Clark: April 30, 1806
The party struggled to gather their horses despite hobbling them, and traded for two more horses and four dogs, including swapping a poor horse for a good one with a Chopunnish man traveling with his family. Clark noted the man's pubescent daughter was kept apart due to menstrual customs. After Chief Yelleppit helped recover a missing white horse, the group bid farewell to the Walla Walla and departed at 11 A.M., traveling 14 miles northeast across sandy plains to a creek branch of the Walla Walla River, where they camped with ample firewood. Drouillard killed a beaver and otter, and their horse count reached 23.
Wednesday April 30th 1806. This morning we had Some dificuelty in
Collecting our horses notwithstanding we had hobbled & Picqueted those
we obtained of those people. we purchased two other horses this morning
and 4 dogs. we exchanged one of our most indeferent horses for a very good
one with the Choponnish man who has his family with him. this man has a
doughter now arived at the age of puberty who being in a certain
Situation-is not permited to acoiate with the family but Sleeps at a
distance from her father’s Camp, and when traveling follows at Some
distance be-hind. in this State I am informed that the female is not
permited to eat, nor to touch any article of a culinary nature or manly
occupation. at 10 A.M. we had Collected all our horses except the White
horse which Yelleppit the Great Chief had given me. the whole of the men
haveing returned without being able to find this hors. I informed the
chief and he mounted Capt Lewis’s horse and went in Serch of the horse
himself. about half an hour after the Chopunnish man brought my horse. we
deturmined to proceed on with the party leaving one man to bring up Capt
L.-s horse when Yelleppit Should return. We took leave of those honest
friendly people the Wallah wallahs and departed at 11 A.M. accompanied by
our guide and the Chopunnish man and family. we Continued our rout N. 30°
E. 14 ms. through an open leavel Sandy Plain to a bold Creek 10 yards
wide. this stream is a branch of the Wallahwallah river, and takes it’s
rise in the same range of mountains to the East of the main branch. deep
and has a bold Current. there are maney large banks of pure Sand which
appear to have been drifted up by the wind to the hight of 20 or 30 feet,
lying in maney parts of the plains through which we passed to day. This
plain as usial is covered with arromatic Shrubs, hurbatious plants and
tufts of Short grass. Maney of those plants produce those esculent roots
which forms a principal part of the Subsistance of the Nativs. among
others there is one which produce a root Somewhat like the Sweet potato.
We encamped at the place we intersepted the Creek where we had the
pleasure once more to find a Sufficency of wood for the purpose of makeing
ourselves comfortable fires, which has not been the Case Since we left
Rock fort Camp below the falls. Drewyer killed a beaver and an otter. the
narrow bottoms of this Creek is fertile. tho the plains are pore &
Sandy. the hills of the Creek are generaly abrupt and rocky. there is Some
timber on this Creek. it consists of Cotton wood, birch, the Crimson haw,
red willow, Sweet willow, Choke Cherry, yellow Current, goose berry, white
berried honey suckle, rose bushes, Seven bark, Shoemate &c. &c.
rushes in Some parts of the bottoms.
R. Fields over took us with Capt Lewis’s horse our Stock of horses have
now increased to 23 and most of them excellent young horses, but much the
greatest part of them have Sore backs. those Indians are cruel horse
masters; they ride hard and their Saddles illey constructed. &c. &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday April 30th 1806. This morning we had some difficulty collecting our horses, even though we had hobbled and picketed those we obtained from those people. We purchased two more horses this morning and 4 dogs. We exchanged one of our poorest horses for a very good one with the Chopunnish man who has his family with him. This man has a daughter who has now reached the age of puberty, and because she is in a certain condition, she is not permitted to associate with the family but sleeps at a distance from her father's camp, and when traveling she follows at some distance behind. In this state I am informed that the female is not permitted to eat, nor to touch any article of a culinary nature or anything connected with men's work.
At 10 A.M. we had collected all our horses except the white horse which Yelleppit the Great Chief had given me. All of the men had returned without being able to find this horse. I informed the chief, and he mounted Capt Lewis's (Capt. Lewis's) horse and went in search of the horse himself. About half an hour later, the Chopunnish man brought my horse. We determined to proceed on with the party, leaving one man to bring up Capt L.'s horse when Yelleppit should return. We took leave of those honest, friendly people the Wallahwallahs and departed at 11 A.M., accompanied by our guide and the Chopunnish man and his family.
We continued our route N. 30° E. 14 miles through an open, level, sandy plain to a bold creek 10 yards wide. This stream is a branch of the Wallahwallah river, and it rises in the same range of mountains to the east of the main branch. It is deep and has a strong current. There are many large banks of pure sand which appear to have been drifted up by the wind to a height of 20 or 30 feet, lying in many parts of the plains through which we passed today. This plain, as usual, is covered with aromatic shrubs, herbaceous plants, and tufts of short grass. Many of these plants produce the edible roots which form a principal part of the subsistence of the natives. Among others there is one which produces a root somewhat like the sweet potato.
We camped at the place where we met the creek, where we once again had the pleasure of finding enough wood to make ourselves comfortable fires, which has not been the case since we left Rock Fort Camp below the falls. Drewyer killed a beaver and an otter. The narrow bottoms of this creek are fertile, though the plains are poor and sandy. The hills along the creek are generally steep and rocky. There is some timber on this creek. It consists of cottonwood, birch, the crimson haw, red willow, sweet willow, choke cherry, yellow currant, gooseberry, white-berried honeysuckle, rose bushes, seven bark, sumac, etc., etc. There are rushes in some parts of the bottoms.
R. Fields overtook us with Capt Lewis's horse. Our stock of horses has now increased to 23, and most of them are excellent young horses, but by far the greatest part of them have sore backs. These Indians are cruel horse masters; they ride hard and their saddles are poorly constructed, etc., etc.
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