October 11th. Friday 1805[2]
a cloudy morning wind from the East. We set out early
and proceeded on passed a rapid at two miles, at 6 miles
we came too at Some Indian lodges and took brackfast, we
purchased all the fish we could and Seven dogs of those people
for Stores of Provisions down the river at this place I saw a
curious Swet house underground, with a Small whole at top
to pass in or throw in the hot Stones, which those in [side]
threw on as much water as to create the temporature of heat
they wished at 9 mile passed a rapid at 15 miles halted at
an Indian Lodge, to purchase provisions of which we prec[u]red
some of the Pash-he-quar roots five dogs[3]
and a few
fish dried, after takeing Some dinner of dog &c. we proceeded
on. Came to and encamped at 2 Indian Lodges at a great
place of fishing[4]
here we met an Indian of a nation near the
mouth of this river. (2u) we purchased three dogs and a
fiew fish of those Indians, we Passed today nine rapids all
of them great fishing places, at different places on the river
saw Indian houses and Slabs & Spilt [Split] timber raised from
the ground being the different parts of the houses of the natives
when they reside on this river for the purpose of fishing at
this time they are out in the Plain on each side of the river
hunting the antilope as we are informed by our Chiefs, near
each of those houses we observe grave yards picketed, or pieces
of wood stuck in permiscuesly over the grave or body which is
covered with earth, [
wrap up dead, put them in earth & throw
over earth & picket the ground about] The Country on either
Side is an open plain leavel & fertile after ascending a Steep
assent of about 200 feet, not a tree of any kind to be Seen
on the river The after part of the day the wind from the
S. W. and hard. The day worm.
