Lemhi Valley, preparing to cross Bitterroots — Joseph Whitehouse: August 26, 1805
On a clear, frosty morning cold enough to freeze water in small containers, the party set out at sunrise and traveled through pine-covered mountains lining the stream. They passed numerous springs, drank from the headspring of the Missouri, crossed a one-mile ridge, and drank from the headspring of the westward-flowing Columbia. A snow-spotted mountain was visible to the southwest. One Indian woman briefly stopped along the road to give birth, then continued on. After dining, they approached the Indian village, fired two salutes at the chief's request, and camped among about 30 friendly lodges, dancing in the evening.
a clear morning. we find it verry cold and frosty every
morning. the water froze a little in the Small vessells. we
Set out at Sunrise and proceeded on. the mountains make
along close to the branch on each Side which are partly cov!
with pi[t]ch pine. passed a nomber of fine large Springs and
drank at the head Spring of the Missourie and crossed a high
ridge only one mile and drank at the head Spring of Columbian
River running west. the runs all make the Same course Saw
a high mountain to the S. W. with Some Spots of Snow on
them. Saw Spots of pitch pine and bolsom fer on the Sides of
the M? and on the Spring runs, and verry tall. we halted to
dine at a Spring within about 8 miles of the Indians Camp
which is on the Small River. one of our Indian women was
taken Sick a little back of this and halted a fiew minutes on
the road and had hir child and went on without Detaining us.
we then proceeded on after we dined and gave the Indians who
were with us a little corn, passed over Several hills. when
we came near the natives lodges we fired 2 rounds by the
requ[e]st of the chief then went to their lodges. they had a
large one in the center prepared for us, wher we unloaded and
Camped with them. their is about 30 lodges here consisting
of men women and children, but the nomber of persons would
be difficult to find out. we danced a little this evening. the
natives assembled to see us. they all appeared verry friendly
and peaceable.
[ 142 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
CuHuarpTer XIV
DOWN THE LOLO TRAIL
August 27—October 10, 1805
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear morning. We find it very cold and frosty every morning. The water froze a little in the small vessels. We set out at sunrise and proceeded on. The mountains run along close to the branch on each side, which are partly covered with pitch pine. We passed a number of fine large springs and drank at the head spring of the Missouri, and crossed a high ridge only one mile and drank at the head spring of the Columbia River running west. The runs all flow in the same course. We saw a high mountain to the southwest with some spots of snow on them. We saw patches of pitch pine and balsam fir on the sides of the mountains and along the spring runs, and they were very tall.
We halted to dine at a spring within about 8 miles of the Indians' camp, which is on the small river. One of our Indian women was taken sick a little back of this and halted a few minutes on the road, and had her child, and went on without detaining us. We then proceeded on after we dined and gave the Indians who were with us a little corn. We passed over several hills.
When we came near the natives' lodges, we fired 2 rounds at the request of the chief, then went to their lodges. They had a large one in the center prepared for us, where we unloaded and camped with them. There are about 30 lodges here consisting of men, women, and children, but the number of persons would be difficult to find out. We danced a little this evening. The natives assembled to see us. They all appeared very friendly and peaceable.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
