Clark: May 1, 1806
The party set out early after light overnight rain firmed the road, sending four hunters ahead. Traveling up the creek through bottoms of cottonwood, willow, and chokecherry, they covered nine miles before reaching a fork where their Chopunnish companion and a second guide disagreed over the best route. After consulting Drouillard's guide, they chose the creek route with water and wood, parting with the first man, and pressed on 17 more miles for 26 total. Three Walla Walla men arrived with a steel trap left behind, prompting Clark to praise the tribe's honesty and hospitality.
Thursday May 1st 1806. This morning we collected our horses and made an
early Start, haveing preveously Sent a hed 4 hunters with derections to
proceed up the Creek and kill every Species of game which they might meet
with. the Small portion of rain which fell last night Caused the road to
be much furmer and better than yesterday. the morning Cloudy and Cool. we
proceeded up the Creek on the N. E. Side through a Countrey of less sand
and Some rich bottoms on the Creek which is partially Supplyed with Small
Cotton trees, willow, red willow, choke Cherry, white thorn, birch, elder,
____ rose & honey suckle. Great portion of these bottoms has been
latterly burnt which has entirely distroyed the timbered growth. at the
distance of nine miles we over took our hunters, they had killed one bever
only at this place the road forked, one leaveing the Creek and the Corse
of it is nearly North. the Chopunnish who had accompanied us with his
family informed us that this was our best way. that it was a long distance
without water. and advised us to Camp on the Creek at this place and in
the morning to Set out early. This information perplexed us a little, in
as much as the idea of going a days march without water thro an open Sandy
plain and on a Course 50° out of our derection. we deturmined to unlode
and wate for our Guide, or the Chopunnish man who had accompanied us from
the long Narrows, who was in the rear with Drewyer our interpreter. on his
arrival we enquired of him which was the best and most direct roade for us
to take. he informed us that the road pointed out by his cumerade was
through a open hilly and Sandy Countrey to the river Lewis’s River, and
was a long ways around, and that we Could not git to any water to day. the
other roade up the creek was a more derect Course, plenty of water wood
and only one hill in the whole distance and the road which he had always
recomended to us. Some words took place between those two men the latter
appeared in great pation Mounted his horse and Set out up the Creek. we
Sent a man after him and brought him back informed him that we believed
what he Said and Should imedeately after dinner proceed on the road up the
Creek with him. we gave the former man Some powder and ball which had been
promised him, and after an early dinner Set out up the Creek with our
guide leaveing the Chopunnish man and his family encamped at the forks of
the road where they intended to Stay untill the morning and proceed on the
rout he had recommended to us. we traviled 17 miles this evening makeing a
total of 26 mls. and encamped. the first 3 miles of our afternoons march
was through a Simaler Country of that of the fore noon; the Creek bottoms
then became higher and wider; to the extent of from 2 to 3 miles. we Saw
Several Deer of which Labiech killed one. the timber on the Creek become
more abundant and less burnt, and its extensive bottoms afford a pleasent
looking Country. we Saw a Great number of Curloos, Some Crains, Ducks,
prarie cocks, and Several Species of Sparrows common to the praries. I See
Very little difference between the apparant face of the Country here and
that of the plains of the Missouri. only that those are not enlivened by
the vast herds of Buffalow, Elk &c. which animated those of the
Missouri. The Courses & distances of this day are N. 45° E. 9 mls.
& N. 75° E. 17 Miles allong the North Side of this Creek to our
encampment. Sometime after we had encamped three young men arrived from
the Wallah wallah Village bringing with them a Steel trap belonging to one
of our party which had been negligently left behind; this is an act of
integrity rearly witnessed among Indians. dureing our Stay with them they
Several times found the knives of the men which had been Carefully lossed
by them and returned them. I think we can justly affirm to the honor of
those people that they are the most hospitable, honist and Sencere people
that we have met with on our Voyage.-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday, May 1st, 1806. This morning we gathered our horses and made an early start, having previously sent ahead 4 hunters with directions to proceed up the creek and kill every species of game they might meet with. The small amount of rain that fell last night caused the road to be much firmer and better than yesterday. The morning was cloudy and cool. We proceeded up the creek on the N.E. side through a country of less sand, with some rich bottoms along the creek which are partially supplied with small cottonwood trees, willow, red willow, choke cherry, white thorn, birch, elder, ____ rose, and honeysuckle. A great portion of these bottoms has lately been burnt, which has entirely destroyed the timbered growth. At a distance of nine miles we overtook our hunters; they had killed only one beaver. At this place the road forked, one branch leaving the creek on a course nearly north. The Chopunnish man who had accompanied us with his family informed us that this was our best way, that it was a long distance without water, and advised us to camp on the creek at this place and set out early in the morning.
This information perplexed us a little, since the idea of going a day's march without water through an open sandy plain and on a course 50° out of our direction was not appealing. We determined to unload and wait for our guide, the Chopunnish man who had accompanied us from the Long Narrows, who was in the rear with Drewyer (Drouillard), our interpreter. On his arrival we asked him which was the best and most direct road for us to take. He informed us that the road pointed out by his comrade was through an open, hilly, and sandy country to Lewis's River, was a long way around, and that we could not get to any water today. The other road, up the creek, was a more direct course, with plenty of water and wood, and only one hill in the whole distance, and was the road he had always recommended to us. Some words passed between these two men; the latter appeared in great passion, mounted his horse, and set out up the creek. We sent a man after him and brought him back, telling him that we believed what he said and would immediately after dinner proceed on the road up the creek with him. We gave the former man some powder and ball that had been promised him, and after an early dinner set out up the creek with our guide, leaving the Chopunnish man and his family camped at the forks of the road, where they intended to stay until the morning and then proceed on the route he had recommended to us.
We traveled 17 miles this evening, making a total of 26 miles, and camped. The first 3 miles of our afternoon's march was through a country similar to that of the forenoon; then the creek bottoms became higher and wider, extending from 2 to 3 miles. We saw several deer, of which Labiche killed one. The timber along the creek became more abundant and less burnt, and its extensive bottoms make for a pleasant-looking country. We saw a great number of curlews, some cranes, ducks, prairie cocks, and several species of sparrows common to the prairies. I see very little difference between the apparent face of the country here and that of the plains of the Missouri, except that these are not enlivened by the vast herds of buffalo, elk, etc., that animated those of the Missouri. The courses and distances of this day are N. 45° E. 9 miles, and N. 75° E. 17 miles along the north side of this creek to our encampment.
Some time after we had camped, three young men arrived from the Walla Walla village, bringing with them a steel trap belonging to one of our party that had been carelessly left behind. This is an act of integrity rarely witnessed among Indians. During our stay with them they several times found the knives of the men, which had been carelessly lost, and returned them. I think we can justly affirm, to the honor of these people, that they are the most hospitable, honest, and sincere people we have met with on our voyage.
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