University of Virginia Library

[Lewis:]

Wednesday August 14th.

In order to give Capt. Clark time to reach the forks of Jefferson's
river I concluded to spend this day at the Shoshone[11]
Camp and obtain what information I could with rispect to the
country. as we had nothing but a little flour and parched
meal to eat except the berries with which the Indians furnished
us I directed Drewyer and Shields to hunt a few hours and
try to kill something, the Indians furnished them with horses
and most of their young men also turned out to hunt. the
game which they principally hunt is the Antelope which they
pursue on horseback and shoot with their arrows. this animal
is so extreemly fleet and dureable that a single horse has no
possible chance to overtake them or run them down. the
Indians are therefore obliged to have recorce to strategem
when they discover a herd of the Antelope they seperate and
scatter themselves to the distance of five or six miles in different

directions arround them generally scelecting some commanding
eminence for a stand; some one or two now pursue
the herd at full speed over the hills vallies gullies and the
sides of precipices that are tremendious to view. thus after
runing them from five to six or seven miles the fresh horses
that were in waiting head them and drive them back persuing
them as far or perhaps further quite to the other extreem of
the hunters who now in turn pursue on their fresh horses thus
worrying the poor animal down and finally killing them with
their arrows. forty or fifty hunters will be engaged for half
a day in this manner and perhaps not kill more than two or
three Antelopes. they have but few Elk or black tailed deer,
and the common red deer they cannot take as they secrete
themselves in the brush when pursued, and they have only
the bow and arrow w[h]ich is a very slender dependence for
killing any game except such as they can run down with their
horses. I was very much entertained with a view of this indian
chase; it was after a herd of about 10 Antelope and about 20
hunters. it lasted about 2 hours and considerable part of the
chase in view from my tent. about 1. A.M. the hunters returned
had not killed a single Antelope, and their horses
foaming with sweat. my hunters returned soon after and had
been equally unsuccessfull. I now directed Mc.Neal to make
me a little paist with the flour and added some berries to it
which I found very pallatable.

The means I had of communicating with these people was
by way of Drewyer who understood perfectly the common language
of jesticulation or signs which seems to be universally
understood by all the Nations we have yet seen.[12] it is true

that this language is imperfect and liable to error but is much
less so than would be expected. the strong parts of the ideas
are seldom mistaken.[13]

I now told Cameahwait that I wished him to speak to his
people and engage them to go with me tomorrow to the forks
of Jeffersons river where our baggage was by this time arrived
with another Chief and a large party of whitemen who would
wait my return at that place. that I wish them to take with
them about 30 spare horses to transport our baggage to this
place where we would then remain sometime among them and
trade with them for horses, and finally concert our future plans
for geting on to the ocean and of the traid which would be
extended to them after our return to our homes. he complyed
with my request and made a lengthey harrangue to his village.
he returned in about an hour and a half and informed me that
they would be ready to accompany me in the morning. I
promised to reward them for their trouble. Drewyer who had
had a good view of their horses estimated them at 400. most
of them are fine horses. indeed many of them would make
a figure on the South side of James River or the land of
fine horses. I saw several with spanish brands on them, and
some mules which they informed me that they had also obtained
from the Spaniards. I also saw a bridle bit of spanish
manufactary, and sundry other articles which I have no doubt
were obtained from the same source.[14] notwithstanding the
extreem poverty of those poor people they are very merry
they danced again this evening until midnight. each warrior
keep[s] one or more horses tyed by a cord to a stake near his

lodge both day and night and are always prepared for action at
a moments warning. they fight on horseback altogether. I
observe that the large flies are extreemly troublesome to the
horses as well as ourselves.

The morning being cold and the men stif and soar from the
exertions of yesterday Capt. Clark did not set out this morning
untill 7. A.M. the river was so crooked and rapid that they
made but little way. at one mile he passed a bold runing
stream on Stard which heads in a mountain to the North, on
which there is snow. this we called track Creek. it is 4 yards
wide and 3 feet deep at 7 Ms. passed a stout stream which
heads in some springs under the foot of the mountains on
Lard. the river near the mountain they found one continued
rapid, w[h]ich was extreemly laborious and difficult to ascend.
this evening Charbono struck his indian Woman for which
Capt. C. gave him a severe repremand. Joseph and Reubin
Fields killed 4 deer and an Antelope, Capt. C. killed a buck.
several of the men have lamed themselves by various accedents
in working the canoes through this difficult part of the river,
and Capt. C. was obliged personally to assist them in this labour.
they encamped this evening on Lard. side near the rattlesnake
Clift.

Courses and distances traveled by Capt. Clark. August 14th 1805.

   

S. 14° W.	7.	to the gap of the mountain at the rattlesnake Clifts where the river enters the mountains. the same being 16 miles by the meanders of the river. the river cold shoally and one continued rapid throughout. passed a number of small Islands and bayous on either side. passed a bold running stream on Stard at 1 M. called track Creek. also another at 6 M. higher up, or Lard. side. and encamped on Lard. 2 Miles by water
Miles	7.	short of the extremity of this course distance by land scarcely 1/2 a Mile.