Nez Perce villages on Clearwater — John Ordway: September 24, 1805

for our horses but found them much Scatered and mixed among
the Indian horses which were numerous. Saw a number of Squaws
besl of the natives of North America. Gen. 0. O. Howard, who knew them
well, having waged strenuous campaigns against them, considered that but
few Indians in America were their superiors.
1 The quamash or camas is an important article of food among the North-
western Indian tribes. It is the bulbous root of a lilliaceous plant which grows
in moist places from California to Montana and British Columbia. It is dug
in June and July, and may he eaten raw or cooked. It is agreeable to the taste,
nutritious, and when cooked and dried can be kept for a year or more. Thwaites.
Ill, 7.S, note 1.
1805J SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 291
digging commass roots in the plain the Soil verry rich and lays
delightful for cultivation about 8 oClock A. M. we loaded our
horses Several men Sick.1 one man Sent back to look for 2
horses which was lost on the road, we set out and proceeded on
the day warm we had a good road mostly plain but no water.
Some Scattering pine timber, towards evening we came down on
a fork of Columbia River and followed it down Some distance2
then went on a small prarie Island and Camped, our hunters
joined us had got 4 deer and two Sammon which they killed.
Several of the natives followed us and Camped near us &.C.