University of Virginia Library

October 18th. Friday 1805

This morning Cool and fare wind from the S. E. six of
the large Prarie cock killed this morning. Several canoes of
Indians came down and joined those with us, we had a council
with those in which we informed of our friendly intentions
towards them and all other of our red children, of our wish to
make a piece between all of our red Children in this quarter
&c. &c. this was conveyed by signs thro: our 2 Chiefs who
accompanied us, and was understood, we made a 2d. Chief
and gave Strings of wompom to them all in remembrance of
what we Said. four men in a Canoe came up from a large
encampment on an Island in the River about 8 miles below,
they delayed but a fiew minits and returned, without Speaking
a word to us.

The Great Chief and one of the Chim-nâ-pum nation drew
me a sketch of the Columbia above and the tribes of his nation,
living on the bank[s], and its waters, and the Tâpe-tett river
which falls in 18 miles above on the westerly side See sketch
below for the number of villages and nations &c. &c.[21]

we thought it necessary to lay in a Store of Provisions for
our voyage, and the fish being out of Season, we purchased
forty dogs for which we gave articles of little value, such as
bells, thimbles, knitting pins, brass wire and a few beeds [with]
all of which they appeared well Satisfied and pleased.

every thing being arranged we took in our Two Chiefs, and
set out on the great Columbia river, haveing left our guide
and the two young men two of them enclined not to proceed
on any further, and the 3d. could be of no service to us as he
did not know the river below

Took our leave of the Chiefs and all those about us and
proceeded on down the great Columbia river passed a large

Junction of Columbia and Lewis's Rivers,
sketch-map by Clark.

Island at 8 miles about 3 miles in length, a Island on the Stard.
Side the upper point of which is opposit the center of the last
mentioned Island and reaches 3–½ miles below the 1st. Island
and opposit to this near the middle of the river nine Lodges
are Situated on the upper point at a rapid which is between the
lower point of the 1st. Island and upper point of this; great
numbers of Indians appeared to be on this Island, and emence
quantites of fish scaffold[s] we landed a few minits to view a
rapid which commenced at the lower point, passd. this rapid
which was verry bad, between 2 Small Islands, two Still Smaller
near the Lard. Side, at this rapid on the Stard. Side is Lodges
of Indians Drying fish, at 2–½ miles lower and 14–½ below
the point passed an Island Close under the Stard. Side on which
was 2 Lodges of Indians drying fish on Scaffolds as above at
16 miles from the point the river passes into the range of high
Countrey, at which place the rocks project into the river from
the high clifts which is on the Lard. Side about ⅓ of the way
across and those of the Stard. Side about the same distance,
the countrey rises here about 200 feet above the water and is
bordered with black rugid rocks, at the Commencement of
this high countrey on Lard. Side a Small riverlet falls in which
appears to [have] passed under the high county. in its whole
co[ur]se. saw a mountain bearing S. W. conocal form Covered
with Snow.[22] passed 4 Islands, at the upper point of the 3rd. is
a rapid, on this Island is two Lodges of Indians, drying fish,
on the fourth Island close under the Stard. Side is nine large
Lodges of Indians Drying fish on scaffolds as above at this
place we were called to to land, as it was near night, and no
appearance of wood, we proceeded on about 2 miles lower to
Some Willows, at which place we observed a drift log formed
a camp on the Lard. Side under a high hill nearly opposit to
five Lodges of Indians; Soon after we landed, our old Chiefs
informed us that the large camp above "was the Camp of the
1st. Chief of all the tribes in this quarter, and that he had called
to us to land and Stay all night with him, that he had plenty of
wood for us &c." This would have been agreeable to us if it
had have been understood perticelarly as we were compelled to
use drid willows for fuel for the purpose of cooking, we requested
the old Chiefs to walk up on the Side we had landed
and call to the chief to come down and Stay with us all night
which they did, late at night the Chief came down accompanied
by 20 men, and formed a camp a short distance above,
the chief brought with him a large basket of mashed berries
which he left at our Lodge as a present. I saw on the main
land opposit those Lodges a number of horses feeding, we
made 21 miles to day.