University of Virginia Library

Sunday April 27th. 1806.

This morning we were detained untill 9 A.M. in consequence
of the absence of one of Charbono's horses. the
horse at length being recovered we set out and [passed above
our camp a small river called Youmalolam riv. & to] at the distance
of fifteen miles passed through a country similar to that
of yesterday; the hills at the extremity of this distance again
approach the river and are rocky abrupt and 300 feet high.
we ascended the hill and marched through a high plain 9 miles
when we again returned to the river, I now thought it best
to halt as the horses and men were much fatiegued altho we
had not reached the Wallahwollah village as we had been led
to beleive by our guide who informed us that the village was
at the place we should next return to the river, and the consideration
of our having but little provision had been our inducement
to make the march we had made this morning. we
collected some of the dry stalks of weeds and the stems of a

shrub which resembles the southernwood; made a small fire
and boiled a small quantity of our jerked meat on which we
dined; while here the principal Cheif of the Wallahwallahs
joined us with six men of his nation. this Cheif by name
Yel-lept! had visited us on the morning of the 19 of October
at our encampment a little below this place; we gave him at that
time a small medal,[18] and promised him a larger one on our
return. he appeared much gratifyed at seeing us return, invited
us to remain at his village three or four days and assured
us that we should be furnished with a plenty of such food as
they had themselves, and some horses to assist us on our
journey. after our scanty repast we continued our march
accompanyed by Yellept and his party to the village which we
found at the distance of six miles situated on the N. side of
the river at the lower side of the low country about 12 ms.
below the entrance of Lewis's river. This Cheif is a man of
much influence not only in his own nation but also among the
neighbouring tribes and nations. This Village consists of 15
large mat lodges, at present they seem to subsist principally
on a speceis of mullet which weigh from one to three lbs. and
roots of various discriptions which these plains furnish them
in great abundance, they also take a few salmon trout of the
white kind. Yellept haranged his village in our favour intreated
them to furnish us with fuel and provision and set the
example himself by bringing us an armfull of wood and a
platter of 3 roasted mullets, the others soon followed his
example with rispect to fuel and we soon found ourselves in
possession of an ample stock. they birn the stems of the
shrubs in the plains there being no timber in their neighbourhood
of any discription. we purchased four dogs of these
people on which the party suped heartily having been on short
allowance for near two days. the Indians retired when we
requested them this evening and behaved themselves in every
rispect extreemly well. the indians informed us that there was
a good road which passed from the Columbia opposite to this
village to the entrance of the Kooskooske on the S. side of
Lewis's river; they also informed us, that there were a plenty
of deer and antelopes on the road, with good water and grass.
we knew that a road in that direction if the country would permit
it would shorten our rout at least 80 miles, the indians
also informed us that the country was level and the road good,
under these circumstances we did not hesitate in pursuing the
rout recommended by our guide whos information was corroberated
by Yellept & others. we concluded to pass our horses
over early in the morning.