Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — John Ordway: April 28, 1806
Native guides told the captains of a shorter overland route to the Kooskooskee River, saving days of travel, so the officers decided to cross the Columbia here rather than follow it around. The party bought six dogs for food and met a woman of Sacagawea's nation held captive, allowing communication with the head chief. Captain Clark traded his sword, a flag, and powder for a horse. The men treated sick and injured Indians, then stayed the day at the chief's request. About 300 natives gathered to watch fiddling and dancing, exchanging songs and dances late into the evening.
Indian guides who are going over the mountains with us inform
us that their is a nearer way across the plains to the forks of
Lewises river at the entrence of Kooskooski which is a smooth
way and only 3 days march to that place which is allmost as near
again as to follow the river round.3 So our officers conclude to
cross the river at this place & take the near way. So we pur-
chased 6 dogs from the natives to take with us. our Intrepters
1 In the vicinity of Plymouth, Benton County, Wash. Just above camp the
Umatilla River enters the Columbia from the south.
2 “Nearly or exactly opposite the mouth of Walla Walla River.” Coues.
3 This marks the first divergence from the route pursued on the outward
journey. Instead of following up the Columbia from the mouth of Walla Walla
to the mouth of Snake River, and thence up the latter stream to the mouth of
the Kooskooskee, at Lewiston, Idaho, the party pursued a more direct route
across the plains from the mouth of the Walla Walla to a point on Snake River
several miles below the mouth of the Kooskooskee.
348 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [April 28
wife found a woman of hir own nation who was a prisoner among
these Indians, and as they could speak together our officers Spoke
to the head chief & told him our business and that the white
people would Supply them with marchandize at the head of the
Missourie &C. asked for canoes to cross the river they said
they wished us to Stay with them to day as we lived a great way
off, and they wished to see us dance this evening & begged on us
to Stay this day. So our officers concluded to Stay this day.
the head chief brought up a good horse & said he wished to give
it to us but as he was poor he wished us to give him some kind of
a kittle, but as we could not spare a kittle Cap1 Clark gave his
Sword a flag and half pound of powder & ball for the horse, we
took our horses across the river, our officers made another chief
gave him a meddle &C. in the afternoon a number of Indians
came to our officers who were diseased the lame and many with
Sore eyes and lame legs1 & arms &C. our officers dressd their
wounds, washed their eyes & gave them meddicine and told them
how to apply it &C. the chief called all his people and told them
of the meddicine &C. which was a great wonder among them &
they were much pleased &C. the Indians Sent their women to
gether wood or Sticks to See us dance this evening, about 300
of the natives assembled to our Camp we played the fiddle and
danced a while the head chief told our officers that they Should
be lonesom when we left them and they wished to hear once of
our meddicine Songs and try to learn it and wished us to learn
one of theirs and it would make them glad. So our men Sang 2
Songs which appeared to take great affect on them, they tryed
to learn Singing with us with a low voice, the head chief then
made a speech & it was repeated by a warrier that all might hear,
then all the Savages men women and children of any size danced
forming a circle round a fire & jumping up nearly as other In-
dians, & keep time verry well they wished our men to dance
with them So we danced among them and they were much
pleased, and Said that they would dance day and night untill we
return, everry fiew minutes one of their warries made a Speech
pointing towards the enimy and towards the moon
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Indian guides who are going over the mountains with us inform us that there is a nearer way across the plains to the forks of Lewis's River at the entrance of the Kooskooski, which is a smooth way and only 3 days' march to that place, which is almost twice as near as following the river around. So our officers conclude to cross the river at this place and take the near way. So we purchased 6 dogs from the natives to take with us.
Our interpreter's wife found a woman of her own nation who was a prisoner among these Indians, and as they could speak together, our officers spoke to the head chief and told him our business, and that the white people would supply them with merchandise at the head of the Missouri, etc. We asked for canoes to cross the river. They said they wished us to stay with them today, as we lived a great way off, and they wished to see us dance this evening, and begged us to stay this day. So our officers concluded to stay this day.
The head chief brought up a good horse and said he wished to give it to us, but as he was poor, he wished us to give him some kind of a kettle. But as we could not spare a kettle, Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) gave his sword, a flag, and half a pound of powder and ball for the horse. We took our horses across the river. Our officers made another chief, gave him a medal, etc.
In the afternoon a number of Indians came to our officers who were diseased—the lame, and many with sore eyes and lame legs and arms, etc. Our officers dressed their wounds, washed their eyes, and gave them medicine, and told them how to apply it, etc. The chief called all his people and told them of the medicine, etc., which was a great wonder among them, and they were much pleased, etc.
The Indians sent their women to gather wood or sticks to see us dance this evening. About 300 of the natives assembled at our camp. We played the fiddle and danced a while. The head chief told our officers that they should be lonesome when we left them, and they wished to hear one of our medicine songs and try to learn it, and wished us to learn one of theirs, and it would make them glad. So our men sang 2 songs, which appeared to take great effect on them. They tried to learn singing with us with a low voice. The head chief then made a speech, and it was repeated by a warrior that all might hear. Then all the natives, men, women, and children of any size, danced, forming a circle round a fire and jumping up nearly as other Indians, and keeping time very well. They wished our men to dance with them, so we danced among them, and they were much pleased, and said that they would dance day and night until we return. Every few minutes one of their warriors made a speech, pointing towards the enemy and towards the moon.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
