Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — John Ordway: April 29, 1806

across the plains, and a little Shappalell & other roots &C. we
borrowed a canoe from the Indians and crossed over the Columbia
to the South Side above the mouth of the river which we took
to [be] a byo where we passd down last fall, and got all our bag-
gage across the river and got up our horses, our guide telling
us that it was a long distance to water, & further than we could
go this day. So we mooved over 1 mile on the bank of the river
which is named the wal-a-wal-a River near a large village of the
wal-a-wal-a nation where we Camped1 again. these Savages
have wers [weirs] made of willows across this little river where
they catch large quantityes of Salmon trout, Suckers, &C. we
bought a little Commass roots, Shappalell and a fiew more dogs
&. C. the most of the Savages moved across the river also, &
they have a vast Site of horses. Cap* Lewis made a chief gave
him a meddle, he gave a fine horse in return as a present,
another chief who Cap* Clark made yesterday brought up an-
other fine horse and made him a present of. we purchased
another by giving a Small quantity of powder and ball, these
natives are the kindest and the most friendly to us than any
we have yet Seen, they have lately been at war with the Snake
nation and many of them were kild one of our men lift a steel
trap on the other side.