Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — Patrick Gass: April 21, 1806
After a frosty morning, the party recovered a runaway horse and prepared to leave the first narrows on the Columbia River. When an Indian stole iron tools, Captain Lewis struck him—the first such incident of the expedition—but no fight broke out. The men disposed of two canoes, burned another, and set out with ten horses and two loaded canoes. They reunited with Captain Clark at the great falls, portaged around them, ate dogs and shapaleel, then continued downriver. Gass camped quietly in willows without a fire, wary of nearby Indians.
some white frost. We found the horse, which had broke
away last night, and made preparations for setting out from
this place. While we were making preparations to start, an
Indian stole some iron articles from among the men’s hands;
which so irritated Captain Lewis, that he struck him; which
was the first act of the kind, that had happened during the
expedition. The Indians however did not resent it, other-
wise it is probable we would have had a skirmish with them.
This morning we disposed of two canoes and used another
for firewood. At 100’clock we set out from the first narrows
with 9 horses of our own and one we borrowed, and 2 canoes
all loaded heavy. I went with three other men in the canoes,
218 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
and had some difficulty in passing the short narrows. About
three in the afternoon we arrived at the great falls of Colum-
bia, where we met with Captain Clarke and the men that were
with him. Here we got another horse; carried our canoes
and baggage round the falls and halted for dinner. We also
got some dogs here and shapaleel, which we subsist on chiefly
at present. We halted here two hours and then proceeded
on again. The party that went by land had to leave the river,
and take out to the hill a part of the way. I crossed with my
canoe to the south side where there is the best water, and
passed a large rock island, opposite to which the Sho-sho-ne
river flows in from the south. We went on till dark, and
then run our small canoe among some willows, and laid down
to sleep. We did not make any fire for fear the savages, who
are very numerous along this part of the river, might come
and rob us.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
There was some white frost. We found the horse that had broken away last night, and made preparations for setting out from this place. While we were getting ready to start, an Indian stole some iron articles from among the men's hands; this so irritated Captain Lewis (Capt. Lewis) that he struck him, which was the first act of the kind that had happened during the expedition. The Indians, however, did not resent it; otherwise it is probable we would have had a skirmish with them.
This morning we disposed of two canoes and used another for firewood. At 10 o'clock we set out from the first narrows with 9 horses of our own and one we borrowed, and 2 canoes, all loaded heavily. I went with three other men in the canoes, and had some difficulty in passing the short narrows. About three in the afternoon we arrived at the great falls of Columbia, where we met with Captain Clarke (Capt. Clark) and the men that were with him. Here we got another horse; carried our canoes and baggage around the falls and halted for dinner. We also got some dogs here and shapaleel, which we subsist on chiefly at present. We halted here two hours and then proceeded on again.
The party that went by land had to leave the river and take out to the hill a part of the way. I crossed with my canoe to the south side, where the water is best, and passed a large rocky island, opposite to which the Sho-sho-ne river flows in from the south. We went on until dark, and then ran our small canoe among some willows and lay down to sleep. We did not make any fire, for fear the natives, who are very numerous along this part of the river, might come and rob us.
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