Columbia near The Dalles, trading for horses — John Ordway: April 15, 1806
The expedition delayed departure hoping to trade for horses, but local natives would only accept beads, which the party lacked. Captains Lewis and Clark visited a small island to view a large native burial ground containing seven wooden sepulchers holding nearly a hundred bodies wrapped in robes. They stopped at another village seeking horses with no success, purchasing only a dog. Crossing to the south side, they camped near rock Camp at an ancient village site, planning to stay a day to seek horses near the narrows. Drouillard killed a deer.
delayed untill after breakfast for to See if the natives would
sell us any horses but they did not incline to Sell any without
beeds which we have not got So we departed. Cap* Lewis &
Clark went on a small high Island2 to see a large burying
ground they saw seven large sepulchers made of wood in a
square form and by appearence is nearly a hundred persons
piled in one on another with their robes Sowed round them,
and all their heads down the River, we proceed from thence
to a village at the mouth of the [blank in Ms.] River3 on the
N. Side where we halted expecting to purchase Some horses
as the natives have a number at this place, but they wanted
beeds also and Sign to us that they hunt and go to wa[r] with
their horses &C. we purchased only one dog, and proceed
on passed several more small villages along the North Side,
about 3 P. M. we crossed over to the south side and arived at rock
Camp where we Camped on the 25th & 26th of Oc* last, we went
up the creek [a] little above and Camped4 under high clift of
rocks in order to lay here tomorrow & see if any horses can be
purchased about the narrows or falls the plains are green &
pleasant Saw a number of horses feeding in it which are in
good order as they have been wintered below in the narrow
bottoms where the rushes abound &C. we arfe Camped where
has been an ancient large village only the cellers now to be
Seen. George Drewyer killed a deer this evening, a number
of the natives visited us &C.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We delayed until after breakfast to see if the natives would sell us any horses, but they were not inclined to sell any without beads, which we do not have, so we departed. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and Clark went onto a small high island to see a large burying ground. They saw seven large sepulchers made of wood in a square form, and by appearance there are nearly a hundred persons piled one on another, with their robes sewn round them, and all their heads pointing down the river. We proceeded from there to a village at the mouth of the [blank in Ms.] River on the north side, where we halted, expecting to purchase some horses, as the natives have a number at this place. But they wanted beads as well, and signed to us that they hunt and go to war with their horses, etc. We purchased only one dog, and proceeded on, passing several more small villages along the north side.
About 3 P.M. we crossed over to the south side and arrived at Rock Camp, where we camped on the 25th and 26th of October last. We went up the creek a little above and camped under a high cliff of rocks, in order to lay here tomorrow and see if any horses can be purchased about the narrows or falls. The plains are green and pleasant. We saw a number of horses feeding in them, which are in good order, as they have been wintered below in the narrow bottoms where the rushes abound, etc. We are camped where there has been an ancient large village, only the cellars now to be seen. George Drewyer (George Drouillard) killed a deer this evening. A number of the natives visited us, etc.
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