Columbia near The Dalles, trading for horses — John Ordway: April 12, 1806

party except a guard went with Cap* Lewis to take up the other
large canoe, we got it under way verry well but She took a
Swing on us and broke away and rid the high waves down the
rapids, then all hands went at packing the baggage past the
portage which is 1£ miles. carried it all up at 4 loads a peace
towards evening got everry thing to the head of the portage
and Campd for the night.2 our officers finding that the natives
do not incline to sell their canoes so they divided the baggage &
men among the 4 canoes a number of the natives visited us.
one of the Squaws told us in the Clatsop tongue that She had
Slept with the white tradors &C.
1 They also stole Lewis’ dog (which was recovered), and in general conducted
themselves in such insolent fashion that there was imminent danger of a com-
bat between them and the white men. Lewis adopted a policy of vigilant
firmness toward them, while at the same time he sought to avoid bloodshed,
“our men seem well disposed to kill a few of them,” he writes, “we keep our-
selvea perfectly on our guard.”
2 On the Washington shore, opposite the camp of Oct. 30, 1805.
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 341