Clark: June 6, 1806
Clark visited the Nez Perce chief Broken Arm, accompanied by Drouillard and three men, to follow up on earlier councils. Broken Arm explained the nation would not cross the mountains until late summer and could not select young men to guide the expedition to the Missouri falls until a council convened in 10-12 days, so the captains decided to rely on Shoshones near Traveler's Rest instead. Broken Arm gifted Clark quamash roots and two pipes, discussing peace overtures with the Shoshones. The men traded for ample bread and roots. Twisted Hair declined to accompany them due to his brother's illness.
Friday June 6th 1806 I visited the Broken Arm to day agreeable to my
promis of the 4th inst. and took with me Drewyer & three other men I
was receved in a friendly manner. The broken Arm informed me that maney of
the Small chiefs of the different Bands of his nation had not heard our
word from our own mouths, Several of them were present and was glad to See
me &c. I repeeted in part what had been Said in Council before. The
Broken arm told me that the nation would not pass the mountains untill the
latter part of the Summer, and with respect to the young men who we had
requested to accompany us to the falls of Missouri, were not yet Selected
for that purpose nor could they be So untill they had a Meeting of the
Nation in Council. that this would happen in the Course of ten or 12 days
as the whole of the Lodges were about to Move to the head of Commeap Creek
in the Plain of Lewis’s river, that when they held a council they would
Select two young men. that if we Set out previously to that time the men
would follow us. we therefore do not Calculate any assistance from them as
guides, but depend more upon engageing Some of the Oatlash-shoots on
Clarks river in the neighbouringhood of Travellers rest C. for that
purpose. The Broken Arm gave me a fiew Quawmash roots as a great preasent,
but in my estimation those of Cows is much better. I am Confident they are
much more healthy. The Broken Arm informed me that they had latterly been
informed that a party of the Shoshones had arived at the Ye-E-al-po Nation
who reside to the South of the enterance of Kooskooske into Lewis’s river.
and had informed that people that their nation (the Shoshones) had
received the talk which was given their relations on the head of the East
fork of Lewis’s river last fall, and were resolved to pursue our Councils,
and had came foward for the purpose of makeing peace with them, and allso
with the Chopunnish &c. that they had Sent Several men in Serch of
those people with a view to bring them to Lewis’s river at which place the
Broken Arm informed me he Should meet them and Smoke the pipe of peace.
which he Should afterwards Send by with Some of his Chiefs in company with
those Shoshones to their nation and confirm a piece which never Should be
broken on his part. he produced two pipes one of which he said was as a
present to me the other he intended to Send to the Shoshones &c. and
requested me to take one, I receved the one made in the fascion of the
Country, the other which was of Stone curiously inlaid with Silver in the
common form which he got from the Shoshones. I deckorated the Stem of this
pipe with blue ribon and white wampom and informed the Chief this was the
emblem of peace with us.
The men who accompanied me obtained a good Store of roots and bread in
exchange for a number of little notions, useing the Yanke phrase, with
which their own enginuiety had principally furnished them. on examonation
we find our whole party have a Sufficient Store of bread and roots for our
Voyage. a Circumstance not unpleasing-.
I returned at 4 P. M followed by Hohastillpilp the 2 young Chiefs who gave
us the horses in behalf of the nation Some time Sence, the young man who
gave us the horse at Collins Creek to kill as we Came up, and Several
others. I met the twisted hair and two other indians with Frazier on the
opposit bank from our Camp this Morning & Sent him over to our Camp. I
met him this evening on his return home. he informed me he could not
accompany us across the mountains as his brother was Sick &c.-.
—
The Chopunnish call the Crow Indians Up-shar-look-kar
Chopunnish name for Sin-sho-cal Dearbourne R dittodoCal la
mar-Sha mosh Meddesons dittodoCo-ma win-nim Maria River
ditto ditto- Ta-ki-a-ki-a Mescle Shell R dittoditto
Wah-wo-ko-ye-o-cose is th ____ ditto doRockejhoneElk river
ditto doKoos-koos-an-nim-a the little Missouri dittodo-
Walch-Nim-mahKnife R dittodo Ni-hi-Sir-teC. R
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Friday June 6th 1806. I visited the Broken Arm today, in keeping with my promise of the 4th instant, and took with me Drewyer (Drouillard) and three other men. I was received in a friendly manner. The Broken Arm informed me that many of the small chiefs of the different bands of his nation had not heard our word from our own mouths. Several of them were present and were glad to see me, etc. I repeated in part what had been said in Council before. The Broken Arm told me that the nation would not pass the mountains until the latter part of the summer, and with respect to the young men who we had requested to accompany us to the falls of the Missouri, they were not yet selected for that purpose, nor could they be so until they had a meeting of the nation in Council. This would happen in the course of ten or twelve days, as the whole of the lodges were about to move to the head of Commeap Creek in the plain of Lewis's River. When they held a council they would select two young men, and if we set out previously to that time the men would follow us. We therefore do not calculate any assistance from them as guides, but depend more upon engaging some of the Oatlash-shoots on Clarks River in the neighborhood of Travellers Rest Creek for that purpose. The Broken Arm gave me a few quamash (camas) roots as a great present, but in my estimation those of cows are much better. I am confident they are much more healthy. The Broken Arm informed me that they had lately been informed that a party of the Shoshones had arrived at the Ye-E-al-po Nation, who reside to the south of the entrance of the Kooskooske into Lewis's River, and had informed that people that their nation (the Shoshones) had received the talk which was given to their relations on the head of the east fork of Lewis's River last fall, and were resolved to pursue our counsels, and had come forward for the purpose of making peace with them, and also with the Chopunnish, etc. They had sent several men in search of those people with a view to bring them to Lewis's River, at which place the Broken Arm informed me he should meet them and smoke the pipe of peace, which he should afterwards send with some of his chiefs in company with those Shoshones to their nation, and confirm a peace which never should be broken on his part. He produced two pipes, one of which he said was as a present to me; the other he intended to send to the Shoshones, etc., and requested me to take one. I received the one made in the fashion of the country; the other, which was of stone curiously inlaid with silver in the common form, he got from the Shoshones. I decorated the stem of this pipe with blue ribbon and white wampum and informed the chief that this was the emblem of peace with us.
The men who accompanied me obtained a good store of roots and bread in exchange for a number of little notions, using the Yankee phrase, with which their own ingenuity had principally furnished them. On examination we find our whole party have a sufficient store of bread and roots for our voyage—a circumstance not unpleasing.
I returned at 4 P.M., followed by Hohastillpilp, the two young chiefs who gave us the horses in behalf of the nation some time since, the young man who gave us the horse at Collins Creek to kill as we came up, and several others. I met the Twisted Hair and two other Indians with Frazier on the opposite bank from our camp this morning, and sent him over to our camp. I met him this evening on his return home. He informed me he could not accompany us across the mountains as his brother was sick, etc.
The Chopunnish call the Crow Indians Up-shar-look-kar.
Chopunnish name for Sin-sho-cal — Dearborn River; Cal la mar-Sha mosh — Medicine River; Co-ma win-nim — Maria's River; Ta-ki-a-ki-a — Musselshell River; Wah-wo-ko-ye-o-cose — Rockejhone (Yellowstone), Elk River; Koos-koos-an-nim-a — the Little Missouri; Walch-Nim-mah — Knife River; Ni-hi-Sir-te — C. R.
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