Celilo Falls and The Dalles portage — Patrick Gass: October 24, 1805
The expedition set out early and navigated very rapid water below the falls. After traveling four miles past one set of narrows, they encountered another, more confined stretch with higher rocks. Around 2 p.m. they stopped at a large Indian village at the head of these narrows and camped there overnight. They traded with the natives for fish, dogs, and unfamiliar berries resembling cranberries. Along the way they spotted many sea otters and shot some, but the animals sank before they could be retrieved. The village's partially underground lodges, lined with flag mats and covered with cedar bark, were notably well-built.
early ; found the water very rapid below the falls; and having
gone 4 miles below the narrows, came to other narrows still
more confined and the rocks higher. At the head of these
narrows we halted about 2 o’clock at a great Indian village,
and remained there all night. We got fish and dogs from the
natives, and some berries, different from any we got before,
some call them cranberries; whether of the real kind or not
I am not certain. In our way down to day we saw a great
164 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
many sea otters swimming in the river, and killed some, but
could not get them as they sunk to the bottom. This village
has better lodges than any on the river above; one story of
which is sunk under ground and lined with flag mats; The
upper part about 4 feet above ground is covered over with
cedar bark, and they are tolerably comfortable houses.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Early; we found the water very rapid below the falls; and after going 4 miles below the narrows, we came to other narrows that were even more confined and where the rocks were higher. At the head of these narrows we halted about 2 o'clock at a large Indian village, and remained there all night. We got fish and dogs from the natives, along with some berries, different from any we had gotten before; some call them cranberries, though whether they are the real kind or not I am not certain. On our way down today we saw a great many sea otters swimming in the river, and killed some, but could not retrieve them as they sank to the bottom. This village has better lodges than any on the river above; one story of which is sunk under the ground and lined with flag mats. The upper part, about 4 feet above ground, is covered over with cedar bark, and they are tolerably comfortable houses.
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