Camp Chopunnish (Long Camp), waiting for snow to melt — John Ordway: May 13, 1806
The expedition gathered their 60 horses, all in good condition except four with sore backs. Local natives engaged in a gambling game, wagering valuables like beads, otter skin strips filled with shells, trinkets, and Spanish bridles. Around noon, the party set out down a 15-yard-wide creek lined with cottonwood, cherry, and serviceberry trees. After about four miles, they reached its mouth and continued a short way up the Kooskooskee River, halting to await a canoe. They planned to cross and camp until snow conditions allowed a mountain crossing, and traded several horses with following natives.
all our horses 60 in number now together and all good ex-
cept 4 which has Sore backs, &C. a number of the natives went
at playing the game as those below had considerable property
up on each Side Such as beed[s] Strips of otter Skins which was
filled with rich Shells, trinkets & Spanish bridles &C. &C. about
12 oClock we set out and proced on down the creek, a bold riming
Stream about 15 yds wide, considerable of cotton & cherry servis
berry also in the bottoms, about 4 miles we came to its mouth a
handsom low plain rich Soil & timber around went a short dis-
tance down [up] the kooskooskee river and halted to wait for a
canoe which we expect the natives to bring us from above this
place, we intend crossing the river here and Camp on the other
Side untill Such times as the Snow will admit of our crossing the
mountains.1 a number of the natives followed us we Swapped
several horses with them.
1 They had been informed by the Indians that the mountains would be im-
passable until “after t he next full moon” — that is, until some time iu June.
Accordingly the plan was formed of camping <>n the eastern side of the Koos-
kooskee until such lime as the melting of the snow should make possible the
1806] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 357
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All our horses, 60 in number, are now together and all good except 4 which have sore backs, etc. A number of the natives went at playing the game as those below had, with considerable property put up on each side, such as beads, strips of otter skins which were filled with rich shells, trinkets, and Spanish bridles, etc., etc. About 12 o'clock we set out and proceeded on down the creek, a bold running stream about 15 yards wide, with considerable cottonwood and cherry serviceberry also in the bottoms. About 4 miles on we came to its mouth, a handsome low plain with rich soil and timber around. We went a short distance up the Kooskooskee River and halted to wait for a canoe which we expect the natives to bring us from above this place. We intend crossing the river here and camping on the other side until such time as the snow will admit of our crossing the mountains. A number of the natives followed us, and we swapped several horses with them.
[Note: They had been informed by the Indians that the mountains would be impassable until "after the next full moon"—that is, until some time in June. Accordingly the plan was formed of camping on the eastern side of the Kooskooskee until such time as the melting of the snow should make possible the crossing.]
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