Nez Perce camps, reuniting with horses — John Ordway: May 8, 1806
Hunters brought in four deer, with Captain Lewis's dog Seaman running down a wounded one. The party met a Snake Indian who helped relay information about the country and rivers. After traveling about two miles in the afternoon across a high pine-covered plain, they encountered Twisted Hair, the Nez Perce chief entrusted with their horses the previous autumn. He seemed unfriendly, but later smoked with the officers and explained that a quarrel with Cut Nose had complicated matters, though most horses and saddles remained safe. Wolves killed a colt overnight.
hunt. Several of the hunters went out and killed 4 Deer one of
the hunters wounded a deer only broke its leg Cap* Lewises dog
Scamon chased it caught it [and] killed it. we finding an Indian
here belonging to the Snake nation our officers got some informa-
tion of the country rivers &C. about 2 P. M. we Set out as-
cended a high hill, came on a high pleasant plain Scatering” pine
timber &c Soil rich & filled with with pine roots and plants &C. we
met the twisted hair the chief of the Chopennish tribe who we left
our horses with [last autumn], he did not appear Sociable as
when we left him our officers asked the Snake Indn to ask him
where our horses were but he did not incline to speak, so we proced
on to a small run where we Camped.4 the chiefs kept themselves
at a distance for a while then by an invitation came and Smoaked
and the intrepters Spoke & we got information concern8 our
horses and found that the twisted hair & the head chief cut nose
as we call him is not at a good understanding with each other re-
1 On the north side of Hie Kooskooskee, nine miles above Hie mouth of Pot-
latch River, and lour miles below the mouth of Bed Hock (“.reek.
– “Modern Bed Bock Creek.” Coins.
•The creek, according to Cones, was modern Jack’s Creek, a southern
tributary of the Kooskooskee. The camp was in ez Perce County, several
miles above the OlOUth of Jack’s Creek.
1 Apparently on a tributary of Bit; Canon River, or, possibly, on the latter
stream itself.
1806] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 355
specting our horses, caused by jealousy but informd us that the
most of our horses and pack Saddles were Safe, but Some of boath
had been [made] use of by the admittance of the head chief. Sev-
eral of fowls such as pheasants &C. killd this day. N. B. the
wolves killd one of our colts last night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Several of the hunters went out and killed 4 deer. One of the hunters wounded a deer, only breaking its leg. Capt Lewis's (Capt. Lewis's) dog Scamon (Seaman) chased it, caught it, and killed it. Finding an Indian here belonging to the Snake nation, our officers got some information about the country, rivers, etc. About 2 P.M. we set out, ascended a high hill, and came onto a high, pleasant plain with scattered pine timber, etc. The soil was rich and filled with pine roots and plants, etc.
We met the Twisted Hair, the chief of the Chopennish tribe with whom we left our horses last autumn. He did not appear as sociable as when we left him. Our officers asked the Snake Indian to ask him where our horses were, but he did not incline to speak, so we proceeded on to a small run where we camped. The chiefs kept themselves at a distance for a while, then by invitation came and smoked, and the interpreters spoke, and we got information concerning our horses. We found that the Twisted Hair and the head chief, Cut Nose as we call him, are not on good terms with each other respecting our horses, caused by jealousy. But they informed us that most of our horses and pack saddles were safe, though some of both had been made use of by the permission of the head chief.
Several fowls, such as pheasants, etc., were killed this day. N.B. The wolves killed one of our colts last night.
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