[Clark:]
Thursday May 1st.. 1806
This morning we collected our horses and made an early
start, haveing preveously sent a hea[d] 4 hunters with directions
to proceed up the Creek and kill every Species of game
which they might meet with. the Small portion of rain
which fell last night caused the road to be much former and
better than yesterday. the morning cloudy and cool. we
proceeded up the Creek on the N.E. Side through a countrey
of less sand and some rich bottoms on the creek which is partially
supplyed with small cotton trees, willow, red willow,
choke cherry, white thorn, birch, elder, [blank space in MS.]
rose & honey suckle. Great portion of these bottoms has
been latterly burnt which has entirely distroyed the timbered
growth. at the distance of
nine miles we over took our hunters,
they had killed one beaver only at this place the road forked,
one leaveing the creek and the corse of it is nearly North.
the Chopunnish who had accompanied us with his family informed
us that this was our best way. that it was a long distance
without water. and advised us to camp on the creek at
this place and in the morning to set out early. This information
perplexed us a little, in as much as the idea of going a
days march without water, thro an open sandy plain and on a
course 50°. out of our derection. we deturmined to unlode
and wate for our guide, or the Chopunnish man who had
accompanied us from the long Narrows, who was in the rear
with Drewyer our interpreter. on his arrival we enquired of
him which was the best and most direct road for us to take.
he informed us that the road pointed out by his cumerade was
through a open hilly and sandy countrey to the river Lewis's
River, and was a long ways around, and that we could not git
to any water to day. the other roade up the creek was a more
direct course, plenty of water wood and only one hill in the
whole distance and the road which he had always recomended
to us. Some words took place between those two men the latter
appeared in great pation mounted his horse and set out up
the creek. we sent a man after him and brought him back informed
him that we believed what he said and should imediately
after dinner proceed on the road up the creek with him. we
gave the former man some powder and ball which had been
promised him, and after an early dinner set out up the creek
with our guide leaveing the Chopunnish man and his family
encamped at the forks of the road where they intended to stay
untill the morning and proceed on the rout he had recommended
to us. We traviled 17 miles this evening makeing a
total of 26 m
ls. and encamped. the first 3 miles of our afternoon
march was through a simaler country of that of the fore
noon; the Creek bottoms then became higher and wider; to
the extent of from 2 to 3 miles. We saw several Deer of
which Labiech killed one. the timber on the Creek become
more abundant and less burnt, and its extensive bottoms afford
a pleasent looking country. We saw a Great number of Curloos,
some crains, Ducks, prarie cocks, and several species of
sparrows common to the praries. I see very little difference
between the apparant face of the country here and that of the
plains of the Missouri, only that those are not enlivened by
the vast herds of Buffalow, Elk &
c. which animated those of
the Missouri. The courses & distances of this day are N. 45°.
E. 9 m
ls. & N. 75°. E. 17 Miles allong the North Side of this
Creek to our encampment. sometime after we had encamped
three young men arrived from the Wallahwallah Village bringing
with them a steel trap belonging to one of our party which
had been negligently left behind; this is an act of integrity
rearly witnessed among Indians. dureing our stay with them
they several times found the knives of the men which had been
carefully lossed by them and returned them. I think we can
justly affirm to the honor of those people that they are the
most hospitable, honist and sincere people that we have met
with on our Voyage.
