Clark: October 20, 1805
On a cold, windy Sunday, the Corps hosted about 100 to 200 visiting Indians, sharing a smoke and a breakfast of dog meat before departing. Traveling 42 miles down the river, they navigated several rapids, including a treacherous one nearly choked by black rocks, and passed numerous Indian lodges where natives were drying fish for winter. On one island, they examined a large burial vault containing human bones, wrapped bodies, baskets, nets, and horse skeletons. They noted the treeless terrain, purchased some dried fish, and killed two gulls and several ducks.
October 20th 1805 Sunday a very cold morning wind S. W. about 100 Indians
Came over this morning to See us, after a Smoke, a brackfast on Dogs flesh
we Set out. about 350 men
Killed 2 large speckle guts 4 Duck in Malade Small ducks the flavour of
which much resembles the Canvis back no timber of any kind on the river,
we Saw in the last Lodges acorns of the white oake which the Inds. inform
they precure above the falls The men are badly dressed, Some have scarlet
& blue cloth robes. one has a Salors jacket, The women have a Short
indiferent Shirt, a Short robe of Deer or Goat Skins, & a Small Skin
which they fastend. tite around their bodies & fastend. between the
legs to hide the
—
October 20th Sunday 1805 A cool morning wind S. W. we concluded to delay
untill after brackfast which we were obliged to make on the flesh of dog.
after brackfast we gave all the Indian men Smoke, and we Set out leaveing
about 200 of the nativs at our Encampment; passd. three Indian Lodges on
the Lard Side a little below our Camp which lodges I did not discover last
evening, passed a rapid at Seven miles one at a Short distance below we
passed a verry bad rapid, a chane of rocks makeing from the Stard. Side
and nearly Chokeing the river up entirely with hugh black rocks, an Island
below close under the Stard. Side on which was four Lodges of Indians
drying-fish,here I Saw a great number of pelicons on the wing, and
black Comerants. at one oClock we landed on the lower point of an Island
at Some Indian Lodges, a large Island on the Stard Side nearly opposit and
a Small one a little below on the Lard Side on those three Island I
counted Seventeen Indian Lodges, those people are in every respect like
those above, prepareing fish for theire winter consumption here we
purchased a fiew indifferent Dried fish & a fiew berries on which we
dined-(On the upper part of this Island we discovered an Indian vault) our
curiosity induced us to examine the methot those nativs practicd in
diposeing the dead, the Vaut was made by broad poads and pieces of Canoes
leaning on a ridge pole which was Suported by 2 forks Set in the ground
Six feet in hight in an easterly and westerly direction and about 60 feet
in length, and 12 feet wide, in it I observed great numbers of humane
bones of every description perticularly in a pile near the Center of the
vault, on the East End 21 Scul bomes forming a circle on Mats-; in the
Westerley part of the Vault appeared to be appropriated for those of more
resent death, as many of the bodies of the deceased raped up in leather
robes lay on board covered with mats, &c we observed, independant of
the canoes which Served as a Covering, fishing nets of various kinds,
Baskets of different Sizes, wooden boles, robes Skins, trenchers, and
various Kind of trinkets, in and Suspended on the ends of the pieces
forming the vault; we also Saw the Skeletons of Several Horses at the
vault & great number of bones about it, which Convinced me that those
animals were Sacrefised as well as the above articles to the Deceased.)
after diner we proceeded on to a bad rapid at the lower point of a Small
Island on which four Lodges of Indians were Situated drying fish; here the
high countrey Commences again on the Stard. Side leaveing a vallie of 40
miles in width, from the mustle Shel rapid. examined and passed this rapid
close to the Island at 8 miles lower passed a large Island near the middle
of the river a brook on the Stard. Side and 11 Islds. all in view of each
other below, a riverlit falls in on the Lard. Side behind a Small Island a
Small rapid below. The Star Side is high rugid hills, the Lard. Side a low
plain and not a tree to be Seen in any Direction except a fiew Small
willow bushes which are Scattered partially on the Sides of the bank
The river to day is about 1/4 of a mile in width; this evening the
Countrey on the Lard. Side rises to the hight of that on the Starboard
Side, and is waveringwe made 42 miles to day; the current much more
uniform than yesterday or the day before. Killed 2 Speckle guls Severl.
ducks of a delicious flavour.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
October 20th 1805, Sunday. A very cold morning, wind S.W. About 100 Indians came over this morning to see us. After a smoke and a breakfast of dog flesh, we set out. About 350 men.
Killed 2 large speckled gulls and 4 ducks on the Malade, small ducks whose flavor much resembles the canvasback. There is no timber of any kind on the river. We saw in the last lodges acorns of the white oak, which the Indians inform us they procure above the falls. The men are badly dressed; some have scarlet and blue cloth robes. One has a sailor's jacket. The women have a short, plain shirt, a short robe of deer or goat skins, and a small skin which they fasten tightly around their bodies and between the legs to hide the [private parts].
October 20th, Sunday 1805. A cool morning, wind S.W. We decided to delay until after breakfast, which we were obliged to make on the flesh of dog. After breakfast we gave all the Indian men a smoke, and we set out, leaving about 200 of the natives at our encampment. We passed three Indian lodges on the larboard side a little below our camp, which lodges I did not discover last evening. We passed a rapid at seven miles, and a short distance below we passed a very bad rapid, a chain of rocks making out from the starboard side and nearly choking the river up entirely with huge black rocks. An island below lay close under the starboard side, on which were four lodges of Indians drying fish. Here I saw a great number of pelicans on the wing, and black cormorants.
At one o'clock we landed on the lower point of an island at some Indian lodges. A large island lay on the starboard side nearly opposite, and a small one a little below on the larboard side. On those three islands I counted seventeen Indian lodges. These people are in every respect like those above, preparing fish for their winter consumption. Here we purchased a few plain dried fish and a few berries, on which we dined.
(On the upper part of this island we discovered an Indian burial vault. Our curiosity induced us to examine the method these natives practiced in disposing of the dead. The vault was made by broad boards and pieces of canoes leaning on a ridge pole, which was supported by 2 forks set in the ground six feet in height, in an easterly and westerly direction, and about 60 feet in length and 12 feet wide. In it I observed great numbers of human bones of every description, particularly in a pile near the center of the vault. On the east end, 21 skull bones formed a circle on mats. In the westerly part of the vault appeared to be appropriated for those of more recent death, as many of the bodies of the deceased, wrapped up in leather robes, lay on boards covered with mats, etc. We observed, independent of the canoes which served as a covering, fishing nets of various kinds, baskets of different sizes, wooden bowls, robes, skins, trenchers, and various kinds of trinkets, in and suspended on the ends of the pieces forming the vault. We also saw the skeletons of several horses at the vault and a great number of bones about it, which convinced me that these animals were sacrificed, as well as the above articles, to the deceased.)
After dinner we proceeded on to a bad rapid at the lower point of a small island, on which four lodges of Indians were situated drying fish. Here the high country commences again on the starboard side, leaving a valley of 40 miles in width from the Mussel Shell rapid. We examined and passed this rapid close to the island. At 8 miles lower we passed a large island near the middle of the river, a brook on the starboard side, and 11 islands all in view of each other below. A rivulet falls in on the larboard side behind a small island, with a small rapid below. The starboard side is high rugged hills; the larboard side a low plain, and not a tree to be seen in any direction except a few small willow bushes which are scattered partially on the sides of the bank.
The river today is about 1/4 of a mile in width. This evening the country on the larboard side rises to the height of that on the starboard side, and is rolling. We made 42 miles today; the current much more uniform than yesterday or the day before. Killed 2 speckled gulls and several ducks of a delicious flavor.
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