University of Virginia Library

[Lewis:]

Tuesday April 22ed 1806.

Last night two of our horses broke loos from the picquits
and straggled off some little distance, the men who had charge
of them fortunately recovered them early. at 7 A.M. we set
out having previously sent on our small Canoe with Colter and

Potts. we had not arrived at the top of a hill over which the
road leads opposite the village before Charbono's horse threw
his load, and taking fright at the saddle and robe which still
adhered, ran at full speed down the hill, near the village he
disengaged himself from the saddle and robe, an indian hid the
robe in his lodge. I sent our guide and one man who was
with me in the rear to assist Charbono in retaking his horse
which having done they returned to the village on the track of
the horse in surch of the lost articles they found the saddle but
could see nothing of the robe the Indians denyed having seen it;
they then continued on the track of the horse to the place from
whence he had set out with the same success, being now confident
that the indians had taken it I sent the Indian woman
on to request Capt. C. to halt the party and send back some
of the men to my assistance being determined either to make
the indians deliver the robe or birn their houses. they have
vexed me in such a manner by such repeated acts of villany
that I am quite disposed to treat them with every severyty,
their defenseless state pleads forgivness so far as rispects their
lives. with this resolution I returned to their village which I
had just reached as Labuish met me with the robe which he
informed me he found in an Indian lodg hid behind their
baggage. I now returned and joined Capt. Clark who was
waiting my arrival with the party. the Indian woman had not
reached Capt. C. untill about the time I arrived and he returned
from a position on the top of a hill not far from where
he had halted the party. from the top of this emmenense
Capt. C. had an extensive view of the country. he observed
the range of mountains in which Mount Hood stands to continue
nearly south as far as the eye could reach. he also
observed the snow-clad top of Mount Jefferson which boar
S. 10.W. Mount Hood from the same point boar S. 30.W.
the tops of the range of western mountains are covered with
snow. Capt. C. also discovered some timbered country in a
Southern direction from him at no great distance. Clarks
river (Towarnahiooks) which mouths immediately opposite this
point of view forks at the distance of 18 or 20 miles from
hence, the wright hand fork takes it[s] rise in mount Hood,
and the main branch continues it's course to the S.E. (10 or 12
miles higher up another fork comes in from Mt. Jefferson)[8] we now
made the following regulations as to our future order of march
(viz) that Capt. C. & myself should devide the men who were
disencumbered by horses and march alternately each day the
one in front and the other in rear. haveing divided the party
agreeably to this arrangement, we proceeded on through an
open plain country about 8 miles to a village of 6 houses of
the Eneshur nation, here we observed our 2 canoes passing
up on the opposite side; the wind being too high for them to
pass the river they continued on. we halted at a small run
just above the village where we dined on some dogs which we
purchased of the Inhabitants and suffered our horses to graize
about three hours. there is no timber in this country we are
obliged to purchase our fuel of the natives, who bring it from
a great distance. while we halted for dinner we purch[ased] a
horse. after dinner we proceeded on up the river about 4
miles to a village of 7 mat lodges of the last mentioned nation.
here our Chopunnish guide informed us that the next village
was at a considerable distance and that we could not reach it
tonight. the people at this place offered to sell us wood and
dogs, and we therefore thought it better to remain all night.[9]
a man b[e]longing to the next village above proposed exchanging
a horse for one of our canoes, just at this moment one of
our canoes was passing, we hailed them and ordered them to
come over but the wind continued so high that they could not
join us untill after sunset and the Indian who wished to exchange
his horse for the canoe had gone on. Charbono purchased
a horse this evening, we obtained 4 dogs and as much
wood as answered our purposes on moderate terms. we can
only afford ourselves one fire, and are obliged to lie without
shelter, the nights are cold and days warm. Colter and Pots
had passed on with their canoe.