Clark: May 16, 1806
On a cloudy, lightly rainy Friday, a man and boy returned Drouillard's strayed horse to camp around 11 A.M. Hohhastillpelt and the remaining Native visitors departed at midday to cross the river upstream, taking bear meat for their children. The party noted that local Natives rarely hunt grizzly bears, considering the kill a great feat. Sick men recovered, and Sacagawea gathered fennel roots for food. Several hunters went out with poor results: Shields, Drouillard, Cruzatte, Shannon, and Labiche brought in only one deer and a woodpecker. Pryor and Collins had not yet returned.
Friday 16th May 1806 a cloudy morning with Some rain which continued
untill Meridean at intervales, but very moderately. a man and boy Came to
our Camp at 11 A. M with Drewyers Horse which he informed us he found at a
long distance towards the Mtns. this horse must have Strayed from Drewyers
Camp last night. Hohhastillpelt and all the nativs left us at merdn. and
went up the river with a view to Cross at Some distance above where they
expected to find a Canoe.
we gave those people a head and Neck of the largest bear a part of which
they eate and the balance they Carefully took with them for their
children. The Indians of this Country Seldom kill the bear they are very
much afraid of them and the killing of a white or Grzley bear, is as great
a feet as two of their enimy. the fiew of those Animals which they Chance
to kill is found in the leavel open lands and pursued on horses &
killed with their Arrows. they are fond of the flesh of this animal and
eate emoderately of it when they have a Sufficiency to indulge themselves.
The men who were complaining of the head ake and Cholicks yesterday and
last night are much better to day. Shabonos Squar gatherd a quantity of
fenel roots which we find very paleatiable and nurishing food. the Onion
we also find in abundance and boil it with our meat. Shields rode out and
hunted in the morning without Suckcess he returned at 11 A.M. having
killed only a black wood pecker with a red breast as discribed hereafter.
A snake which resembles the rattle Snake in colour and Spots on the Skin,
longer and inosent. at 5 P M Drewyer and Crusat returned haveing killed
only one Deer only. D. Shot 3 White bear but Could get neither of them.
they inform us that the hunting in the derection they were is very bad.
the country hilly & brushey. a little after dark Shannon & Labiech
came in from the Chass. Shannon killed one deer which he brought in. this
deer being the only animal they Could kill. they informed that a large
Creek (Collens’s Creek) run parrelal with the river at about 5 or 6 miles
distant between which there was but little game, and the Creek being high
rapid and the Smothe rocks in the bottom rendered it impossible for them
to pass it on hors back. Sergt. Pryor and Collins who Set out early this
morning hunting have not returned. we derected that the horses be drove up
in future at 12 oClock on each day
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Friday, 16th May 1806. A cloudy morning with some rain that continued until midday at intervals, but very moderately. A man and a boy came to our camp at 11 A.M. with Drewyer's (Drouillard's) horse, which he informed us he found at a long distance toward the mountains. This horse must have strayed from Drewyer's camp last night. Hohhastillpelt and all the natives left us at midday and went up the river intending to cross at some distance above, where they expected to find a canoe.
We gave those people a head and neck of the largest bear, part of which they ate, and the balance they carefully took with them for their children. The Indians of this country seldom kill the bear; they are very much afraid of them, and the killing of a white or grizzly bear is as great a feat as killing two of their enemies. The few of those animals which they chance to kill are found in the level open lands and pursued on horses and killed with their arrows. They are fond of the flesh of this animal and eat immoderately of it when they have a sufficiency to indulge themselves.
The men who were complaining of headache and colic yesterday and last night are much better today. Shabono's (Charbonneau's) squaw gathered a quantity of fennel roots, which we find very palatable and nourishing food. The onion we also find in abundance and boil it with our meat. Shields rode out and hunted in the morning without success; he returned at 11 A.M., having killed only a black woodpecker with a red breast, as described hereafter. He also saw a snake which resembles the rattlesnake in color and spots on the skin, but is longer and harmless.
At 5 P.M. Drewyer (Drouillard) and Crusat (Cruzatte) returned, having killed only one deer. Drewyer shot 3 white bears but could get none of them. They inform us that the hunting in the direction they went is very bad, the country hilly and brushy. A little after dark Shannon and Labiech (Labiche) came in from the chase. Shannon killed one deer, which he brought in, this deer being the only animal they could kill. They informed us that a large creek (Collins's Creek) runs parallel with the river at about 5 or 6 miles distant, between which there was but little game, and the creek being high and rapid, and the smooth rocks in the bottom rendering it impossible for them to cross it on horseback. Sergeant Pryor and Collins, who set out early this morning hunting, have not returned. We directed that the horses be driven up in future at 12 o'clock each day.
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