Clark: June 5, 1806
Colter and Bratten traded successfully for roots and bread at the Indian village. The captains gave the Indian chief another sweat treatment, leaving him languid but with improving limb use. A child patient continued recovering after Clark applied a plaster of pine rosin, beeswax, and bear oil that reduced inflammation. Reuben Fields, Shannon, Labiche, and Collins returned from hunting with five deer and a brown bear. Clark catalogued local grasses, plants, and shrubs. Frazier did not return from visiting Twisted Hair's lodge. The river fell during the day and rose at night.
Thursday June 5th 1806 Colter and Bratten were permitted to visit the
Indian Village to day for the purpose of tradeing for roots and bread,
they were fortunate and made a good return. we gave the Indian Cheif
another Sweat to-day, continuing it as long as he could bear it. in the
evening he was very languid but Still to improve in the use of his limbs.
the Child is revovereing fast. I applied a plaster of Sarve made of the
Rozen of the long leafed pine, Beas wax and Beare oil mixed, which has
Subsided the inflomation entirely, the part is Considerably Swelled and
hard-. in the evening Reuben Fields, G. Shannon, Labiech, & Collins
returned from the chaise and brought with them five deer and a brown Bear.
Among the Grasses of this Country I observe a large Species which grows in
moist Situations; it rises to the hight of Eight or ten feet, the Culm is
jointed, hollow, Smooth, as large as a goose quill, and more firm than
ordinary grass; the leaf is linner broad and rough; it has much the
appearance of the Meadin Cain as it is Called in the Southern parts of the
U States, and retains it’s virdue untill late in the fall. this grass
propegates principally by the Root which is horozontal and perennial.-. a
Second Species grows in tussucks and rises to the hight of Six or Eight
feet; it Seams to delight in the Soil of the river bottoms which possess
agreater mixture of Sand than the hills in this neighbourhood. this is
also a harsh Course grass; it appears to be the Same which is Called the
Corn grass in the Southern States, and the Foxtail in Virginia. a third
Species resembles the cheet, tho the horses feed on it very freely. a
fouth and most prevalent Species is a grass which appears to be the Same
Called the blue Grass common to maney parts of the United States; it is
common to the bottoms as well as the uplands, is now Seeding and is from 9
inches to 2 feet high; it affords an excellent paterage for horses and
appears to bear the frost and Snow better than any grass in our Country; I
therefore regrete very much that the Seed will not be ripe before our
probable departure. this is a fine Soft grass and would no doubt make
excellent hay if cultivated. I do not find the Green Sword here which we
met with on the lower part of the Columbia. There are also Several Species
of the wild Rye to be met with in the praries. among the plants and Shrubs
common to our Country I observe here the Seven bark, Wild rose, vineing
honey suckle, Sweet willow, red willow, long leafed pine, Cattail or
Coopers Flag. Lambs quarter, Strawberries, Raspberries, Goose berries,
tongue grass, Mustard, tanzy, Sinquefield, horse mint, water penerial,
elder, Coalts foot, Green Plantin, canser weed, Shoemate, and Several of
the pea blume flowering plants.-. Frazier who had permission to visit the
Twisted Hairs Lodge at the distance of ten or twelve miles did not return
this evening-. The river falls in course of the day and rises Some at
night as will be Seen by the remarks in the Diary of the weather. this
most probably is the melding of the Snows dureing the day &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday June 5th 1806. Colter and Bratten were permitted to visit the Indian village today for the purpose of trading for roots and bread; they were fortunate and made a good return. We gave the Indian chief another sweat today, continuing it as long as he could bear it. In the evening he was very languid but still continued to improve in the use of his limbs. The child is recovering fast. I applied a plaster of salve made of the rosin of the long-leafed pine, beeswax, and bear oil mixed, which has subsided the inflammation entirely; the part is considerably swelled and hard. In the evening Reuben Fields, G. Shannon, Labiech, and Collins returned from the chase and brought with them five deer and a brown bear.
Among the grasses of this country I observe a large species which grows in moist situations; it rises to the height of eight or ten feet, the culm is jointed, hollow, smooth, as large as a goose quill, and more firm than ordinary grass; the leaf is linear, broad, and rough; it has much the appearance of the meadow cane as it is called in the southern parts of the U.S., and retains its verdure until late in the fall. This grass propagates principally by the root, which is horizontal and perennial. A second species grows in tussocks and rises to the height of six or eight feet; it seems to delight in the soil of the river bottoms, which possess a greater mixture of sand than the hills in this neighborhood. This is also a harsh, coarse grass; it appears to be the same which is called the corn grass in the southern states, and the foxtail in Virginia. A third species resembles the cheat, though the horses feed on it very freely. A fourth and most prevalent species is a grass which appears to be the same called the blue grass common to many parts of the United States; it is common to the bottoms as well as the uplands, is now seeding, and is from 9 inches to 2 feet high; it affords excellent pasturage for horses and appears to bear the frost and snow better than any grass in our country; I therefore regret very much that the seed will not be ripe before our probable departure. This is a fine, soft grass and would no doubt make excellent hay if cultivated. I do not find the green sward here which we met with on the lower part of the Columbia. There are also several species of the wild rye to be met with in the prairies.
Among the plants and shrubs common to our country I observe here the sevenbark, wild rose, vining honeysuckle, sweet willow, red willow, long-leafed pine, cattail or cooper's flag, lamb's quarter, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, tongue grass, mustard, tansy, cinquefoil, horse mint, water pennyroyal, elder, colt's foot, green plantain, cancer weed, shoemake, and several of the pea-bloom flowering plants. Frazier, who had permission to visit the Twisted Hair's lodge at the distance of ten or twelve miles, did not return this evening. The river falls in the course of the day and rises some at night, as will be seen by the remarks in the diary of the weather. This most probably is the melting of the snows during the day, etc.
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