Clark: October 23, 1805
On a fine morning at the falls, the party portaged their canoes 457 yards along the south side and lowered them by elk-skin ropes through a narrow channel with an 8-foot drop. One canoe broke loose and was retrieved by Indians, who had to be paid. Fleas swarmed the campsite so badly the men stripped to brush them off. Clark shot but lost a sea otter. An old chief warned that downriver tribes planned to attack, so weapons were checked and ammunition readied. The party bought eight fat dogs to eat and traded their smallest canoe for a finely built native one designed for rough waves. Latitude observed at 45° 42' 57" N.
October 23rd (Saturday) Wednesday 1805 Took the Canoes over the Portage on
the Lard. Side with much dificuelty, description on another Paper one
Canoe got loose & cought by the Indians which we were obliged to pay.
our old Chiefs over herd the Indians from below Say they would try to kill
us & informed us of it, we have all the arm examined and put in order,
all th Inds leave us early, Great numbers of flees on the Lard SideShot
a Sea Oter which I did not get, Great Numbers about those rapids we
purchased 8 dogs, Small & fat for our party to eate, the Indians not
verry fond of Selling their good fish, compells us to make use of dogs for
food Exchanged our Small canoe for a large & a very new one built for
riding the waves obsd Merdn. altd. 66° 27′ 30″ Latd. prodsd. 45° 42′ 57
3/10″ North
—
October 23d Wednesday 1805 a fine morning, I with the greater part of the
men Crossed in the Canoes to opposit Side above the falls and hauled them
across the portage of 457 yards which is on the Lard. Side and certainly
the best side to pass the canoes I then decended through a narrow chanel
of about 150 yards wide forming a kind of half circle in it course of a
mile to a pitch of 8 feet in which the chanel is divided by 2 large rocks
at this place we were obliged to let the Canoes down by Strong ropes of
Elk Skin which we had for the purpose, one Canoe in passing this place got
loose by the Cords breaking, and was cought by the Indians below. I
accomplished this necessary business and landed Safe with all the Canoes
at our Camp below the falls by 3 oClock P.M. nearly covered with flees
which were So thick amongst the Straw and fish Skins at the upper part of
the portage at which place the nativs had been Camped not long Since; that
every man of the party was obliged to Strip naked dureing the time of
takeing over the canoes, that they might have an oppertunity of brushing
the flees of their legs and bodiesGreat numbers of Sea Otters in
the river below the falls, I Shot one in the narrow chanel to day which I
could not get. Great numbers of Indians visit us both from above and below-one
of the old Chiefs who had accompanied us from the head of the river,
informed us that he herd the Indians Say that the nation below intended to
kill us, we examined all the arms &c. complete the amunition to 100
rounds. The nativs leave us earlyer this evening than usial, which gives a
Shadow of Confirmation to the information of our Old Chief, as we are at
all times & places on our guard, are under no greater apprehention
than is common.
we purchased 8 Small fat dogs for the party to eate the nativs not being
fond of Selling their good fish, compells us to make use of Dog meat for
food, the flesh of which the most of the party have become fond of from
the habits of useing it for Some time past. The Altitude of this day 66°
27′ 30″ gave for Latd. 45° 42′ 57 1/10 N.
I observed on the beach near the Indian Lodges two Canoes butifull of
different Shape & Size to what we had Seen above wide in the midde and
tapering to each end, on the bow curious figures were Cut in the wood
&c. Capt. Lewis went up to the Lodges to See those Canoes and
exchanged our Smallest Canoe for one of them by giveing a Hatchet &
few trinkets to the owner who informed that he purchased it of a white man
below for a horse, these Canoes are neeter made than any I have ever Seen
and Calculated to ride the waves, and carry emence burthens, they are dug
thin and are suported by cross pieces of about 1 inch diamuter tied with
Strong bark thro holes in the Sides. our two old Chiefs appeared verry
uneasy this evening.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
October 23rd (Saturday) Wednesday 1805. Took the canoes over the portage on the larboard side with much difficulty; description on another paper. One canoe got loose and was caught by the Indians, which we were obliged to pay for. Our old chiefs overheard the Indians from below say they would try to kill us and informed us of it. We had all the arms examined and put in order. All the Indians left us early. Great numbers of fleas on the larboard side. Shot a sea otter which I did not get; great numbers about those rapids. We purchased 8 dogs, small and fat, for our party to eat. The Indians, not very fond of selling their good fish, compel us to make use of dogs for food. Exchanged our small canoe for a large and very new one built for riding the waves. Observed meridian altitude 66° 27' 30"; latitude produced 45° 42' 57 3/10" North.
October 23rd Wednesday 1805. A fine morning. I, with the greater part of the men, crossed in the canoes to the opposite side above the falls and hauled them across the portage of 457 yards, which is on the larboard side and certainly the best side to pass the canoes. I then descended through a narrow channel of about 150 yards wide, forming a kind of half circle in its course of a mile, to a pitch of 8 feet in which the channel is divided by 2 large rocks. At this place we were obliged to let the canoes down by strong ropes of elk skin which we had for the purpose. One canoe in passing this place got loose by the cords breaking, and was caught by the Indians below. I accomplished this necessary business and landed safe with all the canoes at our camp below the falls by 3 o'clock P.M., nearly covered with fleas, which were so thick amongst the straw and fish skins at the upper part of the portage (at which place the natives had been camped not long since) that every man of the party was obliged to strip naked during the time of taking over the canoes, so that they might have an opportunity of brushing the fleas off their legs and bodies. Great numbers of sea otters in the river below the falls. I shot one in the narrow channel today which I could not get. Great numbers of Indians visit us both from above and below. One of the old chiefs who had accompanied us from the head of the river informed us that he heard the Indians say that the nation below intended to kill us. We examined all the arms, etc., and completed the ammunition to 100 rounds. The natives left us earlier this evening than usual, which gives a shadow of confirmation to the information of our old chief. As we are at all times and places on our guard, we are under no greater apprehension than is common.
We purchased 8 small fat dogs for the party to eat. The natives, not being fond of selling their good fish, compel us to make use of dog meat for food, the flesh of which most of the party have become fond of from the habit of using it for some time past. The altitude of this day, 66° 27' 30", gave for latitude 45° 42' 57 1/10" N.
I observed on the beach near the Indian lodges two canoes, beautiful, of different shape and size from what we had seen above—wide in the middle and tapering to each end; on the bow, curious figures were cut in the wood, etc. Capt. Lewis went up to the lodges to see those canoes and exchanged our smallest canoe for one of them by giving a hatchet and a few trinkets to the owner, who informed us that he had purchased it from a white man below for a horse. These canoes are neater made than any I have ever seen, and calculated to ride the waves and carry immense burdens. They are dug thin and are supported by cross pieces of about 1 inch diameter, tied with strong bark through holes in the sides. Our two old chiefs appeared very uneasy this evening.
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