Lemhi Valley, preparing to cross Bitterroots — John Ordway: August 31, 1805
The party traveled along the river, passing Snake Indian lodges where natives caught salmon in willow weirs; the explorers purchased several large salmon. A stranger, possibly a Flathead Indian, was spotted but fled. They crossed rough hills with deep gullies of white earth, halting at a spring after eight waterless miles to rest and feed the horses. Continuing over rocky, treacherous ground that endangered the horses' legs, they followed a creek where they found ripe chokecherries and serviceberries, camping near Indian lodges. A hunter killed a deer at dusk.
and proceeded on 2 miles and passd several lodges of the Snake
nation of Indians who stay here to fish, they catch Sammon in
their pots and wires [weirs] which they have made of willows
across the River and have more or less in them everry morng
we bough[t] a nomber of fine large Sammon of them and pro-
ceeded on. one hunter on a head, one strange Indian seen which
is supposed to be one of the flat head nation, he ran off,2 and
the Indians could not find him. we then proceeded on over rough
high hills. Some deep gullies of white earth. Several of the na-
tives followed us. went about eight miles without water and
halted at a large Spring branch to let our horses feed and dine
ourselves. Some pitch pine on the mountains which make near
the River on each Side, the river bottoms narrow and verry
much dryed up the Soil verry indifferent, we proceeded on
over a level Smooth plain abl 7 miles then passed the end of a
mountain near the River where the Stone lay one on an other &
holes so that the the horses could Scarsely git along without break-
ing their legs, we then proceeded on to a large Creek which falls
in on the East Side of the River, we took a path up sd Creek and
proceeded on found wild or choke cherrys along the branch,
also servis berrys which were ripe, we Came [blank in Ms.] miles
this day and Camped at Some Indian lodges near the Creek.3
one of the hunters killed a deer at dusk and brought it to Camp
after dark.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We proceeded on 2 miles and passed several lodges of the Snake nation of Indians who stay here to fish. They catch salmon in their pots and weirs, which they have made of willows across the river, and have more or less in them every morning. We bought a number of fine large salmon from them and proceeded on. One hunter went ahead. One strange Indian was seen who is supposed to be one of the Flathead nation; he ran off, and the Indians could not find him. We then proceeded on over rough high hills, with some deep gullies of white earth. Several of the natives followed us. We went about eight miles without water and halted at a large spring branch to let our horses feed and to dine ourselves. There is some pitch pine on the mountains, which come near the river on each side. The river bottoms are narrow and very much dried up, the soil very poor.
We proceeded on over a level smooth plain about 7 miles, then passed the end of a mountain near the river where the stones lay one on another, with holes, so that the horses could scarcely get along without breaking their legs. We then proceeded on to a large creek which falls in on the east side of the river. We took a path up the said creek and proceeded on. We found wild or choke cherries along the branch, also serviceberries, which were ripe. We came [blank in manuscript] miles this day and camped at some Indian lodges near the creek. One of the hunters killed a deer at dusk and brought it to camp after dark.
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