Clark: May 7, 1806
The expedition set out early with the Twisted Hair's brother as guide, while Wearkkoomt's party departed. After traveling four miles up the river, they crossed to the southeast side by canoe on the guide's advice, a process taking four hours. A local man returned two canisters of powder his dog had found from their cache the previous fall, earning a fire steel in thanks. They traveled twelve miles total, camping at Mosquito Creek. Indians warned that deep mountain snow would delay their crossing until June, discouraging news. Clark also recorded observations on Nez Perce burials, deer decoys, and ornaments.
Wednesday May 7th 1806 This morning we collected our horses and Set out
early accompanied by the brother of the twisted hair as a guide;
Wearkkoomt and his party left us. we proceeded up the river 4 miles to a
lodge of 6 families just below the enterance of a Small Creek, here our
guide recommended our passing the river, he informed us that the road was
better on the South Side, and that game was more abundant also on that
Side near the enterance of Chopunnish river. we deturmined to pursue the
rout recommended by the guide, and accordingly unloaded our horses and
prepared to pass the river which we effected by means of one Canoe in the
Course of 4 hours. a man of this lodge produced us two Canisters of Powder
which he informed us he had found by means of his dog where they had been
berried in the bottom near the river a fiew miles above. they were the
Same which we had burried as we decended the river last fall. as he had
kept them Safe and had honisty enough to return them to us, we gave him a
fire Steel by way of Compensation. dureing our detention at the river we
took dinner. after which we renewed our march along the S. E. Side of the
river about 2 miles over a dificuelt Stoney road, when we left the river
and assended the hills to the right which are here mountains high. the
face of the Country when you have once assended the river hills, is
perfectly level and partially Covered with the long leafed pine. the Soil
is a dark rich loam, thickly Covered with grass and herbatious plants
which afford a delightfull pasture for horses. in Short it is a butifull
fertile picteresque Country. Neeshneparkeeook over took us and after
rideing with us a fiew miles turned off to the right to visit some lodges
of his people who he informed us were gathering roots in the plains at a
little distance from the road. our guide Conducted us through the plain
and down a Steep and lengthy hill to a Creek which we Call Musquetoe Creek
in consequence of being infested with Sworms of those insects on our
arival at it. this is but an inconsiderable Stream about 6 yards wide
heads in the plains at a Short distance and discharges itself into the
Kooskooske 9 ms. by water below the forks. we Struck this Creek at the
distance of 5 miles from the point at which we left the river our course
being a little to the S. of East. we proceeded up the Creek one Mile and
on the S. E. Side we arived at an old Indian incampment of Six Lodges
which appeared to have been recently evacuated. here we remained all night
haveing traveled 12 ms. only. the timbered Country on this Side of the
river may be Said to Commence a Short distance below this Creek, and on
the other Side of the river at a little distance from it the timber
reaches as low as Colter’s Creek. the earth in maney parts of those plains
is thown up in little mounds by Some animal whose habits are Similar to
the Sallemander, like that animal it is also invisible; notwithstanding I
have observed the work of this animal throughout the whole course of my
trail from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocian, I have never obtained a View of
this animal. The Shoshone man of whome I have before mentioned over took
us this evening with Neesh neparkeeook or Cut nose and remained with us
this evening. we Suped this evening as we had done on horse beef. we Saw
Several deer this evening, and a great number of the tracks of these
animals we deturmined to remain here untill noon tomorrow in order to
obtain some venison, and accordingly gave orders to the hunters to turn
out early in the morning. The Spurs of the rocky mountains which were in
view from the high plain to day were perfectly Covered with Snow. The
Indians inform us that the Snow is yet So deep on the Mountains that we
Shall not be able to pass them untill after the next full moon or about
the first of June. others Set the time at a more distant period. this
unwelcom intiligence to men confined to a diet of horsebeef and roots, and
who are as anxious as we are to return to the fat plains of the Missouri,
and thence to our native homes. The Chopunnish bury their dead in
different ways as I have obseved, besides that already discribed they
scaffold Some and deposit others in Sepulchers, those are rearly to be
Seen in this upper part of the Columbian Waters. the one already discribed
is the most Common. they all Sacrifice horses, Canoes and every Species of
property to the dead. the bones of maney horses are Seen lyeing about
those repositaries of the dead &c.-.
I observed in all the Lodges which we have passed Since we Crossed Lewis’s
river decoys, or Stocking heads as they are Sometimes called. these decoys
are for the deer and is formed of the Skin of the head and upper portion
of the neck of that animale extended in the nateral Shape by means of a
fiew little Sticks placed within. the hunter when he Sees a deer conseals
himself and with his hand givs to the decoy the action of a deer at feed,
and this induces the deer within arrowshot; in this mode the Indians near
the woody country hunt on foot in Such places where they cannot pursue the
deer with horses which is their favourite method when the grounds will
permit-.-. The orniments worn by the Chopunnish are, in their nose a
Single Shell of wampom, the pirl & beeds are Suspended from the ears.
beads are worn arround their wrists, neck and over their Sholders
crosswise in the form of a double Sash-. the hair of the men is Cewed in
two rolls which hang on each side in front of the body. Collars of bears
Claws are also Common; but the article of dress on which they appear to
bestow most pains and orniments is a kind of collar or brestplate; this is
most Commonly a Strip of otter skins of about Six inches Wide taken out of
the Center of the Skin it’s whole length including the head. this is
dressed with the hair on, this is tied around the neck & hangs in
front of the body the tail frequently reaching below their knees; on this
Skin in front is attatched pieces of pirl, beeds, wampom, pices of red
Cloth and in Short whatever they conceive most valuable or ornamental-.-.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday May 7th 1806. This morning we collected our horses and set out early, accompanied by the brother of the Twisted Hair as a guide; Wearkkoomt and his party left us. We proceeded up the river 4 miles to a lodge of 6 families just below the entrance of a small creek. Here our guide recommended that we cross the river; he informed us that the road was better on the south side, and that game was more abundant on that side near the entrance of the Chopunnish river. We determined to pursue the route recommended by the guide, and accordingly unloaded our horses and prepared to cross the river, which we accomplished by means of one canoe in the course of 4 hours.
A man of this lodge brought us two canisters of powder which he informed us he had found, by means of his dog, where they had been buried in the bottom near the river a few miles above. They were the same we had buried as we descended the river last fall. As he had kept them safe and had the honesty to return them to us, we gave him a fire steel by way of compensation. During our delay at the river we took dinner. Afterward we renewed our march along the southeast side of the river about 2 miles over a difficult, stony road, when we left the river and ascended the hills to the right, which are here mountains high.
The face of the country, once you have ascended the river hills, is perfectly level and partially covered with long-leafed pine. The soil is a dark, rich loam, thickly covered with grass and herbaceous plants which afford a delightful pasture for horses. In short, it is a beautiful, fertile, picturesque country. Neeshneparkeeook overtook us, and after riding with us a few miles turned off to the right to visit some lodges of his people who he informed us were gathering roots in the plains at a little distance from the road.
Our guide conducted us through the plain and down a steep and lengthy hill to a creek which we call Mosquito Creek, on account of being infested with swarms of those insects on our arrival at it. This is only an inconsiderable stream about 6 yards wide; it heads in the plains at a short distance and discharges itself into the Kooskooske 9 miles by water below the forks. We struck this creek at the distance of 5 miles from the point at which we left the river, our course being a little to the south of east. We proceeded up the creek one mile, and on the southeast side we arrived at an old Indian encampment of six lodges which appeared to have been recently abandoned. Here we remained all night, having traveled only 12 miles.
The timbered country on this side of the river may be said to begin a short distance below this creek, and on the other side of the river, at a little distance from it, the timber reaches as low as Colter's Creek. The earth in many parts of these plains is thrown up in little mounds by some animal whose habits are similar to the salamander; like that animal, it is also invisible. Notwithstanding that I have observed the work of this animal throughout the whole course of my trail from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean, I have never obtained a view of this animal.
The Shoshone man whom I have mentioned before overtook us this evening with Neeshneparkeeook (or Cut Nose) and remained with us this evening. We supped this evening, as we had done, on horse beef. We saw several deer this evening, and a great number of the tracks of these animals. We determined to remain here until noon tomorrow in order to obtain some venison, and accordingly gave orders to the hunters to turn out early in the morning. The spurs of the Rocky Mountains which were in view from the high plain today were perfectly covered with snow. The Indians inform us that the snow is yet so deep on the mountains that we shall not be able to pass them until after the next full moon, or about the first of June; others set the time at a more distant period. This is unwelcome intelligence to men confined to a diet of horse beef and roots, and who are as anxious as we are to return to the fat plains of the Missouri, and from there to our native homes.
The Chopunnish bury their dead in different ways, as I have observed. Besides the manner already described, they scaffold some and deposit others in sepulchers; these are rarely seen in this upper part of the Columbian waters. The one already described is the most common. They all sacrifice horses, canoes, and every species of property to the dead. The bones of many horses are seen lying about these repositories of the dead, etc.
I observed in all the lodges which we have passed since we crossed Lewis's river decoys, or stocking heads, as they are sometimes called. These decoys are for the deer and are formed of the skin of the head and upper portion of the neck of that animal, extended in the natural shape by means of a few little sticks placed within. The hunter, when he sees a deer, conceals himself and with his hand gives to the decoy the action of a deer at feed, and this lures the deer within arrow-shot. In this manner the Indians near the wooded country hunt on foot in such places where they cannot pursue the deer with horses, which is their favorite method when the ground will permit.
The ornaments worn by the Chopunnish are, in their nose, a single shell of wampum; pearls and beads are suspended from the ears. Beads are worn around their wrists, necks, and over their shoulders crosswise in the form of a double sash. The hair of the men is queued in two rolls which hang on each side in front of the body. Collars of bears' claws are also common; but the article of dress on which they appear to bestow the most pains and ornaments is a kind of collar or breastplate. This is most commonly a strip of otter skin about six inches wide, taken out of the center of the skin its whole length, including the head. It is dressed with the hair on, and is tied around the neck and hangs in front of the body, the tail frequently reaching below their knees. On this skin in front are attached pieces of pearl, beads, wampum, pieces of red cloth, and in short whatever they consider most valuable or ornamental.
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