University of Virginia Library

October 16th. Wednesday 1805

A cool morning, deturmined to run the rapids, put our
Indian guide in front our Small Canoe next and the other four
following each other, the canoes all passed over Safe except
the rear Canoe which run fast on a rock at the lower part of
the Rapids, with the early assistance of the other Canoes & the
Indians, who was extreamly ellert every thing was taken out
and the Canoe got off without any enjorie further than the
articles [with] which it was loaded [getting] all wet. at 14
miles passed a bad rapid at which place we unloaded and made
a portage of ¾ of a mile[13] haveing passd 4 Smaller rapids, three
Islands and the parts of a house above, I Saw Indians &
Horses on the South Side below five Indians came up the
river in great haste, we Smoked with them and gave them a
piece of tobacco to Smoke with their people and sent them
back, they Set out in a run & continued to go as fast as they
could run as far as we could see them. after getting Safely
over the rapid and haveing taken Diner Set but and proceeded
on Seven miles to the junction of this river and the Columbia
which joins from the N. W. passd a rapid two Islands and a
graveley base, and imediately in the mouth a rapid above an
Island. In every direction from the junction of those rivers
the countrey is one continued plain low and rises from the
water gradually, except a range of high Countrey which runs

from S.W. & N. E. and is on the opposit Side about 2 miles
distant from the Collumbia and keeping its derection S. W.
untill it joins a S. W. range of mountains.

We halted above the point on the river Kimooenim[14] to
smoke with the Indians who had collected there in great
numbers to view us, here we met our 2 Chiefs who left us
two days ago and proceeded on to this place to inform those
bands of our approach and friendly intentions towards all
nations &c. we also met the 2 men who had passed us Several
days ago on horsback, one of them we observed was a man
of great influence with those Indians, harranged them; after
Smokeing with the Indians who had collected to view us we
formed a camp at the point near which place I saw a fiew pieces
of Drift wood after we had our camp fixed and fires made, a
Chief came from this camp which was about ¼ of a mile up
the Columbia river at the head of about 200 men singing and
beeting on their drums Stick and keeping time to the musik,
they formed a half circle around us and Sung for Some time,
we gave them all Smoke, and Spoke to their Chief as well as
we could by signs informing them of our friendly disposition
to all nations, and our joy in Seeing those of our Children
around us, Gave the principal chief a large Medal, Shirt and
Handkf. a 2nd. Chief a Meadel of Small size, and to the Cheif
who came down from the upper villages a Small Medal &
Handkerchief.

The Chiefs then returned with the men to their camp; Soon
after we purchased for our Provisions Seven Dogs, Some fiew
of those people made us presents of fish and Several returned
and delayed with us untill bedtime. The 2 old chiefs who
accompanied us from the head of the river precured us Some
fuil Such as the Stalks of weed[s] or plant[s] and willow bushes.
one man made me a present of a about 20lb. of verry fat Dried
horse meat.

great quantities of a kind of prickley pares,[15] much worst than

Map from Clark Field-book, showing Course and Camping places,
October 16–18, 1805.

any I have before seen of a tapering form and attach themselves
by bunches.[16]