Nez Perce camps, reuniting with horses — Patrick Gass: May 4, 1806

morning was cold and clear. We were early on our march
over a handsome plain; and came to another creek, which we
kept down until we came to Lewis’s river, some distance below
the forks of Koos-koos-ke; where we halted at an Indian
lodge, and could get nothing to eat, except some bread made
of a kind of roots I was unacquainted with. We had however,
a dog, which we bought from the Indians, who met us last
night; but this was a scanty allowance for thirty odd hungry
men. We remained here about two hours, got a dog, and
proceeded up the south side of Lewis’s river, about three
miles, when we met with one of our old chiefs, who had come
down with us last fall; and who advised us to cross the river,
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION — 225
as the best road is on the north side. We therefore were
occupied in crossing, during the remainder of the day as we
could raise but four small canoes from the natives at this
place. We however, by dark got all safe over, and encamped
on the north side, accompanied by a great many of the natives,
who appear a friendly and well disposed people.
226 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
CHAP. XX.
ONDAY 5th. We had a fine morning, and proceeded
on early, accompanied by our old chief and a number
of the natives. About 10 o’clock we passed the forks, and
kept along the north side of Koos-koos-ke ; at noon we halted
at three lodges of Indians, where we got three dogs and some
roots. — We also got one of our horses, which we had left
here last fall in the care of the old chief who is now with us;
and says that the Snake guide, who deserted us last fall, stole
and took two of our horses with him. We remained here
about an hour, and then continued our journey; came to a
large lodge of the natives, at the mouth of a creek, where we
encamped. This lodge is built much after the form of the
Virginia fodder houses; is about fifty yards long, and con-
tains twenty families. We here could get no provisions but
shap-a-leel and ‘roots.