University of Virginia Library

October 29th. Tuesday 1805

A cloudy morning wind from the west but not hard, we Set
out at day light, and proceeded on about five miles came too
on the Stard. Side at a village of 7 houses built in the Same form
and materials of those above, here we found the Chief we had
Seen at the long narrows named [blank space in MS.] we entered
his lodge and he gave us to eate Pounded fish, bread
made of roots, Filbert nuts, & the berries of Sackecomme.
[Sac de Commis] we gave to each.woman of the lodge a brace
of Ribon of which they were much pleased. each of those
houses may be calculated to contain 8 men and 30 Soles, they
are hospitable and good humered Speak the Same language of
the inhabitants of the last village, we call this the friendly village.
I observed in the lodge of the chief sundery articles
which must have been precured from the white people, Such
[as] a Scarlet & blue cloth Sword Jacket & hat. I also observed
two wide Split boards w[i]th images on them cut and
painted in emitation of a man; I pointed to this image and
asked a man to what use he put them to, he Said Something
the only word I understood was "good," and then Steped to
the image and took out his Bow & quiver to Show me, and
Some other of his war emplemints, from behind it. The Chief

then directed his wife to hand him his medison bag which he
opened and Showed us 14 fingers [different fingers not little or
middle fingers] which he said was the fingers of his enemies
which he had taken in war, and pointed to S. E. from which
direction I concluded they were Snake Indians, this is the
first Instance I ever knew of the Indians takeing any other
trofea of their exploits off the dead bodies of their Enimies except
the Scalp. The chief painted those fingers with Several
other articles which was in his bag red and securely put them
back,[22] haveing first mad[e] a short harrang which I suppose was
bragging of what he had done in war. we purchased 12 Dogs
and 4 Sacks of fish, & some fiew ascid berries, after brackfast
we proceeded on, the mountains are high on each side, containing
scattering pine white Oake & under groth, hill Sides
Steep and rockey; at 4 miles lower we observed a small river
falling in with great rapidity on the Stard. Side below which is
a village of 11 houses, here we landed to Smoke a pipe with
the nativs and examine the mouth of the river, which I found
to be 60 yards wide rapid and deep, The inhabitants of the
village are friendly and chearfull; those people inform us as
also those at the last village that this little river is long and full
of falls, no Salmon pass up it, it runs from N. N. E., that ten
nations live on this river and its waters, on buries, and what
game they can kill with their Bow & arrows

we purchased 4 dogs and set out. (this village is the of the
Same nation of the one we last passed) and proceeded on. The
countrey on each side begin[s] to be thicker timbered with
Pine and low white oake; verry rockey and broken. passed
three large rocks in the river the middle rock is large long
and has Several Squar vaults on it, we call this rockey Island
the Sepulchar.[23] The last river we passed we shall call the Cataract
River[24] from the number of falls which the Indians say is
on it, passed 2 Lodges of Indians a short distance below the

sepulchor Island on the Stard. Side. river wide, at 4 mile
passed 2 houses on the Stard. Side, six miles lower passed
4 houses above the mouth of a Small river 40 yards wide on
the Lard. Side a thick timbered bottom above & back of those
houses, those are the first houses which we have seen on the
South Side of the Columbia River, (and the axess to those dificuelt)
for fear of the approach of their common enemies the
Snake Indians, passed 14 houses on the Std. Side scattered
on the bank, from the mouth of this little river which we
shall Call Labeasche River,[25] the falls mountain [Mount Hood]
is South and the top is covered with Snow. one mile below
pass the mouth of a large rapid Stream on the Stard. Side,
opposit to a large Sand bar, in this creek the Indians above
take their fish, here we saw Several canoes, which induc[e]d
us to call this Canoe Creek it is 28 yards wide, about 4 miles
lower and below the Sand bar is a butifull cascade falling over
a rock of about 100 feet [high], a Short distance lower passed
4 Indian houses on the Lard. Side in a timbered bottom, a fiew
miles further we came too at 3 houses on Stard. Side, back of
which is a pond in which I Saw great numbers of Small Swan,
Capt. Lewis and [I] went into the houses of those people who
appeared Somewhat surprised at first Their houses are built
on the Same Construction of those above, Speak the Same language
and Dress in the Same way, robes of the Skins of wolves,
Deer, Elk, wild cat, or Loucirvia & fox, I also Saw a mountain
Sheap[26] skin the wool of which is long, thick, & corse with
long corse hare on the top of the neck and back something
resembling bristles of a goat, the skin was of white hare,
those animals these people inform me by signs live in the
mountains among the rocks, their horns are Small and streight,
Orter Skins are highly prised among those people as well as
those on the river above, They cue their hare which is divided
on each sholder, and also ware small strips about their necks
with the tale hanging down in front. Those people gave us,
High bush cramberries, [described hereafter not H. B. Crs. ] bread
made of roots, and roots; we purchased three dogs for the
arty to eate; we Smoked with the men, all much pleased with
the violin. Here the mountains are high on each side, those
to tne Lard. Side has Some Snow on them at this time, more
timber than above and of greater variety.