[Lewis:]
Tuesday June 3.d 1806.
Our invalids are all on the recovery; Bratton is much
stronger and can walk about with considerable ease. the
Indian Cheif appears to be gradually recovering the uce of
his limbs, and the child is nearly well; the imposthume on
his neck has in a great measure subsided and left a hard lump
underneath his left ear; we still continue the application of the
onion poltice. at 2 P. M. The Broken arm and 3 of his
wariors visited us and remained all night. Colter, Jo. Fields
and Willard returned this evening with five deer and one bear
of the brown speceis; the hair of this was black with a large
white spot on the breast containing a small circular black spot.
to day the Indians dispatched an express over the mountains
to travellers rest or the neighbourhood of that Creek on Clark's
river in order to learn from the Oote-lash-shoots a band of the
Flatheads who have wintered there, the occurrences that have
taken place on the East side of the mountains during that season.
this is the band which we first met with on that river.
the mountains being practicable for this express we thought it
probable that we could also pass, but the Indians informed us
that several of the creeks would yet swim our horses, that
there was no grass and that the roads were extreemly deep
and slipery; they inform us that we may pass conveniently in
twelve or fourteen days. we have come to a resolution to remove
from hence to the quawmash grounds beyond Collins's
creek on the 10
th. to hut in that neighbourhood a few days, if
possible lay in a stock of meat and then attempt the mountains
about the middle of this month. I begin to lose all hope of
any dependance on the Salmon as this river will not fall sufficiently
to take them before we shall leave it, and as yet I see
no appearance of their runing near the shores as the indians
informed us they would in the course of a few day. I find
that all the salmon which they procure themselve they obtain
on Lewis's river, and the distance thither is too great for us
to think of sending after them even had we merchandize with
which to purchase.
