Clark: June 3, 1806
The expedition's sick and injured—Bratton, an Indian chief, and a child—are all recovering, with onion poultices still being applied. The chief Broken Arm and three warriors arrived to spend the night. Hunters Colter, Joseph Fields, and Willard returned with five deer and a small brown-phase black bear. Local Indians sent an express over the mountains to gather news from the Flatheads. Though warned of swollen creeks, deep mud, and no grass, the captains decided to move to the Quamash Grounds beyond Collins Creek on June 10th, hunt, then attempt the mountain crossing mid-month. Hopes for salmon are fading.
Tuesday June 3rd 1806 Our invalids are all on the recovery; bratten is
much Stronger and can walk about with Considerable ease. the Indian Chief
appears to be gradually recovering the use of his limbs, and the child is
nearly well; the inflomation on his neck Continus but the Swelling appears
to Subside. we Still Continue the application of the onion poltice. at 3
P.M. the broken arm and three wariors visited us and remained all night.
Colter, Jos. Fields and Willard returned this evening with five deer and
one bear of the brown Species; the hair of this was black with a large
white Spot on the breast containing a Small circular black Spot. (this
Species of bear is Smaller than our Common black bear) this was a female
bear and as our hunters informed us had cubs last year, this they judged
from the length and Size of her tits &c. this bear I am Confident is
not larger than the yerlin Cubs of our Country. To day the Indians
dispatched an express over the mountains to Travellers rest or to the
neighbourhood of that Creek on Clark’s river in order to learn from a band
of Flat-Heads who inhabit that river and who have probably Wintered on
Clarks river near the enterance of travellers rest Creek, the occurences
which have taken place on the East Side of the mountains dureing the last
winter. this is the band which we first met with on that river. the
Mountains being practicable for this express we thought it probable that
we could also pass, but the Chiefs informs us that Several of the Creek’s
would yet swim our horses, that there was no grass and that the road was
extreemly deep and slipery; they inform us that we may pass Conveniently
in twelve or fourteen days. we have come to a resolution to remove from
hence to the Quawmash Grounds beyond Colins Creek on the 10th to hunt in
that neighbourhood a fiew days, if possible lay in a Stock of Meat, and
then attempt the Mountains about the Middle of this month. I begin to lose
all hope of any dependance on the Salmon as this river will not fall
Sufficiently to take them before we Shall leave it, and as yet I see no
appearance of their running near the Shore as the indians informed us they
would in the course of a fiew days. I find that all the Salmon which they
precure themselves they obtain on Lewis’s river, and the distance thither
is too great for us to think of Sending after them, even had we
merchendize with which to purchase the salmon.-.
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Tuesday June 3rd 1806. Our invalids are all on the recovery; Bratten is much stronger and can walk about with considerable ease. The Indian Chief appears to be gradually recovering the use of his limbs, and the child is nearly well; the inflammation on his neck continues but the swelling appears to subside. We still continue the application of the onion poultice. At 3 P.M. the Broken Arm and three warriors visited us and remained all night. Colter, Jos. Fields, and Willard returned this evening with five deer and one bear of the brown species; the hair of this one was black with a large white spot on the breast containing a small circular black spot. (This species of bear is smaller than our common black bear.) This was a female bear and, as our hunters informed us, had cubs last year, which they judged from the length and size of her teats, etc. This bear, I am confident, is not larger than the yearling cubs of our country.
Today the Indians dispatched an express over the mountains to Travellers Rest, or to the neighborhood of that creek on Clark's River, in order to learn from a band of Flatheads who inhabit that river and who have probably wintered on Clark's River near the entrance of Travellers Rest Creek, about the occurrences which have taken place on the east side of the mountains during the last winter. This is the band which we first met with on that river. The mountains being practicable for this express, we thought it probable that we could also pass, but the chiefs inform us that several of the creeks would yet swim our horses, that there was no grass, and that the road was extremely deep and slippery; they inform us that we may pass conveniently in twelve or fourteen days.
We have come to a resolution to remove from here to the Quamash Grounds beyond Collins Creek on the 10th, to hunt in that neighborhood a few days, if possible lay in a stock of meat, and then attempt the mountains about the middle of this month. I begin to lose all hope of any dependence on the salmon, as this river will not fall sufficiently to take them before we shall leave it, and as yet I see no appearance of their running near the shore as the Indians informed us they would in the course of a few days. I find that all the salmon which they procure themselves they obtain on Lewis's River, and the distance thither is too great for us to think of sending after them, even had we merchandise with which to purchase the salmon.
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