[Clark:]
Monday April 28th. 1806
This morning early the Great Chief Yelleppet brought a
very eligant white horse to our camp and presented him to
me, signifying his wish to get a kittle but being informed that
we had already disposed of every kittle we could possibly spare
he said he was content with whatever I thought proper to give
him. I gave him my
Swoard, 100 balls & powder and some
small articles of which he appeared perfectly satisfied. it was
necessary before we entered on our rout through the plains
where we were to meet with no lodges or resident Indians that
we should lay in a stock of provisions and not depend altogether
on the gun. we derected R. Frazer to whome we
have intrusted the duty of makeing the purchases, to lay in as
maney fat dogs as he could procure; he soon obtained 10,
being anxious to depart we requested the Chief to furnish us
with canoes to pass the river, but he insisted on our remaining
with him this day at least, that he would be much pleased if
we would consent to remain two or 3 days, but he would not
let us have canoes to leave him this day. that he had sent
for the
Chim-na-pums his neighbours to come down and join
his people this evening and dance for us. We urged the
necessity of our proceeding on imediately in order that we
might the sooner return to them, with the articles which they
wished brought to them but this had no effect, he said that the
time he asked could not make any considerable difference. I
at length urged that there was no wind blowing and that the
river was consequently in good order to pass our horses and
if he would furnish us with canoes for that purpose we would
remain all night at our present encampment, to this proposition
he assented and soon produced a canoe. I saw a man
who had his knee contracted who had previously applyed to
me for some medisene, that if he would fournish another
canoe I would give him some medisene. he readily consented
and went himself with his canoe by means of which we passed
our horses over the river safely and hobbled them as usial.
We found a
Sho-sho-ne woman, prisoner among those people
by means of whome and
Sah-cah-gah-weah, Shabono's wife we
found means of converceing with the
Wallahwallârs. we conversed
with them for several hours and fully satisfy all their
enquiries with respect to our Selves and the Objects of our
pursute. they were much pleased. they brought several
disordered persons to us for whome they requested some
medical aid. one had his knee contracted by the Rhumitism
(whome is just mentioned above) another with a broken arm
&
c. to all of whome we administered much to the gratification
of those pore wretches, we gave them some eye water which
I believe will render them more essential sirvice than any
other article in the medical way which we had it in our power
to bestow on them sore eyes seam to be a universal complaint
among those people; I have no doubt but the fine sands of
those plains and the river contribute much to the disorder.
The man who had his arm broken had it loosely bound in a
piece of leather without any thing to surport it. I dressed the
arm which was broken short above the wrist & supported it
with broad sticks to keep it in place, put [it] in a sling and
furnished him with some lint bandages &
c. to Dress it in
future. a little before sun set the Chimnahpoms arrived;
they were about 100 men and a fiew women; they joined the
Wallahwallahs who were about 150 men and formed a half
circle arround our camp where they waited verry patiently to
see our party dance. the fiddle was played and the men
amused themselves with danceing about an hour. we then
requested the Indians to dance which they very chearfully
complyed with; they continued their dance untill 10 at night.
the whole assemblage of Indians about 350 men women and
children sung and danced at the same time. Most of them
danced in the same place they stood and mearly jumped up to
the time of their musick. Some of the men who were
esteemed most brave entered the space around which the main
body were formed in solid column and danced in a circular
manner side wise. at 10 P M. the dance ended and the nativs
retired; they were much gratified in seeing some of our party
join them in their dance. one of their party who made himself
the most conspicious charecter in the dance and songs,
we were told was a medesene man & could foretell things.
that he had told of our comeing into their country and was
now about to consult his God the Moon if what we said was
the truth &
c. &
c.
