Lemhi Valley, preparing to cross Bitterroots — John Ordway: August 29, 1805
A group of Indians returned to the village after a long absence, including one who had been scalped by unknown plains Indians, prompting relatives to weep. Captain Lewis purchased two more horses. Around 11 a.m., Captain Clark returned with his party, reporting that the mountains were impassably high and rough, the river too rapid and rocky for boats, and game scarce. The natives warned that the intended route to the ocean was blocked by hostile tribes and harsh terrain. With 27 horses secured, the captains decided to set out the next day to skirt the mountains and rejoin the Columbia. Hunters brought in six salmon and a deer.
8 oClock A. M. a nomber of Indians arived here who had been
gone along time from the nation one of them got Sculped by
some Indians in the prarie or plain he did not know what nation
they belonged to. Some of their relations cryed when they came
in the village. Cap1 Lewis bought two more horses, about 11
oClock A. M. Cap1 Clark and party arived here except 2 men who
Stayed to take care of the baggage which they left, they in-
formed us that the mountains were amazeing high and rough,
almost impossable to pass over them, they had a guide with
them, they came uppon one or 2 lodges in a valley between the
mote they started to run but the guide Spoke to them and they
1 The words in italics are crossed out in (he manuscript.
1805[ SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 277
Stood and gave them Some cherries and servis berrys which they
were gethering. they lived 4 or 5 days on such berrys. killed
but one Deer while they were out. they find that the mountains
are so bad that we cannot follow the river by land and the river
So rapid and full of rocks that it is impossable for crafts to pass
down, neither is their any game they got some Salmon from the
natives which they caught in the River with their bone & horn
gigs, but had suffered considerable with hunger, the natives tells
us that we cannot find the ocean [by] the course we want to go for
their old men has been a season or more on that course to find it
but could not. and that their was troublesome tribes of Indians
to pass, that they had no horses and if they could git hold of any
they would eat them as they lived on roots & C their being no
game [and] the country so rough and mountaineous. we are not
like to purchase any more horses here as the natives tell us that
they must keep Some horses unless they could git arms and am-
munition in return so that they may be able to defend themselves,
but we told them that we could not spare any guns if we should
git no more horses. So we put up the goods, as we have now 27
horses and intend to set out on our journey tomorrow and go
around or between the mountains and strike the Columbia River
below if possable our hunters returned towards evening had
caught & giged 6 fine Sammon and killed one Deer.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
8 o'clock A.M. A number of Indians arrived here who had been gone a long time from the nation. One of them got scalped by some Indians in the prairie or plain; he did not know what nation they belonged to. Some of their relations cried when they came into the village. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) bought two more horses. About 11 o'clock A.M. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) and party arrived here, except 2 men who stayed to take care of the baggage which they left.
They informed us that the mountains were amazingly high and rough, almost impossible to pass over them. They had a guide with them. They came upon one or two lodges in a valley between the mountains. The Indians started to run, but the guide spoke to them and they stood and gave them some cherries and serviceberries which they were gathering. They lived 4 or 5 days on such berries. They killed but one deer while they were out. They find that the mountains are so bad that we cannot follow the river by land, and the river is so rapid and full of rocks that it is impossible for crafts to pass down. Neither is there any game. They got some salmon from the natives, which they caught in the river with their bone and horn gigs, but had suffered considerably with hunger.
The natives tell us that we cannot find the ocean by the course we want to go, for their old men have spent a season or more on that course trying to find it but could not, and that there were troublesome tribes of Indians to pass, that they had no horses, and if they could get hold of any they would eat them, as they lived on roots, etc., there being no game and the country so rough and mountainous. We are not likely to purchase any more horses here, as the natives tell us that they must keep some horses unless they could get arms and ammunition in return, so that they may be able to defend themselves. But we told them that we could not spare any guns if we should get no more horses.
So we put up the goods, as we have now 27 horses, and intend to set out on our journey tomorrow and go around or between the mountains and strike the Columbia River below if possible. Our hunters returned towards evening, having caught and gigged 6 fine salmon and killed one deer.
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