University of Virginia Library

[Lewis:]

Sunday May 4th. 1806.

Collected our horses and set out early; the morning was
cold and disagreeable. we ascended the Lard. hills of the creek
and steered N. 60°. E. 4 miles through a high level plain to a
ravine which forms the source of a small creek, thence down
this creek N. 75. E. 8 Ms. to it's entrance into Lewis's river

7 1/2 ms. below the entrance of the Kooskooske.[5] on the river
a little above this creek we arrived at a lodge of 6 families of
which We-ark-koomt had spoken. we halted here for breakfast
and with much difficulty purchase[d] 2 lean dogs. the
inhabitants were miserably poor. we obtained a few large
cakes of half cured bread made of a root which resembles the
sweet potatoe, with these we made some soope and took breakfast.
the lands through which we passed today are fertile
consisting of a dark rich loam. the hills of the river are high
and approach it nearly on both sides. no timber in the plains.
the S. W. Mountains which appear to be about 15 Ms. above
us still continue to become lower they are covered with snow
at present nearly to their bases. Lewis's river appea[r]s to
pass through these Mots. near their N. Eastern extremity.
these hills terminate in a high level plain between the Kooskooske
and Lewis's river. these plains are in many places
well covered with the Longleafed pine, with some Larch and
balsom fir. the soil is extreemly fertile no[r] dose it appear
so thi[r]sty as that of the same apparent texture of the open
plains. it produces great quantities of the quawmash a root
of which the natives are extreemly fond. a great portion of
the Chopunnish we are informed are now distributed in small
vilages through this plain collecting the quawmash and cows;[6]
the salmon not yet having arrived to call them to the river.
the hills of the creek which we decended this morning are high
and in most parts rocky and abrupt. one of our packhorses
sliped from one of those hights and fell into the creek with
it's load consisting principally of ammunition but fortunately
neith[er] the horse nor load suffered any material injury.
the amunition being secured in canisters the water did not
effect it. after dinner we continued our rout up the West side
of the river 3 Ms opposite to 2 lodges the one containing 3
and the other 2 families of the Chopunnish nation; here we
met with Te-toh-ar-sky, the youngest of the two cheifs who
accompanied us last fall [to] the great falls of the Columbia
we also met with our pilot who decended the river with us as
far as the Columbia. these indians recommended our passing
the river at this place and ascending the Kooskooske on the
N.E. side. they said it was nearer and a better rout to the
forkes of that river where the twisted hair resided in whose
charge we had left our horses; thither they promised to conduct
us. we determined to take the advice of the indians and
immediately prepared to pass the river which with the assistance
of three indian canoes we effected in the course of the
evening, purchased a little wood and some bread of cows
(a root) from the natives and encamped having traveled 15 Ms.
only today. We-ark-koomt whose people resided on the
West side of Lewis's river above left us when we determined
to pass the river and went on to his lodg. the evening was
cold and disagreeable, and the natives crouded about our fire
in great numbers insomuch that we could scarcely cook or
keep ourselves warm. at all these lodges of the Chopunnish
I observe an appendage of a small lodg with one fire which
seems to be the retreat of their women in a certain situation
[Si M] the men are not permitted to approach this lodge
within a certain distance and if they have anything to convey
to the occupants of this little hospital they stand at the distance
of 50 or 60 paces and throw it towards them as far as they can
and retire.