Clark: May 5, 1806
The expedition traveled 20.5 miles up the northeast side of the Kooskooske River, struggling to obtain food from Nez Perce lodges along the way and managing only to acquire two dogs, some bread, and dried roots. Clark's growing reputation as a healer brought many patients, including a woman with an advanced abscess he treated. Lewis lost his temper when an Indian mockingly tossed a puppy at him. The party met Chief Cut Nose, gave him a small medal, and addressed the natives through a Snake Indian interpreter to counter rumors they had come to kill them. They camped near Colter's Creek.
Monday May 5th 1806 Collected our horses and Set out at 7 A M. at 41/2 ms.
we arived at the enterance of Kooskooske, up the N E. Side of which we
continued our March 12 Miles to a large lodge of 10 families haveing
passed two other large mat lodges the one at 5 and the other at 8 Miles
from the Mouth of the Kooskooske, but not being able to obtain provisions
at either of those Lodges continued our March to the 3rd where we arived
at 1 P.M. and with much dificuelty obtained 2 dogs and a Small quantity of
bread and dryed roots. at the Second Lodge of Eight families Capt L. &
my self both entered Smoked with a man who appeared to be a principal man.
as we were about to leave his lodge and proceed on our journey he brought
foward a very eligant Gray mare and gave her to me, requesting Some eye
water. I gave him a phial of Eye water a handkerchief and some Small
articles of which he appeared much pleased-. While we were encamped last
fall at the enterance of Chopunnish river, I gave an Indian man some
volitile leniment to rub his knee and thye for a pain of which he
Complained. the fellow Soon after recovered and have never Seased to extol
the virtue of our medicines. near the enterance of the Kooskooske, as we
decended last fall I met with a man, who Could not walk with a tumure on
his thye. this had been very bad and recovering fast. I gave this man a
jentle pirge cleaned & dressed his Sore and left him Some Casteel Soap
to wash the Sore which Soon got well. this man also assigned the
restoration of his leg to me. those two cures has raised my reputation and
given those nativs an exolted oppinion of my Skill as a phician. I have
already received maney applications. in our present Situation I think it
pardonable to continue this deception for they will not give us any
provisions without Compensation in merchendize, and our Stock is now
reduced to a mear handfull. we take Care to give them no article which Can
possibly injure them. and in maney Cases can administer & give Such
Medicine & Sergical aid as will effectually restore in Simple Cases
&c. We found our Chopunnish Guide with his family. the Indians brought
my horse which was left at the place we made Canoes, from the opposit Side
and delivered him to me while here. this horse had by Some accident
Seperated from our other horses above, and agreeably to indian information
had been in this neighbourhood Some weeks. while at dinner an indian
fellow very impertinently threw a half Starved puppy nearly into the plate
of Capt. Lewis by way of derision for our eating dogs and laughed very
heartily at his own impertinence; Capt L.was So provoked at the
insolence that he cought the puppy and threw it with great violence at him
and Struck him in the breast and face, Seazed his tomahawk, and Shewed him
by Sign that if he repeeted his insolence that he would tomahawk him, the
fellow withdrew apparently much mortified and we continued our Dinner
without further Molestation. after dinner we continued our rout 4 miles to
the enterance of Colter’s Creek about 1/2 a mile above the rapid where we
Sunk the 1st Canoe as we decended the river last fall. We encamped on the
lower Side of this Creek a little distance from two Lodges of the
Chopunnish nation haveing traviled 201/2 miles to day one of those Lodges
Contained 8 families, the other was much the largest we have yet seen. it
is 156 feet long and about 15 feet wide built of mats and Straw, in the
form of the roof of a house haveing a number of Small dores on each Side,
is closed at the ends and without divisions in the intermediate Space.
this lodge at least 30 families. their fires are kindled in a row in the
Center of the Lodge and about 10 feet assunder. all the Lodges of these
people are formed in this manner. we arrived here extreemly hungary and
much fatigued, but no articles of merchindize in our possession would
induce them to let us have any article of Provisions except a Small
quantity of bread of Cows and some of those roots dryed. We had Several
applications to assist their Sick which we refused unless they would let
us have Some dogs or horses to eat. a man whose wife had an absess formed
on the Small of her back promised a horse in the morning provided we would
administer to her, I examined the absess and found it was too far advanced
to be cured. I told them her case was desperate. agreeably to thir request
I opened the absess. I then introduced a tent and dressed it with
bisilican; and prepared Some dozes of the flour of Sulpher and Creem of
tarter which were given with directions to be taken on each morning. a
little girl and Sundery other patients were brought to me for Cure but we
posponed our opperations untill the morning; they produced us Several dogs
but they were So pore that they were unfit to eat. This is the residence
of one of four principal Cheafs of the nation whome they call
Neesh-ne-park-ke-ook or the Cut nose from the circumstance of his nose
being Cut by the Snake Indians with a launce in battle. to this man we
gave a Medal of the Small Size with a likeness of the President. he may be
a great Chief but his Countinance has but little inteligence and his
influence among his people appears very inconsiderable. a number of
Indians besides the inhabitents of these Lodges gathered about us this
evening and encamped in the timbered bottom on the Creek near us. We met
with a Snake indian man at this place through whome we Spoke at Some
length to the nativs this evening with respect to the object which had
enduced us to visit their Country. this address was induced at this moment
by the Suggestions of an old man who observed to the nativs that he
thought we were bad men and had Come most probably in order to kill them.this
impression if really entertained I believe we effected; they appeared well
Satisfied with what we Said to them, and being hungary and tired we
retired to rest at 11 oClock.We-ark-koomt rejoined us this evening.
this man has been of infinate Service to us on Several former occasions
and through him we now offered our address to the nativs-.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Monday May 5th 1806. We collected our horses and set out at 7 A.M. At 4½ miles we arrived at the entrance of the Kooskooske, up the N.E. side of which we continued our march 12 miles to a large lodge of 10 families, having passed two other large mat lodges, the one at 5 and the other at 8 miles from the mouth of the Kooskooske. Not being able to obtain provisions at either of those lodges, we continued our march to the third, where we arrived at 1 P.M. and with much difficulty obtained 2 dogs and a small quantity of bread and dried roots.
At the second lodge of eight families, Capt. L. (Capt. Lewis) and myself both entered and smoked with a man who appeared to be a principal man. As we were about to leave his lodge and proceed on our journey, he brought forward a very elegant gray mare and gave her to me, requesting some eye water. I gave him a phial of eye water, a handkerchief, and some small articles, with which he appeared much pleased.
While we were camped last fall at the entrance of Chopunnish river, I gave an Indian man some volatile liniment to rub his knee and thigh for a pain of which he complained. The fellow soon after recovered and has never ceased to extol the virtue of our medicines. Near the entrance of the Kooskooske, as we descended last fall, I met with a man who could not walk because of a tumor on his thigh. This had been very bad and was recovering fast. I gave this man a gentle purge, cleaned and dressed his sore, and left him some Castile soap to wash the sore, which soon got well. This man also credited the restoration of his leg to me. Those two cures have raised my reputation and given these natives an exalted opinion of my skill as a physician. I have already received many applications. In our present situation I think it pardonable to continue this deception, for they will not give us any provisions without compensation in merchandise, and our stock is now reduced to a mere handful. We take care to give them no article which can possibly injure them, and in many cases we can administer and give such medicine and surgical aid as will effectually restore in simple cases, etc.
We found our Chopunnish guide with his family. The Indians brought my horse, which was left at the place we made canoes, from the opposite side and delivered him to me while here. This horse had by some accident separated from our other horses above, and according to Indian information had been in this neighborhood some weeks.
While at dinner, an Indian fellow very impertinently threw a half-starved puppy nearly into the plate of Capt. Lewis by way of derision for our eating dogs, and laughed very heartily at his own impertinence. Capt. L. was so provoked at the insolence that he caught the puppy and threw it with great violence at him, striking him in the breast and face, seized his tomahawk, and showed him by sign that if he repeated his insolence he would tomahawk him. The fellow withdrew apparently much mortified, and we continued our dinner without further molestation.
After dinner we continued our route 4 miles to the entrance of Colter's Creek, about ½ a mile above the rapid where we sank the first canoe as we descended the river last fall. We camped on the lower side of this creek a little distance from two lodges of the Chopunnish nation, having traveled 20½ miles today. One of those lodges contained 8 families; the other was much the largest we have yet seen. It is 156 feet long and about 15 feet wide, built of mats and straw, in the form of the roof of a house, having a number of small doors on each side, closed at the ends and without divisions in the intermediate space. This lodge holds at least 30 families. Their fires are kindled in a row in the center of the lodge and about 10 feet apart. All the lodges of these people are formed in this manner.
We arrived here extremely hungry and much fatigued, but no articles of merchandise in our possession would induce them to let us have any article of provisions except a small quantity of bread of cows and some of those roots dried. We had several applications to assist their sick, which we refused unless they would let us have some dogs or horses to eat. A man whose wife had an abscess formed on the small of her back promised a horse in the morning provided we would treat her. I examined the abscess and found it was too far advanced to be cured. I told them her case was desperate. At their request I opened the abscess. I then introduced a tent (a wound dressing) and dressed it with basilicon, and prepared some doses of the flour of sulphur and cream of tartar, which were given with directions to be taken each morning. A little girl and sundry other patients were brought to me for cure, but we postponed our operations until the morning. They produced us several dogs, but they were so poor that they were unfit to eat.
This is the residence of one of four principal chiefs of the nation, whom they call Neesh-ne-park-ke-ook, or the Cut Nose, from the circumstance of his nose being cut by the Snake Indians with a lance in battle. To this man we gave a medal of the small size with a likeness of the President. He may be a great chief, but his countenance has but little intelligence, and his influence among his people appears very inconsiderable. A number of Indians besides the inhabitants of these lodges gathered about us this evening and camped in the timbered bottom on the creek near us.
We met with a Snake Indian man at this place, through whom we spoke at some length to the natives this evening with respect to the object which had induced us to visit their country. This address was prompted at this moment by the suggestions of an old man who observed to the natives that he thought we were bad men and had come most probably in order to kill them. This impression, if really entertained, I believe we corrected. They appeared well satisfied with what we said to them, and being hungry and tired, we retired to rest at 11 o'clock. We-ark-koomt rejoined us this evening. This man has been of infinite service to us on several former occasions, and through him we now offered our address to the natives.
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