Nez Perce camps, reuniting with horses — John Ordway: May 3, 1806
The party set out around 7 a.m. in cold, showery weather with hail and snow, traveling over high plains and hills. A hunter's horse had broken its hobbles overnight but was recovered. They stopped at a creek (Tucanon) to eat the last of their meat, then pushed on, crossing additional creeks against high winds and hail. The Big Horn chief, met previously at the forks, greeted them warmly and joined the group. After 28 miles, they camped with no food and purchased a dog from the Indians for supper.
night, and continues Showery and cold a little hail & Snow
intermixed, one of the hunters horses broke his hobbles and
got away, about 7 we Set out proceeded on over high plains
and hills, road being to the left from the branch, the wind
blew verry high and cold Showers of hail & rain about noon
we descended a hill. came on an other large creek3 where we
halted to dine on the last of our meat, our hunters Came up had
found the lost horse a long distance back the road, our Indians
went on this morning intending to git to the forks to day eon-
1 The main fork occurs at Dayton, Wash., where Pelat and Touchet creeks
join. The route of the explorers led up the former stream.
2 On Pelat Creek, 8f miles above its junction with Touchet Creek at Dayton.
At this point the road which the party was following left the headwaters of
Touchet River and struck into the “open high plain” leading northeast toward
the mouth of the Kooskooskee.
3 Tucanon Creek, a tributary of Snake River; the expedition reached it in
the vicinity of Marengo, Columbia County.
351
352 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 4
siderable of Snow fell on the high hills. Since yesterday, we
delayed about 1 hour & left the creek named ke-moo-e-nim
Creek ascended a high hill and procd on over high plains, crossed
2 creeks, and followed up the third creek1 the big horn chief
who we Saw at the big forks last fall met us Several other
Indians with him he appeared verry glad to See us and turned
back with us we had considerable of hail & verry high winds.
in the evening we Camped2 having made 28 miles this day,
having nothing to eat bought the only dog the Indians had with
them, the air is very cold.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Night, and it continues showery and cold, with a little hail and snow intermixed. One of the hunters' horses broke his hobbles and got away. About 7 we set out and proceeded on over high plains and hills, the road being to the left of the branch. The wind blew very high and cold showers of hail and rain. About noon we descended a hill and came on another large creek, where we halted to dine on the last of our meat. Our hunters came up, having found the lost horse a long distance back on the road. Our Indians went on this morning intending to get to the forks today.
Considerable snow fell on the high hills since yesterday. We delayed about 1 hour and left the creek, named Ke-moo-e-nim Creek, ascended a high hill, and proceeded on over high plains. We crossed 2 creeks and followed up the third creek. The Big Horn chief, whom we saw at the big forks last fall, met us, with several other Indians with him. He appeared very glad to see us and turned back with us. We had considerable hail and very high winds. In the evening we camped, having made 28 miles this day. Having nothing to eat, we bought the only dog the Indians had with them. The air is very cold.
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