Clark: April 19, 1806
The expedition completed the portage around the Long Narrows of the Columbia River, transporting baggage and five small canoes by 5 P.M. with help from four pack horses; the two large canoes were cut up for firewood. Clark purchased four horses at the Skillute village and Lewis bought one, though prices were high and the horses poor quality. Needing more horses, Clark set out with Sergeant Pryor, Shannon, Cruzatte, and Labiche for the Eneeshur village at the great falls, arriving at 8 P.M. Several rain showers fell, and natives celebrated the season's first salmon.
April 19th 1806 this morning early Some rain had the Small Canoes hauled
out to dry every man Capable of Carrying a load Comencd the portage and by
5 P. M had every part of our baggage and canoes across the portage. I then
took Sgt. Pryor, G. Shannon & Crusat & Labiech and went up to the
falls at which place I arivd. about 8 P.M. in the Course of this day I
purchased 4 horses at the town & Capt Lewis purchased one. the nativs
finding that we were about to proceed on by water Sold us those fiew
horses for which we were Compd. to pay them emence prices and the horses
were indefferent. Several Showers of rain this day. description of those
people &c narrows bad
—
Saturday 19th April 1806. We deturmined to make the portage to the head of
the long narrows with our baggage and 5 Small Canoes, the 2 large Canoes
we Could take no further and therefore Cut them up for fuel. we had our
Small Canoes drawn up very early and employed all hands in transporting
our baggage on their backs and by means of 4 pack horses, over the
portage. This labour we had accomplished by 3 P.M. and established our
Camp a little above the present Skillute village which has been removed as
before observed a fiew hundred yards lower down the river than when we
passed it last fall. I left Capt L. at the bason and proceeded to the
village early this morning with a view to recive the horses which were
promised to be brought this morning for articles laid by last evining. in
the Course of this day I purchased four horses at the Village, and Capt
Lewis one at the bason before he left it. after the baggage was all Safely
landed above the portage, all hands brought over the Canoes at 2 lodes
which was accomplished by 5 P.M. as we had not a Sufficiency of horses to
transport our baggage we agreed that I should proceed on to the Enesher
villages at the great falls of the Columbia and if possible purchase as
maney horses as would transport the baggage from that place, and rid us of
the trouble and dificuelty of takeing our Canoes further. I set out with
Serjt Pryor, Geo Shannon Peter Crusat & Labiech at half past 5 P.M.
for the Enesher Village at which place I arrived at 8 P.M. Several Showers
of rain in the after part of to day, and the S W wind very high. there was
great joy with the nativs last night in consequence of the arrival of the
Salmon; one of those fish was cought, this was the harbenger of good news
to them. They informed us that those fish would arive in great quantities
in the Course of about 5 days. this fish was dressed and being divided
into Small pieces was given to each Child in the village. this Custom is
founded on a Supersticious opinion that it will hasten the arrival of the
Salmon.
we were oblige to dispence with two of our kitties in order to acquire two
of the horses purchasd. to day. we have now only one Small kittle to a
mess of 8 men. These people are very fathless in Contracts; they
frequently reive the merchindize in exchange for their horses and after
Some hours insist on Some additional article being given them or revoke
the exchange.
The long narrows are much more formadable than they were when we decended
them last fall, there would be no possibility of passing either up or down
them in any vessle at this time.
I entered the largest house of the Eneeshers village in which I found all
the enhabitents in bead. they rose and made a light of Straw, they haveing
no wood to burn. many men Collected. we Smoked and I informed them that I
had come to purchase a fiew horses of them. they promused to Sell me Some
in the morning.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
April 19th, 1806. Early this morning there was some rain. We had the small canoes hauled out to dry. Every man capable of carrying a load began the portage, and by 5 P.M. we had every part of our baggage and canoes across the portage. I then took Sgt. Pryor, G. Shannon, Crusat (Cruzatte), and Labiech (Labiche) and went up to the falls, where I arrived about 8 P.M. In the course of this day I purchased 4 horses at the town, and Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) purchased one. The natives, finding that we were about to proceed on by water, sold us those few horses, for which we were compelled to pay them immense prices, and the horses were of poor quality. Several showers of rain this day. Description of those people, etc. Narrows bad.
Saturday, 19th April 1806. We determined to make the portage to the head of the Long Narrows with our baggage and 5 small canoes. The 2 large canoes we could take no further, and therefore cut them up for fuel. We had our small canoes drawn up very early and employed all hands in transporting our baggage on their backs and by means of 4 pack horses over the portage. This labor we had accomplished by 3 P.M., and established our camp a little above the present Skillute village, which has been removed, as before observed, a few hundred yards lower down the river than when we passed it last fall. I left Capt L. (Capt. Lewis) at the basin and proceeded to the village early this morning with a view to receive the horses which were promised to be brought this morning for articles laid by last evening. In the course of this day I purchased four horses at the village, and Capt Lewis one at the basin before he left it. After the baggage was all safely landed above the portage, all hands brought over the canoes in 2 loads, which was accomplished by 5 P.M.
As we had not a sufficient number of horses to transport our baggage, we agreed that I should proceed on to the Enesher villages at the great falls of the Columbia and, if possible, purchase as many horses as would transport the baggage from that place and rid us of the trouble and difficulty of taking our canoes further. I set out with Serjt Pryor (Sgt. Pryor), Geo Shannon (George Shannon), Peter Crusat (Cruzatte), and Labiech (Labiche) at half past 5 P.M. for the Enesher village, at which place I arrived at 8 P.M. There were several showers of rain in the latter part of today, and the SW wind was very high.
There was great joy with the natives last night in consequence of the arrival of the salmon; one of those fish was caught, and this was the harbinger of good news to them. They informed us that those fish would arrive in great quantities in the course of about 5 days. This fish was dressed and, being divided into small pieces, was given to each child in the village. This custom is founded on a superstitious opinion that it will hasten the arrival of the salmon.
We were obliged to part with two of our kettles in order to acquire two of the horses purchased today. We have now only one small kettle for a mess of 8 men. These people are very faithless in contracts; they frequently receive the merchandise in exchange for their horses and, after some hours, insist on some additional article being given them, or revoke the exchange.
The Long Narrows are much more formidable than they were when we descended them last fall. There would be no possibility of passing either up or down them in any vessel at this time.
I entered the largest house of the Eneesher village, in which I found all the inhabitants in bed. They rose and made a light of straw, having no wood to burn. Many men gathered. We smoked, and I informed them that I had come to purchase a few horses from them. They promised to sell me some in the morning.
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