Lewis: May 18, 1806
Twelve hunters were sent out in different directions, but most returned unsuccessful, with J. Fields ill and Drewyer's party having killed only a hawk and recovered part of a salmon from an eagle—a hopeful sign that salmon would soon arrive. Sacagawea gathered fennel roots (yearpah) for the Rocky Mountain crossing. Three hungry Indian hunters visited camp and were given meat, and the party treated an elderly couple's eye and rheumatic ailments. Natives built a fishing platform across the river. Cold rain fell overnight, soaking the men again.
Sunday May 18th 1806. Twelve hunters turned out this morning in different
directions agreeably to the order of last evening. Potts and Whitehouse
accompanied Collins to the bear he had killed on the 16th inst. with which
they returned in the afternoon. the colours of this bear was a mixture of
light redish brown white and dark brown in which the bey or redish brown
predominated, the fur was bey as well as the lower pertion of the long
hairs, the white next succeeded in the long hairs which at their
extremites were dark brown, this uncommon mixture might be termed a bey
grizzle.
our indian woman was busily engaged today in laying in a store of the
fennel roots for the Rocky mountains. these are called by the Shoshones
year-pah. at 2 P.M. 3 Indians who had been hunting towards the place at
which we met with Chopunnish last fall, called by them the quawmash
grounds, called at our camp; they informed us that they had been hunting
several days and had killed nothing; we gave them a small peice of meat
which they told us they would reserve for their small children who were
very hungary; we smoked with them and they shortly after departed. early
this morning the natives erected a lodge on the opposite side of the river
near a fishing stand a little above us. no doubt to be in readiness for
the salmon, the arrival of which they are so ardently wishing as well as
ourselves. this stand is a small stage are warf constructed of sticks and
projecting about 10 feet into the river and about 3 feet above the surface
of the water on the extremity of this the fisherman stands with his
scooping net, which differ but little in their form from those commonly
used in our country it is formed thus. the fisherman exercised himself
some hours today but I believe without success. at 3 P.M. J. Fields
returned very unwell having killed nothing. shortly after an old man and
woman arrived; the former had soar eyes and the latter complained of a lax
and rheumatic effections. we gave the woman some creem of tartar and flour
of sulpher, and washed the old man’s eyes with a little eyewater. a little
before dark Drewyer R. Fields and LaPage returned having been also
unsuccessfull they had killed a hawk only and taken the part of a salmon
from an Eagle, the latter altho it was of itself not valuable was an
agreeable sight as it gave us reason to hope that the salmon would shortly
be with us. these hunters had scowered the country between the Kooskooske
and Collins’s Creek from hence to their junction about 10 miles and had
seen no deer or bear and but little sign of either. shortly after dark it
began to rain and continued raining moderately all night. the air was
extreemly cold and disagreeable and we lay in the water as the preceeding
night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday, May 18th, 1806. Twelve hunters set out this morning in different directions, in keeping with the order given last evening. Potts and Whitehouse accompanied Collins to the bear he had killed on the 16th instant, and they returned with it in the afternoon. The colors of this bear were a mixture of light reddish brown, white, and dark brown, in which the bay (or reddish brown) predominated. The fur was bay, as was the lower portion of the long hairs; the white came next on the long hairs, which at their tips were dark brown. This uncommon mixture might be called a bay grizzle.
Our Indian woman was busy today gathering a store of the fennel roots for the Rocky Mountains. These are called by the Shoshones year-pah. At 2 P.M. three Indians who had been hunting toward the place where we met the Chopunnish last fall, called by them the quawmash grounds, stopped at our camp. They told us they had been hunting for several days and had killed nothing. We gave them a small piece of meat, which they said they would save for their small children, who were very hungry. We smoked with them, and they soon departed. Early this morning the natives put up a lodge on the opposite side of the river near a fishing stand a little above us, no doubt to be ready for the salmon, whose arrival they are as eagerly awaiting as we are. This stand is a small stage or wharf made of sticks, projecting about 10 feet into the river and about 3 feet above the surface of the water. On the end of it the fisherman stands with his scooping net, which differs little in form from those commonly used in our country. It is formed thus. The fisherman worked at it for some hours today, but I believe without success. At 3 P.M. J. Fields returned very unwell, having killed nothing. Shortly after, an old man and woman arrived; the man had sore eyes, and the woman complained of looseness of the bowels and rheumatic problems. We gave the woman some cream of tartar and flowers of sulphur, and washed the old man's eyes with a little eyewater. A little before dark, Drewyer, R. Fields, and LaPage returned, having also been unsuccessful. They had killed only a hawk and had taken part of a salmon from an eagle. The salmon, although not valuable in itself, was a welcome sight, since it gave us reason to hope that the salmon would soon be with us. These hunters had scoured the country between the Kooskooske and Collins's Creek from here to their junction, about 10 miles, and had seen no deer or bear and but little sign of either. Shortly after dark it began to rain and continued raining moderately all night. The air was extremely cold and disagreeable, and we lay in the water as we had the previous night.
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