Columbia River near Wallula Gap — Patrick Gass: October 19, 1805
After a frosty morning, several Native people visited camp, and the captains gave one a medal and small gifts. The party set out at 8 o'clock, navigating past islands and rough rapids without incident, and passing many Indian camps along the river through level plains. After traveling 36 miles, they halted opposite a large camp, where about 36 canoes of locals came across to visit, some staying the night, though language barriers limited conversation. Gass notes the local custom of burying all of a deceased person's property, including splitting their canoe around the grave.
some white frost. A number of the natives came to our
camp, and our Commanding Officers presented one of them
with a medal and other small articles. At 8 o’clock we pro-
ceeded on: passed some islands and bad rapids, but no acci-
dent happened. We also passed a great many Indian camps.
In the whole country around there are only level plains, except
a few hills on some parts of the river. We went 36 miles and
halted opposite a large Indian camp; and about thirty-six
canoe loads of them came over to see us; some of whom
remained all night; but we could not have much conversation
with them as we did not understand their language. They
are clothed much in the same manner with those at the forks
above. The custom prevails among these Indians of burying
all the property of the deceased, with the body. Amongst
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 161
these savages when any of them die, his baskets, bags, clothing,
horses and other property are all interred : even his canoe is
split into pieces and set up round his grave.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
There was some white frost. A number of the natives came to our camp, and our Commanding Officers presented one of them with a medal and other small articles. At 8 o'clock we proceeded on: we passed some islands and bad rapids, but no accident happened. We also passed a great many Indian camps. In the whole country around there are only level plains, except a few hills on some parts of the river. We went 36 miles and halted opposite a large Indian camp; and about thirty-six canoe loads of them came over to see us; some of whom remained all night. But we could not have much conversation with them, as we did not understand their language. They are clothed much in the same manner as those at the forks above.
The custom prevails among these Indians of burying all the property of the deceased with the body. Among these natives, when any of them dies, his baskets, bags, clothing, horses, and other property are all interred; even his canoe is split into pieces and set up around his grave.
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