Lost Trail Pass, meeting Flathead Salish at Ross’s Hole — John Ordway: September 5, 1805

water froze a little, the Indian dogs are so ravinous that they
eat several pair of the mens Moccasons. a hard white frost this
morning. Several men went out to hunt our officers purchased
Several horses of the natives after Counsiling with them, they are
a band of the Flat head natives, our officers made four chiefs
1 The camp was in a park or “hole,” in southern Ravalli County, Mont.
For a description of the locality see Wheeler, II, 62.
282 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Sept. 6
gave them meddles 2 flags Some other Small presents and told
them our business and that we were friends to all the red people
&. C. which they appeared verry friendly to us. they have a great
stock of horses but have no provision only roots and berrys, at
this time but are on their way to the Meddison River or Missourie
whire they can kill pleanty of buffalow. our officers bought 12
horses from them and gave a Small quantity of Marchandize for
each horse, our officers took down Some of their language found
it verry troublesome Speaking to them as all they Say to them has
to go through Six languages, and hard to make them understand,
these natives have the Stranges language of any we have ever yet
seen, they appear to us as though they had an Impedement in
their Speech or brogue on their tongue, we think perhaps that
they are the welch Indians, &. C. they are verry friendly to us.
they Swaped to us some of their good horses and took our worn
out horses, and appeared to wish to help us as much as lay in their
power.1 accommodated us with pack Saddles and chords by our
giving them any small article in return towards evening our
hunters came in had kild 1 deer.