Lewis: May 27, 1806
At their Nez Perce camp, the party butchered a horse given by the Indians for food, with Chief Hohastillpilp generously offering more horses whenever needed. Sergeant Pryor returned from the Indian village with roots and bread, while Sergeant Ordway was sent to Lewis's River for salmon. Drewyer and others brought back five deer. Charbono's son was improving, and the sick chief underwent a second sweat treatment, aided by his father, followed by laudanum. Lewis praised the Chopunnish for their kindness to elders and women, and described in detail a burrowing squirrel and the black woodpecker.
Tuesday May 27th 1806. Early this morning we sent Reubin Fields in surch
of the horse which the indians had given us to kill. at 10 in the morning
he returned with the horse and we killed and butchered him; he was large
and in good order. Hohastillpilp told us that most of the horses we saw
runing at large in this neighbourhood belonged to himself and his people,
and whenever we were in want of meat he requested that we would kill any
of them we wished; this is a peice of liberallity which would do honour to
such as host of civilization; indeed I doubt whether there are not a great
number of our countrymen who would see us fast many days before their
compassion would excite them to a similar act of liberallity. Sergt. Pryor
and the party ordered to the indian Village set out early this morning. in
the evening he returned with Gibson and Sheilds. the others remained at
the village all night; they brought a good store of roots and bread. we
also sent Sergt. ordway and 2 men this morning over to Lewis’s river for
salmon, which the indians inform us may be procured in abundance at that
place, and that it is but half a days ride, nearly south.Drewyer,
Cruzatte, and Labuish returned at 4 P.M. with five deer which they had
killed at some distance up Collins’s Creek on this side; that stream still
continues so high that they could not pass it.Charbono’s son is
much better today, tho the swelling on the side of his neck I beleive will
terminate in an ugly imposthume a little below the ear. the indians were
so anxious that the sick Cheif should be sweated under our inspection that
they requested we would make a second attept today; accordingly the hole
was somewhat enlarged and his father a very good looking old man, went
into the hole with him and sustained him in a proper position during the
operation; we could not make him sweat as copiously as we wished. after
the operation he complained of considerable pain, we gave him 30 drops of
laudanum which soon composed him and he rested very well.this is at
least a strong mark of parental affection. they all appear extreemly
attentive to this sick man nor do they appear to relax in their asceduity
towards him notwithstand he has been sick and helpless upwards of three
years. the Chopunnish appear to be very attentive and kind to their aged
people and treat their women with more rispect than the nations of the
Missouri.There is a speceis of Burrowing squirrel common in these
plains which in their habits somewhat resemble those of the missouri but
are a distinct speceis. this little animal measures one fot five and 1/2
inches from the nose to the extremity of the tail, of which the tail
occupys 21/4 inches only; in the girth it is 11 In. the body is
proportionably long, the neck and legs short; the ears are short, obtusely
pointed, and lie close to the head; the aperture of the ear is larger
proportionably than most animals which burrow. the eyes are of moderate
size, the puple black and iris of a dark sooty brown. the teeth are like
those of the squirrel as is it’s whole contour. the whiskers are full,
long and black; it also has some long black hairs above the eyes. it has
five toes on each foot; the two inner toes of the fore feet are remarkably
short, and have short blont nails. the remaining toes on those feet are
long, black, slightly curved, and sharply pointed. the outer and inner
toes of the hind feet are not short yet they are by no means as long as
the three toes in the center of the foot which are remarkably long but the
nails are not as long as those of the fore feet tho of the same form and
colour. the hair of the tail tho of the same form and colour. the hair of
the tail tho thickly inserted on every part rispects the two sides only.
this gives it a flat appearance and a long ovol form. the tips of the hair
which form the outer edges of the tail are white. the base of the hairs
are either black or a fox red. the under disk of the tail is an iron grey,
the upper a redish brown. the lower part of the jaws, under part of the
neck, legs and feet from the body down and belley are of a light brick
red. the nose as high as the eyes is of a darker brick red. the upper part
of the head neck and body are of a curious brownish grey colour with a
cast of the brick red. the longer hair of these parts being of a redish
white colour at their extremities, fall together in such manner as to give
it the appearance of being speckled at a little distance. these animals
form large ascociations as those of the Missouri, occupying with their
burroughs one or sometimes 200 acres of land. the burrows are seperate and
are each occupyed perhaps by ten or 12 of those animals. there is a little
mound in front of the hole formed of the earth thrown out of the burrow
and frequently there are three or four distinct holes forming what I term
one burrow with their mouths arround the base of this little mound which
seems to be occupyed as a watch-tower in common by the inhabitants of
those several holes. these mounds are sometimes as much as 2 feet high and
4 feet in diameter, and are irregularly distributed over the tract they
occupy at the distance of from ten to thirty or 40 yds. when you approach
a burrow the squirrels, one or more, usually set erect on these mounds and
make a kind of shrill whistleing nois, something like tweet, tweet, tweet,
&c. they do not live on grass as those of the missouri but on roots.
one which I examined had in his mouth two small bulbs of a speceis of
grass, which resemble very much what is sometimes called the grassnut. the
intestins of those little animals are remarkably large for it’s size. fur
short and very fine.the grass in their villages is not cut down as
in those of the plains of the missouri. I preserved the skins of several
of these animals with the heads feet and legs entire. The Black woodpecker
which I have frequently mentioned and which is found in most parts of the
roky Mountains as well as the Western and S. W. mountains. I had never an
opportunity of examining untill a few days since when we killed and
preserved several of them. this bird is about the size of the lark
woodpecker of the turtle dove, tho it’s wings are longer than either of
those birds. the beak is black, one inch long, reather wide at the base,
somewhat curved, and sharply pointed; the chaps are of equal length.
arround the base of the beak including the eye and a small part of the
throat is of a fine crimson red. the neck and as low as the croop in front
is of an iron grey. the belly and breast is a curious mixture of white and
blood reed which has much the appearance of having been artifically
painted or stained of that colour. the red reather predominates. the top
of the head back, sides, upper surface of the wings and tail are black,
with a gossey tint of green in a certain exposure to the light. the under
side of the wings and tail are of a sooty black. it has ten feathers in
the tail, sharply pointed, and those in the center reather longest, being
21/2 inches in length. the tongue is barbed, pointed, and of an elastic
cartelaginous substance. the eye is moderately large, puple black and iris
of a dark yellowish brown. this bird in it’s actions when flying resembles
the small redheaded woodpecke common to the Atlantic states; it’s note
also somewhat resembles that bird. the pointed tail seems to assist it in
seting with more eas or retaining it its resting position against the
perpendicular side of a tree. the legs and feet are black and covered with
wide imbricated scales. it has four toes on each foot of which two are in
rear and two in front; the nails are much curved long and remarkably keen
or sharply pointed. it feeds on bugs worms and a variety of insects.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday May 27th 1806. Early this morning we sent Reubin Fields in search of the horse which the Indians had given us to kill. At 10 in the morning he returned with the horse and we killed and butchered him; he was large and in good order. Hohastillpilp told us that most of the horses we saw running at large in this neighborhood belonged to himself and his people, and whenever we were in want of meat he requested that we would kill any of them we wished. This is a piece of liberality which would do honor to such a host of civilization; indeed I doubt whether there are not a great number of our countrymen who would see us fast many days before their compassion would excite them to a similar act of liberality.
Sergt. Pryor and the party ordered to the Indian village set out early this morning. In the evening he returned with Gibson and Shields. The others remained at the village all night; they brought a good store of roots and bread. We also sent Sergt. Ordway and 2 men this morning over to Lewis's River for salmon, which the Indians inform us may be procured in abundance at that place, and that it is but half a day's ride, nearly south. Drewyer, Cruzatte, and Labuish returned at 4 P.M. with five deer which they had killed at some distance up Collins's Creek on this side; that stream still continues so high that they could not pass it.
Charbono's son is much better today, though the swelling on the side of his neck I believe will terminate in an ugly abscess a little below the ear. The Indians were so anxious that the sick chief should be sweated under our inspection that they requested we would make a second attempt today; accordingly the hole was somewhat enlarged, and his father, a very good looking old man, went into the hole with him and sustained him in a proper position during the operation. We could not make him sweat as copiously as we wished. After the operation he complained of considerable pain; we gave him 30 drops of laudanum which soon composed him and he rested very well. This is at least a strong mark of parental affection. They all appear extremely attentive to this sick man, nor do they appear to relax in their assiduity towards him notwithstanding he has been sick and helpless upwards of three years. The Chopunnish appear to be very attentive and kind to their aged people and treat their women with more respect than the nations of the Missouri.
There is a species of burrowing squirrel common in these plains which in their habits somewhat resemble those of the Missouri but are a distinct species. This little animal measures one foot five and 1/2 inches from the nose to the extremity of the tail, of which the tail occupies 2 1/4 inches only; in the girth it is 11 inches. The body is proportionably long, the neck and legs short; the ears are short, obtusely pointed, and lie close to the head; the aperture of the ear is larger proportionably than most animals which burrow. The eyes are of moderate size, the pupil black and iris of a dark sooty brown. The teeth are like those of the squirrel as is its whole contour. The whiskers are full, long and black; it also has some long black hairs above the eyes. It has five toes on each foot; the two inner toes of the forefeet are remarkably short, and have short blunt nails. The remaining toes on those feet are long, black, slightly curved, and sharply pointed. The outer and inner toes of the hind feet are not short, yet they are by no means as long as the three toes in the center of the foot, which are remarkably long, but the nails are not as long as those of the forefeet though of the same form and color. The hair of the tail, though thickly inserted on every part, respects the two sides only. This gives it a flat appearance and a long oval form. The tips of the hair which form the outer edges of the tail are white. The base of the hairs are either black or a fox red. The under disk of the tail is an iron gray, the upper a reddish brown. The lower part of the jaws, underpart of the neck, legs and feet from the body down, and belly are of a light brick red. The nose as high as the eyes is of a darker brick red. The upper part of the head, neck and body are of a curious brownish gray color with a cast of the brick red. The longer hair of these parts being of a reddish white color at their extremities, fall together in such manner as to give it the appearance of being speckled at a little distance.
These animals form large associations as those of the Missouri, occupying with their burrows one or sometimes 200 acres of land. The burrows are separate and are each occupied perhaps by ten or 12 of those animals. There is a little mound in front of the hole formed of the earth thrown out of the burrow, and frequently there are three or four distinct holes forming what I term one burrow, with their mouths around the base of this little mound, which seems to be occupied as a watch-tower in common by the inhabitants of those several holes. These mounds are sometimes as much as 2 feet high and 4 feet in diameter, and are irregularly distributed over the tract they occupy at the distance of from ten to thirty or 40 yards. When you approach a burrow the squirrels, one or more, usually sit erect on these mounds and make a kind of shrill whistling noise, something like tweet, tweet, tweet, etc. They do not live on grass as those of the Missouri but on roots. One which I examined had in his mouth two small bulbs of a species of grass, which resemble very much what is sometimes called the grass-nut. The intestines of those little animals are remarkably large for its size. Fur short and very fine. The grass in their villages is not cut down as in those of the plains of the Missouri. I preserved the skins of several of these animals with the heads, feet and legs entire.
The black woodpecker, which I have frequently mentioned and which is found in most parts of the Rocky Mountains as well as the Western and S.W. mountains, I had never had an opportunity of examining until a few days since, when we killed and preserved several of them. This bird is about the size of the lark woodpecker or the turtle dove, though its wings are longer than either of those birds. The beak is black, one inch long, rather wide at the base, somewhat curved, and sharply pointed; the chaps are of equal length. Around the base of the beak, including the eye and a small part of the throat, is of a fine crimson red. The neck and as low as the crop in front is of an iron gray. The belly and breast is a curious mixture of white and blood red which has much the appearance of having been artificially painted or stained of that color. The red rather predominates. The top of the head, back, sides, upper surface of the wings and tail are black, with a glossy tint of green in a certain exposure to the light. The under side of the wings and tail are of a sooty black. It has ten feathers in the tail, sharply pointed, and those in the center rather longest, being 2 1/2 inches in length. The tongue is barbed, pointed, and of an elastic cartilaginous substance. The eye is moderately large, pupil black and iris of a dark yellowish brown. This bird in its actions when flying resembles the small red-headed woodpecker common to the Atlantic states; its note also somewhat resembles that bird. The pointed tail seems to assist it in sitting with more ease, or retaining it in its resting position against the perpendicular side of a tree. The legs and feet are black and covered with wide imbricated scales. It has four toes on each foot, of which two are in rear and two in front; the nails are much curved, long, and remarkably keen or sharply pointed. It feeds on bugs, worms and a variety of insects.
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