Columbia River near Wallula Gap — Patrick Gass: October 17, 1805

of taking an observation. We got a number of dogs from
the natives. Salmon are very plenty but poor and dying, and
therefore not fit for provisions. In the plains are a great
* The size, course and appearance of this great river, seem to confirm beyond a
doubt the opinion of Mr. M’Kenzie, who supposed that the large river, into which
the branch he descended on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, having its source
in these mountains near that of the Unjigah or Peace river, discharges its waters into
the large river in latitude about 54° north, and longitude 122° west from London, or
47° west from Philadelphia, was the Columbia. The information he obtained from
the Indians respecting this river before he left the Unjigah was, ‘‘ that it was a large
river and ran towards the mid-day sun; but did not empty itself into the sea.’’ This
opinion of these natives at a distance, with respect to its not emptying itself into the
sea, must have arisen chiefly from what they had heard of its course, which is east of
south and nearly parallel to the coast of the Pacific, and of the great distance it con-
tinued to run in that direction. The accounts he received after arriving at it, there
called the Great river, or Tacoutche Tesse, also stated that it ran towards the mid-
day sun; and that at its mouth, as the natives said they had been informed, white
people were building houses. Mr. M’Kenzie having descended the river some dis-
tance, prevailed on a chief to delineate a sketch of the country on a large piece of
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION _ tsg
many hares and a number of fowls, between the size of a
pheasant and turkey, called heath hens or grous. We killed
a great many of these fowls which are very good eating. The
small river, which we called Flathead and afterwards Clarke’s
river, is a branch of the Great Columbia, and running a north-
west course, falls into it a considerable distance above this
place: we therefore never passed the mouth of that river.
The Columbia here is 860 yards wide, and the Ki-moo-
ee-nem (called Lewis’s river from its junction with the Koos-
koos-ke) 475 yards. They are both very low at this place.
Our course since we took water has been a few degrees south
of west: here the Columbia turns to the east of south.