people are much affraid of
the black foot indians, and the Big bellies of Fort deprarie
establishment. those indians kill great numbers of this nation whenever
they pass over to hunt on the Missouri. one of our men bought a horse
for a fiew Small articles of an Indian. The Indians brought up a fat
horse and requested us to kill and eate it as they had nothing else to
offer us to eate. The Cut nose made a present of a horse to Drewyer at
the Same time the two horses were offered to Capt. Lewis & my self. The
horses of those people are large well formed and active. Generally in
fine order. Sore backs Caused by rideing them either with out Saddles,
or with pads which does not prevent the wate of the rider pressing
imedeately on the back bone, and weathers of the horse. the Indians
formed two partis and plaied for their heeds. we gave the twisted hair
a gun, powder & 100 ball in part for takeing care of our horses &c.
and wish him to Camp near us untill we Crossed the Mountains which he
agreeed to do, and was much pleased we have turned our attentions
towards the twisted hair who has Several Sons grown who are well
acquainted as well as himself with the various roads through the rocky
Mountains and will answer very well as guides to us through those
Mountains-In the Council to day the father of Hohastillpelp Said the
Chopunnish were fully Convinced of the advantages of peace and ardently
wished to cultivate peace with their neighbours. early last Summer 3 of
their brave men were Sent with a pipe to the Shoshones on the S E. fork
of Lewis's river in the Plains of Columbia, their pipe was disreguarded
and their 3 men murdered, which had given rise to the War expedition
against that nation last fall; that their warriers had fallen in with
and killed 42 of the Shoshones with the loss of 3 men only on their
part; that this had Satisfied the blood of the deceased friends and
they would never again make war against the Shoshones, but were willing
to receve them as friends-. That as we had not Seen the Indians towards
Fort de prere they did not think it Safe to venture over to the Plains
of the Missouri, where they would fondly go provided those nations
would not kill them. I gave a vial of eye water to the Broken arm for
to wash the eyes of all who applied to him and told him when it was out
we would replenish it again
[Lewis, May 13, 1806]
Tuesday May 13th 1806.
This morning Capt. C. as usual was busily engaged with his patients
untill eleven OCk. at 1 P.M. we collected our horses and set out for
the river escorted by a number of the natives on horseback. we followed
the creek downwards about two miles, passing a stout branch at 1 m.
which flowed in on the wright. our course S. E. we now entered an
extensive open bottom of the Kooskooske R. through which we passed
nearly N. about 11/2 miles and halted on the bank of the river at the
place appointed to meet the canoe. the man had set out early this
morning for the purpose but had not yet arrived with the canoe we
therefore unloaded our horses and turned them out to graize. as the
canoe did not arrive untill after sunset we remained here all night; a
number of the natives continued with us. in the evening we tryed the
speed of several of our horses. these horses are active strong and well
formed. these people have immence numbers of them 50, 60 or a hundred
hed is not unusual for an individual to possess. The Chopunnish are in
general stout well formed active men. they have high noses and many of
them on the acqueline order with cheerfull and agreeable countenances;
their complexions are not remarkable. in common with other savage
nations of America they extract their beards but the men do not
uniformly extract the hair below, this is more particularly confined to
the females. I observed several men among them whom I am convinced if
they had shaved their beards instead of extracting it would have been
as well supplyed in this particular as any of my countrymen. they
appear to be cheerfull but not gay; they are fond of gambling and of
their amusements which consist principally in shooting their arrows at
a bowling target made of willow bark, and in riding and exercising
themselves on horseback, racing &c. they are expert marksmen and good
riders. they do not appear to be so much devoted to baubles as most of
the nations we have met with, but seem anxious always to obtain
articles of utility, such as knives, axes, tommahawks, kettles blankets
and mockerson alls. blue beads however may form an exception to this
remark; this article among all the nations of this country may be
justly compared to goald or silver among civilized nations. They are
generally well cloathed in their stile. their dress consists of a long
shirt which reaches to the middle of thye, long legings which reach as
high as the waist, mockersons, and robes. these are formed of various
skins and are in all rispects like those particularly discribed of the
Shoshones. their women also dress like the Shoshones. their ornaments
consist of beads shells and peices of brass variously attatched to
their dress, to their ears arrond their necks wrists arms &c. a bando
of some kind usually surrounds the head, this is most frequently the
skin of some fir animal as the fox otter &c. tho they have them also of
dressed skin without the hair. the ornament of the nose is a single
shell of the wampum. the pirl and beads are suspended from the ears.
beads are woarn arround their wrists necks and over their sholders
crosswise in the form of a double sash. the hair of the men is cewed in
two rolls which hang on each side in front of the body as before
discribed of other inhabitants of the Columbia. collars of bears claws
are also common; but the article of dress on which they appear to bstow
most pains and ornaments is a kind of collar or brestplate; this is
most commonly a strip of otterskin of about six inches wide taken out
of the center of the skin it's whole length including the head. this is
dressed with the hair on; a hole is cut lengthwise through the skin
near the head of the animal sufficiently large to admit the head of the
person to pass. thus it is placed about the neck and hangs in front of
the body the tail frequently reaching below their knees; on this skin
in front is attatched peices of pirl, beads, wampum peices of red cloth
and in short whatever they conceive most valuable or ornamental. I
observed a tippit woarn by Hohastillpilp, which was formed of human
scalps and ornamented with the thumbs and fingers of several men which
he had slain in battle. their women brade their hair in two tresses
which hang in the same position of those of the men. they also wear a
cap or cup on the head formed of beargrass and cedar bark. the men also
frequently attatch some small ornament to a small plat of hair on the
center of the crown of their heads.
[Clark, May 13, 1806]
Tuesday 13th May 1806.
a fine morning I administered to the Sick and gave directions. we
collected all our horses and Set out at 1 P.M. and proceeded down the
Creek to the Flat head River a Short distance below the enterance of
the Creek at the distance of 3 miles from the Village. at this place we
expected to have met the Canoe which was promised to be furnished us,
and for which an indian Set out very early this morning. we halted at
the Flat Head River unloaded our horses and turnd. them out to feed.
Several Indians accompanied us to the river and Continued untill
evening. The man who Set out early this morning to the forks of this
river for a Canoe and was to meet us at this place. as the Canoe did
not arive untill after Sun set we remained all night; in the evening we
tried the Speed of Several of our horses. these horses are strong
active and well formed. Those people have emence numbers of them 50 or
60 or a Hundred head is not unusial for an individual to possess.
The Chopunnish are in general Stout well formd active men. they have
high noses and maney of them on the acqueline order with chearfull and
agreeable countinances; their complexions are not remarkable. in common
with other Indian Nations of America they extract their beard, but the
men do not uniformly extract the hair below, this is more particularly
confined to the females. they appear to be cheerfull but not gay; they
are fond of gambling and of their amusements which consists principally
in shooting their arrows at a targit made of Willow bark, and in
rideing and exersiseing themselves on horsback, raceing &c. they are
expirt marks men & good riders. they do not appear to be So much
devoted to baubles as most of the nations we have met with, but Seen
anxious always to riceve articles of utility, Such as knives, axes,
Kittles, blankets & Mockerson awls. blue beeds however may form an
exception to this remark; This article among all the nations of this
Country may be justly compared to gold and Silver among civilized
nations. They are generally well clothed in their Stile. their dress
Consists of a long shirt which reaches to the middle of leg, long
legins which reach as high as the waist, mockersons & robe. those are
formed of various skins and are in all respects like those of the
Shoshone. Their orniments consists of beeds, Shells and peices of brass
variously attached to their dress, to their ears arround theire necks
wrists arms &c. a band of Some kind usially Serounds the head, this is
most frequently the Skin of Some fer animal as the fox otter &c.; I
observed a tippet worn by Hohastillpilp, which was formed of Humane
Scalps and ornemented with the thumbs and fingers of Several men which
he had Slain in battle. they also were a coller or breast plate of
otter Skin orniminted with Shells beeds & quills. the women brade their
hair in two tresses which hang in the same position of those of the
men, which ar Cewed and hang over each sholder. &c
[Lewis, May 14, 1806]
Wednesday May 14th 1806.
The morning was fair, we arrose early and dispatched a few of our
hunters to the opposite side of the river, and employed a part of the
men in transporting our baggage to the opposite shore wile others were
directed to collect the horses; at 10 A.M. we had taken our baggage
over and collected our horses, we then took breakfast, after which we
drove our horses into the river which they swam without accedent and
all arrived safe on the opposite shore. the river is 150 yds. wide at
this place and extreemly rapid. tho it may be safely navigated at this
season, as the water covers all the rocks which lie in it's bed to a
considerable debth. we followed our horses and again collected them,
after which we removed our baggage to a position which we had
previously selected for our permanent camp about half a mile below.
this was a very eligible spot for defence it had been an ancient
habitation of the indians; was sunk about 4 feet in the ground and
raised arround it's outer edge about three 1/2 feet with a good wall of
eath. the whole was a circle of about 30 feet in diameter. arround this
we formed our tents of sticks and grass facing outwards and deposited
our baggage within the sunken space under a shelter which we
constructed for the purpose. our situation was within 40 paces of the
river in an extentsive level bottom thinly timbered with the longleafed
pine. here we are in the vicinity of the best hunting grounds from
indian information, are convenient to the salmon which we expect daily
and have an excellent pasture for our horses. the hills to the E and
North of us are high broken and but partially timbered; the soil is
rich and affords fine grass. in short as we are compelled to reside a
while in this neighbourhood I feel perfectly satisfyed with our
position.immediately after we had passed the river Tunnachemootoolt and
Hosastillpilp arrived on the south side with a party of a douzen of
their young men; they began to sing in token of friendship as is their
custom, and we sent the canoe over for them. they left their horses and
came over accompanyed by several of their party among whom were the 2
young men who had presented us with two horses in behalf of the nation;
one of these was the son of Tunnachemootoolt and the other the son of
the Cheif who was killed by the Minnetares of Fort de Prarie last year
and the same who had given us the mare and Colt. we received them at
our camp and smoked with them; after some hours Hohastillpilp with much
cerimony presented me with a very eligant grey gelding which he had
brought for that purpose. I gave him in return a handkercheif 200 balls
and 4 lbs. of powder. with which he appeared perfectly satisfyed.
Collins killed two bear this morning and was sent with two others in
quest of the meat; with which they returned in the evening; the mail
bear was large and fat the female was of moderate size and reather
meagre. we had the fat bear fleaced in order to reserve the oil for the
mountains. both these bear were of the speceis common to the upper part
of the missouri. they may be called white black grzly brown or red bear
for they are found of all those colours. perhaps it would not be
unappropriate to designate them the variagated bear. we gave the
indians who were about 15 in number half the female bear, with the
sholder head and neck of the other. this was a great treat to those
poor wretches who scarcely taist meat once a month. they immediately
prepared a brisk fire of dry wood on which they threw a parsel of
smooth stones from the river, when the fire had birnt down and heated
the stones they placed them level and laid on a parsel of pine boughs,
on these they laid the flesh of the bear in flitches, placing boughs
between each course of meat and then covering it thickly with pine
boughs; after this they poared on a small quantity of water and covered
the whoe over with earth to the debth of four inches. in this situation
they suffered it to remain about 3 hours when they took it out. I
taisted of this meat and found it much more tender than that which we
had roasted or boiled, but the strong flavor of the pine distroyed it
for my pallate. Labuish returned late in the evening and informed us
that he had killed a female bear and two large cubbs, he brought with
him several large dark brown pheasants which he had also killed.
Shannon also returned with a few pheasants and two squirrells. we have
found our stone horses so troublesome that we indeavoured to exchange
them with the Chopunnish for mears or gelings but they will not
exchange altho we offer 2 for one; we came to a resolution to castrate
them and began the operation this evening one of the indians present
offered his services on this occasion. he cut them without tying the
string of the stone as is usual, and assures us that they will do much
better in that way; he takes care to scrape the string very clean and
to seperate it from all the adhereing veigns before he cuts it. we
shall have an opportunity of judging whether this is a method
preferable to that commonly practiced as Drewyer has gelded two in the
usual way. The indians after their feast took a pipe or two with us and
retired to rest much pleased with their repast. these bear are
tremendious animals to them; they esteem the act of killing a bear
equally great with that of an enimy in the field of action.--I gave the
claws of those which Collins killed to Hohastillpilp.
[Clark, May 14, 1806]
Wednesday 14th of May 1806
a fine day. we had all our horses Collected by 10 a.m. dureing the time
we had all our baggage Crossed over the Flat head River which is rapid
and about 150 yards wide. after the baggage was over to the North Side
we Crossed our horss without much trouble and hobbled them in the
bottom after which we moved a Short distance below to a convenient
Situation and formed a Camp around a very conveniant Spot for defence
where the Indiands had formerly a house under ground and hollow circler
Spot of about 30 feet diamieter 4 feet below the Serfce and a Bank of 2
feet above this Situation we Concluded would be Seffiently convenient
to hunt the wood lands for bear & Deer and for the Salmon fish which we
were told would be here in a fiew days and also a good Situation for
our horses. the hills to the E. & N. of us are high broken & but
partially timbered; the soil rich and affords fine grass. in Short as
we are Compelled to reside a while in this neighbourhood I feel
perfectly Satisfied with our position. imediately after we had Crossed
the river the Chief Called the broken Arm or Tin nach-e-moo toll
another principal Chief Hoh-host'-ill-pitp arived on the opposite Side
and began to Sing. we Sent the Canoe over and those Chiefs, the Son of
the broken arm and the Sone of a Great Chief who was killed last year
by the Big bellies of Sas kas she win river. those two young men were
the two whome gave Capt Lewis and my self each a horse with great
serimony in behalf of the nation a fiew days ago, and the latter a most
elligant mare & colt the morning after we arived at the Village. Hohast
ill pilt with much Serimoney presented Capt. Lewis with an elegant Gray
horse which he had brought for that purpose. Capt Lewis gave him in
return a Handkerchief two hundred balls and four pouds of powder with
which he appeared perfictly Satisfyed, and appeared much pleased.
Soon after I had Crossed the river and during the time Cap Lewis was on
the opposit Side John Collins whome we had Sent out verry early this
morning with Labiech and Shannon on the North Side of the river to
hunt, Came in and informed me, that he had killed two Bear at about 5
miles distant on the up lands. one of which was in good order. I
imediately depatched Jo. Fields & P. Wiser with him for the flesh. we
made Several attempts to exchange our Stalions for Geldings or mars
without success we even offered two for one. those horses are
troublesom and Cut each other very much and as we Can't exchange them
we think it best to Castrate them and began the opperation this evening
one of the Indians present offered his Services on this occasion. he
Cut them without tying the String of the Stone as is usial. he Craped
it very Clean & Seperate it before he Cut it. about Meredian Shannon
Came in with two Grows & 2 Squireles Common to this Country. his
mockersons worn out obliged to come in early.
Collins returned in the evening with the two bears which he had killed
in the morning one of them an old hee was in fine order, the other a
female with Cubs was Meagure. we gave the Indians about us 15 in number
two Sholders and a ham of the bear to eate which they cooked in the
following manner. to wit on a brisk fire of dryed wood they threw a
parcel of Small Stones from the river, when the fire had burnt down and
heated the Stone, they placed them level and laid on a parsel of pine
boughs, on those they laid the flesh of the bear in flitches, placeing
boughs between each course of meat and then Covering it thickly with
pine boughs; after this they poared on a Small quantity of water, and
Covered the whole over with earth to the debth of 4 inches. in this
Situation they Suffered it to remain about 3 hours when they took it
out fit for use. at 6 oClock P M Labiech returned and informed us that
he had killed a female Bear and two Cubs, at a long distance from Camp
towards the mountains. he brought in two large dark brown pheasents
which he had also killed Shannon also returned also with a few black
Pheasents and two squirels which he had killed in the wood land towards
Collins Creek. This nation esteem the Killing of one of those
tremendeous animals (the Bear) equally great with that of an enemy in
the field of action-. we gave the Claws of those bear which Collins had
killed to Hohastillpelp.
[Lewis, May 15, 1806]
Thursday May 15th 1806.
This morning early Reubin Fields in surching for his horse saw a large
bear at no great distance from camp; several men went in pursuit of the
bear, they followed his trail a considerable distance but could not
come up with him. Labuish and Shannon set out with a view to establish
a hunting camp and continuing several days, two others accompanyed them
in order to bring in the three bear which Labuish had killed. Drewyer
and Cruzatte were sent up the river; Sheilds R. Feilds and Willard
hunted in the hills near the camp they returned in the evening with a
few pheasants only and reported that there was much late appearance of
bear, but beleived that they had gone off to a greater distance. at 11
A.M. the men returned with the bear which Labuich had killed. These
bear gave me a stronger evidence of the various coloured bear of this
country being one speceis only, than any I have heretofore had. The
female was black with a considerable proportion of white hairs
intermixed and a white spot on the breast, one of the young bear was
jut black and the other of a light redish brown or bey colour. the poil
of these bear were infinitely longer finer and thicker than the black
bear their tallons also longer and more blont as if woarn by diging
roots. the white and redish brown or bey coloured bear I saw together
on the Missouri; the bey and grizly have been seen and killed together
here for these were the colours of those which Collins killed
yesterday. in short it is not common to find two bear here of this
speceis precisely of the same colour, and if we were to attempt to
distinguish them by their collours and to denominate each colour a
distinct speceis we should soon find at least twenty. some bear nearly
white have also been seen by our hunters at this place. the most
striking differences between this speceis of bear and the common black
bear are that the former are larger, have longer tallons and tusks,
prey more on other animals, do not lie so long nor so closely in winter
quarters, and will not climb a tree tho eversoheardly pressed. the
variagated bear I beleive to be the same here with those on the
missouri but these are not as ferocious as those perhaps from the
circumstance of their being compelled from the scarcity of game in this
quarter to live more on roots and of course not so much in the habit of
seizing and devouring living animals. the bear here are far from being
as passive as the common black bear they have attacked and faught our
hunters already but not so fiercely as those of the Missouri. there are
also some of the common black bear in this neighbourhood. Frazier, J.
Fields and Wiser complain of violent pains in their heads, and Howard
and York are afflicted with the cholic. I attribute these complaints to
their diet of roots which they have not been accustomed.
Tunnachemootoolt and 12 of his young men left us this morning on their
return to their village. Hohastillpilp and three old men remained
untill 5 in the evening when they also departed. at 1 P.M. a party of
14 natives on horseback passed our camp on a hunting excurtion; they
were armed with bows and arrows and had decoys for the deer these are
the skins of the heads and upper portions of the necks of the deer
extended in their natural shape by means of a fraim of little sticks
placed within. the hunter when he sees a deer conceals himself and with
his hand gives to the decoy the action of a deer at feed; and thus
induces the deer within arrowshot; in this mode the indians hunt on
foot in the woodlands where they cannot pursue the deer with horses
which is their favorite method when the ground will permit.--we had all
of our horses driven together today near our camp, which we have
directed shall be done each day in order to familiarize them to each
other. several of the horses which were gelded yesterday are much
swolen particularly those cut by Drewyer, the others bled most but
appear much better today than the others.
we had our baggage better secured under a good shelter formed of grass;
we also strengthened our little fortification with pine poles and
brush, and the party formed themselves very comfortable tents with
willow poles and grass in the form of the orning of a waggon, these
were made perfectly secure as well from the heat of the sun as from
rain. we had a bower constructed for ourselves under which we set by
day and sleep under the part of an old sail now our only tent as the
leather lodge has become rotten and unfit for use. about noon the sun
shines with intense heat in the bottoms of the river. the air on the
tom of the river hills or high plain forms a distinct climate, the air
is much colder, and vegitation is not as forward by at least 15 or
perhaps 20 days. the rains which fall in the river bottoms are snows on
the plain. at the distance of fifteen miles from the river and on the
Eastern border of this plain the Rocky Mountains commence and present
us with winter it it's utmost extreem. the snow is yet many feet deep
even near the base of these mountains; here we have summer spring and
winter within the short space of 15 or 20 miles.--Hohastillpilp and the
three old men being unable to pass the river as the canoe had been
taken away, returned to our camp late in the evening and remained with
us all night.
[Clark, May 15, 1806]
Thursday 15th of May 1806
This morning Reubin Fields went out to hunt his horse very early and
Saw a large bear and no great distance from Camp. Several men went in
pursute of the bear, and prosued his trail Some time without gitting
Sight of this Monster. Shannon went out with Labeach to hunt and
continue out 3 days, Gibson and Hall accompanied them for the meat
Labeech killed yesterday which they brought in by 11 A M. this Morning
the female was black with white hares intermixed and a white Spot on
the breast the Cubs were about the Size of a dog also pore. one of them
very black and the other a light redish brown or bey colour. These bear
give me a Stronger evidence of the various Coloured bear of this
Country being one Specie only, than any I have heretofore had. Several
other Colours have been seen. Drewyer and Peter Crusat went up the
river. John Shields, R. Fields and Willard hunted in the hills near
Camp and returned before 2 P. M without killing any thing except a fiew
Grows. they saw but few deer. Some bear Sign. Frazur Jo. Fields and
Peter Wizer Complain of a violent pain in their heads. Howard and York
with violent Cholicks. the Cause of those disorders we are unable to
account for. their diet and the Sudin Change of Climate must
contribute. The Great Chief Tin nach-e-moo-tolt (or broken Arm) and 12
of the young men of his nation left us today about 11 oClock and
Crossed the river to his Village Hoh-hast-ill-pilt and 3 old men
Continued with us untill about 5 P. M when they left us and returnd. to
their Village. a party of 14 Indians passed our Camp about 1 P.M. on
their way to the leavel uplands to run and kill the deer with their
horses and Bows and arrows. Some of them were also provided with deers
heads Cased for the purpose of decoying the deer. those men continued
withus but a fiew minits and proceeded on. Those people hunt most
Commonly on horse back Seround the Deer or Goat which they find in the
open plains & kill them with their arrows. tho they Sometimes hunt the
deer on foot & decoy them. we had all of our horses drove together to
day with a view to fermilurize them to each other. those that were Cut
yesterday are Stiff and Several of them much Swelled. we had all our
baggage Secured and Covered with a rouf of Straw. our little
fortification also completely Secured with brush around which our Camp
is formed. the Greater part of our Security from the rains &c. is the
grass which is formed in a kind of ruff So as to turn the rain
Completely and is much the best tents we have. as the days are worm &c.
we have a bowry made to write under which we find not only comfortable
but necessary, to keep off the intence heet of the Sun which has great
effect in this low bottom. on the high plains off the river the Climate
is entirely different cool. Some Snow on the north hill Sides near the
top and vegetation near 3 weeks later than in the river bottoms. and
the rocky Mountains imedeately in view covered Several say 4 & 5 feet
deep with Snow. here I behold three different Climats within a fiew
miles a little before dark Hoh-hast-ill-pilt and the 3 old men & one
other returned to our Camp and informed us the Canoe was a great way
off and they could not cross this evening.
[Lewis, May 16, 1806]
Friday May 16th 1806.
Drewyer's horse left his camp last night and was brought to us this
morning by an indian who informed us he had found him a considerable
distance towards the mountains. Hohastillpilp and all the natives left
us about noon and informed us that they were going up the river some
distance to a place at which they expected to fine a canoe, we gave
them the head and neck of a bear, a part of which they eat and took the
ballance with them. these people sometimes kill the variagated bear
when they can get them in the open plain where they can pursue them on
horseback and shoot them with their arrows. the black bear they more
frequently kill as they are less ferocious. our sick men are much
better today. Sahcargarmeah geathered a quantity of the roots of a
speceis of fennel which we found very agreeable food, the flavor of
this root is not unlike annis seed, and they dispell the wind which the
roots called Cows and quawmash are apt to create particularly the
latter. we also boil a small onion which we find in great abundance,
with other roots and find them also an antidote to the effects of the
others. the mush of roots we find adds much to the comfort of our
diet.--we sent out several hunters this morning but they returned about
11 A.M. without success; they killed a few pheasants only. at 5 P.M.
Drewyer and Cruzatte returned having killed one deer only. Drewyer had
wounded three bear which he said were as white as sheep but had
obtained neither of them. they informed us that the hunting was but bad
in the quarter they had been, the Country was broken and thickly
covered in most parts with underbrush. a little after dark Shannon and
Labuish returned with one deer; they informed us that game was wild and
scarce, that a large creek (Collins Creek) ran parallel with the river
at the distance of about 5 or 6 miles which they found impracticable to
pass with their horses in consequence of the debth and rapidity of it's
current. beyond this creek the Indians inform us that there is great
abundance of game. Sergt. Pryor and Collins who set out this morning on
a hunting excurtion did not return this evening.--I killed a snake near
our camp, it is 3 feet 11 Inches in length, is much the colour of the
rattlesnake common to the middle atlantic states, it has no poisonous
teeth. it has 218 scutae on the abdomen and fifty nine squamae or half
formed scutae on the tail. the eye is of moderate size, the iris of a
dark yellowish brown and puple black. there is nothing remarkable in
the form of the head which is not so wide across the jaws as those of
the poisonous class of snakes usually are.--I preserved the skin of
this snake.
[Clark, May 16, 1806]
Friday 16th May 1806
a cloudy morning with Some rain which continued untill Meridean at
intervales, but very moderately. a man and boy Came to our Camp at 11
A. M with Drewyers Horse which he informed us he found at a long
distance towards the Mtns. this horse must have Strayed from Drewyers
Camp last night. Hohhastillpelt and all the nativs left us at merdn.
and went up the river with a view to Cross at Some distance above where
they expected to find a Canoe.
we gave those people a head and Neck of the largest bear a part of
which they eate and the balance they Carefully took with them for their
children. The Indians of this Country Seldom kill the bear they are
very much afraid of them and the killing of a white or Grzley bear, is
as great a feet as two of their enimy. the fiew of those Animals which
they Chance to kill is found in the leavel open lands and pursued on
horses & killed with their Arrows. they are fond of the flesh of this
animal and eate emoderately of it when they have a Sufficiency to
indulge themselves. The men who were complaining of the head ake and
Cholicks yesterday and last night are much better to day. Shabonos
Squar gatherd a quantity of fenel roots which we find very paleatiable
and nurishing food. the Onion we also find in abundance and boil it
with our meat. Shields rode out and hunted in the morning without
Suckcess he returned at 11 A.M. having killed only a black wood pecker
with a red breast as discribed hereafter. A snake which resembles the
rattle Snake in colour and Spots on the Skin, longer and inosent. at 5
P M Drewyer and Crusat returned haveing killed only one Deer only. D.
Shot 3 White bear but Could get neither of them. they inform us that
the hunting in the derection they were is very bad. the country hilly &
brushey. a little after dark Shannon & Labiech came in from the Chass.
Shannon killed one deer which he brought in. this deer being the only
animal they Could kill. they informed that a large Creek (Collens's
Creek) run parrelal with the river at about 5 or 6 miles distant
between which there was but little game, and the Creek being high rapid
and the Smothe rocks in the bottom rendered it impossible for them to
pass it on hors back. Sergt. Pryor and Collins who Set out early this
morning hunting have not returned. we derected that the horses be drove
up in future at 12 oClock on each day
[Lewis, May 17, 1806]
Saturday May 17th 1806.
It rained the greater part of the last night and this morning untill 8
OCk. the water passed through flimzy covering and wet our bed most
perfectly in shot we lay in the water all the latter part of the night.
unfortunately my chronometer which for greater security I have woarn in
my fob for ten days past, got wet last night; it seemed a little
extraordinary that every part of my breechies which were under my head,
should have escaped the moisture except the fob where the time peice
was. I opened it and founded it nearly filled with water which I
carefully drained out exposed it to the air and wiped the works as well
as I could with dry feathers after which I touched them with a little
bears oil. several parts of the iron and steel works were rusted a
little which I wiped with all the care in my power. I set her to going
and from her apparent motion hope she has sustained no material
injury.--at 9 A.M. Sergt. Pryor and Collins returned, Sergt. Pryor
brought the Skin and flesh of a black bear which he had killed; Collins
had also killed a very large variegated bear but his horse having
absconded last evening was unable to bring it. they had secured this
meat perfectly from the wolves or birds and as it was at a considerable
distance we did not think proper to send for it today. neither of these
bear were in good order. as the bear are reather ferocious and we are
obliged to depend on them pincipally for our subsistence we thought it
most advisable to direct at least two hunters to go together, and they
accordingly peared themselves out for this purpose. we also apportioned
the horses to the several hunters in order that they should be equally
rode and thereby prevent any horse being materially injured by being
too constantly hunted. we appointed the men not hunters to take charge
of certain horses in the absence of the hunters and directed the
hunters to set out in different directions early in the morning and not
return untill they had killed some game. it rained moderately the
greater part of the day and snowed as usual on the plain. Sergt. Pryor
informed me that it was shoe deep this morning when he came down. it is
somewhat astonishing that the grass and a variety of plants which are
now from a foot to 18 inches high on these plains sustain no injury
from the snow or frost; many of those plants are in blume and appear to
be of a tender susceptable texture. we have been visited by no indians
today, and occurrence which has not taken place before since we left
the Narrows of the Columbia.--I am pleased at finding the river rise so
rapidly, it now doubt is attributeable to the meting snows of the
mountains; that icy barier which seperates me from my friends and
Country, from all which makes life esteemable.--patience, patience
[Clark, May 17, 1806]
Saturday 17th May 1806
rained moderately all the last night and this morning untill we are
wet. The little river on which we are encamped rise Sepriseingly fast.
at 9 A.M. Sergt. Pryor and Collins returned with the flesh and Skin of
a Black bear on Sgt. Pryors horse. Collins's horse haveing run off from
him yesterday. they informed us that they had each killed a Bear
neither of which were fat. the one which they left in the woods was of
the white Species and very large we did not think it necessary in the
cours of this day to Send for the flesh of the bear left in the woods.
the rains of the last night unfortunately wet the Crenomuter in the fob
of Capt. L. breaches. which has never before been wet Since we Set out
on this expedition. her works were cautiously wiped and made dry by
Capt. L. and I think She will recive no injury from this misfortune &c.
we arranged the hunters and horses to each hunter and directed them to
turn out in the morning early and continue out untill they Killed
Something. others arranged so as to take care of the hunters horses in
their absence. rained moderately all day. at the Same time Snowed on
the mountains which is in to the S. E. of us. no Indians visit us to
day which is a Singular circumstance as we have not been one day
without Indians Since we left the long narrows of the Columbia. the
fiew worm days which we have had has melted the Snows in the Mountains
and the river has rose considerably. that icy barier which Seperates me
from my friends and Country, from all which makes life estimable, is
yet white with the Snow which is maney feet deep. I frequently Consult
the nativs on the subject of passing this tremendious barier which now
present themselves to our view for great extent, they all appear to
agree as to the time those Mountains may be passed which is about the
Middle of June.
Sergt. pryor informs me that the Snow on the high plains from the river
was Shoe deep this morning when he Came down. it is somewhat
estonishing that the grass and a variety of Plants Sustain no injurey
from the Snow or frost; Maney of those plants are in blume and appear
to be of tender susceptable texture. At the distance of 18 Miles from
the river and on the Eastern border of the high Plain the Rocky
Mountain Commences and presents us with Winter here we have Summer,
Spring and Winter in the Short Space of twenty or thirty miles
[Lewis, May 18, 1806]
Sunday May 18th 1806.
Twelve hunters turned out this morning in different directions
agreeably to the order of last evening. Potts and Whitehouse
accompanied Collins to the bear he had killed on the 16th inst. with
which they returned in the afternoon. the colours of this bear was a
mixture of light redish brown white and dark brown in which the bey or
redish brown predominated, the fur was bey as well as the lower pertion
of the long hairs, the white next succeeded in the long hairs which at
their extremites were dark brown, this uncommon mixture might be termed
a bey grizzle.
our indian woman was busily engaged today in laying in a store of the
fennel roots for the Rocky mountains. these are called by the Shoshones
year-pah. at 2 P.M. 3 Indians who had been hunting towards the place at
which we met with Chopunnish last fall, called by them the quawmash
grounds, called at our camp; they informed us that they had been
hunting several days and had killed nothing; we gave them a small peice
of meat which they told us they would reserve for their small children
who were very hungary; we smoked with them and they shortly after
departed. early this morning the natives erected a lodge on the
opposite side of the river near a fishing stand a little above us. no
doubt to be in readiness for the salmon, the arrival of which they are
so ardently wishing as well as ourselves. this stand is a small stage
are warf constructed of sticks and projecting about 10 feet into the
river and about 3 feet above the surface of the water on the extremity
of this the fisherman stands with his scooping net, which differ but
little in their form from those commonly used in our country it is
formed thus. the fisherman exercised himself some hours today but I
believe without success. at 3 P.M. J. Fields returned very unwell
having killed nothing. shortly after an old man and woman arrived; the
former had soar eyes and the latter complained of a lax and rheumatic
effections. we gave the woman some creem of tartar and flour of
sulpher, and washed the old man's eyes with a little eyewater. a little
before dark Drewyer R. Fields and LaPage returned having been also
unsuccessfull they had killed a hawk only and taken the part of a
salmon from an Eagle, the latter altho it was of itself not valuable
was an agreeable sight as it gave us reason to hope that the salmon
would shortly be with us. these hunters had scowered the country
between the Kooskooske and Collins's Creek from hence to their junction
about 10 miles and had seen no deer or bear and but little sign of
either. shortly after dark it began to rain and continued raining
moderately all night. the air was extreemly cold and disagreeable and
we lay in the water as the preceeding night.
[Clark, May 18, 1806]
Sunday 18th May 1806
Cloudy morning 12 hunters turned out this morning in different
directions agreeably to the order of yesterday. Potts and Whitehouse
accompanied Collins to the bear which he had killed on the 16th and
brought in the flesh and Skin. this bear was not large but remarkably
light coloured the hair of it as also the hair of all those which has
been killed is very thick and long. The Squar wife to Shabono busied
her Self gathering the roots of the fenel Called by the Snake Indians
Year-pah for the purpose of drying to eate on the Rocky mountains.
those roots are very paliatiable either fresh rosted boiled or dried
and are generally between the Size of a quill and that of a mans fingar
and about the length of the latter. at 2 P.M. 3 Indians who had been
out hunting towards the place we met with the Chopunnish last fall,
which place they Call the quarmash grounds. those men had been out
Several days and killed nothing. we gave them a Small piece of meat
which they told us they would reserve for their Small Children who was
very hungary. we Smoked with them and they departed. The nativs made a
lodge on the opposit bank of the river a little above us at a fishing
place. as all communication is cut off between us and the nativs on the
opposit Side of the river, we cannot Say by whome or for what service
that lodge has been errected as no one has been near it Since it was
errected this morning. at 3 P M Jo. Field returned from the chase
without killing any thing he complains of being unwell. Son after an
old man and a woman arived the man with Sore eyes, and the woman with a
gripeing and rhumatic effections. I gave the woman a dose of creme of
tarter and flour of Sulphur, and the man Some eye water. a little
before night Rueben Field Drewyer and LaPage returned haveing killed
nothing but a large hawk they had hunted in the point between the
Kooskooske and Collins's Creek and Saw but little Sign of either deer
or Bear. the evening Cloudy, Soon after dark it began to rain and
rained moderately all night-. LaPage took a Salmon from an Eagle at a
Short distance below our Camp. this is induces us to believe that the
Salmon is in this river and most probably will be here in great numbers
in the Course of a fiew days.
[Lewis, May 19, 1806]
Monday May 19th 1806.
It continued to rain this morning untill 8 OCk. when it became fair. We
sent Charbono, Thompson, Potts, Hall and Wiser over the river to a
village above in order to purchase some roots to eat with our lean bear
meat. for this purpose we gave them a few awls, Kniting pins and
Armbands. we were informed that there was a canoe at the village in
which they could pass the river. I sent Joseph and R. Feilds up the
river in surch of the horse which I rode over the Rocky mountains last
fall. he had been seen yesterday with a parse) of indian horses and has
become almost wild. at 11 A.M. Thompson returned from the village
accompanied by a train of invalids consisting of 4 men 8 women and a
child. The men had soar eyes and the women in addition to soar eyes had
a variety of other complaints principally rheumatic; a weakness and
pain in the loins is a common complaint with their women. eyewater was
administered to all; to two of the women cathartics were given, to a
third who appeared much dejected and who from their account of her
disease we supposed it to be histerical, we gave 30 drops of Laudanum.
the several parts of the others where the rheumatic pains were seated
were well rubed with volitile linniment. all of those poor wretches
thought themselves much benefited and all returned to their village
well satisfyed. at 5 P.M. or marketers returned with about 6 bushels of
the cows roots and a considerable quanty of bread of the same
materials. late in the evening Reubin and Joseph Feilds returned with
my horse; we had him immediately castrated together with two others by
Drewyer in the ordinary. we amused ourselves about an hour this
afternoon in looking at the men running their horses. several of those
horses would be thought fleet in the U States. a little after dark
Sheilds and Gibson returned unsuccessful) from the chase. they had seen
some deer but no bear.
[Clark, May 19, 1806]
Monday 19th May 1806
Rained this morning untill 8 oClock when it Cleared off and became
fair-. we Sent Shabono, Thomson, Potts, Hall & Wizer over to the
Villages above to purchase Some roots to eate with our pore bear meat,
for which purchase we gave them a fiew Awls, Knitting pins, & arm bans
and directed them to proceed up on this Side of the river opposit to
the Village and Cross in the Cano which we are informed is at that
place. Sent Jo. & Reuben Field up the river a Short distance after the
horse which Capt. Lewis rode over the mountains last fall, which horse
was Seen yesterday with a gangue of Indian horses, and is Very wild-.
about 11 oClock 4 men and 8 Women Came to our Camp with Thompson who
went to the Village very early this morning. those Men applyed for Eye
water and the Women had a Variety of Complaints tho the most general
Complaint was the Rhumitism, pains in the back and the Sore eyes, they
also brought fowd. a very young Child whome they Said had been very
Sick-. I administered eye water to all, two of the women I gave a
carthartic, one whose Spirets were very low and much hipedz I gave 30
drops of Lodomem, and to the others I had their backs hips legs thighs
& arms well rubed with Volitile leniment all of those pore people
thought themselves much benifited by what had been done for them, and
at 3 P.M. they all returned to their Villages well satisfied. at 5 P.M.
Potts, Shabono &c. returned from the Village with about 6 bushels of
the root the nativs Call Cowse and Some bread of the Same root. Rubin &
Jos. Fields returned with the horse Capt. Lewis rode across the rocky
mountains we had this horse imedeately Cut with 2 others which we had
not before thought proper to Castrate. we amused ourselves about an
hour this after noon looking at the men run their horses, Several of
them would be thought Swift horses in the atlantic States. a little
after dark John Shields and Gibson returned haveing killed nothing.
they Saw Some deer but Saw no bear.
[Lewis, May 20, 1806]
Tuesday May 20th 1806.
It rained the greater part of last night and continued this morning
untill noon when it cleared away about an hour and then rained at
intervals untill 4 in the evening. our covering is so indifferent that
Capt C. and myself lay in the water the greater part of the last night.
Drewyer, and the two Feildses set out on a hunting excurtion towards
the mountains. Shannon and Colter came in unsuccessfull, they had
wounded a bear and a deer last evening but the night coming on they
were unable to pursue them, and the snow which fell in the course of
the night and this morning had covered the blood and rendered all
further pursuit impracticable. at 2 P.M. Labuish arrived with a large
buck of the Mule deer speceis which he had killed on Collins's Creek
yesterday. he had left Cruzatte and Collins on the Creek where they
were to wait his return. he informed us that it was snowing on the
plain while it was raining at our camp in the river bottom. late in the
evening Labuish and LaPage set out to join Collins and Cruzatte in
order to resume their hunt early tomorrow morning. this evening a party
of indians assembled on the opposite bank of the river and viewed our
camp with much attention for some time and retired.--at 5 P.M. Frazier
who had been permitted to go to the village this morning returned with
a pasel of Roots and bread which he had purchased. brass buttons is an
article of which these people are tolerably fond, the men have taken
advantage of their prepossession in favour of buttons and have devested
themselves of all they had in possesson which they have given in
exchange for roots and bread.
[Clark, May 20, 1806]
Tuesday 20th May 1806
rained the greater part of the last night and this morning untill
meridean when it Cleared away for an hour and began to rain and rained
at entervals untill 4 P.M. our Covering was so indefferent that Capt
Lewis and my self was wet in our bed all the latter part of the night.
Drewyer, Jos. & R. Fields Set out to towards the mountains. Shannon &
Colter Came in without any thing. they had Seen and Shot at a Bear and
a Deer neither of which they Could get. both of those Animals they must
have Wounded Mortally, but the night Comeing on prevented their
following them, and this morning the Snow had Covered the tracks and
hid the blood and prevented their getting either of them.
at 2 P.M. Labiech Came in with a large Buck of the Mule Deer Speces
which he had killed on Collins's Creek yesterday. he left Collins and
Peter Crusat on the Creek at which place they would Continue untill his
return. he informd. us that it was Snowing on the leavel plains on the
top of the hill all the time it was raining in the bottom at our Camp.
Labiech & Lapage returned to Collins & Crusat in the evening late for
the purpose of Pursueing the hunt in the Morning early. Several Indians
came to the opposit side of the River and viewed us some time. at 5 P M
Frazur who had leave to go to the Village returned with Some roots
which he had purchased. cloudy &c.
[Lewis, May 21, 1806]
Wednesday May 21st 1806.
It rained a few hours this morning. Sheilds and Gibson set out to hunt
towards the mountains. Collins came to camp at noon and remained about
2 hours; he has killed nothing since he left us last. we set five men
at work to make a canoe for the purpose of fishing and passing the
river. the Indians have already promised us a horse for this canoe when
we have no longer any uce for her. as our tent was not sufficient to
shelter us from the rain we had a lodge constructed of willow poles and
grass in the form of the orning of a waggon closed at one end. this we
had made sufficiently large to sleep in and to shelter the most
important part of our baggage. it is perfectly secure against the rain
sun and wind and affords us much the most comfortable shelter we have
had since we left Fort Clatsop. today we divided the remnant of our
store of merchandize among our party with a view that each should
purchase therewith a parsel of roots and bread from the natives as his
stores for the rocky mountains for there seems but little probability
that we shall be enabled to make any dryed meat for that purpose and we
cannot as yet form any just idea what resource the fish will furnish
us. each man's stock in trade amounts to no more than one awl, one
Kniting pin, a half an ounce of vermillion, two nedles, a few scanes of
thead and about a yard of ribbon; a slender stock indeed with which to
lay in a store of provision for that dreary wilderness. we would make
the men collect these roots themselves but there are several speceis of
hemlock which are so much like the cows that it is difficult to
discriminate them from the cows and we are affraid that they might
poison themselves. the indians have given us another horse to kill for
provision which we keep as a reserved store. our dependence for
subsistence is on our guns, the fish we may perhaps take, the roots we
can purchase from the natives and as the last alternative our horses.
we eat the last morsel of meat which we had for dinner this evening,
yet nobody seems much conserned about the state of provision. Willard,
Sergt. Ordway and Goodrich were permitted to visit the village today;
the former returned in the evening with some roots and bread, the two
last remaining all night. one of our party brought in a young sandhill
crain it was about the size of a pateridge and of a redish brown
colour, it appeared to be about 5 or six days old; these crains are
abundant in this neighbourhood.
[Clark, May 21, 1806]
Wednesday 21st May 1806
rained this morning. Shields and Gibson Set out to hunt towards the
mountains. Collins Came in to day and Stayed in about two hours, he has
killed nothing Since he went out last. we Set 5 Men at work to build a
Canoe for the purpose of takeing fish and passing the river and for
which we can get a good horse. as our tent is not Sufficient to keep
off the rain we are Compelled to have Some other resort for a Security
from the repeeted Showers which fall. we have a small half circular
place made and Covered with grass which makes a very Secure Shelter for
us to Sleep under. We devided our Store of merchindize amongst our
party for the purpose of precureing Some roots &c. of the nativs to
each mans part amounted to about an awl Knitting pin a little paint and
Some thread & 2 Needles which is but a Scanty dependance for roots to
take us over those Great Snowey Barriers (rocky mountains) which is and
will be the Cause of our Detention in this neighbourhood probably
untill the 10 or 15 of June. they are at this time Covered deep with
Snow. the plains on the high Country above us is also covered with
Snow. Serjt. Ordway, Goodrich, & Willard went to the village to day to
precure a fiew roots. we eate the last of our meat for Dinner to day,
and our only Certain dependance is the roots we Can precure from the
nativs for the fiew articles we have left those roots with what Game we
Can precure from the wods will probably last us untill the arival of
the Salmon. if they Should not; we have a horse in Store ready to be
killed which the indians have offered to us. Willard returned from the
Village. Sergt. Ordway and Goodrich Continued all night. one of the men
brought me a young Sandhill Crain which was about 5 or 6 days old it
was of a yellowish brown Colour, about the Size of a partridge. Those
Crains are very abundant in every part of this country in pars of two,
and Sometimes three together.
the party had gathered roots with leaves still attached they probably
could have been sorted with Indian assistance. However, the parsley
family (Apiaceae) is one of the most diverse and confusing plant
families in the region, and Lewis could not be sure that the men would
not bring back some other poisonous species not well known to the
Indians. The decision to purchase roots was probably prudent.
[Lewis, May 22, 1806]
Thursday May 22ed 1806.
A fine morning we exposed all our baggage to air and dry as well as our
store of roots and bread purchased from the natives. permited Windsor
and McNeal to go to the indian village. Sergt. Ordway and Goodrich
returned this morning with a good store of roots and bread. about noon
2 indian men came down the river on a raft and continued at our camp
about 3 hours and returned to their village. we.sent out Shannon and
Colter to hunt towards the mountains. we sent Sergt. Pryor down to the
entrance of Collins's Creek to examine the country and look out for a
good position for an encampment on the river below that Creek, having
determined to remove our camp below that crek if it continues high, as
soon as we have completed our canoe, as the country to which we are
confined to hunt at present is limited by this creek and river to a
very narrow tract, and game have already become scarce. if we can
obtain a good situation below the entrance of this creek it will be
much more eligible as the hunting country is more extensive and game
more abundant than above. The horse which the indians have given us to
kill was driven away yesterday by the natives with a gang of their
horses I presume in mistake; being without meat at noon we directed one
of the largest of our colts to be killed. we found the flesh of this
animal fat tender and by no means illy flavoured. we have three others
which we mean to reserve for the rocky mountains if we can subsist here
without them. my horse which was castrated the day before yesterday
wounded his thigh on the inner side with the rope by which he was
confined that evening and is now so much swolen with the wound the
castraiting and the collection of vermen that he cannot walk, in short
he is the most wretched specticle; I had his wounds clensed of the
vermen by washing them well with a strong decoction of the bark of the
roots & leaves of elder but think the chances are against his recovery.
at 3 P.M. we observed a large party of Indians on horseback in pursuit
of a deer which they ran into the river opposite to our camp; Capt. C.
Myself & three of our men shot and killed the deer in the water; the
indians pursued it on a raft and caught it. it is astonishing to see
these people ride down those steep hills which they do at full speed.
on our return to camp we found Drewyer the Two Feildses Gibson and
Sheilds just arrived with five deer which they had killed at a
considerable distance towards the mountains. they also brought with
them two red salmon trout which they had purchased from some indians
whom they had met with on their return to camp.--Two Indians who were
just arrived at our camp informed us that these salmon trout remained
in this river the greater part of the winter, that they were not good
at this season which we readily discovered, they were very meagre.
these indians also informed us that there were at this time a great
number of salmon at no great distance from hence in Lewis's river which
had just arrived and were very fat and fine, they said it would be some
yet before they would ascend this river as high as this place. a party
of the natives on the opposite shore informed those with us that a
party of the Shoshones had two nights past surrounded a lodge of their
nation on the South side of Lewis's river, that the inhabitants having
timely discovered the enimy effected their retreat in the course of the
night and escaped. Charbono's Child is very ill this evening; he is
cuting teeth, and for several days past has had a violent lax, which
having suddonly stoped he was attacked with a high fever and his neck
and throat are much swolen this evening. we gave him a doze of creem of
tartar and flour of sulpher and applyed a poltice of boiled onions to
his neck as warm as he could well bear it. Sergt. Pryor returned late
in the evening and informed us that he had been down the river eight
miles and that the clifts set in so abruptly to the river he could get
no further without returning several miles back and ascending the hills
and that he had thought it best to return and ride down tomorrow on the
high plain as he believed the mouth of the creek was a considerable
distance. Drewyer who has been at the place informs us that it is about
10 ms. and that there is no situation on the river for some distance
below this creek which can possibly answer our purposes.--we dryed our
baggage &c perfectly and put it up.-
[Clark, May 22, 1806]
Thursday 22nd May 1806
a fine day we exposed all our baggage to the Sun to air and dry, also
our roots which we have precured of the nativs. gave promission to
Windser & McNeal to go to the Indian Villages. Sergt. Ordway and
goodrich returned at 11 A.M. Soon after 2 Indian men Came down on a
raft and Continued with us about 3 hours and then returned to their
Village. Shannon & Colter went out to day to hunt towards the
mountains. Sergt. Pryor went out to hunt down the river, and examine
the mouth of Collins Creek, if a good Situation was below that Creek
for a Camp. this Creek which Cannot be passed owing to it's debth &
rapidity is a great beariore in our way to the best hunting Country. it
confines us to a narrow scope between this Creek and the river on which
we are Camped. If a Situation can be found imedeately below the Creek
it will answer us better than our present one as from thence we Can get
out to Some distance to hunt, and be convenient also to the fish Should
they pass up &c. The horse the Indian's left with us to kill has been
drove to their village with a gang of horses which I suppose belonged
to another man. as the greater part of our men have not had any Meat to
eate for 2 days, and the roots they Complain of, not being accustiomed
to live on them altogether we derected a large Coalt which was given to
us by a young man with an elegant mare on the ____ instant. this Coalt
was fat and was handsom looking meat. late in the evening we were
informed that the horse which Capt L. rode over the rocky mountains and
which was Cut day before yesterday had his hip out of place Since that
time, and Could not walk. Capt. Lewis examined him and thought he Could
not recover. at 3 P.M. we observed a number of Indians in chase of a
deer on their horses on the opposit hill Sides. Soon after the deer
took the water I Capt L. and 3 men run down on this Side, and killed
the deer in the water, the deer floated down and the Indians took it by
means of a raft which they had ready. on my return to Camp found
Drewyer Jos. & Reuben Fields, Shields and gibson just arrived from the
Chass with 5 Deer which they had killed on the high lands toward the
mountains. they also brought with them two Salmon trout which they had
purchased of Indians which they Saw on their return to Camp. at 5 p. M.
two young men highly decurated in their way Came to our camp and
informed us that the fat fish were in great numbers in Lewis's river.
that those Salmon trout which our hunters brought were pore and Such as
were Cought in the Winter in this river and were not the kind which
Comes up in the Spring of the year. great number of Indians Come to the
opposit bank and inform those on this Side that the Snake Indians had
come to a Lodge on Lewis's river at night. the inhabitents previously
discovering them abandened the house. Shabonoes Son a Small child is,
dangerously ill. his jaw and throat is much Swelled. we apply a poltice
of Onions. after giveing him Some creem of tarter &c. this day proved
to be fine fair which afforded us an oppertunety of drying our baggage
which had got a little wet.
[Lewis, May 23, 1806]
Friday May 23rd 1806.
Sergt. Pryor wounded a deer early this morning in a lick near camp; my
dog pursud it into the river; the two young Indian men who had remained
with us all night mounted their horses swam the river and drove the
deer into the water again; Sergt. Pryor killed it as it reached the
shore on this side, the indians returned as they had passed over. we
directed half this deer to be given to the indians, they immediately
made a fire and cooked their meat, 4 others joined them from the
village with the assistance of whom they consumed their portion of the
spoil in less than 2 hours and took their leave of our camp. The Creem
of tartar and sulpher operated several times on the child in the course
of the last night, he is considerably better this morning, tho the
swelling of the neck has abated but little; we still apply polices of
onions which we renew frequently in the course of the day and night. at
noon we were visited by 4 indians who informed us they cad come from
their village on Lewis's river at the distance of two days ride in
order to see us and obtain a little eyewater, Capt. C. washed their
eyes and they set out on their return to their village. our skill as
phisicans and the virture of our medecines have been spread it seems to
a great distance. I sincerely wish it was in our power to give releif
to these poor afficted wretches. at 1 P.M. Shannon, Colter, Labuish,
Cruzatte, Collins, and LaPage returned from hunting without having
killed anything except a few pheasants of the dark brown kind, which
they brought with them.These hunters informed us that they had hunted
the country deligently between the river and Creek for some distance
above and below our camp and that there was no game to be found. all
the horses which have been castrated except my poor unfortunate horse
appear as if they would do very well. I am convinced that those cut by
the indians will get well much soonest and they do not swell nor appear
to suffer as much as those cut in the common way.
[Clark, May 23, 1806]
Friday 23rd May 1806
a fair morning. Sergt. Pryor wounded a Deer at a lick near our Camp and
our dog prosued it into the river. two Indians which happened to be at
our Camp Mounted their horses and Swam across the river chased the deer
into the water again and pursued it across to the Side on which we
were, and as the Deer Came out of the Water Sgt. Pryor killed it. we
derected half of this deer to be given to those two indians. they
imediately made a fire and Cooked the meat. 4 others joined them from
the Village and they Soon consumed their portion. The Child is
Something better this morning than it was last night. we apply a fresh
poltice of the wild Onion which we repeeted twice in the Course of the
day. the Swelling does not appear to increas any Since yesterday. The 4
Indians who visited us to day informed us that they Came from their
village on Lewis's river two days ride from this place for the purpose
of Seeing of us and getting a little eye water I washed their eyes with
Some eyewater and they all left us at 2 P.M. and returned to the
Villages on the opposit Side of this river. at 1 oClock Shannon,
Colter, Labiech, Crusatt Lapage and Collins all returned from hunting
without haveing killed any thing except a fiew heath hens & black
Pheasants two of which they brought with them. Labiech also brought a
whisteling squerel which he had killed on it's hole in the high plains.
this squerel differs from those on the Missouri in their Colour, Size,
food and the length tal and from those found near the falls of Columbia
Our hunters brought us a large hooting owl which differ from those of
the atlantic States. The plumage of this owl is an uniform mixture of
dark yellowish brown and white, in which the dark brown prodominates.
it's Colour may be properly termed a dark Iron gray. the plumage is
very long and remarkably Silky and Soft. those have not the long
feathers on the head which give it the appearance of ears, or horns,
remarkable large eyes
the hunters informed us that they had hunted with great industry all
the Country between the river and for Some distance above and below
without the Smallest Chance of killing any game. they inform us that
the high lands are very cold with snow which has fallen for every day
or night for Several past. our horses which was Cut is like to doe well.
[Lewis, May 24, 1806]
Saturday May 24th 1806.
The child was very wrestless last night; it's jaw and the back of it's
neck are much more swolen than they were yesterday tho his fever has
abated considerably. we gave it a doze of creem of tartar and applyed a
fresh poltice of onions. we ordered some of the hunters out this
morning and directed them to pass Collins's creek if possible and hunt
towards the quawmash feilds. William Bratton still continues very
unwell; he eats heartily digests his food well, and his recovered his
flesh almost perfectly yet is so weak in the loins that he is scarcely
able to walk nor can he set upwright but with the greatest pain. we
have tryed every remidy which our engenuity could devise, or with which
our stock of medicines furnished us, without effect. John Sheilds
observed that he had seen men in a similar situation restored by
violent sweats. Bratton requested that he might be sweated in the
manner proposed by Sheilds to which we consented. Sheilds sunk a
circular hole of 3 feet diamiter and four feet deep in the earth. he
kindled a large fire in the hole and heated well, after which the fire
was taken out a seat placed in the center of the hole for the patient
with a board at bottom for his feet to rest on; some hoops of willow
poles were bent in an arch crossing each other over the hole, on these
several blankets were thrown forming a secure and thick orning of about
3 feet high. the patient being striped naked was seated under this
orning in the hole and the blankets well secured on every side. the
patient was furnished with a vessell of water which he sprinkles on the
bottom and sides of the hole and by that means creates as much steam or
vapor as he could possibly bear, in this situation he was kept about 20
minutes after which he was taken out and suddonly plunged in cold water
twise and was then immediately returned to the sweat hole where he was
continued three quarters of an hour longer then taken out covered up in
several blankets and suffered to cool gradually. during the time of his
being in the sweat hole, he drank copious draughts of a strong tea of
horse mint. Sheilds says that he had previously seen the tea of
Sinnecca snake root used in stead of the mint which was now employed
for the want of the other which is not be found in this country.--this
experiment was made yesterday; Bratton feels himself much better and is
walking about today and says he is nearly free from pain.--at 11 A.M. a
canoe arrived with 3 of the natives one of them the sick man of whom I
have before made mentions as having lost the power of his limbs. he is
a cheif of considerable note among them and they seem extreemly anxious
for his recovery. as he complains of no pain in any particular part we
conceive it cannot be the rheumatism, nor do we suppose that it can be
a parelitic attack or his limbs would have been more deminished. we
have supposed that it was some disorder which owed it's origine to a
diet of particular roots perhaps and such as we have never before
witnessed. while at the village of the broken arm we had recommended a
diet of fish or flesh for this man and the cold bath every morning. we
had also given him a few dozes of creem of tarter and flour of sulpher
to be repeated every 3rd day. this poor wretch thinks that he feels
himself of somewhat better but to me there appears to be no visible
alteration. we are at a loss what to do for this unfortunate man. we
gave him a few drops of Laudanum and a little portable soup. 4 of our
party pased the river and visited the lodge of the broken Arm for the
purpose of traiding some awls which they had made of the links of small
chain belonging to one of their steel traps, for some roots. they
returned in the evening having been very successfull, they had obtained
a good supply of roots and bread of cows.--this day has proved warmer
than any of the preceeding since we have arrived here.
[Clark, May 24, 1806]
Saturday 24th May 1806
a fine morning the Child was very restless last night its jaw and back
of its neck is much more Swelled than it was yesterday. I gave it a
dost of Creme of Tarter and a fresh Poltice of Onions. ordered Shields,
Gibson, Drewyer, Crusat, Collins, and Jo. & rubin Fields to turn out
hunting and if possible Cross Collins Creek and hunt towards the quar
mash fields. W. Brattin is yet very low he eats hartily but he is So
weak in the Small of his back that he Can't walk. we have made use of
every remidy to restore him without it's haveing the desired effect.
one of our party, John Shields observed that he had Seen men in Similar
Situations restored by Violent Swets. and bratten requested that he
might be Swetted in the way Sheilds purposed which we agreed to.
Shields dug a round hole 4 feet deep & 3 feet Diamuter in which he made
a large fire So as to beet the hole after which the fire was taken out
a Seet placed in the hole. the patent was then Set on the Seat with a
board under his feet and a can of water handed him to throw on the
bottom & Sides of the hole So as to create as greate a heat as he Could
bear. and the hole covered with blankets supported by hoops. after
about 20 minits the patient was taken out and put in Cold water a few
minits, & returned to the hole in which he was kept about 1 hour. then
taken out and Covered with Several blankets, which was taken off by
degrees untill he became Cool. this remedy took place yesterday and
bratten is walking about to day and is much better than he has been. at
11 A.M. a canoe came down with the Indian man who had applyed for
medical assistance while we lay at the broken arms village. this man I
had given a fiew doses of Flower of Sulpher & Creme of Tarter and
derected that he Should take the Cold bath every morning. he Conceited
himself a little better than he was at that time. he had lost the use
of all his limbs and his fingers are Contracted. We are at a loss to
deturmine what to do for this unfortunate man. I gave him a few drops
of Lodman and Some portable Supe as medisine. 4 of our men Crossed the
river and went to the broken arms Village and returned in the evening
with a Supply of bread and roots which they precured in exchange for
Awls which were made of pieces of a chane--we were visited to day by
the 2 young men who gave Capt. L. and my Self a horse each at the
village. those men Stayed about two hours and returned to their
village. this day proved to be very worm.
[Lewis, May 25, 1806]
Sunday May 25th 1806.
It rained the greater part of last night and continued untill 6 A.M.
our grass tent is impervious to the rain. the Child is more unwell than
yesterday. we gave it a doze of creem of tartar which did not operate,
we therefore gave it a clyster in the evening. we caused a sweat to be
prepared for the indian Cheif in the same manner in which Bratton had
been sweated, this we attempted but were unable to succeed, as he was
unable to set up or be supported in the place. we informed the indians
that we knew of no releif for him except sweating him in their sweat
houses and giving him a plenty of the tea of the horsemint which we
shewed them. and that this would probably nos succeed as he had been so
long in his present situation. I am confident that this would be an
excellent subject for electricity and much regret that I have it not in
my power to supply it.--Drewyer Labuish and Cruzatte set out this
morning to hunt towards the quawmash grounds if they can possibly pass
Collins's Creek. Joseph and Reuben Feilds passed the river in order to
hunt on the opposite side some miles above where the natives inform us
that there is an abundance of bear and some deer. Goodrich visited a
village about 8 ms. above on the opposite side of the river and
returned in the evening; he procured but few roots, he informed us that
there were but 8 persons at home; the others were either hunting,
diging roots or fishing on Lewis's river. he saw several salmon in
their lodges which they informed him came from that river these fish
were remarkably fat and fine. Gibson and shields returned this evening
having killed a Sandhill Crain only. they had wounded a female bear and
a deer but got neither of them. Gibson informed me that the bear had
two cubbs one of which was white and other as black as jett. four
indians remained with us this evening.-
[Clark, May 25, 1806]
Sunday 25th May 1806
rained moderately the greater part of last night and this morning
untill 6 A.M. The child is not So well to day as yesterday. I repeeted
the Creem of tarter and the onion poltice. I caused a Swet to be
prepared for the Indn. in the Same hole which bratten had been Sweeten
in two days past Drewyer Labiech and Peter crusatt Set out hunting
towards the quarmash grounds if they can cross the Creek which is
between this and that place, which has been the bearrer as yet to our
hunters. Jos. & R Fields crossed the river to hunt on the opposit side.
Goodrich went to the 2d village to purchase roots a fiew of which he
precured. he informed us that only 8 persons remained in the Village.
the men were either hunting on Lewis's river fishing, & the women out
digging roots. he saw Several fresh Salmon which the nativs informed
him Came from Lewis's river and were fat and fine. one of our men
purchased a Bear Skin of the nativs which was nearly of a Cream
Coloured white. this Skin which was the Skin of an animal of the middle
Size of bears together with the defferent Sizes colours &c. of those
which have been killed by our hunters give me a Stronger evidence of
the various Coloured bear of this country being one Species only, than
any I have heretofore had. the poil of these bear were infinately
longer finer & thicker than the black bear their tallons also longer &
more blunt as worn by digging roots. the white redish brown and bey
Coloured bear I saw together on the Missouri; the bey & Grizly have
been Seen and killed together here. for these were the Colours of those
which Collins killed on the 14th inst. in short it is not common to
find two bear here of this Species presisely of the same colour, and if
we were to attempt to distinguish them by their colours and to
denomonate each colour a distinct Species we Should Soon find at least
twenty. the most Strikeing difference between this Species of bear and
the Common black bear are that the former are large and have longer
tallens, hair, and tushes, prey more on other animals, do not lie so
long or so closely in winter quarters, and will not Climb a tree, tho
ever so hardly pursued. the varigated bear I believe to be the Same
here with those of the Missouri but these are not so ferocious as those
on the Missouri perhaps from the Circumstance of their being compeled
from the scercity of game in this quarter to live more on roots and of
course not so much in the habit of Seizing and debowering liveing
animals. the bear here is far from being as passive as the common black
bear, they have atacked and fought our hunters already but not so
feircely as those of the Missouri. There are also some of the Common
black bear in this neghbourhood tho no So Common as the other Species.
we attempted to swet the sick indian but could not Suckceed. he was not
able either to Set up or be Supported in the place prepared for him. I
therefore deturmined to inform the Nativs that nothing but Sefere
Swetts would restore this disabled man, and even that doubtfull in his
present Situation. in the evening Shields & gibson returned haveing
killed a Sandhill Crane only. they Saw a female bear, & 2 Cubs &
Several deer. they Shot the bear and a deer both of which made their
escape. Gibson told me that the Cubs were of different Colours one jut
black and the other of a whiteish Colour-. 4 indians Continue with us,
one return to their village to daey
[Lewis, May 26, 1806]
Monday May 26th 1806.
Had frequent showers in the course of the last night. Collins, Shannon
and Colter set out to hunt on the high lands some distance up on the N.
E. side of Collins's Creek. The Clyster given the Child last evening
operated very well. it is clear of fever this evening and is much
better, the swelling is considerably abated and appears as if it would
pass off without coming to a head. we still continue fresh poltices of
onions to the swolen part. we directed the indians in what manner to
treat the dieased Cheif, gave him a few dozes of flour of sulpher and
Creem of tartar & some portable soupe and directed them to take him
home. they seemed unwilling to comply with the latter part of the
injunction for they consumed the day and remained with us all night. at
1 P.M. Joseph and R. Feilds returned, accompanyed by Hohastillpilp
several other inferior Cheifs and some young men. These hunters
informed us they were unable to reach the grounds to which they had
been directed in consequence of the debth and rapidity of a large creek
which falls in about 10 Ms. above. they passed Commearp Creek at about
11/2 Ms. and a second creek reather larger at 3 Ms. further. at the
distance of 4 Ms. up this last creek on their return they called at a
village which our traders have never yet visited, here they obtained a
large quantity of bread and roots of Cows on very moderate terms. we
permitted Sergt. Pryor and four men to pass the river tomorrow morning
with a view to visit this village we also directed Charbono York and
LePage to set out early for the same place and procure us some roots.
our meat is again exhausted, we therefore directed R. Fields to hunt
the horse in the morning which the Indians have given us to kill. one
of our men saw a salmon in the river today. in the afternoon we
compleated our canoe and put her in the water; she appears to answer
very well and will carry about 12 persons.--the river still rising fast
and snows of the mountains visibly diminish
[Clark, May 26, 1806]
Monday 26th May 1806
Some Small Showers of rain last night, and continued Cloudy this
morning untill 7 A. M when it Cleared away and became fair and worm.
Collins Shannon & Colter set out to hunt on the high lands to the N E
of us towards Collins Creek. The Child Something better this morning
tho the Swelling yet continues. we Still apply the onion poltice. I
detected what Should be done for the disabled man, gave him a fiew
doses of Creem of tarter & flour Sulphur, and Some portable Supe and
directed that he Should be taken home & Swetted &c. at 1 P.M. Joseph &
R. Fields returned accompanied by Hoh hast ill pilt and an Second Chief
and 4 men Several young men also rode down on this Side. Jo & R Fields
informed us that they were at a village 4 Miles up the 2nd Creek from
this place on the opposit side above at which place on the opposit side
above at which place they precured roots on very reasonable terms. they
Could not proceed higher up to hunt as the creeks were too high for
them to Cross, &c. we gave permission to Serjt. Pryor and 4 men to
cross the river and trade with nativs of the village the Field's were
at yesterday for roots &c. we also directed Shabono & york to proceed
on to the Same Village and precure Some roots for our Selves if
possible. one of our men Saw a Salmon in the river to day. and two
others eat of Salmon at the near Village which was brought from Lewis's
river. our Canoe finished and put into the water. it will Carry 12 men.
the riseing very fast and Snow appear to melt on the Mountains.
[Lewis, May 27, 1806]
Tuesday May 27th 1806.
Early this morning we sent Reubin Fields in surch of the horse which
the indians had given us to kill. at 10 in the morning he returned with
the horse and we killed and butchered him; he was large and in good
order. Hohastillpilp told us that most of the horses we saw runing at
large in this neighbourhood belonged to himself and his people, and
whenever we were in want of meat he requested that we would kill any of
them we wished; this is a peice of liberallity which would do honour to
such as host of civilization; indeed I doubt whether there are not a
great number of our countrymen who would see us fast many days before
their compassion would excite them to a similar act of liberallity.
Sergt. Pryor and the party ordered to the indian Village set out early
this morning. in the evening he returned with Gibson and Sheilds. the
others remained at the village all night; they brought a good store of
roots and bread. we also sent Sergt. ordway and 2 men this morning over
to Lewis's river for salmon, which the indians inform us may be
procured in abundance at that place, and that it is but half a days
ride, nearly south.--Drewyer, Cruzatte, and Labuish returned at 4 P.M.
with five deer which they had killed at some distance up Collins's
Creek on this side; that stream still continues so high that they could
not pass it.--Charbono's son is much better today, tho the swelling on
the side of his neck I beleive will terminate in an ugly imposthume a
little below the ear. the indians were so anxious that the sick Cheif
should be sweated under our inspection that they requested we would
make a second attept today; accordingly the hole was somewhat enlarged
and his father a very good looking old man, went into the hole with him
and sustained him in a proper position during the operation; we could
not make him sweat as copiously as we wished. after the operation he
complained of considerable pain, we gave him 30 drops of laudanum which
soon composed him and he rested very well.--this is at least a strong
mark of parental affection. they all appear extreemly attentive to this
sick man nor do they appear to relax in their asceduity towards him
notwithstand he has been sick and helpless upwards of three years. the
Chopunnish appear to be very attentive and kind to their aged people
and treat their women with more rispect than the nations of the
Missouri.--There is a speceis of Burrowing squirrel common in these
plains which in their habits somewhat resemble those of the missouri
but are a distinct speceis. this little animal measures one fot five
and 1/2 inches from the nose to the extremity of the tail, of which the
tail occupys 21/4 inches only; in the girth it is 11 In. the body is
proportionably long, the neck and legs short; the ears are short,
obtusely pointed, and lie close to the head; the aperture of the ear is
larger proportionably than most animals which burrow. the eyes are of
moderate size, the puple black and iris of a dark sooty brown. the
teeth are like those of the squirrel as is it's whole contour. the
whiskers are full, long and black; it also has some long black hairs
above the eyes. it has five toes on each foot; the two inner toes of
the fore feet are remarkably short, and have short blont nails. the
remaining toes on those feet are long, black, slightly curved, and
sharply pointed. the outer and inner toes of the hind feet are not
short yet they are by no means as long as the three toes in the center
of the foot which are remarkably long but the nails are not as long as
those of the fore feet tho of the same form and colour. the hair of the
tail tho of the same form and colour. the hair of the tail tho thickly
inserted on every part rispects the two sides only. this gives it a
flat appearance and a long ovol form. the tips of the hair which form
the outer edges of the tail are white. the base of the hairs are either
black or a fox red. the under disk of the tail is an iron grey, the
upper a redish brown. the lower part of the jaws, under part of the
neck, legs and feet from the body down and belley are of a light brick
red. the nose as high as the eyes is of a darker brick red. the upper
part of the head neck and body are of a curious brownish grey colour
with a cast of the brick red. the longer hair of these parts being of a
redish white colour at their extremities, fall together in such manner
as to give it the appearance of being speckled at a little distance.
these animals form large ascociations as those of the Missouri,
occupying with their burroughs one or sometimes 200 acres of land. the
burrows are seperate and are each occupyed perhaps by ten or 12 of
those animals. there is a little mound in front of the hole formed of
the earth thrown out of the burrow and frequently there are three or
four distinct holes forming what I term one burrow with their mouths
arround the base of this little mound which seems to be occupyed as a
watch-tower in common by the inhabitants of those several holes. these
mounds are sometimes as much as 2 feet high and 4 feet in diameter, and
are irregularly distributed over the tract they occupy at the distance
of from ten to thirty or 40 yds. when you approach a burrow the
squirrels, one or more, usually set erect on these mounds and make a
kind of shrill whistleing nois, something like tweet, tweet, tweet, &c.
they do not live on grass as those of the missouri but on roots. one
which I examined had in his mouth two small bulbs of a speceis of
grass, which resemble very much what is sometimes called the grassnut.
the intestins of those little animals are remarkably large for it's
size. fur short and very fine.--the grass in their villages is not cut
down as in those of the plains of the missouri. I preserved the skins
of several of these animals with the heads feet and legs entire. The
Black woodpecker which I have frequently mentioned and which is found
in most parts of the roky Mountains as well as the Western and S. W.
mountains. I had never an opportunity of examining untill a few days
since when we killed and preserved several of them. this bird is about
the size of the lark woodpecker of the turtle dove, tho it's wings are
longer than either of those birds. the beak is black, one inch long,
reather wide at the base, somewhat curved, and sharply pointed; the
chaps are of equal length. arround the base of the beak including the
eye and a small part of the throat is of a fine crimson red. the neck
and as low as the croop in front is of an iron grey. the belly and
breast is a curious mixture of white and blood reed which has much the
appearance of having been artifically painted or stained of that
colour. the red reather predominates. the top of the head back, sides,
upper surface of the wings and tail are black, with a gossey tint of
green in a certain exposure to the light. the under side of the wings
and tail are of a sooty black. it has ten feathers in the tail, sharply
pointed, and those in the center reather longest, being 21/2 inches in
length. the tongue is barbed, pointed, and of an elastic cartelaginous
substance. the eye is moderately large, puple black and iris of a dark
yellowish brown. this bird in it's actions when flying resembles the
small redheaded woodpecke common to the Atlantic states; it's note also
somewhat resembles that bird. the pointed tail seems to assist it in
seting with more eas or retaining it its resting position against the
perpendicular side of a tree. the legs and feet are black and covered
with wide imbricated scales. it has four toes on each foot of which two
are in rear and two in front; the nails are much curved long and
remarkably keen or sharply pointed. it feeds on bugs worms and a
variety of insects.
[Clark, May 27, 1806]
Tuesday 27th May 1806
A cloudy morning Serjt. Pryor and party Set out at 7 A.M. Serjt. Ordway
and two men are ordered to cross this river and proceed on through the
plains to Lewis's and precure Some Salmon on that river, and return
tomorrow if possible he Set out at 8 A.M. we Sent Rub. Field in Serch
of the horse which the indians had given us to kill. at 10 A. M he
returned with the horse and he was killed and butchered; he was large
and in good order. hohastillpilp told us that most of the horses which
we Saw running in those plains in this neighbourhood at large belonged
to himself and his people, and whenever we were in want of meet, he
requested that would kill any of them we wished; this is a piece of
liberallity which would do honour to Such as host of civilization.
Serjt. Pryor, Gibson & Shields returned from the Village with a good
Stock of roots and bread. Shabono Lapage & Yourk whome we had Sent to
purchase roots for ourselves remained at the Village all night.
Drewyer, Labiech & Crusat return at 4 P.M. with 5 Deer which they had
killed at Some distance up Collin's Creek on this Side, that Stream
Still continue So high that they could not pass it.
Shabono's child is much better to day; tho the Swelling on the Side of
his neck I believe will termonate in an ugly imposthume a little below
the ear. The Indians were so anxious that the Sick Chief (who has lost
the use of his limbs) Should be Sweted under our inspection they
requested me to make a 2d attempt to day; accordingly the hole was
enlargened and his father a very good looking old man performed all the
drugery &c. we could not make him Swet as copously as we wished. being
compelled to keep him erect in the hole by means of Cords. after the
oppiration he complained of Considerable pain, I gave him 30 drops of
Laudnom which Soon composed him and he rested very well-. I observe the
Strongest marks of parental affection. they all appear extreemly
attentive to this Sick man, no do they appear to relax in their
ascituity towards him not withstanding he has been Sick and helpless
for near 5 years. The Chopunnish appeare to be very attentive & kind to
their aged people and treat their women with more respect than the
nativs on the Missouri.
There is a Species of whistleing Squirel common in these plains which
in their habit Somewhat resembles those of the Missouri but are a
distinct Species. this little animale measures 1 foot 5 inches & a half
from the nose to the extremity of the tail, of which the tail occupies
21/4 inches only; in the girth it is 11 inches the body is
perpotionably long, the neck and legs Short; the ears are Short,
obtusely pointed, and lye close to the head; the aperture of the ear is
larger proportionably than most animals which burrow. the eyes are of
Moderate Size, the puple black and iris of a dark dusky brown. the
teeth are like those of the Squirel as is it's whole contour. the
whiskers are full, long and black; it has also Some long black hars
above the eye-. it has five toes on each foot; the 2 iner toes of the
fore feet are remarkably Short, and have Short blunt nails. the
remaining toes on these feet are long Slightly Curved, black and
Sharply pointed. the outer and inner toes of the hind feet are not
Short yet they are by no means as long as the three toes in the Center
of the foot which are remarkably long but the nails are not as long as
those of the fore feet tho of the Same form and colour. the bars of the
tail tho thickly inserted on every part respects the two Sides only.
this givs it a flat appearance and a long oval form. the tips of the
hair which forms the outer edges of the tail are white. the bace of the
hair are either black or a fox red. the under disk of the tail is an
iron gray, the upper a redish brown. the lower part of the jaws, under
part of the neck, legs and feet from the body down and belly are of a
light brick red. the nose as high as the eyes is of a darker brick red.
the upper part of the head neck and body are of a curious brownish gray
colour with a cast of the brick red. the longer hairs of these parts
being of a redish white colour at their extremities fall together in
Such a Manner as to give it to the appearance of being Spekled at a
little distance. these animals form large ascoations as those of the
Missouri, occupying with their burroughs one or Sometimes 200 acres of
Land. the burrows are Seperate and are each occupyed perhaps by 10 or
12 of those Animals. there is a little Mound in front of the hole
formed of the earth thrown out of the burrow and frequently there are
three or four distinct holes forming what I call one burrow, around the
base of the mound, which Seams to be occupied as a watch tower in
common by the inhabitents of those Several holes. these Mounds are
Sometimes as much as 2 feet high, and 4 feet in diameter, and are
irregularly distributed over the tract they occupy at the distance of
from ten to 30 or forty yards. When you approach a burrow the Squirels
one, or more, usially Set erect on these Mounds and make a kind of
Shrill whistleing nois, Something like tweet, tweet, tweet &c. they do
not live on grass as those of the Missouri but on roots. one which I
examoned had in his mouth two Small bulbs of a Species of grass, which
resembles very much what is Sometimes Called the Grass Nut. the
intestins of these little animals are remarkably large for it's Size;
fur Short and very fine. the grass in their village is not Cut down as
in these of the plains of the Missouri. I preserved the Skins of
Several of these animals with the heads feet and legs entire-.-. The
Black Wood pecker which is found in most parts of the rocky Mountains
as will as the Western and S W. mountains, I had never an oppertunity
of examineing, untill a fiew days Since when we killed and preserved
Several of them. this bird is about the Size of the lark woodpecker or
the turtle dove, tho it's wings are longer than either of these birds.
the beak is black, one inch long reather wide at the base, Somewhat
cirved, and Sharply pointed; the chaps are of equal length. around the
bace of the beak including the eye and a Small part of the throat is of
a crimson red. the neck and as low as the croop in front is of an iron
gray. the belly and breast is of a curious mixture of white and blood
red which has much the appearance of haveing been artifically painted
or Stained of that colour, the red reather predominates. the top of the
head, back, Sides, upper Surface of the wings and tail are black, the
under Side of the wings and tail are black. it has ten feathers in the
tail, Sharply pointed, and those in the center reather longest, being
21/2 inches in length. the tongue is barbed, pointed, and of an elastic
cartalaginous Substance. the eye is moderately large, puple black and
iris of a dark yellowish brown. this bird in it's actions when flying
resemble the Small redish woodpecker common to the altantic States;
it's note also Somewhat resembles that bird. the pointed tail Seems to
assist it in sitting with more ease or retaining it, in it's resting
position against the perpendicular Side of a tree. the legs and feet
are black, and covered with imbricated scales. it has four toes on each
foot, of which two are in rear and two in front; the nails are much
curved long and remarkably Keen or Sharply pointed. it feeds on bugs,
worms and a variety of insects.-.
[Lewis, May 28, 1806]
Wednesday May 28th 1806.
We sent Goodrich to the village of the broken arm this morning he
returned in the evening with some roots bread and a parsel of
goats-hair for making our saddle pads. Reubin and Joseph Feilds set out
this morning to hunt high up on a creek which discharges itself into
this river about 8 miles above us. at Noon Charbono, York and Lapage
returned; they had obtained four bags of the dryed roots of Cows and
some bread. in the evening Collins Shannon and Colter returned with
eight deer. they had fortunately discovered a ford on Collins's Creek
where they were enabled to pass it with their horses and had hunted at
the quawmash ground where we first met with the Chopunnish last fall.
deer were very abundant they informed us, but there were not many bear.
The sick Cheif was much better this morning he can use his hands and
arms and seems much pleased with the prospect of recovering, he says he
feels much better than he has for a great number of months. I sincerely
wish these sweats may restore him; we have consented that he should
still remain with us and repeat these sweats. he set up a great
proportion of the day.--The Child is also better, he is free of fever,
the imposthume is not so large but seems to be advancing to maturity.-
since my arrival here I have killed several birds of the corvus genus
of a kind found only in the rocky mountains and their neighbourhood. I
first met with this bird above the three forks of the Missouri and saw
them on the hights of the rocky Mountains but never before had an
opportunity of examining them closely. the small corvus discribed at
Fort Clatsop is a different speceis, tho untill now I had taken it to
be the same, this is much larger and has a loud squawling note
something like the mewing of a cat. the beak of this bird is 11/2
inches long, is proportionably large, black and of the form which
characterizes this genus. the upper exceeds the under chap a little.
the head and neck are also proportionably large. the eye full and
reather prominent, the iris dark brown and puple black. it is about the
size and somewhat the form of the Jaybird tho reather rounder or more
full in the body. the tail is four and a half inches in length,
composed of 12 feathers nearly of the same length. the head neck and
body of this bird are of a dove colour. the wings are black except the
extremities of six large fathers ocupying the middle joint of the wing
which are white. the under disk of the wing is not of the shining or
grossy black which marks it's upper surface. the two feathers in the
center of the tail are black as are the two adjacent feathers for half
their width the ballance are of a pure white. the feet and legs are
black and imbricated with wide scales. the nails are black and
remarkably long and sharp, also much curved. it has four toes on each
foot of which one is in the rear and three in front. the toes are long
particularly that in the rear. this bird feeds on the seed of the pine
and also on insects. it resides in the rocky mountains at all seasons
of the year, and in many parts is the only bird to be found.--our
hunters brought us a large hooting Owl which differs considerably from
those of the Atlantic States which are also common here. the plumage of
this owl is an uniform mixture of dark yellowish brown and white, in
which the dark brown predominates. it's colour may be properly termed a
dark iron grey. the plumage is very long and remarkably silky and soft.
these have not the long feathers on the head which give it the
appearance of ears or horns. the leathers of the head are long narrow
and closely set, they rise upwright nearly to the extremity and then
are bent back sudonly as iff curled. a kind of ruff of these feathers
incircle the thoat. the head has a flat appearance being broadest
before and behind and is 1 foot 10 Is. in circumference. incircling the
eyes and extending from them like rays from the center a tissue of open
hairy long feathers are placed of a light grey colour, these conceal
the ears which are very large and are placed close to the eyes behind
and extending below them. these feathers meet over the beak which they
nearly conceal and form the face of the owl. they eyes are remarkably
large and prominant, the iris of a pale goald colour and iris circular
and of a deep sea green. the beak is short and wide at it's base. the
upper chap is much curved at the extremity and comes down over and in
front of the under chap. this bird is about the size of the largest
hooting Owl. the tail is composed of eleven feathers, of which those in
the center are reather the longest. it is booted to the extremity of
the toes, of which it has four on each foot, one in the rear one on the
outer side and two in front. the toes are short particularly that in
rear, but are all armed with long keen curved nails of a dark brown
colour. the beak is white and nostrils circular large and unconnected.
the habits and the note of this owl is much that of the common large
hooting owl.
[Clark, May 28, 1806]
Wednesday May 28th 1806
We sent Goodrich to the Village of the broken Arm for hair to Stuff
Saddle pads. Jo. & R. Fields Set out this morning to hunt towards the
mountains. at noon Shabono York and Lapage returned. they had obtained
4 bags of the dried roots of Cowse and Some bread. in the evening
Collins, Shannon & Cotter returned with 8 deer. they fortunately
discovered a ford on Collin's Creek where they were enable to pass it
with there horses and had hunted at the quawmash Grounds where we first
met with the Chopunnish last fall. deer were verry abundant they
informed us, but there was not many bear. The Sick Chief is much better
this morning he can use his hands and arms and Seems much pleased with
the prospects of recovering, he Says he feels much better than he has
done for a great Number of Months. I Sincerly wish that the Swetts may
restore him. I have Consented to repeet the Sweets.
The Country along the rocky mountains for Several hundred Miles in
length and about 50 in width is leavel extremely fertile and in many
parts Covered with a tall and opult. growth of the long leafed pine.
near the Watercourses the hills are lofty tho are covered with a good
Soil and not remarkably Stoney and possess more timber than the leavel
country. the bottom lands on the Water courses are reather narrow and
confined tho fertile and Seldom inundated. this Country would form an
extensive Settlement; the Climate appears quit as mild as that of a
Similar latitude on the Atlantic Coast; & it cannot be otherwise than
healthy; it possesses a fine dry pure air. the grass and maney plants
are now upwards of Knee high. I have no doubt that this tract of
Country if Cultivated would produce in great abundance every article
esentially necessary to the comfort and Subsistence of civillized man.
to it's present inhabitents nature Seems to have dealt with a liberal
hand, for she has distributed a great variety of esculent plants over
the face of the Country which furnish them a plentiful Store of
provisions; those are acquired but little toil; and when prepared after
the method of the nativs afford not only a nutricious but an agreeable
food. among other roots those Called by them the Quawmash and Cows are
esteemd. the most agreeable and valuable as they are also the most
abundant in those high plains.
The Cows is a knobbed root of an erregularly rounded form not unlike
the Gensang in form and Consistence; this root they Collect, rub off a
thin black rhind which Covers it and pounding it exposes it in cakes to
the Sun. these Cakes are about an inch and 1/4 thick and 6 by 18 in
wedth, when dry they either eat this bread alone without any further
preperation, or boil it and make a thick Musilage; the latter is most
common & much the most agreeable. the flower of this root is not very
unlike the gensang-. this root they Collect as early as the Snow
disappears in the Spring, and Continues to collect it untill the
Quawmash Supplies it's place which happins about the Middle of June.
the quawmash is also Collected for a fiew weeks after it first makes
it's appearance in the Spring, but when the scape appears it is no
longer fit for use untill the Seed are ripe which happens about the
time just mentioned. and then the Cows declines. The Cows is also
frequently dried in the Sun and pounded afterwards and used in
thickening Supe and Makeing Mush.
The Chopunnish held a Council in the morning of the 12th among
themselves in respect to the Subject on which we had Spoken to them the
day before, the result as we learnt was favourable, they placed
Confidence in the information they had recived and resolved to pursue
our advise. after this Council was over the principal Chief or the
broken arm, took the flour of the roots of Cows and thickened the Soup
in the Kitiles and baskets of all his people, this being ended he made
a harangue the purpote of which was makeing known the deliberations of
their councils and impressing the necessity of unanimity among them,
and a strict attention to the resolution which had been agreed on in
Councell; he concluded by enviting all such men as had resolved to
abide by the decree of the councill to come and eat, and requested Such
as would not be So bound to Show themselves by not partakeing of the
feast. I was told by one of our men who was present in the house, that
there was not a decenting voice on this great National question, but
all Swallowed their objections if any they had, very cheerfully with
their mush-. dureing the time of this loud animated harangue of the
Chief the women Cryed wrung their hands, tore their hair and appeared
to be in the utmost distress. after this cerimoney was over, the Chiefs
and considerate men came in a body to where we were Seated at a little
distance from our tent, and two young men at the instance of the nation
presented Capt L. and myself each a fine horse. and informed us that
they had listened with attentioned to what we had Said and were
resolved to pursue our Counsels &c.--That as we had not seen the Black
foot Indians and the Minetarries of Fort dePrarie they did not think it
safe to venter over to the plains of the Missouri, where they would
fondly go provided those nations would not kill them. that when we had
established a tradeing house on the Missouri as we had promised they
would Come over and trade for arms Amunition &c. and live about us.
that it would give them much pleasure to be at peace with those nations
altho they had Shed much of their blood-. They Said that they were pore
but their hearts were good. we might be assured of their sincerety.
Some of their brave men would go over with us to the Missouri and bring
them the news as we wished, and if we Could make a peace between them
and their enimies on the other Side of the mountains their nation would
go over to the Missouri in the latter end of the Summer. on the Subject
of one of their Chiefs accompanying us to the land of the White men
they Could not yet determine, but that they would let us know before we
left them. that the Snow was yet so deep in the Mountains that if we
attempted to pass, we would Certainly perish, and advised us to remain
untill after the next full Moon when the Snow would disappear on the
South hill sides and we would find grass for our horses.-. Shabonos
Child is better this day that he was yesterday. he is free from fever.
the imposthume is not So large but Seems to be advanceing to meturity-.