Clark: May 8, 1806

Thursday, May 8th, 1806. This morning our hunters were out by the time it was light. About 8 o'clock Shields brought in a small deer, on which we breakfasted. By 11 A.M. all our hunters had returned. Drewyer and P. Crusat brought in a deer each, and Collins wounded one which our dog caught near our camp. Total of our stock of provisions: 4 deer and some horse flesh.

On the small creek which passes our camp, the natives have lately camped, and as we are informed, have been much distressed for provisions. They have felled a number of small pines in the vicinity of this encampment for the seed which is in the bur, which they eat. We are informed that they were compelled to collect the moss off the pine, boil it, and eat it in the latter part of last winter. On the creek near our camp I observed a kind of trap which was made with great pains to catch the small fish that pass down with the stream. This was a dam formed of stone so as to collect the water in a narrow part not exceeding 3 feet wide, from which place the water shot with great force and scattered through some small willows closely connected and fastened with bark. This mat of willow switches was about 4 feet wide and 6 long, lying in a horizontal position, fastened at the extremity. The small fish which fell on those willows were washed onto the willows, where they remained until taken off, etc. I caught or took off those willows 9 small trout from 3 to 7 inches in length. Soon after I returned from the fishery, an Indian came from a fishery of a similar kind a little above with 12 small fish which he offered me, which I declined accepting, as I found from his signs that his house was a short distance above, and that those fisheries afforded the principal part of the food for his children.

The great chief of the bands below, who has a cut nose, joined us this morning. We gave the entrails along with 4 young fawns which were in two of the deer killed today to the Indians, also some of our deer and horse flesh. The paunch of the deer they ate without any preparation further than washing them a little. The fawns they boiled and ate every part of, even the skins with the hair. The Snake Indian was much displeased that he was not furnished with as much deer as he could eat. He refused to speak to the wife of Shabono (Charbonneau), through whom we could understand the natives. We did not indulge him, and in the latter part of the day he came around and spoke very well. One of the Indians drew me a sketch of the river (see the latter part of this book); in this sketch he makes the 1st large southerly fork of Lewis's river much the longest, and on which great numbers of the Snake Indians reside, etc.

At ____ P.M. we loaded up and set out on the road leading, as we were informed, to the lodge of the Twisted Hair, the chief in whose care we had left our horses. We were accompanied by the Cut Nose chief, our old chief who had accompanied us down the river, and several men. We ascended the hills, which were steep and immensely high, to a level rich country thinly timbered with pine. We had not proceeded more than 4 miles before we met the Twisted Hair and several men coming to meet us. We were very coolly received by the Twisted Hair. He spoke aloud and was answered by the Cut Nose. We could not learn what they said, but plainly discovered that a misunderstanding had taken place between them. We made signs to them that we should proceed on to the next water and camp. Accordingly I set out and they all followed. We had not proceeded far before the road crossed a small handsome stream, on which we camped. The parties of those two chiefs took different positions at some distance from each other, and all appeared sulky.

After we had formed our camp, we sent Drewyer with a pipe to smoke with the Twisted Hair and learn the cause of the dispute between him and the Cut Nose, and also to invite him to our fire to smoke with us. The Twisted Hair came to our fire to smoke. We then sent Drewyer to the Cut Nose's fire with the same directions. He returned and informed us that the Cut Nose said he would join us in a few minutes. It appears that the cause of the quarrel between those two men is about our horses, and we cannot learn the particulars of this quarrel, which probably originated through jealousy on the part of the Cut Nose, who blames the Twisted Hair for suffering our horses to be ridden and to want water during the winter, etc. Twisted Hair says the horses were taken from him, etc.

The Cut Nose joined us in a short time. We smoked with all the party of both chiefs, and told them that we were sorry to find them at variance with each other. The Cut Nose said that the Twisted Hair was a bad man and wore two faces, that he had not taken care of our horses as was expected, that he himself and the Broken Arm had caused our horses to be watered in the winter and had had them driven together, and that if we would proceed on to the village of the great chief with whom we had left a flag last fall, the Broken Arm, he would send for our horses, and that he himself had three of them. He also informed us that the great chief, hearing of our distressed situation, had sent his son and 4 men to meet us and have us furnished on the way, etc., that the young men had missed us and could never overtake us until this time, and that the great chief had 2 bad horses for us and expected us to go to his lodge, which was near the river and about half a day's march above, etc.

The Twisted Hair told us that he wished to smoke with us at his lodge, which was on the road leading to the great chief's lodge, and but a few miles ahead. If we would delay at his lodge tomorrow, he would go after our saddles and horses, which were near the place we made our canoes last fall. We determined to set out early in the morning and proceed on to the lodge of the Twisted Hair, and send for our saddles and powder which we had left buried near the forks, and the day after tomorrow to proceed on to the lodge of the grand chief. Accordingly we informed the Indians of our intentions. We all smoked and conversed until about 10 P.M. The Indians retired and we lay down. Directed 5 hunters to turn out early in the morning to hunt and meet us at the Twisted Hair's lodge.