Lemhi Valley, preparing to cross Bitterroots — Joseph Whitehouse: August 29, 1805
On a clear, pleasant morning, a group of Shoshone Indians returned to the village from east of the mountains, one warrior having been scalped by a plains war party, prompting loud mourning from relatives. Captain Lewis bought two more horses. Around 11 a.m., Captain Clark and his party returned, reporting the mountains too steep and the river too rocky to follow downstream, with almost no game; they had survived mostly on berries. Natives warned a westward route to the ocean was impassable. The party prepared to set out the next day to skirt the mountains.
a clear pleasant morning. about 8 oClock A. M. a nomber
of Indians arived here from the East Side of the Mountain.
they belonged to this nation but had been gone a long time
and one of the warrie[r]s had been Sculped by Some war party
in the plain. a nomber of their relation cryed aloud when they
arived in the village. Cap’ Lewis bought 2 more horses.
about 11 oClock A. M. Cap! Clark & party except 2 who
Stayed to take care of the baggage arived here. they informed
us the Mountains are amazeing high and rough So that it is
impossable to follow the River down for the Steep clifts 8zc.
and the River So rapid and full of rocks that it is impossable
to go down with crafts, and no game of any kind. they killed
nothing but one Deer, while they were gone. they lived
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1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
Several days on Servis berrys and cherries &c. they passed a
lodge of Indians in a Small valley in the mount? gethering
cherries & Servisses. they Started to run but our men having
a guide of their nation with them, he Spoke to them and they
were easy. these Savages had nothing to give our men but
Some of their berries. they got Some Salmon from the natives
who Stayed on the River, but Suffered a great deal with hun-
ger. the Natives tells us that we cannot find the ocean by
going a west course for Some of them who are old men has
been on that a Season or more to find the ocean but could not
find it, and that their was troublesome tribes of Indians to pass.
that they had no horses but would rob and Steal all they could
and eat them as they had nothing as it were to eat. the coun-
try verry mountaineous and no game. these natives do not
incline to Sell any more horses without guns in return as they
say they must have one or the other for defence, as they could
jump on their horses & ride off and carry their children &c.
we told them they [sc. we] could not Spare any guns if we
Should git no more horses So we put up the goods & make
ready to Set out tomorrow on our way round the or between
the mountains and Strike Columbian River below if possable.
our hunters came in had caught 6 fish and killed one Deer.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear, pleasant morning. About 8 o'clock A.M., a number of Indians arrived here from the east side of the mountain. They belonged to this nation but had been gone a long time, and one of the warriors had been scalped by some war party in the plain. A number of their relations cried aloud when they arrived in the village. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) bought 2 more horses.
About 11 o'clock A.M., Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) and party, except 2 who stayed to take care of the baggage, arrived here. They informed us the mountains are amazingly high and rough, so that it is impossible to follow the river down because of the steep cliffs, etc., and the river is so rapid and full of rocks that it is impossible to go down with crafts, and no game of any kind. They killed nothing but one deer while they were gone. They lived several days on serviceberries and cherries, etc. They passed a lodge of Indians in a small valley in the mountains gathering cherries and serviceberries. They started to run, but our men having a guide of their nation with them, he spoke to them and they were at ease. These natives had nothing to give our men but some of their berries. They got some salmon from the natives who stayed on the river, but suffered a great deal with hunger.
The natives tell us that we cannot find the ocean by going a west course, for some of them who are old men have been on that route a season or more to find the ocean but could not find it, and that there were troublesome tribes of Indians to pass. They had no horses but would rob and steal all they could and eat them, as they had nothing, as it were, to eat. The country is very mountainous and has no game. These natives do not incline to sell any more horses without guns in return, as they say they must have one or the other for defense, since they could jump on their horses and ride off and carry their children, etc. We told them they [we] could not spare any guns. If we should get no more horses, we will pack up the goods and make ready to set out tomorrow on our way round, or between, the mountains, and strike the Columbian River below if possible. Our hunters came in, having caught 6 fish and killed one deer.
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