Twisted Hair in the Lewis and Clark journals | Lewis & Clark Research Database

Twenty-One Horses and a Settler’s Eye: Reunion at the Twisted Hair’s Lodge

Fri, 08 May 2026 22:10:57 +0000

The reunion at the Twisted Hair’s lodge on May 9, 1806, was a logistical milestone for the returning expedition: twenty-one horses recovered, packsaddles retrieved, and a cache of powder and lead unearthed near the old canoe camp. All four journal-keepers present — Lewis, Clark, Ordway, and Gass — record the same sequence of events, but the texture of their entries diverges sharply, exposing how rank, literacy, and audience shaped what each man chose to preserve.

The Same Events, Four Registers

Gass, the carpenter-sergeant whose published 1807 narrative was the expedition’s first in print, reduces the day to a workmanlike ledger. He notes the six-mile march, the abundance of pitch pine, the dispatch of two Indians after the horses, and the evening tally:

In the evening they all returned with 21 horses and about as many packsaddles. Our horses are generally in good order. Our hunters also returned but had killed nothing.

Ordway, writing in his characteristic compressed hand, supplies the same numbers but adds ethnobotanical detail Gass omits — the plains were "filled with commass wild onions and white roots calld halse & other roots good for food which the natives live on at this Season of the year." Ordway also alone records that "Some of [the horses] had been rode after Deer &C." — a practical observation about how the Nez Perce had used the animals over the winter.

Clark’s entry is the most administratively complete. He gives precise times (9 A.M. departure, 2 P.M. arrival of the hunters, 7–9 P.M. rain turning to snow), distinguishes the principal lodge from a smaller one, and is the only narrator to specify the condition of individual animals: "five of them had been rode & worsted in Such a manner last fall by the Inds. that they had not recovered and are in very low order, and 3 with Sore backs." Where Lewis generalizes, Clark counts.

Lewis as Surveyor of Empire

Lewis’s entry for the same day barely mentions the horses at all. After dispatching the recovery party in two sentences, he pivots into a long disquisition on the agricultural promise of the Nez Perce country:

The country along the rocky mountains for several hundred miles in length and about 50 in width is level extreemly fertile and in many parts covered with a tall and open growth of the longleafed pine…. this country would form an extensive settlement; the climate appears quite as mild as that of similar latitude on the Atlantic coast if not more so and it cannot be otherwise than healthy; it possesses a fine dry pure air.

This is the voice of the Jeffersonian commissioner appraising land for future white settlement, and it has no counterpart in the other three journals. Lewis follows the appraisal with an extended ethnographic note on cous and quamash roots, comparing cous to ginseng and describing the preparation of the dried cakes ("about an inch and 1/4 thick and 6 by 18 in width"). Clark, who often paraphrases Lewis, here goes his own way and merely mentions that the party "precured Some pounded roots of which a Supe was made thick on which we Suped."

The Solitary Lodge: A Telling Comparison

One of the day’s most revealing cross-narrator moments is the description of the menstrual lodge. Both captains note it; the enlisted men do not. Clark records it ethnographically and at some distance:

The Second lodge is Small & appears to be intended for the Sick women who always retire to a Seperate lodge when they have the ____ this Custom is Common to all the nations on this river as well as among all other Indian nations with whom I am acquainted.

Lewis treats the same observation in a markedly more literary — and condescending — register:

even at this small habitation there was an appendage of the soletary lodge, the retreat of the tawny damsels when nature causes them to be driven into coventry.

The contrast is characteristic. Clark generalizes from comparative ethnography ("Common to all the nations"); Lewis reaches for arch eighteenth-century diction ("tawny damsels," "coventry") that aestheticizes what Clark documents. Gass and Ordway, less concerned with self-presentation to a literate audience, pass over the lodge entirely.

What the Pattern Reveals

Read together, the four entries for May 9 show the expedition’s documentary division of labor in miniature. Gass tallies. Ordway adds the subsistence detail of a man who has eaten what he describes. Clark counts horses, times, and lodge-fires with the precision of the party’s principal logistician. Lewis, freed by Clark’s bookkeeping, turns the day into a prospectus for American settlement and a comparative botany of edible roots. The horses are recovered in every account; only in Lewis’s does the country itself become the object of acquisition.

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Nez Perce camps, reuniting with horses — John Ordway: May 8, 1806

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:06 +0000

hunt. Several of the hunters went out and killed 4 Deer one of
the hunters wounded a deer only broke its leg Cap* Lewises dog
Scamon chased it caught it [and] killed it. we finding an Indian
here belonging to the Snake nation our officers got some informa-
tion of the country rivers &C. about 2 P. M. we Set out as-
cended a high hill, came on a high pleasant plain Scatering” pine
timber &c Soil rich & filled with with pine roots and plants &C. we
met the twisted hair the chief of the Chopennish tribe who we left
our horses with [last autumn], he did not appear Sociable as
when we left him our officers asked the Snake Indn to ask him
where our horses were but he did not incline to speak, so we proced
on to a small run where we Camped.4 the chiefs kept themselves
at a distance for a while then by an invitation came and Smoaked
and the intrepters Spoke & we got information concern8 our
horses and found that the twisted hair & the head chief cut nose
as we call him is not at a good understanding with each other re-
1 On the north side of Hie Kooskooskee, nine miles above Hie mouth of Pot-
latch River, and lour miles below the mouth of Bed Hock (“.reek.
– “Modern Bed Bock Creek.” Coins.
•The creek, according to Cones, was modern Jack’s Creek, a southern
tributary of the Kooskooskee. The camp was in ez Perce County, several
miles above the OlOUth of Jack’s Creek.
1 Apparently on a tributary of Bit; Canon River, or, possibly, on the latter
stream itself.
1806] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 355
specting our horses, caused by jealousy but informd us that the
most of our horses and pack Saddles were Safe, but Some of boath
had been [made] use of by the admittance of the head chief. Sev-
eral of fowls such as pheasants &C. killd this day. N. B. the
wolves killd one of our colts last night.

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Lewis: June 6, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:30 +0000

Friday June 6th 1806. This morning Frazier returned having been in quest
of some roots and bread which had left at the lodg of the Twisted hair
when on his way to the fishery on Lewis’s river. the Twisted hair came
with him but I was unable to converse with him for the want of an
interpreter, Drewyer being absent with Capt. C. This Cheif left me in the
evening and returned to his village. Capt C. Visited the Broken Arm today
agreeably to his promise; he took with him Drewyer and several others.
they were received in a friendly manner. The Broken Arm informed Capt. C.
that the nation would not pass the mountain untill the latter end of the
summer, and that with rispect to the young men whom we had requested
should accompany us to the falls of the Missouri, were not yet scelected
for that purpose nor could they be so untill there was a meeting of the
nation in counsil. that this would happen in the course of ten or twelve
days as the whole of the lodges were about to remove to the head of the
Commeap Creek in the plain near Lewis’s river, that when they had
assembled themselves they would hold a council and scelect the young men.
that if we set out previously to that period the men would follow us. we
therefore do not calculate on any assistance from them as guides, but
depend more upon engageing some of the Ootlashshoots in the neighborhood
of Travellers rest C. for that purpose. The broken arm gave Capt. C. a few
dryed Quawmas roots as a great present, but in our estimation those of
cows are much better, I am confident they are much more healthy. The men
who were with Capt. C. obtained a good store of roots and bread in
exchange for a number of little notions, using the Yanke phrase, with
which their own enginuity had principally furnished them. on examination
we find that our whole party have an ample store of bread and roots for
our voyage, a circumstance not unpleasing. They retuned at 5 P.M. shortly
after which we were visited by Hohastillpilp the two young Cheifs who gave
us the horses in behalf of the nation some time since and several others,
who remained all night. The Kooskooske is about 150 Yds. wide at this
place and discharges a vast body of water; notwithstanding it high state
the water remains nearly transparent, and it’s temperature appeas to be
quite as cold as that of our best springs. we meet with a beautifull
little bird in this neighbourhood about the size and somewhat the shape of
the large spar-row. it is reather longer in proportion to it’s bulk than
the sparrow. it measures 7 inches from the extremity of the beek to that
of the tail, the latter occupying 21/2 inches. the beak is reather more
than half an inch in length, and is formed much like the Virginia
nitingale; it is thick and large for a bird of it’s size; wide at the
base, both chaps convex, and pointed, the uper exceeds the under chap a
little is somewhat curved and of a brown colour; the lower chap of a
greenish yellow. the eye full reather large and of a black colour both
puple and iris. the plumage is remarkably delicate; that of the neck and
head is of a fine orrange yellow and red, the latter predominates on the
top of the head and arround the base of the beak from whence it graduly
deminishes & towards the lower part of the neck, the orrange yellow
prevails most; the red has the appearance of being laid over a ground of
yellow. the breast, the sides, rump and some long feathers which lie
between the legs and extend underneath the tail are of a fine orrange
yellow. the tail, back and wings are black, ecept a small stripe of yellow
on the outer part of the middle joint of the wing, 1/4 of an inch wide and
an inch in length. the tail is composed of twelve feathers of which those
in the center are reather shortest, and the plumage of all the feathers of
the tail is longest on that side of the quill next the center of the tail.
the legs and feet are black, nails long and sharp; it has four toes on
each foot, of which three are forward and one behind; that behind is as
long as the two outer of the three toes in front.

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Clark: June 6, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:29 +0000

Friday June 6th 1806 I visited the Broken Arm to day agreeable to my
promis of the 4th inst. and took with me Drewyer & three other men I
was receved in a friendly manner. The broken Arm informed me that maney of
the Small chiefs of the different Bands of his nation had not heard our
word from our own mouths, Several of them were present and was glad to See
me &c. I repeeted in part what had been Said in Council before. The
Broken arm told me that the nation would not pass the mountains untill the
latter part of the Summer, and with respect to the young men who we had
requested to accompany us to the falls of Missouri, were not yet Selected
for that purpose nor could they be So untill they had a Meeting of the
Nation in Council. that this would happen in the Course of ten or 12 days
as the whole of the Lodges were about to Move to the head of Commeap Creek
in the Plain of Lewis’s river, that when they held a council they would
Select two young men. that if we Set out previously to that time the men
would follow us. we therefore do not Calculate any assistance from them as
guides, but depend more upon engageing Some of the Oatlash-shoots on
Clarks river in the neighbouringhood of Travellers rest C. for that
purpose. The Broken Arm gave me a fiew Quawmash roots as a great preasent,
but in my estimation those of Cows is much better. I am Confident they are
much more healthy. The Broken Arm informed me that they had latterly been
informed that a party of the Shoshones had arived at the Ye-E-al-po Nation
who reside to the South of the enterance of Kooskooske into Lewis’s river.
and had informed that people that their nation (the Shoshones) had
received the talk which was given their relations on the head of the East
fork of Lewis’s river last fall, and were resolved to pursue our Councils,
and had came foward for the purpose of makeing peace with them, and allso
with the Chopunnish &c. that they had Sent Several men in Serch of
those people with a view to bring them to Lewis’s river at which place the
Broken Arm informed me he Should meet them and Smoke the pipe of peace.
which he Should afterwards Send by with Some of his Chiefs in company with
those Shoshones to their nation and confirm a piece which never Should be
broken on his part. he produced two pipes one of which he said was as a
present to me the other he intended to Send to the Shoshones &c. and
requested me to take one, I receved the one made in the fascion of the
Country, the other which was of Stone curiously inlaid with Silver in the
common form which he got from the Shoshones. I deckorated the Stem of this
pipe with blue ribon and white wampom and informed the Chief this was the
emblem of peace with us.

The men who accompanied me obtained a good Store of roots and bread in
exchange for a number of little notions, useing the Yanke phrase, with
which their own enginuiety had principally furnished them. on examonation
we find our whole party have a Sufficient Store of bread and roots for our
Voyage. a Circumstance not unpleasing-.

I returned at 4 P. M followed by Hohastillpilp the 2 young Chiefs who gave
us the horses in behalf of the nation Some time Sence, the young man who
gave us the horse at Collins Creek to kill as we Came up, and Several
others. I met the twisted hair and two other indians with Frazier on the
opposit bank from our Camp this Morning & Sent him over to our Camp. I
met him this evening on his return home. he informed me he could not
accompany us across the mountains as his brother was Sick &c.-.

—

The Chopunnish call the Crow Indians Up-shar-look-kar

Chopunnish name for Sin-sho-cal Dearbourne R dittodoCal la
mar-Sha mosh Meddesons dittodoCo-ma win-nim Maria River
ditto ditto- Ta-ki-a-ki-a Mescle Shell R dittoditto
Wah-wo-ko-ye-o-cose is th ____ ditto doRockejhoneElk river

ditto doKoos-koos-an-nim-a the little Missouri dittodo-
Walch-Nim-mahKnife R dittodo Ni-hi-Sir-teC. R

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Lewis: June 1, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:28 +0000

Sunday June 1st 1806. Yesterday evening Charbono an LaPage returned,
having made a broken voyage. they ascended the river on this side nearly
opposite to a village eight miles above us, here their led horse which had
on him their merchandize, feell into the river from the side of a steep
clift and swam over; they saw an indian on the opposite side whom they
prevailed on to drive their horse back again to them; in swiming the river
the horse lost a dressed Elkskin of LaPages and several small articles,
& their paint was destroyed by the water. here they remained and dryed
their articles the evening of the 30th Ult. the indians at the village
learning their errand and not having a canoe, made an attempt esterday
morning to pass the river to them on a raft with a parsel of roots and
bread in order to trade with them; the indian raft struck a rock, upset
and lost thir cargo; the river having fallen heir to both merchandize and
roots, our traders returned with empty bags. This morning Drewyer
accompanyed by Hohastillpilp set out in surch of two tomahawks of ours
which we have understood were in the possession of certain indians
residing at a distance in the plains on the South side of the Kooskoske;
the one is a tomahawk which Capt. C. left at our camp on Musquetoe Creek
and the other was stolen from us while we lay at the forks of this and the
Chopunnish rivers last fall. Colter and Willard set out this morning on a
hunting excurtion towards the quamash grounds beyond Collins’s Creek. we
begin to feel some anxiety with rispect to Sergt. Ordway and party who
were sent to Lewis’s river for salmon; we have received no inteligence of
them since they set out. we desired Drewyer to make some enquiry after the
Twisted hair; the old man has not been as good as his word with rispect to
encamping near us, and we fear we shall be at a loss to procure guides to
conduct us by the different routs we wish to pursue from Traveller’s rest
to the waters of the Missouri.I met with a singular plant today in
blume of which I preserved a specemine; it grows on the steep sides of the
fertile hills near this place, the radix is fibrous, not much branched,
annual, woody, white and nearly smooth. the stem is simple branching
ascending, 21/2 feet high celindric, villose and of a pale red colour. the
branches are but few and those near it’s upper extremity. the extremities
of the branches are flexable and are bent down near their extremities with
the weight of the flowers. the leaf is sissile, scattered thinly, nearly
linear tho somewhat widest in the middle, two inches in length, absolutely
entire, villose, obtusely pointed and of an ordinary green. above each
leaf a small short branch protrudes, supporting a tissue of four or five
smaller leaves of the same appearance with those discribed. a leaf is
placed underneath eah branch, and each flower. the calyx is a one flowered
spathe. the corolla superior consists of four pale perple petals which are
tripartite, the central lobe largest and all terminate obtusely; they are
inserted with a long and narrow claw on the top of the germ, are long,
smooth, & deciduous. there are two distinct sets of stamens the 1st or
principal consist of four, the filaments of which are capillary, erect,
inserted on the top of the germ alternately with the petals, equal short,
membranous; the anthers are also four each being elivated with it’s
fillament, they are linear and reather flat, erect sessile, cohering at
the base, membranous, longitudinally furrowed, twise as long as the
fillament naked, and of a pale perple colour. the second set of stamens
are very minute are also four and placed within and opposite to the
petals, these are scarcely persceptable while the 1st are large and
conspicuous; the filaments are capillary equal, very short, white and
smooth. the anthers are four, oblong, beaked, erect, cohering at the base,
membranous, shorter than the fillaments, white naked and appear not to
form pollen. there is one pistillum; the germ of which is also one,
cilindric, villous, inferior, sessile, as long as the 1st stamens, and
marked with 8 longitudinal furrows. the single style and stigma form a
perfict monapetallous corolla only with this difference, that the style
which elivates the stigma or limb is not a tube but solid tho it’s outer
appearance is that of the tube of a monopetallous corolla swelling as it
ascends and gliding in such manner into the limb that it cannot be said
where the style ends, or the stigma begins; jointly they are as long as
the corolla, white, the limb is four cleft, sauser shaped, and the margins
of the lobes entire and rounded. this has the appearance of a
monopetallous flower growing from the center of a four petalled corollar,
which is rendered more conspicuous in consequence of the 1st being white
and the latter of a pale perple. I regret very much that the seed of this
plant are not yet ripe and it is proble will not be so during my residence
in this neighbourhood.

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Clark: June 1, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:27 +0000

Sunday June 1st 1806. Late last evening Shabono & Lapage returnd.
haveing made a broken voyage. they assended the river on this Side nearly
opposit to the Village Eight miles above us, here their led horse who had
on him their Stock of Merchindize fell into the river from the Side of a
Steep Clift and swam over, they Saw an indian on the opposit side whome
they provailed on to drive their horse back again to them; in swiming the
horse lost a dressed Elk skin of LaPages and Several small articles, and
their paint was distroyed by the water. here they remained and dryed their
articles the evening of the 30th ulto. the indians at the village learned
their errand and not haveing a canoe, made an attempt Yesterday morning
made an attempt to pass the river to them on a raft with a parcel of roots
and bread in order to trade with them; the indian raft Struck a rock upset
and lost their Cargo; the river haveing Swallowed both Merchindize &
roots, our traders returned with empty bags. This morning Geo. Drewyer
accompanied by Hohastillpilp Set out in Serch of two tomahawks of ours
which we have understood were in the possession of certain indians
resideing at a distance in the Plains on the South Side of Flat Head
river; one is a pipe tomahawk which Capt L. left at our Camp on Musquetor
Creek and the other was stolen from me whilst we lay at the forks of this
and Chopunnish rivers last fall. Colter and Willard Set out this morning
on a hunting excurtion towards the quawmash grounds beyond Colins creek.
we begin to feel Some anxiety with respect to Sergt. Ordway and party who
were Sent to Lewis’s river for salmon; we have receved no intillegence of
them Sence they Set out. we desired Drewyer to make Some enquiry after the
Twisted hair; the old man has not been as good as his word with respect to
encamping near us, and we fear we Shall be at a loss to procure guides to
conduct us by the different routs we wish to pursue from Travillers rest
to the waters of the Missouri

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Lewis: May 12, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:19 +0000

Monday May 12th 1806. This morning a great number of indians collected
about us as usual. we took an early breakfast and Capt. C. began to
administer eyewater to a croud of at least 50 applicants. The Indians held
a council among themselves this morning with rispect to the subjects on
which we had spoken to them yesterday. the result as we learnt was
favourable. they placed confidence in the information they had received
and resolved to pusue our advise. after this council was over the
principal Cheif or the broken Arm, took the flour of the roots of cows and
thickened the scope in the kettles and baskets of all his people, this
being ended he made a harangue the purport of which was making known the
deliberations of their council and impressing the necessity of unanimity
among them and a strict attention to the resolutions which had been agreed
on in councill; he concluded by inviting all such men as had resolved to
abide by the decrees of the council to come and eat and requested such as
would not be so bound to shew themselves by not partaking of the feast. I
was told by one of our men who was present, that there was not a
dissenting voice on this great national question, but all swallowed their
objections if any they had, very cheerfully with their mush. during the
time of this loud and animated harangue of the Cheif the women cryed wrung
their hands, toar their hair and appeared to be in the utmost distress.
after this cerimony was over the Cheifs and considerate men came in a body
to where we were seated at a little distance from our tent, and two young
men at the instance of the nation, presented us each with a fine horse. we
caused the cheifs to be seated and gave them each a flag a pound of powder
and fifty balls. we also gave powder and ball to the two young men who had
presented the horses. Neeshneeparkkeeook gave Drewyer a good horse. The
band of Ten-nach-e-moo-toolt have six guns which they acquired from the
Minnetaries and appear anxious to obtain arms and amunition. after they
had received those presents the Cheifs requested we would retire to the
tent whither they accompanied us, they now informed us that they wished to
give an answer to what we had said to them the preceeding day, but also
informed us that there were many of their people waiting in great pain at
that moment for the aid of our medecine. it was agreed between Capt. C.
and myself that he should attend the sick as he was their favorite
phisician while I would here and answer the Cheifs. The father of
Hohastillpilp was the orrator on this occasion. he observed that they had
listened with attention to our advise and that the whole nation were
resolved to follow it, that they had only one heart and one tongue on this
subject. he said they were fully sensible of the advantages of peace and
that the ardent desire which they had to cultivate peace with their
neighbours had induced his nation early last summer to send a pipe by 3 of
their brave men to the Shoshonees on the S. side of Lewis’s river in the
Plains of Columbia, that these people had murdered these men, which had
given rise to the war expedition against that nation last fall; that their
warriors had fallen in with the shoshonees at that time and had killed 42
of them with the loss of 3 only on their part; that this had satisfyed the
blood of their disceased friends and that they would never again make war
against the Shoshonees, but were willing to receive them as friends. that
they valued the lives of their young men too much to wish them to be
engaged in war. That as we had not yet seen the black foot Indians and the
Minnetares of Fort de Prarie they did not think it safe to venture over to
the Plains of the Missouri, where they would fondly go provided those
nations would not kill them. that when we had established our forts on the
Missouri as we had promised, they would come over and trade for arms
Amunition &c. and live about us. that it would give them much pleasure
to be at peace with these nations altho they had shed much of their blood.
he said that the whitemen might be assured of their warmest attatchment
and that they would alwas give them every assistance in their power; that
they were poor but their hearts were good. he said that some of their
young men would go over with us to the Missouri and bring them the news as
we wished, and that if we could make a peace between themselves and their
enimies on the other side of the mountain their nation would go over to
the Missouri in the latter end of the summer. on the subject of one of
their cheifs accompanying us to the Land of the whitemen they could not
yet determine, but that they would let us know before we left them. that
the snow was yet so deep in the mountain if we attempted to pass we would
certainly perish, and advised us to remain untill after the next full moon
when the said the snow would disappear and we could find grass for our
horses.when the oald man had concluded I again spoke to them at
some length with which they appeared highly gratifyed. after smoking the
pipe which was about 2 P.M. they gave us another fat horse to kill which
was thankfully received by the party. Capt C. now joined us having just
made an end of his medical distrabution. we gave a phiol of eyewater to
the Broken Arm, and requested that he would wash the eyes of such as might
apply for that purpose, and that when it was exhausted we would replenish
the phiol. he was much pleased with this present. we now gave the Twisted
hair one gun and a hundred balls and 2 lbs. of powder in part for his
attention to our horses and promised the other gun and a similar quantity
of powder and lead when we received the ballance of our horses. this gun
we had purchased of the indians below for 2 Elkskins. this evening three
other of our original stock of horses were produced, they were in fine
order as well as those received yesterday. we have now six horses out
only, as our old guide Toby and his son each took a horse of ours when
they returned last fall. these horses are said to be on the opposite side
of the river at no great distance from this place. we gave the young men
who had delivered us the two horses this morning some ribbon, blue wampum
and vermillion, one of them gave me a hansome pare of legings and the
Broken Arm gave Capt. C. his shirt, in return for which we gave him a
linin shirt.we informed the indians of our wish to pass the river
and form a camp at some proper place to fish, hunt, and graize our horses
untill the snows of the mountains would permit us to pass. they
recommended a position a few miles distant from hence on the opposite side
of the river, but informed us that there was no canoe at this place by
means of which we could pass our baggage over the river, but promised to
send a man early in the morning for one which they said would meet us at
the river by noon the next day. The indians formed themselves this evening
into two large parties and began to gamble for their beads and other
ornaments. the game at which they played was that of hiding a stick in
their hands which they frequently changed acompanying their opperations
with a song. this game seems common to all the nations in this country,
and dose not differ from that before discribed of the Shoshonees on the S.
E. branch of Lewis’s river. we are anxious to procure some guides to
accompany us on the different routs we mean to take from Travellers rest;
for this purpose we have turned our attention to the Twisted hair who has
several sons grown who are well acquainted as well as himself with the
various roads in those mountains. we invited the old fellow to remove his
family and live near us while we remained; he appeared gratifyed with this
expression of our confidence and promissed to do so.shot at a mark
with the indians, struck the mark with 2 balls. distn. 220 yds.

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Clark: May 10, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:18 +0000

Saturday 10th of May 1806 This morning the Snow continued falling untill
1/2 past 6 A M when it Seased. the air keen and Cold the Snow 8 inches
deep on the plain. we Collected our horses and after takeing a Scanty
brackfast of roots, we Set out for the Village of the Chief with a flag,
and proceeded on through an open plain. the road was Slipry and the Snow
Cloged and caused the horses to trip very frequently. the mud at heads of
the Streams which we passed was deep and well Supplied with the Car mash.
Drewyer turned off the road to hunt near the river to our lef and did not
join us to day. at 4 P M we arrived at the Village of Tin nach-e-moo-toolt
the Chief whome We had left a flag. this flag was hoisted on a pole unde
the flag the Chief met me and Conducted me to a Spot near a Small run
about 80 paces from his Lodges where he requested me to halt which I did.
Soon after Cap Lewis who was in the rear Came up and we Smoked with and
told this Chief our Situation in respect to provisions. they brought
foward about 2 bushels of quawmash 4 Cakes of bread made of roots and a
dried fish. we informed the Chief that our Party was not accustomed to
eate roots without flesh & proposed to exchange Some of our oald
horses for young ones to eate. they Said that they would not exchange
horses, but would furnish us with Such as we wished, and produced 2 one of
which we killed and informd. them that we did not wish to kill the other
at this time. we gave Medals to the broken arm or Tin-nach-e-moo tolt and
Hoh-halt-ill-pitp two principal Chiefs of the Chopunnish Natn. and was
informed that there was one other Great Chief (in all 4) who had but one
eye. he would be here tomorrow. a large Lodge of Leather was pitched and
Capt. Lewis and my Self was envited into it. we entered and the Chief and
principal men came into the lodge and formed a Circle a parcel of wood was
Collected and laid at the dore and a fire made in this Conic lodge before
we entered it. the Chief requested that we might make the Lodge our homes
while we remained with him. here after we had taken a repast on roots
& horse beef we resumed our Council with the indians which together
with Smokeing took up the ballance of the evening. I was Supprised to find
decending the hill to Commearp Creek to find that there had been no snow
in the bottoms of that Stream. it seams that the Snow melted in falling
and decended here in rain while it snowed in the plain. the hills are
about Eight hundred feet high about 1/4 of which distance the Snow had
decended and Still lay on the Sides of the hill. as those people had been
liberal I directed the men not to croud their Lodge in serch of food the
manner hunger has Compelled them to do, at most lodges we have passed, and
which the Twisted Hair had informed us was disagreeable to the nativs. but
their previous want of hospitality had enduced us to consult their
enclinations but little and Suffer our men to obtain provisions from them
on the best terms they could.

The Village of the broken Arm consists of one house or Lodge only which is
150 feet in length built in the usial form of Sticks, Mats and dry grass.
it contains 24 fires and about double that number of families. from
appearance I prosume they could raise 100 fighting men. the noise of their
women pounding the cows roots remind me of a nail factory. The Indians
appear well pleased, and I am Confident that they are not more so than our
men who have their Stomach once more well filled with horse beef and the
bread of cows. Those people has Shewn much greater acts of hospitallity
than we have witnessed from any nation or tribe Since we have passed the
rocky Mountains. in Short be it Spoken to their immortal honor it is the
only act which diserves the appelation of hospitallity which we have
witnessed in this quarter.

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Lewis: May 10, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:18 +0000

Saturday May 10th 1806. This morning the snow continued falling 1/2 after
6 A.M. when it ceased, the air keen and cold, the snow 8 inches deep on
the plain; we collected our horses and after taking a scant breakfast of
roots we set out for the village of Tunnachemootoolt; our rout lay through
an open plain course S. 35 E. and distance 16 ms. the road was slippery
and the snow clogged to the horses feet, and caused them to trip
frequently. the mud at the sources of the little ravines was deep black
and well supplyed with quawmash. Drewyer turned off to the left of the
road in order to hunt and did not join us this evening. at 4 in the
afternoon we decended the hills to Commearp Creek and arrived at the
Village of Tunnachemootoolt, the cheeif at whos lodge we had left a flag
last fall. this flag was now displayed on a staff placed at no great
distance from the lodge. underneath the flag the Cheif met my friend Capt.
C. who was in front and conducted him about 80 yds. to a place on the bank
of the creek where he requested we should encamp; I came up in a few
minutes and we collected the Cheifs and men of consideration smoked with
them and stated our situation with rispect to provision. the Cheif spoke
to his people and they produced us about 2 bushels of the Quawmas roots
dryed, four cakes of the bread of cows and a dryed salmon trout. We
thanked them for this store of provision but informed them that our men
not being accustomed to live on roots alone we feared it would make them
sick, to obviate which we proposed exchangeing a good horse in reather low
order for a young horse in tolerable order with a view to kill. the
hospitality of the cheif revolted at the aydea of an exchange, he told us
that his young men had a great abundance of young horses and if we wished
to eat them we should by furnished with as many as we wanted. accordingly
they soon produced us two fat young horses one of which we killed, the
other we informed them we would pospone killing untill we had consumed the
one already killed. This is a much greater act of hospitality than we have
witnessed from any nation or tribe since we have passed the Rocky
mountains. in short be it spoken to their immortal honor it is the only
act which deserves the appellation of hospitallity which we have witnessed
in this quarter. we informed these people that we were hungry and
fatiegued at this moment, that when we had eaten and refreshed ourselves
we would inform them who we were, from whence we had come and the objects
of our resurches. a principal Cheif by name Ho-hast,-ill-pilp arrived with
a party of fifty men mounted on eligant horses. he had come on a visit to
us from his village which is situated about six miles distant near the
river. we invited this man into our circle and smoked with him, his
retinue continued on horseback at a little distance. after we had eaten a
few roots we spoke to them as we had promised; and gave Tinnachemootoolt
and Hohastillpilp each a medal; the former one of the small size with the
likeness of Mr. Jefferson and the latter one of the sewing medals struck
in the presidency of Washington, we explained to them the desighn and the
importance of medals in the estimation of the whites as well as the red
men who had been taught their value. The Cheif had a large conic lodge of
leather erected for our reception and a parsel of wood collected and laid
at the door after which he invited Capt. C. and myself to make that lodge
our home while we remained with him. we had a fire lighted in this lodge
and retired to it accompanyed by the Cheifs and as many of the considerate
men as could croud in a circcle within it. here after we had taken a
repast on some horsebeef we resumed our council with the indians which
together with smoking the pipe occupyed the ballance of the evening. I was
surprised to find on decending the hills of Commearp Cr. to find that
there had been no snow in the bottoms of that stream. it seems that the
snow melted in falling and decended here in rain while it snowed on the
plains. the hills are about six hundred feet high about one fourth of
which distance the snow had decended and still lay on the sides of the
hills. as these people had been liberal with is with rispect to provision
I directed the men not to croud their lodge surch of food in the manner
hunger has compelled them to do at most lodges we have passed, and which
the Twisted hair had informed me was disgreeable to the natives. but their
previous want of hospitality had induced us to consult their enclinations
but little and suffer our men to obtain provision from them on the best
terms they could. The village of the broken arm as I have heretofore
termed it consists of one house only which is 150 feet in length built in
the usual form of sticks matts and dry grass. it contains twenty four
fires and about double that number of families. from appearances I presume
they could raise 100 fighting men. the noise of their women pounding roots
reminds me of a nail factory. The indians seem well pleased, and I am
confident that they are not more so than our men who have their somachs
once more well filled with horsebeef and mush of the bread of cows.the
house of coventry is also seen here.-

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Clark: May 11, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:18 +0000

Sunday 11th May 1806 Some little rain last night. we were Crouded in the
Lodge with Indians who continued all night and this morning Great numbers
were around us. The One Eyed Chief Yoom-park-kar-tim arived and we gave
him a medal of the Small Size and Spoke to the Indians through a Snake boy
Shabono and his wife. we informed them who we were, where we Came from
& our intentions towards them, which pleased them very much. a young
man Son to the great Chief who was killed not long Sence by the Indians
from the N. E. brought an elegant mare and Coalt and Gave us. and Said he
had opend. his ears to what we had Said and his heart was glad and
requested us to take this mare and Coalt as a token of his deturmination
to pursue our Councels &c. The twisted hair brough Six of our horses
all in fine order. Great numbers of Indians apply to us for medical aide
which we gave them Cherfully So far as our Skill and Store of Medicine
would enable us. Schrofla, ulsers, rhumitism, Sore eyes, and the loss of
the use of their Limbs are the most common cases among them. the latter
Case is not very common but We have Seen 3 instances of it among the
Chopunnish. a very extroadinery complnt. about 3 P.M. Geo. drewyer arived
with 2 deer which he had killed. he informed us that the Snow Still
Continued to cover the plains. We are now pretty well informed that
Tunnachemootoolt, Hohastillpilp, Neshneparkkeeook, and Yoomparkkartim were
the principal Chiefs of the Chopunnish Nation and ranked in the order here
mentioned; as all those chiefs were present in our lodge we thought it a
favourable time to repeet what had been said and to enter more minutely
into the views of our government with respect to the inhabitents of this
Western part of the Continent, their intention of establishing tradeing
houses for their relief, their wish to restore peace and harmony among the
nativs, the Strength welth and powers of our Nation &c. to this end we
drew a map of the Country with a coal on a mat in their way, and by the
assistance of the Snake boy and our intrepeters were enabled to make
ourselves under stood by them altho it had to pass through French,
Minnetare, Shoshone and Chopunnish languages. the interpretation being
tegious it occupied the greater part of the day, before we had
communicated to them what we wished. they appeared highly pleased. after
this Council was over we amused ourselves with Shewing them the power of
Magnetism, the Spye glass, compass, watch, air gun and Sundery other
articles equally novel and incomprehensible to them. they informed us that
after we left the Menetares last Spring that 3 of their people had visited
that nation, and that they had informed them of us, and had told them that
we had Such things in our possession but that they Could not place
Confidence in the information untill they had now witnessed it themselves

In the evening a man was brought in a robe by four Indians and laid down
near me. they informed me that this man was a Chief of Considerable note
who has been in the Situation I see him for 5 years. this man is incapable
of moveing a single limb but lies like a corps in whatever position he is
placed, yet he eats hartily, dejests his food perfectly, enjoys his under
standing, his pulse are good, and has retained his flesh almost perfectly;
in Short were it not that he appears a little pale from having been So
long in the Shade, he might well be taken for a man in good health. I
Suspect that their Confinement to a deet of roots may give rise to all the
disordes of the Nativs of this quarter except the Rhumitism & Sore
eyes, and to the latter of those, the State of debility incident to a
vegitable diet may measureably contribute.-. The Chopunnish not
withstanding they live in the Crouded manner before mentioned are much
more clenly in their persons and habitations than any nation we have Seen
Sence we left the Illinois. These nativs take their fish in the following
manner to wit. a Stand Small Stage or warf consisting of Sticks and
projecting about 10 feet into the river and about 3 feet above the water
on the extremity of this the fisherman stands with his guilt or a Skooping
Net which differ but little in their form those Commonly used in our
Country it is formed thus with those nets they take the Suckers and also
the Salmon trout and I am told the Salmon also.

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