Lewis: May 1, 1806
The expedition set out after 7 A.M. and followed an Indian road up a creek for nine miles. A Chopunnish man suggested an alternate route, but their guide insisted the creek path was shorter, better watered, and wooded, so they continued on it. Drouillard killed a beaver and Labiche killed a deer. After 26 total miles they camped, noting plentiful game and birds. Three young Walla Walla men arrived, returning a steel trap left behind, prompting Lewis to praise the tribe's honesty and hospitality.
Thursday May 1st 1806. We collected our horses tolerably early this
morning took and set out a little after 7 A.M. we pursued the indian road
which led us up the creek about nine miles, here the Chopunnish man wo was
in front with me informed that an old unbeaten tract which he pointed out
to the left was our nearest rout. we halted the party and directed them to
unload and let their horses graize untill our guide came up who was at
some distance behind. I wished to obtain good information of this newly
recommended tract before I could consent to leave the present road which
seemed to lead us in the proper direction was level and furnished with
wood and water. when the guide arrived he seemed much displeased with the
other, he assured us that the rout up the creek was the nearest, and much
the best, that if we took the other we would be obliged to remain here
untill tomorrow morning, and then travel a whole day before we could reach
water, and that there was no wood; the other agreed that this was the
case. we therefore did not hesitate to pursue the rout recommended by the
guide. the creek, it’s bottom lands, and the appearance of the plains were
much as those of esterday only with this difference that the latter were
not so sandy. we had sent out four hunters this morning two on foot and 2
on horseback they joined us while we halted here. Drewyer had killed a
beaver. at 1 P.M. we resumed our march, leaving the Chopunnish man and his
family; he had determined to remain at that place untill the next morning
and then pursue the rout he had recommended to us. he requested a small
quantity of powder and lead which we gave him. we traveled 17 miles this
evening, making a total of 26 Ms. and encamped. the first 3 miles of our
afternoons march was through a similar country with that of the forenoon;
the creek bottoms then became higher and widened to the extent of from 2
to 3 Ms. the hills on the N. side were low but those on the opposite side
retained their hight. we saw a number of deer of which Labuish killed one.
the timber on the creek becomes more abundant and it’s extensive bottoms
affords a pleasent looking country. the guide informs us that we shall now
find a plenty of wood water and game quite to the Kooskooske. we saw a
great number of the Curloos, some Grains, ducks, prarie larks and several
speceis of sparrows common to the praries. I see very little difference
between the apparent face of the country here and that of the plains of
the Missouri only that these are not enlivened by the vast herds of
buffaloe Elk &c which ornament the other. the courses and distances of
this day are N. 45 E. 9 M. and N. 75 E. 17 M. along the Northern side of
this creek to our encampment. some time after we had encamped three young
men arrived from the Wallahwollah village bringing with them a steel trap
belonging to one of our party which had been neglegently left behind; this
is an act of integrity rarely witnessed among indians. during our stay
with them they several times found the knives of the men which had been
carelessly lossed by them and returned them. I think we can justly affirm
to the honor of these people that they are the most hospitable, honest,
and sincere people that we have met with in our voyage.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday, May 1st, 1806. We gathered our horses fairly early this morning and set out a little after 7 A.M. We followed the Indian road, which led us up the creek for about nine miles. Here the Chopunnish man who was in front with me informed me that an old, unbeaten track which he pointed out to the left was our nearest route. We halted the party and directed them to unload and let their horses graze until our guide came up, as he was some distance behind. I wished to obtain good information about this newly recommended track before I could consent to leave the present road, which seemed to lead us in the proper direction, was level, and provided wood and water.
When the guide arrived, he seemed much displeased with the other man. He assured us that the route up the creek was the nearest and much the best, and that if we took the other we would be obliged to remain here until tomorrow morning, and then travel a whole day before we could reach water, and that there was no wood. The other man agreed that this was the case. We therefore did not hesitate to take the route recommended by the guide. The creek, its bottom lands, and the appearance of the plains were much like those of yesterday, with the only difference that the plains were not so sandy.
We had sent out four hunters this morning, two on foot and two on horseback; they joined us while we halted here. Drewyer (Drouillard) had killed a beaver. At 1 P.M. we resumed our march, leaving the Chopunnish man and his family. He had determined to remain at that place until the next morning and then take the route he had recommended to us. He requested a small quantity of powder and lead, which we gave him. We traveled 17 miles this evening, making a total of 26 miles, and camped.
The first 3 miles of our afternoon's march was through country similar to that of the forenoon; the creek bottoms then became higher and widened to between 2 and 3 miles. The hills on the north side were low, but those on the opposite side kept their height. We saw a number of deer, of which Labuish (Labiche) killed one. The timber on the creek becomes more abundant, and its extensive bottoms make for a pleasant looking country. The guide informs us that we shall now find plenty of wood, water, and game all the way to the Kooskooske.
We saw a great number of curlews, some cranes, ducks, prairie larks, and several species of sparrows common to the prairies. I see very little difference between the apparent face of the country here and that of the plains of the Missouri, only that these are not enlivened by the vast herds of buffalo, elk, etc., which adorn the other. The courses and distances of this day are N. 45 E. 9 miles, and N. 75 E. 17 miles, along the northern side of this creek to our camp.
Some time after we had camped, three young men arrived from the Wallahwollah (Walla Walla) village bringing with them a steel trap belonging to one of our party which had been carelessly left behind. This is an act of integrity rarely witnessed among Indians. During our stay with them they several times found knives that the men had carelessly lost and returned them. I think we can justly affirm, to the honor of these people, that they are the most hospitable, honest, and sincere people that we have met with on our voyage.
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