Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — John Ordway: April 28, 1806

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