University of Virginia Library

August 20th. Tuesday 1805 "So-So-ne" the Snake Indians

Set out at half past 6 oClock and proceeded on (met maney
parties of Indians) thro' a hilley Countrey to the Camp of the
Indians on a branch of the Columbia River, before we entered
this Camp a Serimonious hault was requested by the Chief and
I smoked with all that Came around, for Several pipes, we
then proceeded on to the Camp & I was introduced into the
only Lodge they had which was pitched in the Center for my
party all the other Lodges made of bushes,[16] after a fiew Indian
Seremonies I informed the Indians [of] the object of our
journey our good intentions towards them my Consirn for their
distressed Situation, what we had done for them in makeing a
piece with the Minitarras Mandans Rickara &c. for them. and
requested them all to take over their horses & assist Capt Lewis
across &c. also informing them the o[b]ject of my journey
down the river, and requested a guide to accompany me, all of
which was repeited by the Chief to the whole village.

Those pore people Could only raise a Sammon & a little
dried Choke Cherries for us half the men of the tribe with
the Chief turned out to hunt the antilopes, at 3 oClock after
giveing a fiew Small articles as presents I set out accompanied

by an old man as a Guide I endevered to procure as much
information from thos people as possible without much Suckcess
they being but little acquainted or effecting to be So. I
left one man to purchase a horse and overtake me and proceeded
on thro a wide rich bottom on a beaten Roade 8 miles
Crossed the river and encamped on a Small run, this evening
passed a number of old lodges, and met a number of men
women children & horses, met a man who appeared of Some
Consideration who turned back with us, he halted a woman
& gave us 3 Small Sammon, this man continued with me all
night and partook of what I had which was a little Pork verry
Salt. Those Indians are verry attentive to Strangers &c. I
left our interpreter & his woman to accompany the Indians to
Capt Lewis tomorrow the Day they informed me they would
Set out I killed a Pheasent at the Indian Camp larger than
a dungal [dunghill] fowl with f[l]eshey protubrances about
the head like a turkey. Frost last night.