Camp Chopunnish (Long Camp), waiting for snow to melt — John Ordway: June 1, 1806
Guided along what was promised to be a shorter, better road, the party traveled through timbered country to the head of a creek, followed it across high plains, and passed a lone lodge around midday. By evening they descended river hills to a large village on the Kooskooskee (Clearwater) River above the forks, where they rested, fed the horses, and traded for uppah and couse. They continued to another village near the forks and camped at the lodge of the friendly chief who had previously given them horses. Many excellent horses were available cheaply.
went and put us on the road which he said was a near way & a
good road, we wrode thro the timbred country struck the head
of a creek in the plain followed down said creek passd one lodge
about noon the road left the creek and kept thro the high plain a
good road, towards evening we came down the riVer hills to a
large village above the forks on kooskooskee river, we halted a
short time to let our horses feed a little and git something to eat
ourselves, bought considerable uppah and couse from the natives
and proceeded on to another village down the river near the forks.2
night came on and we Camped here at the chiefs lodge that gave
us so many horses they appeared verry friendly to us and gave
us a large cake of uppah their is a vast site of excellent horses
1 To return to the main party. Although Thwaites says (V. 100) the journey
is easily traced, it is not easy to fix precisely the route followed. Apparently
they journeyed, from the point some twenty miles above the mouth of Salmon
River, across to Cottonwood Creek, and followed down its valley to the South
Fork of the Kooskooskee; thence down this stream until they reached Camp
Chopunnish.
2 The junction of the South and Middle Forks of Kooskooskee or Clearwater
River. The camp was across the river from the site of Kooskia, Idaho.
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 363
Scattered along this river which they offer to Sell for a Squaw axe
pr peace & 2 or 3 for a gun & a little ammun’
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
He went and put us on the road, which he said was a shorter way and a good road. We rode through the timbered country and struck the head of a creek in the plain. We followed down the said creek and passed one lodge about noon. The road left the creek and kept through the high plain — a good road. Toward evening we came down the river hills to a large village above the forks on the Kooskooskee River. We halted a short time to let our horses feed a little and to get something to eat ourselves. We bought a considerable amount of uppah and couse from the natives and proceeded on to another village down the river near the forks.
Night came on and we camped here at the lodge of the chief who gave us so many horses. They appeared very friendly to us and gave us a large cake of uppah. There is a vast number of excellent horses scattered along this river, which they offer to sell for a squaw axe apiece, and two or three for a gun and a little ammunition.
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