University of Virginia Library

[Clark:]

Sunday May 4th. 1806.

Collected our horses and set out early; the morning was
cold and disagreeable. we assended the Larboard Hill of the
Creek and Steared N 60°. E 4 m. through a high leavil plain
to a revine which forms the source of a small creek, thence
down the Creek N 75°. E. 8 ms. to it's enterance into Lewis's
river 7 1/2 ms. below the enterance of Kooskooske. on the
river a little above this Creek we arived at a lodge of 6 families
of which We-ark′-koomt had spoken. We halted here for

brackfast and with much dificuelty purchased 2 lean dogs.
the inhabitants were miserably pore. we obtained a fiew large
cakes of half cured bread made of a root which resembles the
sweet potatoe, with these we made some soope and took brackfast.
the lands through which we passed to day are fertile
consisting of a dark rich loam. the hills of the river are high
and abrupt approaching it nearly on both sides. no timber
in the plains. the S. W. Mountains which appear to be about
15 miles from us still continue to become lower, they are covered
with snow at present nearly to their bases. Lewis's river
appear to pass through those Mountains near the N Eastern
extremity. those hills termonate in a high leavil plain between
the Kooskoske & Lewis's river. these plains are in maney
places well covered with the long leafed pine and some balsom
fir. the soil is extreamly fertile. no[r] does it appear so
thirsty as that of the same apparrant texture of the open plains.
it produces great quantities of the quawmash a root of which
the nativs are extreemly fond. a Great portion of the Chopunnish
we are informed are now distributed in small Villages
through this plain Collecting the Cowse a white meley root
which is very fine in soup after being dried and pounded; the
Salmon not yet haveing arived 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 pack horses
sliped from one of those hights and fell into the Creek with
it's load consisting principally of amunition, but fortunately
neither 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 opposit 2 Lodges the one containing 3 and the
other 2 families of the Chopunnish Nation; here we met with
Te-toh-ar-sky the oldest of the two Chiefs who accompanied us
last fall to the Great falls of the Columbia. here we also met
with our old pilot who decended the river with us as low as the
Columbia these indians recommended our passing the river
at this place and going up on the N E Side of the Kooskoske.
they sayed it was nearer and a better rout to the forks 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 advise of the indians and imediately
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, some Cows bread and encamped, haveing
traveled 15 miles to day only. We-ark-koomt whose people
reside on the West Side of Lewis's river above left us when
we deturmined to pass the river. before he left us he expressed
his concern that his people would be deprived of the pleasure
of seeing us at the forks at which place they had assembled
to shew us sivilities &c. I gave him a small piece of tobacco
and he went off satisfied. the evening was cold and disagreeable,
and the nativs crouded about our fire in great numbers
in so much that we could scercely cook or keep ourselves
worm. at all those Lodges of the Chopunnish I observe an
appendage of a small lodge with one fire, which seames to be
the retreat of their women in a certain situation. the men are
not permited to approach this Lodge within a certain distance,
and if they have any thing to convey to the occupents 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.