Camp Fortunate, Sacagawea reunites with Cameahwait — Patrick Gass: August 20, 1805
After traveling four miles, the party reached a village of about 25 willow-lodge dwellings along a branch of the Columbia River. The inhabitants were impoverished, surviving on berries and fish but possessing many fine horses that drew raids from other tribes. They warned the rivers ahead were not navigable, suggesting an overland route. Captain Clark's group hired a guide and pushed on through a fertile but largely treeless valley, camping by a spring after eight miles. Five Indians stayed the night, and one man lingered behind to purchase a horse.
early and travelled about 4 miles, to a village of the Indians
on the bank of a branch of the Columbia river, about ten
yards wide and very rapid. At this place there are about 25
lodges made of willow bushes. They are the poorest and most
miserable nation I ever beheld; having scarcely any thing to
subsist on, except berries and a few fish, which they contrive
by some means, to take. They have a great many fine horses,
and nothing more; and on account of these they are much
harrassed by other nations. They move about in any direction
where the berries are most plenty. We had a long talk with
them, and they gave us very unfavourable accounts with respect
to the rivers. From which we understood that they were not
128 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
navigable down, and expect to perform the rout by land.
Here we procured a guide, and left our interpreters to go on
with the natives, and assist Captain Lewis and his party to
bring on the baggage.
Captain Clarke and our party proceeded down the river
with our guide, through a valley about 4 miles wide, of a rich
soil, but almost without timber.—There are high mountains
on both sides, with some pine trees on them. We went about
8 miles and encamped on a fine spring. One of our men
remained behind at the village to buy a horse, and did not
join us this evening. Five of the Indians came and stayed
with us during the night. They told us that they were some-
times reduced to such want, as to be obliged to eat their
horses.
W ednesday 21st. About 7 o’clock in the morning we con-
tinued our journey down the valley, and came to a few lodges
of Indians where our guide lives. We remained here about
two hours, during which time a number of Indians passed us,
going to fish. We proceeded on the way the Indians had
gone; and one of our men went with them to the fishing
place. The valley becomes very narrow here, and a large
branch of the river comes in a short distance below. Here
we had to ascend high ground, the bottom is so narrow; and
continued on the high ground about six miles when we came
again to the river, where a fine branch flows in, the valley 4 or §
miles wide. In this branch we shot a salmon about 6 pounds
weight. We travelled 20 miles this day, and encamped at
a place where the mountains come close to the river. In the
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – 129
valley through which we passed and all along the river, there
are cherries, currants and other small fruit. The man who
had remained behind at the first village and the other who had
gone with the Indians to their fishing place, both joined us
here. The Indians gave them five salmon to bring to us: and
he that had stayed for a horse, brought one with him. At
this place the river is about 70 yards wide.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Started early and traveled about 4 miles to an Indian village on the bank of a branch of the Columbia river, which is about ten yards wide and very rapid. At this place there are about 25 lodges made of willow bushes. They are the poorest and most miserable nation I have ever seen, having scarcely anything to live on except berries and a few fish, which they manage by some means to catch. They have a great many fine horses, and nothing more; and on account of these horses they are much harassed by other nations. They move about in whatever direction the berries are most plentiful. We had a long talk with them, and they gave us very unfavorable accounts of the rivers. From this we understood that the rivers were not navigable downstream, and we expect to make the route by land. Here we obtained a guide, and left our interpreters to go on with the natives and help Captain Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and his party bring on the baggage.
Captain Clarke (Captain Clark) and our party went down the river with our guide, through a valley about 4 miles wide, with rich soil but almost no timber. There are high mountains on both sides, with some pine trees on them. We went about 8 miles and camped at a fine spring. One of our men stayed behind at the village to buy a horse, and did not join us this evening. Five of the Indians came and stayed with us during the night. They told us that they were sometimes reduced to such want that they were forced to eat their horses.
Wednesday 21st. About 7 o'clock in the morning we continued our journey down the valley, and came to a few lodges of Indians where our guide lives. We remained here about two hours, during which time a number of Indians passed us, going to fish. We went on the way the Indians had gone, and one of our men went with them to the fishing place. The valley becomes very narrow here, and a large branch of the river comes in a short distance below. Here we had to climb to high ground, because the bottom is so narrow; and we continued on the high ground for about six miles, when we came again to the river, where a fine branch flows in, the valley 4 or 5 miles wide. In this branch we shot a salmon about 6 pounds in weight. We traveled 20 miles this day, and camped at a place where the mountains come close to the river. In the valley through which we passed, and all along the river, there are cherries, currants, and other small fruits. The man who had stayed behind at the first village, and the other who had gone with the Indians to their fishing place, both joined us here. The Indians gave them five salmon to bring to us; and the man who had stayed to get a horse brought one with him. At this place the river is about 70 yards wide.
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