Clark: May 4, 1806
On a cold Sunday, the expedition set out early, crossing high plains and descending a creek to Lewis's River, where they breakfasted at a lodge of six impoverished families, buying two lean dogs and root bread. A pack horse slipped down a rocky slope into the creek, but the ammunition stayed dry in canisters. Continuing upriver, they met Chief Te-toh-ar-sky and their former pilot, who advised crossing to the northeast side of the Kooskooske toward Twisted Hair's camp. They ferried across with Indian canoes, camped, and traveled 15 miles total.
Sunday May 4th 1806 Collected our horses and Set out early; the morning
was Cold and disagreeable. we assended the Larboard Hill of the Creek and
Steared N 60° E 4 M. through a high leavil plain to a revine which forms
the Source of a small creek, thence down the Creek N 75° E. 8 Ms. to it’s
enterance into Lewis’s river 71/2 ms. below the enterance of Koos koos ke.
on the river a little above this Creek we arived at a lodge of 6 families
of which We-ark’-koomt had Spoken. We halted here for brackfast and with
much dificuelty purchased 2 lean dogs. the inhabitents were miserably
pore. we obtained a fiew large cakes of half cured bread made of a root
which resembles the Sweet potatoe, with these we made Some Soope and took
brackfast. the lands through which we passed to day are fertile consisting
of a dark rich loam. the hills of the river are high and abrupt
approaching it nearly on both Sides. no timber in the plains. the S. W.
Mountains which appear to be about 15 Miles from us Still Continue to
become lower, they are Covered with Snow at present nearly to their bases.
Lewis’s river appear to pass through those Mountains near the N Eastern
extremity. those hills termonate in a high leavil plain between the
Kooskoske & Lewis’s river. these plains are in maney places well
covered with the long leafed pine and Some balsom fir. the Soil is
extreamly fertile. no does it appear So thirsty as that of the Same
apparrant texture of the open plains. it produces great quantities of the
quawmash a root of which the nativs are extreemly fond. a Great portion of
the Chopunnish we are informed are now distributed in Small villages
through this plain Collecting the Cowse a white Meley root which is very
fine in Soup after being dried and pounded; the Salmon not yet haveing
arived to Call them to the river-. The hills of the Creek which we
decended this morning are high and in most parts rocky and abrupt. one of
our pack horses Sliped from one of those hights and fell into the Creek
with it’s load Consisting principally of amunition, but fortunately
neither the horse nor load Suffered any Matereal injury. the ammunition
being Secured in Canesters the water did not effect it.
after dinner we Continued our rout up the West Side of the river 3 ms.
opposit 2 Lodges the one Containing 3 and the other 2 families of the
Chopunnish Nation; here we met with Te-toh-ar-sky the oldest of the two
Chiefs who accompanied us last fall to the Great falls of the Columbia.
here we also met with our old pilot who decended the river with us as low
as the Columbia these indians recommended our passing the river at this
place and going up on the N E Side of the Kooskoske. they Sayed it was
nearer and a better rout to the forks of that river where the twisted hair
resided in whose charge we had left our horses; thither they promised to
Conduct us. we determined to take the advise of the indians and imediately
prepared to pass the river which with the assistance of three indian
Canoes we effected in the Course of the evening, purchased a little Wood,
Some Cows bread and encamped, haveing traveled 15 miles to day only. We
ark koomt whose people reside on the West Side of Lewis’s river above left
us when we deturmined to pass the river. before he left us he expressed
his concern that his people would be deprived of the pleasure of Seeing us
at the forks at which place they had assimbled to Shew us Sivilities &c.
I gave him a Small piece of tobacco and he went off Satisfied. the evening
was Cold and disagreeable, and the nativs Crouded about our fire in great
numbers in so much that we Could Scercely Cook or keep ourselves worm. at
all those Lodges of the Chopunnish I observe an appendage of a Small lodge
with one fire, which Seames to be the retreat of their women in a certain
Situation. the men are not permited to approach this Lodge within a
certain distance, and if they have any thing to Convey to the Occupents of
this little hospital they Stand at the distance of 50 or 60 paces and
throw it towards them as far as they Can and retire.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday May 4th 1806. Collected our horses and set out early; the morning was cold and disagreeable. We ascended the larboard hill of the creek and steered N 60° E 4 miles through a high level plain to a ravine which forms the source of a small creek, then down the creek N 75° E 8 miles to its entrance into Lewis's River, 7½ miles below the entrance of the Koos koos ke (Kooskooske). On the river a little above this creek we arrived at a lodge of 6 families of which We-ark'-koomt had spoken. We halted here for breakfast and with much difficulty purchased 2 lean dogs. The inhabitants were miserably poor. We obtained a few large cakes of half-cured bread made of a root which resembles the sweet potato; with these we made some soup and took breakfast. The lands through which we passed today are fertile, consisting of a dark rich loam. The hills of the river are high and abrupt, approaching it nearly on both sides. No timber in the plains. The S. W. mountains, which appear to be about 15 miles from us, still continue to become lower; they are covered with snow at present nearly to their bases. Lewis's River appears to pass through those mountains near the northeastern extremity. Those hills terminate in a high level plain between the Kooskoske and Lewis's River. These plains are in many places well covered with the long-leafed pine and some balsam fir. The soil is extremely fertile, nor does it appear so thirsty as that of the same apparent texture of the open plains. It produces great quantities of the quawmash, a root of which the natives are extremely fond. A great portion of the Chopunnish, we are informed, are now distributed in small villages through this plain collecting the cowse, a white mealy root which is very fine in soup after being dried and pounded; the salmon not yet having arrived to call them to the river. The hills of the creek which we descended this morning are high and in most parts rocky and abrupt. One of our pack horses slipped from one of those heights and fell into the creek with its load, consisting principally of ammunition, but fortunately neither the horse nor load suffered any material injury. The ammunition being secured in canisters, the water did not affect it.
After dinner we continued our route up the west side of the river 3 miles, opposite 2 lodges, the one containing 3 and the other 2 families of the Chopunnish Nation. Here we met with Te-toh-ar-sky, the oldest of the two chiefs who accompanied us last fall to the Great Falls of the Columbia. Here we also met with our old pilot who descended the river with us as low as the Columbia. These Indians recommended our passing the river at this place and going up on the NE side of the Kooskoske. They said it was nearer and a better route to the forks of that river where the Twisted Hair resided, in whose charge we had left our horses; thither they promised to conduct us. We determined to take the advice of the Indians and immediately prepared to pass the river, which with the assistance of three Indian canoes we effected in the course of the evening. Purchased a little wood, some cows bread, and camped, having traveled 15 miles today only. We-ark-koomt, whose people reside on the west side of Lewis's River above, left us when we determined to pass the river. Before he left us he expressed his concern that his people would be deprived of the pleasure of seeing us at the forks, at which place they had assembled to show us civilities, etc. I gave him a small piece of tobacco and he went off satisfied. The evening was cold and disagreeable, and the natives crowded about our fire in great numbers, so much so that we could scarcely cook or keep ourselves warm. At all those lodges of the Chopunnish I observe an appendage of a small lodge with one fire, which seems to be the retreat of their women in a certain situation. The men are not permitted to approach this lodge within a certain distance, and if they have anything to convey to the occupants of this little hospital, they stand at the distance of 50 or 60 paces and throw it towards them as far as they can and retire.
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