Journal entry · April 15, 1806

Columbia near The Dalles, trading for horses — Patrick Gass: April 15, 1806

Patrick Gass · Columbia near The Dalles, trading for horses · Thwaites Vol. Gass 1807 First Edition

The place today: Celilo Falls and The Dalles portage

Officers attempted to purchase some horses, but could not
agree with the Indians on the price; so we proceeded on
about 4 miles to another village, at the mouth of Catarack
river. Here we got some Shap-e-leel, a kind of bread the
natives make of roots, and bake in the sun; and which is
strong and palatable. Here another trial was made to get
some horses, but without success; and we again proceeded
on; passed a place where there was a village in good order
last fall when we went down; but has been lately torn down,
and again erected at a short distance from the old ground
where it formerly stood. The reason of this removal I can-
not conjecture, unless to avoid the fleas, which are more
numerous in this country than any insects I ever saw.* About
three o’clock in the afternoon we came to Rock Camp, where
we staid two days as we went down. Some hunters went out
in the evening and killed a deer.

Entities mentioned in this entry

Tribes & Nations:
Cultural:
Trade Goods:

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The NPS atlas for this night

left (south) bank Fort Rock, The Dalles, OR

NPS campsite reconstruction (Bergantino)

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From the NPS Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Park Atlas, mirrored here on September 21, 2026. This copy is not authoritative; NPS remains the system of record. About the mirror

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Celilo Falls and The Dalles portage in 360°

Lake Celilo · 377 panoramas on this trail · 65 journal entries written here

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