[Lewis:]
Thursday May 1st. 1806.
We collected our horses tolerably early this morning took
breakfast and set out a little after 7 A.M. we pursued the
indian road which led us up the creek about nine miles, here
the Chopunnish man w[h]o was in front with me informed that
an old unbeaten tract which he pointed out to the left was our
nearest rout. we halted the party and directed them to unload
and let their horses graize untill our guide came up who was
at some distance behind. I wished to obtain good information
of this newly recommended tract before I could consent to
leave the present road which seemed to lead us in the proper
direction was level and furnished with wood and water. when
the guide arrived he seemed much displeased with the other,
he assured us that the rout up the creek was the nearest, and
much the best, that if we took the other we would be obliged
to remain here untill tomorrow morning, and then travel a
whole day before we could reach water, and that there was no
wood; the other agreed that this was the case. we therefore
did not hesitate to pursue the rout recommended by the guide.
the creek, it's bottom lands, and the appearance of the plains
were much as those of [y]esterday only with this difference that
the latter were not so sandy. we had sent out four hunters
this morning two on foot and 2 on horseback they joined us
while we halted here. Drewyer had killed a beaver. at 1
P.M. we resumed our march, leaving the Chopunnish man
and his family; he had determined to remain at that place
untill the next morning and then pursue the rout he had
recommended to us. he requested a small quantity of powder
and lead which we gave him. we traveled 17 miles this evening,
making a total of 26 Ms. and encamped. the first 3 miles
of our afternoons march was through a similar country with
that of the forenoon; the creek bottoms then became higher
and widened to the extent of from 2 to 3 m
s. the hills on the
N. side were low but those on the opposite side retained their
hight. we saw a number of deer of which Labuish killed one.
the timber on the creek becomes more abundant and it's extensive
bottoms affords a pleasent looking country. the guide
informs us that we shall now find a plenty of wood water and
game quite to the Kooskooske. we saw a great number of the
Curloos, some Grains, ducks, prarie larks and several speceis
of sparrows common to the praries. I see very little difference
between the apparent face of the country here and that of the
plains of the Missouri only that these are not enlivened by
the vast herds of buffaloe Elk &c. which ornament the other.
the courses and distances of this day are N. 45 E. 9 M. and N.
75. E. 17. M. along the Northern side of this creek to our
encampment. some time after we had encamped, three young
men arrived from the Wallahwollah village bringing with them
a steel trap belonging to one of our party which had been
neglegently left behind; this is an act of integrity rarely witnessed
among indians. during our stay with them they several
times found the knives of the men which had been carelessly
lossed by them and returned them. I think we can justly
affirm to the honor of these people that they are the most
hospitable, honest, and sincere people that we have met with
in our voyage.
