Clark: May 6, 1806
At a Nez Perce camp, the husband of a sick woman delivered a young horse as promised, which was butchered for food, and a second horse was given in payment for Clark treating a girl with rheumatism. Clark spent the morning dispensing eye-water to many patients suffering from sore eyes, a widespread complaint. Lewis traded horses with We-ark-koomt and gifted him a flag. They met three Skeetsomish men and learned about regional rivers, with Lewis naming Clark's River after Clark. The party set out at 3 P.M., traveling 9 miles before camping; their unbroken horse escaped after dark.
Tuesday May 6th 1806 This morning the Susband of the Sick woman was as
good as his word. he produced us a young horse in tolerable order which we
imedeately had killed and butchered. the inhabitents Seemed more
accommodating this morning. they Sold us Some bread. we received a Second
horse for Medecine & procription to a little girl with the rhumitism
whome I had bathed in worm water, and anointed her a little with balsom
Capivia. I dressed the woman again this morning who declared that She had
rested better last night than She had Since She had been sick. Sore Eyes
is an universal Complaint among all the nations which we have Seen on the
West Side of the rocky Mountains. I was busily imployed for several hours
this morning in administering eye water to a Croud of applicants. we once
more obtained a plentiful meal, much to the Comfort of all the party. Capt
Lewis exchanged horses with We ark koomt and gave him a small flag with
which he was much pleased and gratifyed. the Sorrel which Cap L. obtained
is a Strong active well broke horse-. At this place we met with three men
of a nation Called the Skeetsso-mish who reside at the falls of a Small
river dischargeing itself into the Columbia on its East Side to the South
of the enterance of Clarks river. this river they informed us headed in a
large lake in the mountains and that the falls below which they reside was
at no great distance from the lake. these people are the Same in their
dress and appearance with the Chopunnish, tho their language is entirely
different. one of them gave me his whip which was a twisted Stick 18 Ins.
in length at one end a pice of raw hide Split So as to form two Strings
about 20 inches in length as a lash, to the other end a String passed
through a hole and fastened at each end for a loope to Slip over the
wrist. I gave in return for this whip a fathom of narrow binding. The
River here Calld. Clarks river is that which we have heretofore Called
Flathead river. Capt. Lewis has thought proper to Call this after myself
for this Stream we know no Indhan name and no white man but our Selves was
ever on this river. The river which Fiddler call’s the great Lake river
may possiably be a branch of it, but if So it is but a very inconsiderable
branch, and may as probably empty itself into the Columbia above as into
Clarks river. the Stream which the party has heretofore Called Clarks
river imedeately above the great falls, has it’s three principal branches
in Mountains Jefferson, Hood and the Northern Side of the S. W. Mountains
and is of course a Short river. this river is Called by the Skillutes
& Eneshure Nations Towannahhiooks which is also the name they Call
those bands of Snake indians who Come on this river every Spring to Catch
the Salmon-. The Kooskooske river may be Safely navigated at present all
the rocks of the Sholes and rapids are perfectlly Covered; the Current is
Strong, the water Clear and Cold. this river is riseing fast-. The timber
of this river which consists principally of the long leafed pine which
commences about 2 miles below our present encampment on Colters Creek. it
was 2 P M. this evening before we could collect our horses. at 3 P M. we
Set out accompanied by the brother of the twisted hair and We-ark-koomt.
we derected the horse which I had obtained for the purpose of eateing to
be led as it was unbroke, in performing this duty a quarrel ensued between
Drewyer and Colter-. We Continued our march along the river on its North
Side 9 miles to a lodge of 6 families built of Sticks mats and dryed Hay.
of the Same form of those heretofore discribed. we passed a Lodge of 3
families at 4 ms. on the river, no provisions of any discription was to be
obtained of these people. a little after dark our young horse broke the
rope by which he was Confined and made his escape much to the chagrine of
all who recollected the keenness of their appetites last evening. the
brother of the twisted hair & wearkkoomt with 10 others encamped with
us this evening
The nativs have a Considerable Salmon fishery up Colters Creek. this
Stream extends itself to the Spurs of the Rocky Mountain and in much the
greater part of its Course passes through a well timbered pine Country. it
is 25 yds. wide and discharges a large body of water. the banks low and
bead formed of pebbles-. had a Small Shower of rain this evening. The
Chopunnish about the Mouth of the Kooskooske bury their dead on Stoney
hill Sides generally, and as I was informed by an Indian who made Signs
that they made a hole in the Grown by takeing away the Stones and earth
where they wished to deposit the dead body after which they laid the body
which was previously raped in a robe and Secured with Cords. over the body
they placed Stones So as to form a Sort of arch on the top of which they
put Stones and earth So as to Secure the body from the wolves and birds
&c. they Sometimes inclose the grave with a kind of Sepulcher like the
roof of a house formed of the canoes of the disceased. they also Sacrifice
the favorite horses of the disceased. the bones of many of which we See on
and about the graves.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday May 6th 1806. This morning the husband of the sick woman was as good as his word. He produced for us a young horse in tolerable condition, which we immediately had killed and butchered. The inhabitants seemed more accommodating this morning. They sold us some bread. We received a second horse in payment for medicine and a prescription for a little girl with rheumatism, whom I had bathed in warm water and anointed a little with balsam capivi. I dressed the woman again this morning, and she declared that she had rested better last night than she had since she had been sick. Sore eyes is a universal complaint among all the nations we have seen on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. I was busily employed for several hours this morning administering eye water to a crowd of applicants. We once more obtained a plentiful meal, much to the comfort of all the party. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) exchanged horses with We-ark-koomt and gave him a small flag, with which he was much pleased and gratified. The sorrel which Capt. L. obtained is a strong, active, well-broken horse.
At this place we met with three men of a nation called the Skeetsso-mish, who reside at the falls of a small river that discharges itself into the Columbia on its east side, to the south of the entrance of Clarks river. They informed us that this river heads in a large lake in the mountains, and that the falls below which they reside are at no great distance from the lake. These people are the same in their dress and appearance as the Chopunnish, though their language is entirely different. One of them gave me his whip, which was a twisted stick 18 inches in length; at one end was a piece of rawhide split so as to form two strings about 20 inches in length as a lash, and to the other end a string passed through a hole and fastened at each end as a loop to slip over the wrist. I gave in return for this whip a fathom of narrow binding.
The river here called Clarks river is the one we have heretofore called Flathead river. Capt. Lewis has thought it proper to call this after myself, for this stream we know no Indian name, and no white man but ourselves was ever on this river. The river which Fiddler calls the Great Lake river may possibly be a branch of it, but if so it is only a very inconsiderable branch, and may as probably empty itself into the Columbia above as into Clarks river. The stream which the party has heretofore called Clarks river, immediately above the Great Falls, has its three principal branches in Mountains Jefferson, Hood, and the northern side of the S. W. Mountains, and is therefore a short river. This river is called by the Skillutes and Eneshure nations Towannahhiooks, which is also the name they give to those bands of Snake Indians who come to this river every spring to catch salmon.
The Kooskooske river may be safely navigated at present; all the rocks of the shoals and rapids are perfectly covered; the current is strong, the water clear and cold. This river is rising fast. The timber along this river consists principally of the long-leafed pine, which commences about 2 miles below our present encampment on Colters Creek.
It was 2 P.M. this evening before we could collect our horses. At 3 P.M. we set out, accompanied by the brother of the Twisted Hair and We-ark-koomt. We directed the horse which I had obtained for the purpose of eating to be led, as it was unbroken; in performing this duty a quarrel ensued between Drewyer and Colter. We continued our march along the river on its north side 9 miles to a lodge of 6 families, built of sticks, mats, and dried hay, of the same form as those heretofore described. We passed a lodge of 3 families at 4 miles on the river; no provisions of any description could be obtained from these people. A little after dark our young horse broke the rope by which he was confined and made his escape, much to the chagrin of all who recollected the keenness of their appetites last evening. The brother of the Twisted Hair and We-ark-koomt, with 10 others, camped with us this evening.
The natives have a considerable salmon fishery up Colters Creek. This stream extends itself to the spurs of the Rocky Mountains, and in much the greater part of its course passes through a well-timbered pine country. It is 25 yards wide and discharges a large body of water. The banks are low and the bed formed of pebbles. We had a small shower of rain this evening.
The Chopunnish about the mouth of the Kooskooske generally bury their dead on stony hillsides. As I was informed by an Indian who made signs, they make a hole in the ground by removing the stones and earth where they wish to deposit the dead body, after which they lay the body, which has previously been wrapped in a robe and secured with cords. Over the body they place stones so as to form a sort of arch, on top of which they put stones and earth so as to secure the body from wolves and birds, etc. They sometimes enclose the grave with a kind of sepulcher like the roof of a house, formed from the canoes of the deceased. They also sacrifice the favorite horses of the deceased, the bones of many of which we see on and about the graves.
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