Portaging Cascades of the Columbia upstream — Patrick Gass: April 6, 1806

10 o’clock we set out; passed a beautiful prairie on the north
side, which we could sot see for the fog as we went down;
proceeded on about 9 miles and came to our hunters’ camp.
They had killed 5 elk; so we halted, sent out for the meat
and began to dry it. Weare now at the head of the Columbia
valley ; which is a fine valley about 70 miles long, abounding
with roots of different kinds, which the natives use for food,
*Mr. M’Kenzie also mentions that the western Indians make use of the inner
tegument of the bark of trees for food; and that it is generally considered by the
more interior Indians as a delicacy, rather than an article of common food; that on
this and herbs they are used to sustain themselves on their journies. He likewise
states that of the inner rind of the hemlock, taken off early in the spring they make a
kind of cakes, which they eat with salmon oil, and of which they appear very fond.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 211
especially the Wapto roots which they gather out of the
ponds. The timber is mostly of the fir kind, with some
cherry, dogwood, soft maple and ash; and a variety of shrubs
which bear fruit of fine flavour, that the natives make use of
for food.