|
untill their
hourses could be drove up. ... this was a very unfavourable circumstance as my dependance for
precureing a sufficiency of horses rested on the suckcess above where I had reasons to believe
there were a greater abundance of those animals, and was in hopes of getting them on better
terms.
April 19, 1806
William Clark
I purchased 4 horses at the town & Capt Lewis purchased one. the natives finding that we were
about to proceed on by water sold us those fiew horses for which we were compd. to pay them
emence prices and the horses were indifferent.
April 20, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
I used every artifice decent & even false statements to enduce those pore devils to sell me
horses. ... I purchased a dog ...
I gave them two pipes, and then lay my self down with the men to sleep, haveing our
merchendize under our heads and guns &c in our arms, as we always have in similar situations.
April 21, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
...one of them had broken his cord of 5 strands of Ellskin and had gone off spanseled. ... being
determined to remain no longer with these villains. they stole another tomahawk from us this
morning I surched many of them but could not find it. I ordered all the spare poles, paddles and
the ballance of our canoe put on the fire as the morning was cold and also that not a particle
should be left for the benefit of the indians. I detected a fellow in stealing an iron socket of a
canoe pole and gave him several severe blows and mad[e] the men kick him out of camp. I now
informed the indians that I would shoot the first of them that attempted to steal an article from
us. that we were not affraid to fight them, that I had it in my power at that moment to kill them
all and set fire to their houses, but it was not my wish to treat them with severity provided they
would let my property alone. that I would take their horses if I could find out the persons who
had stolen the tommahawks, but that I had reather loose the property altogether than take the
ho[r]se of an inosent person. the chiefs [who] were present hung their heads and said nothing.
Windsor returned with the lost horse, ... we took breakfast and departed a few minutes after 10
OClock. having nine horses ... the two canoes ...
the man resided here from whom I had purchased the horse which ran off from me yesterday. I
had given him a large kettle and a knife in exchange for that horse which I informed him should
be taken from him unles he produced me the lost horse or one of equal value in his stead, the
latter he prefered and produced me a very good horse which I very cheerfully received.
... we obtained two dogs and a small quantity of fuel of these people for which we were
obliged to give them a higher price than usual.
April 24, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
purchased three horses of the Wah-howpums, and hired three others of the Chopunnish man ...
we now sold our canoes for a few strands of beads, ... the natives had tantalized us with an
exchange of horses for our canoes in the first instance, but when they found that we had made
our arrangements to travel by land they would give us nothing for them I determined to cut them
in peices sooner than leave them on those terms, Drewyer struck one of the canoes and split
of[f] a small peice with his tammahawk, they discovered us determined on this subject and
offered us several strands of beads for each which were accepted. ... we purchased three dogs
...
most of the party complain of the soarness of their feet and legs this evening; it is no doubt
caused by walking over the rough stones and deep sands after b[e]ing for some months passed
been accustomed to a soft soil. my left ankle gives me much pain.
April 28, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
This morning early Yellept brought a very eligant white horse to our camp and presented him to
Capt. C. signifying his wish to get a kettle but on being informed that we had already disposed
of every kettle we could possible spear he said he was content with whatever he thought proper
to give him. Capt. C. gave him his swoard (for which he had expressed a great desire) a
hundred balls and powder and some s[m]all articles with which he appeared perfectly satisfyed.
... we directed Frazier to whom we have intrusted the duty of making these purchases to lay in
as many fat dogs as he could procure; he soon obtained ten.
... we passed our horses over the river safely and hubbled them as usual. we found a Shoshone
woman, prisoner among these people by means of whome and Sahcahgarweah we found the
means of conversing with the Wallahwallahs. ... they brought several diseased persons to us
for whom they requested some medical aid. one had his knee contracted by the rheumatism,
another with a broken arm &c. to all of which we administered much to the gratification of
those poor wretches. we gave them some eye-water which I beleive will render them more
essential service than any other article in the medical way which we had it in our power to
bestoe on them. ... the fiddle was played and the men amused themselves with dancing about
an hour. we then requested the Indians to dance which they very cheerfully complyed with; ...
the whole assemblage of indians about 550 men women and children sung and danced at the
same time. ... they were much gratifyed with seeing some of our party join them in their dance.
May 1, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
we traveled 17 miles this evening, making a total of 26 Ms. ...
I see very little difference between the apparent face of the country here and that of the plains of
the Missouri only that these are not enlivened by the vast herds of buffaloe Elk &c. which
ornament the other. ... three young men arrived from the Wallahwollah village bringing with
them a steel trap belonging to one of our party which had been neglegently left behind; this is an
act of integrity rarely witnessed among indians. during our stay with them they several times
found the knives of the men which had been carelessly lossed by them and returned them. I
think we can justly affirm to the honor of these people that they are the most hospitable,
honest,a nd sincere people that we have met with in our voyage.
May 5, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
...obtained 2 dogs ... at the second lodge we passed an indian man [who] gave Capt. C. a very
eligant grey mare fr which he requested a phial of eyewater which was accordingly given him.
while we were encamped last fall at the entrance of the Chopunnish river Capt. C. [with much
seremony washed & rubd.] gave an indian man some volitile linniment to rub his k[n]ee and
thye for a pain of which he complained [and was well, but had not walked for many months],
the fellow soon after recovered and has never ceased to extol the virtues of our medicines and
the skill of my friend Capt. C. as a phisician. this occurrence added to the benefit which many
of them experienced from the eyewater we gave them about the same time has given them an
exalted opinion of our medicine. my friend Capt. C. is their favorite phisician and has already
received many applications. in our present situation I think it pardonable to continue this
deseption for they will not give us any provision without compensation in merchandize and our
stock is now reduced to a mere handfull. We take care to give them no article which can
possibly injure them.
while at dinner an indian fellow verry impertinently threw a poor half starved puppy nearly into
my plait by way of derision for our eating dogs and laughed very heartily at his own
impertinence; I was so provoked at his insolence that I caught the puppy and th[r]ew it with
great violence at him and stru[c]k him in the breast and face, siezed my tomahawk and shewed
him by signs if he repeated his insolence I would tommahawk him, the fellow withdrew
apparently much mortifyed and I continued my repast on dog without further molestation.
we had several applications to assist their sick which we refused unless they would let us have
some dogs or horses to eat. a man [Chief] whose wife had an absess formed on the small of her
back promised a horse in the morning provided we would administer to her accordingly Capt.
C. opened the absess introduced a tent and dressed it with basilicon; [Capt. C soon had more
than 50 applications] I prepared some dozes of the flour of sulpher and creem of tarter which
were given with directions to be taken on each morning. a little girl and sundry other patients
were offered for cure but we postponed our operations untill morning; they produced us several
dogs but they were so poor that they were unfit for use.
this address was induced at this moment by the suggestions of an old man who observed t the
natives that he thought we were bad men and had come most probably in order to kill them. this
impression if really entertained I beleive we effaced;
May 10, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
... snow continued falling ... the snow 8 inches deep on the plain; ...we decended the hills to
Commearp Creek and arrived at the Village of Tunnachemootoolt, the cheif at whos lodge we
had left the flag last fall. this flag was now displayed on a staff placed at no great distance from
the lodge.
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 [goo] 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 eydea 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 [be] 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 postpone 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.
as these people had been liberal with us with rispect to provision I directed the men not to croud
their lodge [in] 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 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 s[t]omachs once more well
filled with horsebeef and mush of the bread of cows. the house of coventry is also seen here.
May 11, 1806
William Clark
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, ...
May 17, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
as the bear are reather ferocious and we are obliged to depend on them principally for our
subsistence we thought it most advisable to direct at least two hunters to go together, and they
accordingly paired themselves out for this purpose.
I am pleased at finding the river rise so rapidly, it now doubt is attributeable to the me[l]ting
snows of the mountains; that icy barier which seperates me from my friends and Country, from
all which makes life esteemable. patience, patience
May 18, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
early this morning the natives erected a lodge on the opposite side of the river near a fishing
stand a little above us. no doubt to be in readiness for the salmon, the arrival of which they are
so ardently wishing as well as ourselves.
June 10, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
at 11 A.M. we set out with the party each man being well mounted and a light load on a second
horse, beside which we have several supenemary horses in case of accedent or the want of
provision, we therefore feel ourselves perfectly equiped for the mountains. ... we encamped
near the place we first met with the Chopunnish last fall ... we had scarcelty reached Collins's
Creek before we were over taken by a party of Indians who informed us that they were going to
the quawmash flatts to hunt; their object I beleive is the expectation of b[e]ing fed by us in
which however kind as they have been we must disappoint them at this moment as it is
necessary that we should use all frugallaty as well as employ every exertion to provide meat for
our journey.
June 12, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
the days are now very warm and the Musquetors our old companions have become very
troublesome. ... the quawmash is now in blume and from the colour of its bloom at a short
distance it resembles lakes of fine clear water, so complete is this deseption that on first sight I
could have swoarn it was water.
June 17, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
... we found ourselves invelloped in snow from 12 to 15 feet deep even on the south sides of
the hills with the fairest exposure to the sun; here was winter with all it's rigors; the air was
cold, my hands and feet were benumbed. ... if we proceeded and should get bewildered in
these mountains the certainty was that we should loose all our horses and consequently our
baggage inst[r]uments perhaps our papers and thus eminently wrisk the loss of the discoveries
which we had already made if we should be so fortunate as to escape with life. ... under these
circumstances we conceived it madnes[s] in this stage of the expedition to proceed without a
guide who could certainly conduct us to the fish wears on the Kooskooske, as our horses could
not possibly sustain a journey of more than five days without food. we therefore came to the
resolution to return with our horses while they were yet strong and in good order and indevour
to keep them so untill we could procure an indian to conduct us over the snowey mountains,
and again to proceed as soon as we could procure such a guide, ... we ordered the party to
make a deposit for all the baggage which we had not immediate use for, and also all the roots
and bread of cows which they had except an allowance for a few days to enable them to return
to some place at which we could subsist by hunting untill we procured a guide. we left our
instruments papers &c. beleiving them safer here than to wrisk them on horseback over the
roads and creeks which we had passed. our baggage being laid on scaffoalds ... we returned by
the rout we had come to hungry creek, ... the party were a good deel dejected tho' not as much
so as I had apprehended they would have been. this is the first time since we have been on this
long tour that we have ever been compelled to retreat or make a retrograde march. it rained on
us most of this evening.
June 17, 1806
William Clark
... I with great difficulty prosued the direction of the road one mile further to the top of the
mountain where I found the snow from 12 to 15 feet deep, but fiew trees with the fairest
exposure to the Sun; here was Winter with all it's rigors; the air was cold my hands and feet
were benumed. ... the snow bore our horses very well and the traveling was therefore infinately
better than the obstruction of rocks and fallen timber which we met with in our passage over last
fall when the snow lay on this part of the ridge in detached spop[t]s only. ... on the top of the
Mountain the Weather was very fluctiating and uncertain snowed cloudy & fair in a few minets.
June 20, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
the hunters assured us that their greatest exertions would not enable them to support us here
more than one or two days longer from the great scarcity of game and the difficult access of the
country, ... we determined to return in the morning as far as the quawmash flatts ... (Big
Disappointment) ... by returning to the quawmash flats we shall sooner be informed whether or
not we can procure a guide to conduct us through the mountains; should we fail in procuring
one, we have determined to wrisk a passage on the following plan immediately, because should
we wait much longer or untill the snow desolves in such manner as to enable us to follow the
road we cannot hope to reach the United States this winter; this is that Capt. C. or myself shall
take four of our most expert woodsmen with three or four of our best horses and proceed two
days in advance taking a plentifull supply of provision. for this party to follow the road by the
marks which the baggage of the indians has made in many places on the sides of the trees by
rubing against them, and to blaize the trees with a tomahawk as they proceeded. that after
proceeding two days in advance of hungary creek two of those men would be sent back to the
main party who by the time of their return to Hungary Creek would have reached that place. the
men so returning would be enabled to inform the main party of the probable success of the
proceeding party in finding the road and of their probable progress, in order that should it be
necessary, the main party by the delay of a day or two at hungary creek, should give the
advance time to mark the road through before the main party could overtake them, and thus
prevent delay on the part of the rout where no food is to be obtained for our horses. should it so
happen that the advance could not find the road by the marks on the trees after attempting it for
two days, the whole of [them] then would return to the main party. in which case we wo[u]ld
bring back our baggage and attempt a passage over these mountains through the country of the
Shoshones further to the South by way of the main S. Westerly fork of Lewis's river and
Madison or Gallatin's rivers, where from the information of the Chopunnish there is a passage
which at this season of the year is not obstructed by snow, though the round is very distant and
would require at least a month in it's performance. ... the only dificulty is find the road, and I
think the plan we have devised will succeed even should we not be enabled to obtain a guide.
Although the snow may be stated on an average at 10 feet deep yet arround the bodies of the
trees it has desolved much more than in other parts not being generally more than one or two
feet deep immediately at the roots of the trees, and of course the marks left by the rubing of the
indian baggage against them is not concealed.
June 21, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
we all felt some mortification in being thus compelled to retrace our steps through this tedious
and difficult part of our rout, obstructed with brush and innumerable logs of fallen timber which
renders the traveling distressing and even dangerous to our horses. one of Thompson's horses
is either choked this morning or has the distemper very badly I fear he is to be of no further
servie to us. an excellent horse of Cruzatte's snagged himself so badly in the groin in jumping
over a parsel of fallen timber that he will evidently be of no further service to us. ... we met two
indians who were on their way over the mountain;
June 22, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
this morning by light all hands who could hunt were sent out; the result of this days
perfo[r]mance was greater than we had even hoped for. we killed eight deer and three bear. ...
we gave Whitehouse a few beads which Capt. C. had unexpectedly found in one of his
waistcoat pockets to purchase the fish.
June 25, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
last evening the indians entertained us with seting the fir trees on fire. they have a great number
of dry lims near their bodies which when set on fire creates a very suddon and immence blaze
from bottom to top of those tall trees. they are a beatifull object in this situation at night. this
exhibition reminded me of a display of fireworks. the natives told us that their object in seting
those trees on fire was to bring fair weather for our journey.
May 1804-Sept 1804 |
Sept 1804-Mar 1805 |
Apr 1805-May 1805 |
June 1805-July 1805 |
Aug 1805-Oct 1805 |
Oct 1805-Dec 1805
Dec 1805-Jan 1806 |
Jan 1806-Apr 1806 |
Apr 1806-June 1806 |
June 1806-July 1806 |
July 1806-Aug 1806 |
Aug 1806-Sept 1806
Home
Maps | Timeline |
Journals |
Biography | South Dakota Trail
Did You Know? | Contact Information |
Credits/Links
|
