Lewis: April 22, 1806

Tuesday, April 22nd, 1806. Last night two of our horses broke loose from the pickets and strayed off some little distance. The men in charge of them fortunately recovered them early. At 7 A.M. we set out, having previously sent on our small canoe with Colter and Potts. We had not arrived at the top of a hill over which the road leads opposite the village before Charbono's (Charbonneau's) horse threw his load, and, taking fright at the saddle and robe which still clung to him, ran at full speed down the hill. Near the village he freed himself from the saddle and robe, and an Indian hid the robe in his lodge. I sent our guide and one man who was with me in the rear to assist Charbono in retaking his horse. Having done so, they returned to the village along the track of the horse in search of the lost articles. They found the saddle but could see nothing of the robe; the Indians denied having seen it. They then continued on the track of the horse to the place from which he had set out, with the same lack of success. Being now confident that the Indians had taken it, I sent the Indian woman on to request Capt. C. (Capt. Clark) to halt the party and send back some of the men to my assistance, being determined either to make the Indians deliver the robe or burn their houses. They have vexed me by such repeated acts of villainy that I am quite disposed to treat them with every severity; their defenseless state pleads forgiveness only so far as respects their lives. With this resolution I returned to their village, which I had just reached when Labuish met me with the robe, which he informed me he had found in an Indian lodge hidden behind their baggage. I now returned and joined Capt. Clark, who was waiting for my arrival with the party. The Indian woman had not reached Capt. C. until about the time I arrived, and he returned from a position on the top of a hill not far from where he had halted the party. From the top of this eminence Capt. C. had an extensive view of the country. He observed the range of mountains in which Mount Hood stands continue nearly south as far as the eye could reach. He also observed the snow-clad top of Mount Jefferson, which bore S. 10 W. Mount Hood from the same point bore S. 30 W. The tops of the range of western mountains are covered with snow. Capt. C. also discovered some timbered country in a southern direction from him, at no great distance. Clarks river, which empties immediately opposite this point of view, forks at the distance of 18 or 20 miles from here; the right-hand fork takes its rise in Mount Hood, and the main branch continues its course to the S. E.

We now made the following regulations as to our future order of march (namely): that Capt. C. and myself should divide the men who were not encumbered with horses and march alternately each day, one in front and the other in the rear. Having divided the party according to this arrangement, we proceeded on through an open plain country about 8 miles to a village of 6 houses of the Eneshur nation. Here we observed our 2 canoes passing up on the opposite side; the wind being too high for them to cross the river, they continued on. We halted at a small run just above the village, where we dined on some dogs which we purchased from the inhabitants, and let our horses graze for about three hours. There is no timber in this country, so we are obliged to purchase our fuel from the natives, who bring it from a great distance. While we halted for dinner, we purchased a horse. After dinner we proceeded on up the river about 4 miles to a village of 7 mat lodges of the last-mentioned nation. Here our Chopunnish guide informed us that the next village was at a considerable distance and that we could not reach it tonight. The people at this place offered to sell us wood and dogs, so we thought it better to remain all night. A man belonging to the next village above proposed exchanging a horse for one of our canoes. Just at this moment one of our canoes was passing. We hailed them and ordered them to come over, but the wind continued so high that they could not join us until after sunset, and the Indian who wished to exchange his horse for the canoe had gone on. Charbono (Charbonneau) purchased a horse this evening. We obtained 4 dogs and as much wood as served our purposes on moderate terms. We can only afford ourselves one fire, and are obliged to lie without shelter; the nights are cold and the days warm. Colter and Potts had passed on with their canoe.