Lewis: April 27, 1806
The expedition's departure was delayed until 9 A.M. while a missing horse was recovered. They traveled about 30 miles across rocky hills and high plains before halting, fatigued and low on provisions, dining on jerked meat boiled over a small brush fire. Walla Walla chief Yellept, previously met the prior October, joined them with six men and led them to his village of 15 mat lodges along the river. Villagers supplied wood and roasted mullet, and the party bought four dogs for supper. Based on Yellept's advice, they decided to take a shortcut route saving roughly 80 miles.
Sunday April 27th 1806. This morning we were detained untill 9 A.M. in
consequence of the absence of one of Charbono’s horses. the horse at
length being recovered we set out and at the distance of fifteen miles
passed through a country similar to that of yesterday; the hills at the
extremity of this distance again approach the river and are rocky abrupt
and 300 feet high. we ascended the hill and marched through a high plain
for 9 miles when we again returned to the river, I now thought it best to
halt as the horses and men were much fatiegued altho had not reached the
Wallah wollah village as we had been led to beleive by our guide who
informed us that the village was at the place we should next return to the
river, and the consideration of our having but little provision had been
our inducement to make the march we had made this morning. we collected
some of the dry stalks of weeds and the stems of a shrub which resembles
the southern wood; made a small fire and boiled a small quantity of our
jerked meat on which we dined; while here the principal Cheif of the
Wallahwallahs joined us with six men of his nation. this Cheif by name
Yel-lept had visited us on the morning of the 19 of October at our
encampment a little below this place; we gave him at that time a small
medal, and promised him a larger one on our return. he appeared much
gratifyed at seeng us return, invited us to remain at his village three or
four days and assured us that we should be furnished with a plenty of such
food as they had themselves; and some horses to assist us on our journey.
after our scanty repast we continued our march accompanyed by Yellept and
his party to the village which we found at the distance of six miles
situated on the N. side of the river at the lower side of the low country
about 12 ms. below the entrance of Lewis’s river. This Cheif is a man of
much influence not only in his own nation but also among the neighbouring
tribes and nations.This Village consists of 15 large mat lodges. at
present they seem to subsist principally on a speceis of mullet which
weigh from one to three lbs. and roots of various discriptions which these
plains furnish them in great abundance. they also take a few salmon trout
of the white kind.Yellept haranged his village in our favour
intreated them to furnish us with fuel and provision and set the example
himself by bringing us an armfull of wood and a platter of 3 roasted
mullets. the others soon followed his example with rispect to fuel and we
soon found ourselves in possession of an ample stock. they birn the stems
of the shrubs in the plains there being no timber in their neighbourhood
of any discription. we purchased four dogs of these people on which the
party suped heartily having been on short allowance for near two days. the
indians retired when we requested them this evening and behaved themselves
in every rispect extreemly well. the indians informed us that there was a
good road which passed from the columbia opposite to this village to the
entrance of the Kooskooske on the S. side of Lewis’s river; they also
informed us, that there were a plenty of deer and Antelopes on the road,
with good water and grass. we knew that a road in that direction if the
country would permit would shorten our rout at least 80 miles. the indians
also informed us that the country was level and the road good, under these
circumstances we did not hesitate in pursuing the rout recommended by our
guide whos information was corroberated by Yellept & others. we
concluded to pass our horses over early in the morning.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday, April 27th, 1806. This morning we were detained until 9 A.M. because one of Charbono's (Charbonneau's) horses was missing. The horse was finally recovered, and we set out. After fifteen miles we passed through country similar to yesterday's; at the end of this distance the hills again approached the river and were rocky, abrupt, and 300 feet high. We climbed the hill and marched through a high plain for 9 miles, when we returned to the river. I now thought it best to halt, as the horses and men were much fatigued, although we had not yet reached the Wallah wollah (Walla Walla) village as our guide had led us to believe. He had informed us that the village was at the place we would next return to the river, and the fact that we had little provisions had been our reason for making the march we did this morning. We gathered some dry weed stalks and the stems of a shrub that resembles southernwood, made a small fire, and boiled a small quantity of our jerked meat, on which we dined. While here, the principal chief of the Wallahwallahs (Walla Wallas) joined us with six men of his nation. This chief, by name Yel-lept, had visited us on the morning of October 19 at our camp a little below this place; we gave him a small medal at that time and promised him a larger one on our return. He appeared much pleased to see us return, invited us to stay at his village three or four days, and assured us that we would be supplied with plenty of such food as they had themselves, along with some horses to help us on our journey.
After our scanty meal we continued our march, accompanied by Yellept and his party, to the village, which we found at a distance of six miles, situated on the north side of the river at the lower edge of the low country, about 12 miles below the mouth of Lewis's river. This chief is a man of much influence, not only in his own nation but also among the neighboring tribes and nations. This village consists of 15 large mat lodges. At present they seem to subsist mainly on a species of mullet, which weigh from one to three pounds, and on roots of various kinds, which these plains furnish them in great abundance. They also catch a few salmon trout of the white kind.
Yellept made a speech to his village in our favor, urging them to provide us with fuel and provisions, and set the example himself by bringing us an armful of wood and a platter of 3 roasted mullets. The others soon followed his example with respect to fuel, and we soon found ourselves in possession of an ample supply. They burn the stems of the shrubs from the plains, since there is no timber of any kind in their neighborhood. We purchased four dogs from these people, on which the party supped heartily, having been on short rations for nearly two days. The Indians retired when we asked them to this evening and behaved themselves extremely well in every respect. The Indians informed us that there was a good road that ran from the Columbia, opposite this village, to the mouth of the Kooskooske on the south side of Lewis's river; they also told us that there were plenty of deer and antelopes along the road, with good water and grass. We knew that a road in that direction, if the country would permit, would shorten our route by at least 80 miles. The Indians also told us that the country was level and the road good. Under these circumstances we did not hesitate to take the route recommended by our guide, whose information was confirmed by Yellept and others. We decided to take our horses across early in the morning.
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