Weippe Prairie, rescued by Nez Perce — John Ordway: September 22, 1805

frost, we were detained Some time a hunting our horses, about
nine oClock at which time we Set out assended a Mountain and
proceeded on came on a small Smooth prarie or plain, and run
came through it. we met Reuben fields who Cap* Clark Sent
back to meet us, with a bag of Sammon and excelent root bread
which they purchased from a nation of Indians who are Camped
on a plain at the foot of the Moun* about 8 or 10 miles distance
from this place we halted about one hour and a half eat hearty
of the Sammon and bread, and let our horses feed, then we pro-
ceeded on the two men who had been back to look for the lost
horse overtook us they had found the horse and portmantaus,
but had lost the horse they took with them, we proceeded on over
a mountain and descended it down it to a valley which is Smooth
and mostly handsome plains. Some groves of handsome tall large
pitch pine timber, about 3 miles further we came to a large Indian
village of the flat head rfation2 they appeared very glad to see
1 This stream, already reached by Clark and given the name Collins Creek,
is modern Lolo Creek, or Lolo Fork of the Clearwater. Not to be confused
with Lolo Creek, the tributary of Bitter Root River.
2 “They call themselves Cho punnish or Pierced noses.” Clark, September
20. These Indians, more commonly known as Nez Perces, were among the
290 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Sept. 23
us ran meetting us with some root bread which they gave us to
eat. we Camped by a branch near the village, the natives gave
us dryed Sammon and different kinds of the food. Cap* Clark
joined us this evening and informed us that the[y] had been on a
branch of the Columbia River where he expected it is navagable
for canoes and only 15 or 20 miles from this place & C. these
natives have a large quantity of this root bread which they call
Commass. the roots grow in these plains, they have kills engean-
iously made where they Sweet [sweat] these roots and make them
Sweet and good to the taste.1