Clark: April 27, 1806
The party was delayed until 9 a.m. searching for one of Charbonneau's missing horses, then traveled 31 miles through rocky country and high plains along the Columbia River, passing Muscle Shell rapid. Low on provisions, they paused for a meager meal of jerked meat before being met by Yelleppit, principal chief of the Walla Walla, whom they had met the previous October. He led them to his village of 15 mat lodges, hosted them generously with fish and firewood, and recommended a shortcut overland to the Kooskooske River that would save about 80 miles. They decided to take it.
Sunday April 27th 1806. This morning we were detained untill 9 A M in
consequence of the absence of one of Shabono’s horses. the horse being at
length recovered we Set out and to the distance of 15 miles passed through
a Country Similar to that of yesterday. (passed Muscle Shell rapid) and at
the experation of this distance again approached the river, and are rocky
abrupt and 300 feet high. we assended the hill and marched through a high
plain 10 miles where we again returned to the river. we halted altho we
had not reached the Wal-lah-lal-lah village as we had been led to believe
by our guide who informed us that the village was at the place we Should
next return to the river, and the considiration of our haveing but little
provisions had been our inducement to make the march we had made this
morning. we collected Some of the dry stalks of weeds and the Stems of
Shrubs or weeds which resemble the Southern wood; made a Small fire and
boiled a Small quantity of our jurked meat on which we dined; while here
we were met by the principal Chief of the Wal lah wal lah Nation and
Several of his nation. this chief by name Yel lep-pet had visited us on
the morning of the 19th of Octr. at our encampment imedeately opposit to
us; we gave him at that time a Small Medal, and promised him a large one
on our return. he appeared much gratified at Seeing us return. he envited
us to remain at his village 3 or 4 days and assured us that we Should be
furnished with a plenty of Such food as they had themselves, and Some
horses to assist us on our journey. after our Scanty repast we Continued
our March accompanied by Yelleppit and his party to the Village which we
found at the distance of Six miles, Situated on the North Side of the
river. about 16 miles below the enterance of Lewis’s river. This Chief is
a man of much influence not only in his own nation but also among the
neighbouring tribes and nations.the village Consists of 15 large
mat Lodges. at present they Seam to Subsist principally on a Species of
Mullet which weighs from one to 3 pds. and roots of various discriptions
which those plains furnish them in great abundance. They also take a fiew
Salmon trout of the white kind. Yelleppet haranged his village in our
favor intreated them to furnish us with fuel & provisions and Set the
example himself by bringing us an armfull of wood, and a platter with 3
rosted mullets. the others Soon followed his example with respect to fuel
and we Soon found ourselves in possession of an ample Stock, they burn the
Stems of the Shrubs in the plains, there being no timber in this
neighbourhood of any description. we purchased 4 dogs of those people on
which the party Suped hartily haveing been on Short allowance for near 2
days. the Indians retired when we requested them this evening and behaved
themselves in every respect very well. the Indians informed us that there
was a good road Which passed from the Columbia opposit to this Village to
the enterance of Kooskooske on the S. Side of Lewis’s river, they also
informed us, there were a plenty of Deer and Antilopes on the road with
good water and grass. we knew that a road in that direction if the Country
would permit it would Shorten the rout at least 80 miles. the Indians also
inform us that the County was leavel and the road good, under those
circumstances we did not hesitate in pursueing the rout recommended by our
guide and Corroberated by Yetleppit and others. we Concluded to pass our
horses over early in the morning.- made 31 miles to day
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday April 27th 1806. This morning we were delayed until 9 A.M. because one of Shabono's (Charbonneau's) horses was missing. Once the horse was recovered, we set out and traveled 15 miles through country similar to yesterday's (passing Muscle Shell rapid). At the end of this distance we again approached the river, where the banks are rocky, abrupt, and 300 feet high. We climbed the hill and marched through a high plain for 10 miles, where we returned to the river once more. We halted, although we had not reached the Wal-lah-lal-lah village as our guide had led us to believe. He had told us that the village was located where we would next return to the river, and the fact that we had little provisions had been our reason for making the march we had completed this morning.
We gathered some dry weed stalks and the stems of shrubs or weeds that resemble southernwood, made a small fire, and boiled a small quantity of our jerked meat, which we ate for dinner. While here we were met by the principal chief of the Wal lah wal lah Nation and several of his people. This chief, named Yel lep-pet (Yelleppit), had visited us on the morning of October 19th at our encampment directly across from us; at that time we gave him a small medal and promised him a large one on our return. He seemed very pleased to see us return. He invited us to stay at his village for 3 or 4 days and assured us that we would be supplied with plenty of the same food they ate themselves, along with some horses to help us on our journey.
After our scanty meal we continued our march, accompanied by Yelleppit and his party, to the village, which we found six miles away, situated on the north side of the river, about 16 miles below the mouth of Lewis's river. This chief is a man of great influence, not only in his own nation but also among neighboring tribes and nations. The village consists of 15 large mat lodges. At present they seem to live mainly on a species of mullet that weighs from one to 3 pounds, and on roots of various kinds, which these plains supply in great abundance. They also catch a few salmon trout of the white kind.
Yelleppit spoke to his village on our behalf, urging them to provide us with fuel and provisions, and he set the example himself by bringing us an armful of wood and a platter with 3 roasted mullets. The others soon followed his example with regard to fuel, and we quickly found ourselves with an ample supply. They burn the stems of the shrubs from the plains, since there is no timber of any kind in this area. We bought 4 dogs from these people, on which the party supped heartily, having been on short rations for nearly 2 days. The Indians left when we asked them to this evening and behaved very well in every respect.
The Indians told us that there was a good road leading from the Columbia, opposite this village, to the mouth of the Kooskooske on the south side of Lewis's river. They also said there were plenty of deer and antelope along the road, with good water and grass. We knew that a road in that direction, if the country permitted it, would shorten the route by at least 80 miles. The Indians also told us that the country was level and the road good. Under these circumstances, we did not hesitate to take the route recommended by our guide and confirmed by Yelleppit and others. We decided to take our horses across early in the morning. Made 31 miles today.
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