Columbia River near Wallula Gap — John Ordway: October 18, 1805
The expedition remained at the forks until afternoon while Captain Clark measured the rivers, finding the Columbia 860 yards wide and the Kimooenem 475 yards wide, and Captain Lewis completed his latitude observations. The officers compared native languages and identified the locals as a tribe of the Flathead nation. Around 2 p.m. they set out down the Columbia, accompanied by two chiefs, traveling through plains that gave way to barren hills. They passed islands with large fishing camps, abundant salmon, horses, and grass-thatched lodges, ran several rapids, and camped on the larboard side among scant willows.
here untill after 12 oClock to day Cap* Clark measured Colum-
bian River and the kimoenem Rivers and found the Columbia
River to be 860 yards wide, and the kimooenem R. to be 475 [575]
yards wide at the forks. Cap* Lewis Compleated his observa-
tions and found the Latitude to produce [blank in Ms.] North
our officers compared several of the natives languages and found
these to be of the flat head nation but another tribe, about 2
oClock P. M. we Set out. two chiefs continued on with us. we
proceeded on down the great Columbia River which is now verry
wide about f of a mile in General the country in general Smooth
plains for about 10 miles down then the barron hills make close
to the River on each Side passed Several Smooth Islands on
which was large fishing Camps, large quantity of Sammon on
their Scaffels. we Saw a great many dead Sammon floating in
the River, and Saw the living jumping verry thick, we Saw a
great nomber of horses near Some Indian villages the lodges of which
was made of flags and large grass verry neatly worked, we passed
over Several rapids, no timber along the Shores, we Camped on
the Lard Side at a fiew willows2 which we got to burn, a nomber of
the Savages came to our Camp in Small canoes.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We stayed here until after 12 o'clock today. Capt. Clark (Capt. Clark) measured the Columbian River and the Kimoenem Rivers and found the Columbia River to be 860 yards wide, and the Kimooenem River to be 475 [575] yards wide at the forks. Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis) completed his observations and found the latitude to be [blank in manuscript] North. Our officers compared several of the natives' languages and found these to be of the Flathead nation but another tribe.
About 2 o'clock P.M. we set out. Two chiefs continued on with us. We proceeded on down the great Columbia River, which is now very wide—about three-quarters of a mile in general. The country in general is smooth plains for about 10 miles down, then the barren hills come close to the river on each side. We passed several smooth islands on which were large fishing camps, with a large quantity of salmon on their scaffolds. We saw a great many dead salmon floating in the river, and saw the living ones jumping very thick. We saw a great number of horses near some Indian villages, the lodges of which were made of flags and large grass very neatly worked. We passed over several rapids. There is no timber along the shores. We camped on the larboard side at a few willows which we got to burn. A number of the natives came to our camp in small canoes.
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