Clark: April 21, 1806

April 21st 1806. A fair, cold morning. I find it useless to offer any articles or attempt to trade at this village, and therefore determined to ____. Before I rose, the house was crowded with Indians to smoke; I gave them none. They are well supplied with straw and bark bags ready to hold their pounded fish. At 12 o'clock the advance of the party from below arrived, and soon after the canoes. All things were taken above the falls, along with 2 canoes. We turned out the horses and cooked and ate 2 dogs which we purchased of the natives. We purchased one horse for which we are to give a kettle—the same kettle which had been given by us to a man for a horse 3 days past, etc. That horse was either taken or strayed off. The chief from below came up and appeared concerned for what had been done at his village (see journal).

At 4 P.M. we loaded up and set out. The canoes also proceeded on about 3 miles opposite to the mouth of Clarks river. An Indian man who has attached himself to us, and who has lent us a horse to pack, lives near the Rocky Mountains. He told us that, as the day was far spent, we had better camp at a village of 9 lodges a little off the road opposite the river Clarks. This river has a great falls above, with 2 forks on its west side. We formed a camp and purchased some wood and 3 dogs, for which we gave pewter buttons that we had made, etc. But few Indians were with us this evening. We purchased an old horse and tied up all the horses when we went to bed.

These are the same people as those below at the falls. See journal for the next day.

Skad data—ill-looking people—reside to the north about 18 or 20 miles. They played against the Skillutes a game they call ____, 9 on a side, and lost all the beads and other articles.

Also a single game with 2 black and 2 white sticks under a kind of hat. 2 men play. This game is intricate, and each party has 4 pegs to count it.

The former game is played with 2 bones or sticks about the size of a large quill and 2 inches long, passing from one hand to the other, and the adverse party guesses. See description before mentioned. The nations above at the falls also play this game and bet high.

Monday 21st April 1806. A fair, cold morning. I found it useless to make any further attempts to trade horses with those unfriendly people, who only crowded about me to view and make their remarks and smoke—the latter I did not indulge them with today. At 12 o'clock Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and his party came up from the Skillutes village with 9 horses packed, and one which Bratten, who was yet too weak to walk, rode. Soon after, the two small canoes also arrived, loaded with the residue of the baggage which could not be taken on horses. We had everything immediately taken above the falls, and in the meantime purchased 2 dogs on which the party dined. While I remained at the Enesher village, I subsisted on 2 platters of roots, some pounded fish, and sunflower seed pounded, which an old man had the politeness to give me. In return I gave him several small articles.

Capt Lewis informed me that immediately after I left him, the natives began to steal, and had stolen tomahawks from the party, and in the course of the night had let our horses loose. He had burned one canoe and sold 2 of the largest canoes for beads; the other 2 were brought on. An Indian was detected stealing a socket and was kicked out of camp. Capt. L. informed the Indians that the next man who attempted to steal should be shot, and threatened them, telling them that he could kill them in a moment and set their town on fire if he pleased, but that it was not his desire to hurt them severely if they would let the property of the party alone. The chiefs hung their heads and said nothing. He lost the horse that was given for a large kettle. A Chopunnish man lent a horse to carry a load and accompanied the party. The man who we had reason to believe had stolen the horse he had given for the kettle we threatened a little, and he produced a very good horse in the place of that one, which we cheerfully received.

After dinner we proceeded on about 4 miles to a village of 9 mat lodges of the Enesher, a little below the entrance of To war nah hi ooks river, and camped. One of the canoes joined us; the other, not having observed us halt, continued on. We obtained 2 dogs and a small quantity of fuel from these people, for which we were obliged to give a higher price than usual. Our guide continued with us; he appears to be an honest fellow. He tells us that the Indians above will treat us with much more hospitality than those we are now with. We purchased another horse this evening, but his back is in such a horrid state that we can put but little on him. We obtained him for a trifle, at least for articles which might be procured in the U.S. for 10 shillings, Virginia currency. We took the precaution of picketing and hobbling our horses this evening near our camp. The evening was cold, and we could afford only one fire.