Journals of the
Lewis & Clark Expedition

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October 28, 1805 - Ordway, John
  • Side under Some clifts of rocks.    the Indians came in their canoes to our camps.    one of the party killed a Deer and wounded another this evening a Short distance back near a pond.   
  • The party's Chiluckittequaws (Wishram-Wasco Indians) (variously spelled), probably Wishram-Wascos (Wishram-Wasco Indians) .
  • October 28, 1805
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
June 24, 1806 - Gass, Patrick
  • There was a cloudy morning. We gave each of the Indians a pair of mockasons, and they agreed to stay to day and wait for the party.— One of our hunters went out, but had no success.
  • At noon two hunters went on ahead to a small creek, to endeavour to kill some provision, as we cannot kill any here; and unless the party come up to night, I intend to go on with the Indians tomorrow morning. In the evening the party arrived with three more Indians, and we all encamped together for the night.
  • June 24, 1806
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
November 2, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Identified on Atlas map 79 as the "Wah-clallah (Watlala Indians) Tribe of Shahala (Watlala Indians) Nation," probably the same people also referred to as the Watlalas (Watlala Indians) , an Upper Chinookan-language people. The term Shahala (Watlala Indians) is from Chinookan šáx̣l(a), "upriver, above," and šáx̣latkš, "those upriver." These people, who resided along the "Cascades of the Columbia (Columbia River, Cascades (Great Rapids, Great Shute)) ," are often labeled under the general name of Cascades Indians. Like many Chinookan-speaking peoples, this group was greatly reduced by disease later in the nineteenth century, with most of the survivors eventually joining the Wascoes (Wishram-Wasco Indians) on the Warm Springs Reservation (Warm Springs Reservation) or the Wishrams (Wishram-Wasco Indians) on the Yakima Reservation (Yakima Reservation) .
  • November 2, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
November 21, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark Thursday November 21st 1805 a cloudy morning    most of the Chinnooks (Chinook Indians) leave our Camp and return home, great numbers of the dark brant passing to the South, the white Brant have not yet commenced their flight.
  • E. which with the addition of the flood tide raised verry high waves which broke with great violence against the Shore throwing water into our Camp—    the fore part of this day Cloudy    at 12 oClock it began to rain and Continued all day moderately, Several Indians Visit us to day of different nations or Bands Some of the Chiltz (Chehalis Indians) Nation who reside on the Sea Coast near Point Lewis (Point Lewis) , Several of the Clotsops (Clatsop Indians) who reside on the opposit Side of the Columbia (Columbia River) imediately opposit to us, and a Chief from the Grand rapid (Columbia River, Cascades (Great Rapids, Great Shute)) to whome we gave a Medal.
  • The term may be Lower Chinookan (Chinook Indians) [i|a]šanáta(n)qi, "thistle" for the edible thistle above.
  • November 21, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
January 7, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Shannon (Shannon, George) was out in the woods assisting Jo Field (Field, Joseph) and gibson (Gibson, George) to kill Some meat, the Salt makers had made a neet Close Camp, Convenient to wood Salt water and the fresh water of the Clât Slop river (Necanicum (Clatsop) River) which at this place was within 100 paces of the Ocian they wer also Situated near 4 houses of Clatsops (Clatsop Indians) & Killamox (Tillamook Indians) , who they informed me had been verry kind and attentive to them. I hired a young Indian to pilot me to the whale for which Service I gave him a file in hand and promised Several other Small articles on my return, left Sergt.
  • The word is in Chinook (Chinook Indians) jargon (borrowed from Nootkan (Nootka Indians) ), pišak, "bad."
  • January 7, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
October 7, 1804 - Clark, William
  • all the water of this river runs in a chanel of 20 yards, the Current appears jentle, I walked up this River a mile, Saw the tracks of white bear, verry large, also a old Ricara (Arikara Indians) village partly burnt, fortified    about 60 Lodges built in the Same form of those passed yesterday, many Canoes & Baskets about the huts—    about 10 oclock we Saw 2 Indians on the S.
  • Dak.) , South Dakota (South Dakota) . The Arikara (Arikara Indians) village appears on Atlas map 25. Mattison (OR), 78; MRC map 44.
  • The village appears to have been a short-lived Arikara (Arikara Indians) site probably occupied during the 1780s to 1790s. Stephenson.
  • October 7, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
June 22, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • in this way great numbers of those animels are lost and accounts for So many as we Saw lying on the Shores below the falls ever Since we came from the Mandans (Mandan Indians) & Gross vauntares (Hidatsa Indians) but a vast deal pleantier near them the country in general is verry high.   
  • we are a little South of the Mandans (Mandan Indians) , but have had no verry hot weather as yet. Saturday June 22nd    A fair pleasant morning and the wind continued as usual at So West    The party all got up early.   
  • Some Gangs of them swam the River.—    Captain Clarks (Clark, William) Negroe Man (York) shot one of them which was very fat.— Captain Clark (Clark, William) informed us that he saw between 50 & 60 Buffalo swimming the River, above the falls (Missouri River, Great Falls of the) 〈of the river〉 and that some of them, were drove down, by the rapidity current over the falls, and that he did not see them rise again, and that those that reached the Shore, appeared to be half drownded, which accounts for the many Dead Buffalo that we had seen floating along the Shores below the falls, ever since we left the Mandan (Mandan Indians) and Gross Vaunter (Hidatsa Indians) Villages; but found them floating much pleantier near these falls.—    The country generally here lies very high, and is chiefly Priaries & rich land; having no timber laying back from the Rivers, and but very little Timber on it, bluffs and high Clifts are all along the Shores on both sides of the River—    We are at this place a little South of the Mandan (Mandan Indians) Villages, but as yet have experienced no very warm weather.— Whitehouse (Whitehouse, Joseph) appears to say that all of the dead buffalo seen on the banks of the Missouri (Missouri River) since leaving the Mandan (Mandan Indians) villages had been swept over the Great Falls (Missouri River, Great Falls of the) .
  • June 22, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
September 11, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark September 11th Wednesday 1805 A fair morning wind from the N W    we Set out at 3 oClock and proceeded on up the Travelers rest Creek (Lolo (Travelers' Rest) Creek (Mont.)) , accompanied by the flat head (Flathead Indians) or Tushapaws (Flathead Indians) Indians    about 7 miles below this Creek a large fork comes in from the right and heads up against the waters of the Missouri (Missouri River) below the Three forks (Missouri River, Three Forks of the) , this river has extensive Vallies of open leavel land, "and passes in its Whole Course thro' a Valie" they call it 〈Valie Plain River〉 [Chicarluisket?]
  • our Flathead (Flathead Indians) Indian being restless thought proper to leave us and proceed on alone, Sent out the hunters to hunt in advance as usial.
  • They were starting west on the Lolo Trail (Lolo Trail) , along Lolo Creek (Lolo (Travelers' Rest) Creek (Mont.)) , the route used by the Nez Perces (Nez Perce Indians) to cross the Bitterroot Mountains (Bitterroot (Snow) Mountains) from their homeland in Idaho (Idaho) to the buffalo country in Montana (Montana) .
  • September 11, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
October 10, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • passed Several Indian fishing Camps where we bought Some Sammon from them    they have a nomber of Small canoes along the Shore.   
  • No timber barron & broken praries on each Side.— Thursday October 10th    A pleasant morning, the two Indians that accompanied us from the Snake (Shoshone Indians) Nation of Indians left us, in order to return home, We set out early & proceeded on down the River & passed over some bad rapids where our Canoes took in Water, We passed several Indian fishing Camps where the Natives were fishing.    We halted at them a short time; & purchased some Salmon from them.—    Those Indians had a number of small Canoes lying along the shore.    About 11 o'Clock A.
  • October 10, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
December 29, 1805 - Clark, William
  • The Inds. left us this morning and returned to their village, after begging for maney things which they did not secure as we Could not Spare them    I gave the Chief Canio (Coboway) a Razor, Sent out 3 men across the river to hunt, all others employd putting up pickets    Pete Crusat (Cruzatte, Pierre) Sick with a vilent Cold    My Servent (York) better—    we are told by the Indians that a whale has foundered on the Coast to the N. W and their nations is collecting fat of him, the wind is too high for us to See it, Capt Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) is been in readiness 2 days to go and Collect Some of the whale oyle    the wind has proved too high as yet for him to Set out in Safty    In the evening a young Chief 4 men and 2 womin of the War-ci-a-cum (Wahkiakum Indians) tribe came in a large canoe with Wapto roots, Dressed Elk Skins &c. to Sell, the Chief made me a present of about a half a bushel of those roots—    we gave him a medal of a Small Size and a piece of red ribin to tie around the top of his Hat which was made with a double Cone, the diameter of the upper about 3 Inches the lower a about 1 foot Conic Hat, December 29, 1805, Elkskin-bound Journal Missouri Historical Society We purchased about 1½ bushels of those roots for which we gave Some few red beeds, Small pices of brass wire and old Check—    those roots proved greatfull to us as we are now liveing on Spoiled Elk which is extreamly disagreeable to the Smel, as well as the taste.
  • The Chin nook (Chinook Indians) womin are lude and Carry on Sport publickly    the Clot-sop (Clatsop Indians) and others appear deffidend, and reserved The flees are So noumerous in this Countrey and difficult to get Cleare of that the Indians have difft. houses & villages to which they remove frequently to get rid of them, and not withstanding all their precautions, they never Step into our hut without leaveing Sworms of those troublesom insects.   
  • W." in the Codex I entry, which is correct, since that was the direction of the "Kil a mox (Tillamook Indians) " (Tillamook (Tillamook Indians) ) people, to which Clark (Clark, William) journeyed on January 6, 1806, to see the whale.
  • December 29, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 22, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Side Called Bonom (Bonhomme (Good Man's) Creek) [NB: bon homme]    a Camp of Kickapoos (Kickapoo Indians) [NB: an Indian nation residing on the heads of Kaskaskia (Kaskaskia River) & Illinois river (Illinois River) 90 miles N E of the mouth of the Missouri (Missouri River) , & hunt occasionally on the Missouri (Missouri River) ] on the St. Side    Those Indians told me Several days ago that they would Come on & hunt and by the time I got to their Camp they would have Some Provisions for us, we Camped in a Bend 〈under〉 at the Mo: of a Small creek, Soon after we came too the Indians arrived with 4 Deer as a Present, for which we gave them two qts. of whiskey— Course & Distance th 22d May S 60° W.   3 ms. to a pt.
  • May 22, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
November 27, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • we finished dobbing & covering & compleating the remainder of our huts &.C—    Capt Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) & command brought with them three chiefs from the upper villages of the Grovantaur (Hidatsa Indians) .    they appear to be verry friendly. Gave us a little corn & were Glad to come & see us.    they Sd. that the Manden (Mandan Indians) nation told them that we would do them harm, & that was the reason they had not been to see us before.   
  • They were all from the Hidatsa (Hidatsa Indians) village Metaharta (Metaharta (Metehartar) village) , called the Sakakawea site (Sakakawea site) after Sacagawea (Sacagawea) who lived there at the time of Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) and Clark's (Clark, William) arrival.
  • November 27, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
February 9, 1805 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • whom I had given permission to go the Mandane (Mandan Indians) vilage returned after the gate was shut and rether than call to the guard to have it opened scaled the works    an indian who was looking on shortly after followed his example. I 〈told〉 convinced the Indian of the impropryety of his conduct, and explained to him the riske he had run of being severely treated, the fellow appeared much allarmed, I gave him a small piece of tobacco and sent him away    Howard (Howard, Thomas P.)
  • If any hostility developed with the local Indians, the knowledge that the walls were so easily scaled would be dangerous.
  • February 9, 1805
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
March 6, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark 6th of March Wednesday 1805 a Cloudy morning & Smokey all Day from the burning of the plains, which was Set on fire by the Minetarries (Hidatsa Indians) for an early crop of Grass as an endusement for the Buffalow to feed on—    the horses which was Stolen Some time ago by the Assinniboins (Assiniboine Indians) from the minetarries (Hidatsa Indians) were returned yesterday—    visited by Oh-harh (Little Fox (Oh-harh)) or the Little fox (Little Fox (Oh-harh)) 2d Chief of the lower Village of the Me ne tar ries (Hidatsa Indians) —    one man Shannon (Shannon, George) Cut his foot with the ads in working at a perogue, George (Drouillard, George) & Graviline (Gravelines, Joseph) go to the Village, the river rise a little to day— This mention of early spring prairie fires set intentionally to improve the growth of prairie grasses and attract the buffalo to graze was only one of the several reasons for purposefully setting the fires.
  • March 6, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
November 1, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • So we carryed all our baggage past the portage    the Indians carried their Baggage and canoes past the portage.    we drew out one of the canoes to repair it.   
  • We set off and carried all our baggage below the Portage.    The Indians that were at our Camp last night, also carried their Canoes & loading below the portage.   
  • These Canoes had on board of them, pounded Salmon for to Trade; & the Indian Men & women that was on board of them, made signs to us, that they were going down the River, in order to trade away their pounded fish for Blue beads &ca. with the Indians who resided on the Sea Coast.—
  • November 1, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
December 3, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark Tuesday 3d December 1805 a fair windey morning wind from the East    the men returned with the Elk which revived the Spirits of my party verry much    I am Still unwell and Can't eate even the flesh of the Elk.    an Indian Canoe of 8 Indians Came too, those Inds. are on their way down to the Clât Sops (Clatsop Indians) with Wap pa to to barter with that nation, I purchasd. a fiew of those roots for which I gave Small fish hooks, those roots I eate with a little Elks Soupe which I found gave me great relief    I found the roots both nurishing and as a check to my disorder.    The Indians proceeded on down through emence high waves maney times their Canoe was entirely out of Sight before they were ½ a mile distance.
  • December 3, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
January 11, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • this morning the Sergt. of the guard reported the absence of our Indian Canoe, on enquiry we found that those who came in it last evening had been negligent in securing her and the tide in the course of the night had taken her off; we sent a party down to the bay in surch of her, they returned unsuccessfull, the party also who went up the river and Creek in quest of the meat were ordered to lookout for her but were equally unsuccessfull; we ordered a party to resume their resurches for her early tomorrow; this will be a very considerable loss to us if we do not recover her; she is so light that four men can carry her on their sholders a mile or more without resting; and will carry three men and from 12 to 15 hundred lbs.    the Cuthlâhmâhs (Cathlamet Indians) left us this evening on their way to the Catsops (Clatsop Indians) , to whom they purpose bartering their wappetoe for the blubber and oil of the whale, which the latter purchased for beads &c. from the Killamucks (Tillamook Indians) ; in this manner there is a trade continually carryed on by the natives of the river each trading some article or other with their neighbours above and below them; and thus articles which are vended by the whites at the entrance of this river, find their way to the most distant nations enhabiting it's waters.
  • January 11, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
January 25, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Clark Monday [EC: Satur] 25th of January 1806 Commowol (Coboway) and the Clatsops (Clatsop Indians) departed early this morning. Colter (Colter, John) returned and reported that his comrade hunter Willard (Willard, Alexander) had Continued his hunt from Point Adams (Point Adams) towards the Saltmakers; and that they had killed only those two deer which the indians brought yesterday; in the evening Collins (Collins, John) one of the Saltmakers returned and reported that they had made about one bushel of Salt and that himself and two others had hunted from the Salt Camp (Saltmaking Camp (Oreg.))
  • The native fruits and berries in use among the Indians of this neighbourhood are a Deep purple about the Size of a Small cherry called by them Shal lun, a Small pale red berry called Sol me; the vineing or low brown berry, a light brown berry rather larger and much the Shape of a black haw; and a Scarlet berry about the Size of a Small Chirry    the plant Called by the Canadian Engages of the N.
  • Sac a commis produces this berry; this plant is So Called from the circumstances of the Clerks of these tradeing Companies Carrying the leaves of this plant in a Small bag for the purpose of Smokeing of which they are excessively fond    the Indians Call this berry [blank] The first few lines of the next paragraph have a red vertical line running through, perhaps set there by Biddle (Biddle, Nicholas) .
  • January 25, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
March 24, 1806 - Ordway, John
  • Cathlamet Indians
  • at half past 9 we Set out and proceed on to the Cath lah-mah (Cathlamet Indians) village at 12 m. and remained till ¼ after 3 p. m. at this village, this is the dirtiest & Stinkenest place I ever Saw.   
  • Soon after we landed and made fires 2 Indians came from the opposite Side which could Speak Some words of English and repeated the names of the tradors and a number of the Sailors &C.— From this point Ordway (Ordway, John) largely copies Clark's (Clark, William) entry of this day.
  • March 24, 1806
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
April 11, 1806 - Ordway, John
  • this large canoe filled twice with water at the worst pitch but with some difficulty & hard fatigue got them Safe up towards evening by the assistance of a number of Indians at the worst pitch &C. and halled the large canoe up by force allthough She was full of water.   
  • Side to hunt untill our arival. The Clahclellah Indians (Clahclellar Indians) , as Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) and Clark (Clark, William) called them, were a branch of the Watlala Chinookans (Watlala Indians) .
  • April 11, 1806
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
August 25, 1805 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • Our hunters joined us at noon with three deer the greater part of which I gave the indians. sometime after we had halted, Charbono (Charbonneau, Toussaint) mentioned to me with apparent unconcern that he expected to meet all the Indians from the camp on the Columbia (Columbia River) tomorrow on their way to the Missouri (Missouri River) .   
  • Clark (Clark, William) set out early this morning and continued his rout to the indian camp at the entrance of fish Creek (North Fork Salmon River (Fish Creek)) ; here he halted about an hour; the indians gave himself and party some boiled salmon and burries [WC?
  • near the upper part of this cove the Shoshonees (Shoshone Indians) suffered a very severe defeat by the Minnetares (Hidatsa Indians) about six years since. this part of the cove on the N.
  • August 25, 1805
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
June 20, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • for this party to follow the road by the marks which the baggage of the indians has made in many places on the sides of the trees by rubing against them, and to blaize the trees with a tomahawk as they proceeded.   
  • from the circumstance of the Chopunnish (Nez Perce Indians) being at war with that part of the Shoshones (Shoshone Indians) who inhabit the country on this side of the Mountains through which the road passes I think it is highly probable that they cannot be well informed with rispect to the road, and further, had there been a better road in that quarter the Shoshones (Shoshone Indians) on the East fork of Lewis's river (Snake (Ki-moo-e-nim, Lewis's, Southeast Branch of Columbia) River) who knew them both would not have recommended that by which we came to this country.   
  • Allen (PG), 347, 379 and n. 61; Ehrenberg, 77; Sprague (GG), 213, 436. The Lemhi Shoshones (Shoshone Indians, Lemhi) (Sacagawea's (Sacagawea) people), whom they met on the Lemhi River (Lemhi (East Fork Lewis's) River) in eastern Idaho (Idaho) in August 1805.
  • June 20, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
Images from Yale University Beinecke Library Digital Collection
  • Manitou, Buffalo, and Indian on a Rock Manitou, Buffalo, and Indian on a Rock, June 7, 1804, Field Notes, reverse of document 19 Journals 2 1986 Yale University Permission to reproduce image required. http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/
  • N.D.
  • Images
February 12, 1806 - Ordway, John
  • continues raining.    one of the Clotsop Indians (Clatsop Indians) came to the Fort and Stayed all night.—
  • February 12, 1806
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
July 26, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • This conversation almost certainly was in sign language. Actually these Indians were Piegans (Blackfeet Indians, Piegan) , members of one of the three main divisions of the Blackfeet (Blackfeet Indians) confederation, the other two being the Bloods (Blackfeet Indians, Blood) and the Blackfeet proper (Blackfeet Indians, Blackfeet proper) .
  • Some writers have traced the origin of this hostility to these Piegans' (Blackfeet Indians, Piegan) violent encounter with Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) party, but it is just as likely to have arisen because the Blackfeet (Blackfeet Indians) resented the Americans trading firearms to their enemies, like the Shoshones (Shoshone Indians) , Crows (Crow Indians) , Flatheads (Flathead Indians) , and Nez Perces (Nez Perce Indians) . Today some of the Blackfeet (Blackfeet Indians) live on the Blackfeet Reservation (Blackfeet Reservation (Mont.))
  • July 26, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
May 30, 1805 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • these we supposed to be the Minetares (Atsina Indians) or black foot Indians who inhabit the country watered by the Suskashawan (Saskatchewan River) and who resort to the establishment of Fort de Prarie (Fort des Prairies (Canada)) , no part of the Missouri (Missouri River) from the Minetaries (Atsina Indians) to this place furnishes a perminent residence for any nation yet there is no part of it but what exhibits appearances of being occasionally visited by some nation on hunting excurtions. The Minnetares (Hidatsa Indians) of the Missoury (Missouri River) we know extend their excurtions on the S. [NB: south] side as high as the yellowstone river (Yellowstone River) ; the Assinniboins (Assiniboine Indians) still higher on the N. side most probably as high as about Porcupine river (Poplar (Porcupine) River) and from thence upwards most probably as far as the mountains by the Minetares (Atsina Indians) of Fort de Prarie (Fort des Prairies (Canada)) and the Black Foot (Blackfeet Indians) Indians who inhabit the S. fork of the Suskashawan (Saskatchewan River) .
  • May 30, 1805
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
July 29, 1804 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • Whitehouse Sunday 29    the Morning was Rany    the indian and LiBerty (La Liberté) went to the nation to Bring the rest of them to a treaty    the hunter Come to us at 12 CLock with Some EaLk meat and one deare    the Camp was near the Same Praerie Land    Some groves of timBer weL wartered    I Cut my [illegible] on the 27    had to Lay By my ower    the Cout was one inch and half Long    WiLard Left his tommehake weare we Camped on the night of the 28 Instan [illegible words]    we Came to the Grean Prarie    it [is] very hansom    the hils Com in near the river    th[ere] Come in smale Creak on the West Sd of the river    Cald it Potts Creak (Boyer (Bowyer) River (Pott's Creek)) about 20 yds at the Mouth.   
  • Captain Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) sent the Zoto (Oto Indians) Indian that had come to us the day before; and a Canadian named Liberty (La Liberté) ; to the Zoto (Oto Indians) nation; to bring the Warriors and chiefs to Council Bluff (Council Bluff (Nebr.)) , in order to hold a treaty with them, The Canadian Liberty (La Liberté) never returned to us, this put the Captains much at a loss to know what had become of him, fearing the Indians had killed him.— We rowed 11 Miles this day & encamp'd on the South side of the River La Liberté (La Liberté) , who asserted his own liberty by deserting the expedition; see Appendix A, and Clark's (Clark, William) entry for this day.
  • July 29, 1804
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
August 29, 1804 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • we have pleanty of fine cat fish which the party catch in the Missouri River (Missouri River) , in the afternoon Sergt. pryor (Pryor, Nathaniel Hale) & the 2 men returned    brot with them 60 Indians of the Souix (Sioux Indians) nation    they appeared to be friendly.   
  • In the afternoon Serjeant Pryor (Pryor, Nathaniel Hale) & the two Men returned, having with them Sixty Indians of the Souix (Sioux Indians) nation; they appear'd very friendly—    They are a handsome well made set of Indians, are about the middle stature, and do not cutt their hair as most the Savages in this part does.—    They encamped on the opposite shore to where we were.   
  • August 29, 1804
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
October 22, 1804 - Clark, William
  • we Set out early, the morning Cold    at 7 oClock we Came too at a Camp of Teton (Sioux Indians, Teton) Seaux (Sioux Indians) on the L. S.   
  • [NB: Passed old Mandan (Mandan Indians) village near which we lay, another at 4 miles one at 8 miles (4 miles further) at mouth of large creek all on Larboard Side.]
  • Side at the head of which & Mandans (Mandan Indians) village S. S. [NB: 2 miles above] we passd a bad place—    [NB: 〈above the island 2 miles from last village〉]    The hunters killed a buffalow bull, they Say out of about 300 buffalow which they Saw, they 〈only〉 did not See one Cow.
  • October 22, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
January 15, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Still temperate    four Considerate men of the Minetarre (Hidatsa Indians) Came to See us    we Smoked in the pipe, maney mands (Mandan Indians) . [Mandans (Mandan Indians) ] present also, we Showed [NB: attentions] to those men who had been impressed with an unfavourable oppinion of us.
  • As he recalled it, they asserted that David Thompson (Thompson, David) had placed the Mandan (Mandan Indians) and Hidatsa (Hidatsa Indians) villages much too far west on his 1798 map, and that they had now corrected this by their observations of the eclipse.
  • January 15, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 22, 1805 - Gass, Patrick
  • About 9 o'clock we continued our route over a ridge about a west course, upon the top of which there is a handsome small prairie; where we met one of our hunters with a supply of roots, berries, and some fish, which he procured from another band of the Flathead nation (Flathead Indians) of Indians. Captain Clarke (Clark, William) and the hunters had arrived on the 20th at the encampment or lodges of these Indians which are in a beautiful prairie, about 8 or 9 miles from this place.
  • Here our two men overtook us; who had found the lost horse and clothing, but on their way to us lost both the horses. The Indians belonging to this band, received us kindly, appeared pleased to see us, and gave us such provisions as they had.
  • They camped at a Nez Perce (Nez Perce Indians) village on Jim Ford Creek (Jim Ford (Village) Creek) , on Weippe Prairie (Weippe Prairie (Camas Flats, Quawmash Flats)) , about three miles southeast of Weippe (Weippe, Idaho) , Clearwater County (Clearwater County, Idaho) , Idaho (Idaho) .
  • September 22, 1805
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
November 4, 1805 - Ordway, John
  • towards evening we met several Indians in a handsom canoe which had an Immage on the bow.    one of the Indians could talk & Speak Some words English Such as curseing and blackguard    they had a Sturgeon on board and have five muskets on board.   
  • we Came 28 miles this day and Camped after dark on the Stard Side    the geese and brants verry thick Called Shahala (Watlala Indians) Village by Clark (Clark, William) , it was home to the Watlala Indians (Watlala Indians) , an Upper Chinookan-language people.
  • November 4, 1805
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
January 14, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • the first of those positions I am disposed to credit most, but, still I must confess that I cannot imagine what the white merchant's object can be in purchasing this fish, or wher they dispose of it.    and on the other hand the Indians in this neighbourhood as well as the Skillutes (Watlala Indians) have an abundance of dryed sammon which they take in the creeks and inlets, and I have never seen any of this pounded fish in their lodges, which I pesume would have been the case if they purchase this pounded fish for their own consumption.    the Indians who prepared this dryed and pounded fish, informed us that it was to trade with the whites, and shewed us many articles of European manufacture which they obtained for it.    it is true they obtain those articles principally for their fish but they trade with the Skillutes (Watlala Indians) for them and not immediately with the whites; the intermediates merchants and carryers, the Skillutes (Watlala Indians) , may possibly consume a part of this fish themselves and dispose of the ballance of it the natives of the sea coast, and from them obtain such articles as they again trade with the whites.
  • January 14, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
February 2, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • one of the games of amusement and wrisk of the Indians of this neighbourhood like that of the Sosones (Shoshone Indians) consits in hiding in the hand some small article about the size of a bean; this they throw from one hand to the other with great dexterity accompanying their opperations with a particular song which seems to have been addapted to the game; when the individual who holds the peice has amused himself sufficiently by exchanging it from one hand to the other, he hold out his hands for his compettitors to guess which hand contains the peice; if they hit on the ha[n]d which contains the peice they win the wager otherwise loose.    the individual who holds the peice is a kind of banker and plays for the time being against all the others in the room; when he has lost all the property which he has to venture, or thinks proper at any time, he transfers the peice to some other who then also becoms banker. The Sosone (Shoshone Indians) and Minnetares (Hidatsa Indians) &c have a game of a singular kind but those divide themselves in two parties and play for a common wager to which each individual contributes to form the stock of his party.   
  • their boys amuse themselves with their bows and arrows as those do of every Indian nation with which I am acquainted.    these people are excessively fond of their games of risk and bet freely every species of property of which they are possessed.
  • February 2, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
June 18, 1806 - Ordway, John
  • cloudy    Drewyer (Drouillard, George) and Shannon (Shannon, George) Sent on a head to go to the villages of the pel-oll-pellow (Palouse Indians) nation    they took one of the Short rifles in order to git a pilot if possable to go over the mountn. with us.    2 of our horses could not be found this morning, So 2 men was left to hunt them.   
  • Several Salmon Seen in this branch &C— The term may apply to either the Palouse (Palouse Indians) or Nez Perce Indians (Nez Perce Indians) . Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) used his term for the Nez Perces (Nez Perce Indians) on this occasion, which is probably the case in this context.
  • June 18, 1806
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
June 12, 1804 - Floyd, Charles
  • about 20 yads wide    the timber in this Bottoms is Cotten wood    2 miles when we met 〈two〉 5 Cannoes from the 〈Shoue (Sioux Indians) Sue (Sioux Indians) 〉 Soux (Sioux Indians) nations Loaded with peltry and Greece    thay have been 13 mounthes up the missorea River (Missouri River)    Delayed ½ day with the French, Bought Some tallow of them    ouer hunters Did not Rettern Last night    one French man hiard to go with us up the missorea (Missouri River) who can Speak the Difernt [languages?]   
  • June 12, 1804
  • Journals
  • Floyd, Charles
October 7, 1804 - Gass, Patrick
  • At the mouth of this river is a wintering camp of the Rickarees (Arikara Indians) of 60 lodges. We saw two Sioux Indians (Sioux Indians) on the north side, gave them some meat and proceeded on.
  • October 7, 1804
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
February 23, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark 23rd of February 1805 Satturday— All hands employed in Cutting the Perogus Loose from the ice, which was nearly even with their top; we found great difficuelty in effecting this work owing to the Different devisions of Ice & water    after Cutting as much as we Could with axes, we had all the Iron we Could get & Some axes put on long poles and picked throught the ice, under the first water, which was not more the 6 or 8 inches deep—    we disengaged one Perogue, and nearly disingaged the 2nd in Course of this day which has been warm & pleasent    vised by a no of Indians, Jessomme (Jusseaume, René) & familey went to the Shoes (Hidatsa Indians, Awaxawi) Indians Villag to day The father of the Boy whose feet were frose near this place, and nearly Cured by us took him home in a Slay— The white pirogue; see Weather Diary remarks for this date.
  • February 23, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
December 23, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark December 23rd Monday 18[05] rained without intermition all last night, and this day    much Thunder in the morning and evening with rain and Some hail to day, we are all employd about our huts have ours Covered and Dobed & we move into it, 2 Canoes of Indians Came up to day.    I purchased 3 mats verry neetly made, 2 bags made with Flags verry neetly made, those the Clotsops (Clatsop Indians) Carry their fish in.    also a Panthor Skin and Some Lickorish roots, for which I gave a worn out file, 6 fish hooks & Some Pounded fish which to us was Spoiled, but those people were fond of—    in the evining those people left us    I also gave a String of wompom to a Chief, and Sent a Small pice of Simimon to a Sick Indian in the Town who had attached himself to me Mountain lion or cougar, Felis concolor.
  • December 23, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
Images from the Gallery of the Open Frontier
  • Soule Collection: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs—William S. Soule Photographs of Arapaho, Cheyenna, Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Indians 1870?
  • N.D.
  • Images
Lewis and Clark on the Great Plains Images
  • Indian Tobacco Indian tobacco Illustration by: Paul Johnsgard Source: Lewis and Clark on the Great Plains 2003 University of Nebraska Press with the Center for Great Plains Studies Permission to reproduce image required. http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/
  • N.D.
  • Images
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Susie Shot in the Eye Susie Shot in the Eye, a Sioux Indian, half-length portrait, seated, facing left, at the Indian Congress of the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition.
  • N.D.
  • Images
Images from the Gallery of the Open Frontier
  • Assinniboine Indians Assinniboine Indians, MT. MT USA 111-sc-82398 Collection: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer—Signal Corps Photographs of American Military Activity 1890–1891 NARA-NWDNS
  • N.D.
  • Images
July 11, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Sent out Dreweyer (Drouillard, George) & Jo: Fields (Field, Joseph) to hunt, Back of this Island a creek coms in on the S. S. called by the Indians Little Tarkio Creek (Little Tarkio Creek)    I went on Shore above this Island on the S. S. found the bottom Subject for overflow wet and verry thickly interwoven with grape Vines—    proceeded on at about ½ a miles from the river about 3 ms. and observed fresh Sign of a horse, I prosueed the track, with an expectation of finding a Camp of Indians on the river, when I got to the river, I saw a horse on the Beech, this horse as appears was left last winter by Some hunting party, probable the Othouez (Oto Indians) [Otos (Oto Indians) ], I joined the Boat on the Sand Island (Sand Island) Situated opposit the mouth of the Ne Ma har River (Big Nemaha River) , this river Coms in on the L.
  • The Big Nemaha River (Big Nemaha River) , whose Oto (Oto Indians) Indian name, nį́mąha, signifies "miry water," enters the Missouri (Missouri River) in Richardson County (Richardson County, Nebr.) , Nebraska (Nebraska) , just above the Nebraska (Nebraska) -Kansas (Kansas) line.
  • July 11, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 30, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Clark 30th of September Sunday 1804    had not proceeded far before we discovered an Indian running after us, he requstd to go with us to the Ricaras (Arikara Indians) , we refused to take him, I discovered at a great Distanc a great number of men women & Children decending a hill towards the river above which the Chief with us told us was the other Band, Some rain & hard wind    at about 10 oClock we anchored opposit the Camps of this band and told them we took them by the hand, and Sent to each Chief a Carrot of Tobacco & Some to the principal men and farth[er] Said that after Staying with the band below 2 days to See them we had been badly treated and Should not land again, as we had not time to Delay—    refured then to Mr.
  • for a full account of us, and an explination of what had been Said, they appeard ansioes for us to eat with them and observed they were friendly    we apoligised & proceeded on under a Double reafed Sale—    the Chief on board threw out to those that ran up Small pieces of Tobacco & told them to go back and open thier ears, We Saw great number of white guls—    refresh the party with whiskey, in the evening we Saw 2 Indians at a Distance, The boat turned by accident & was nearly filling and rocked verry much, allarmed the Indian Chief on board who ran and hid himself, we landed & the Indian express a wish to return, we gave him a Blanket Knife & Some tobacco and advised him to keep his men away, we camped on a Sand bar. verry Cold & windy— Course & Distance N. 30° W. 3 m. to the upper point of Some woods S.
  • passed the 2nd Band of Tetons (Sioux Indians, Teton) , North 2 m. to a tree on the S.
  • September 30, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
August 28, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Cought out of their traps Several Sammon and gave us two, I purchased two others which we made last us to day. Several a Camp of about 40 Indians came from the West fork and passed up to day, nothing killed by my party with every exertion in all places where game probably might be found.
  • Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) informing me of his Situation at the upper Village, and had precured 22 horses for our rout through by land on the plan which I had preposed in which he agreed with me in; and requsted me to ride up and get the horses the Indian informed him they had reserved for me &c. I purchased Some fish roe of those pore but kind people with whome I am Encamped for which I gave three Small fish hooks, the use of which they readily proseved, one Indian out all day & killed only one Sammon with his gig; my hunters killed nothing, I had three pack Saddles made to day for our horses which I expected Capt Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) would purchase &c.
  • N. 80° W.   4 miles to the East fork of the Lewis's River (Lemhi (East Fork Lewis's) River) 40 yds. Wide an Indian Snake (Shoshone Indians) Camp of 25 Lodges    passed over hilley land all the way from the deviding ridge.
  • August 28, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 1, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • three men went down to the Mo. of it to purchase Some Sammon from a camp of Indians who Stay at the mo. of the Creek to fish.    they bought about 25 pound with a fiew Small articles.   
  • we gethered and boiled Some which eat verry well.    a nomber of Indian lodges along the creek.    we had 2 at camp to Sleep in.    Several Small Showers of rain this day & a little Small hail Sunday September 1st    A fine clear morning, we set out as usual & proceeded on over very high mountains, which were bad for our horses, to climb up & down them; We passed across several large Creeks, the water of which was very Cold, with considerable quantities of Pine & Cotton timber growing on each side of them, & plenty of sweet service berries which was very welcome to us at this time.—    In the afternoon, we assended a mountain nearly as steep as the roof of a house, and went down, into a Valley which had a large Creek running through it,—    and a fine plain a short distance from this Creek, We encamped after having come about 23 Miles this day.—    We stopped about 3 hours before night, on account of it raining, some of our party gigged several Salmon in the Creek & three of our men also went down to the Creek in order to purchase some Salmon from a band of Indians, who stay as we were informed at the mouth of the Creek fishing—    They bought about 25 lbs. weight for some very trifling articles:    the hunters killed a Deer & wounded two bears this evening, but did not get them.—    The wild or choke Cherries were very plenty in this bottom, we gather'd some, which we boil'd & they eat very well—    There was number of Indian lodges of the Snake (Shoshone Indians) Indians lying along this Creek, & we had 2 of their Camping lodges to sleep in—    during this afternoon we had several small Showers of rain.— Here begins the first entry in the final section of Whitehouse's (Whitehouse, Joseph) original journal.
  • September 1, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
October 15, 1805 - Clark, William
  • here we were obliged for the first time to take the property of the Indians without the consent or approbation of the owner.    the night was cold & we made use of a part of those boards and Split logs for fire wood.
  • Examined the rapids which we found more dificuelt to pass than we expected from the Indians information.    a Suckcession of Sholes, appears to reach from bank to bank for 3 miles which was also intersepted with large rocks Sticking up in every direction, and the chanel through which we must pass crooked and narrow.   
  • These three were probably Palouse Indians (Palouse Indians) . Trafzer & Scheuerman, 3. Fishhook Rapids (Fishhook (Bason) Rapids) .
  • October 15, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
December 10, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark Tuesday 10th December 1805 a Cloudy rainey morning    verry early I rose and walked on the Shore of the Sea coast and picked up Several Curious Shells.    I Saw Indians walking up and down the beech which I did not at first understand the Cause of, one man came to where I was and told me that he was in Serch of fish which is frequently thrown up on Shore and left by the tide, and told me [NB: in English] the "Sturgion was verry good" and that the water when it retired left fish which they eate    this was Conclusive evedance to me that this Small band depended in Some Measure for their winters Subsistance on the fish which is thrown on Shore and left by the tide—    after amuseing my Self for about an hour on the edge of the rageing Seas I returned to the houses, one of the Indians pointed to a flock of Brant Sitting in the creek at Short distance below and requested me to Shute one, I walked down with my Small rifle and killed two at about 40 yds distance, on my return to the houses two Small ducks Set at about 30 Steps from me    the Indians pointed at the ducks they were near together, I Shot at the ducks and accidently Shot the head of one off, this Duck and brant was Carried to the house and every man Came around examined the Duck looked at the gun the Size of the ball which was 100 to the pound and Said in their own language Clouch Musket, [NB: English word Musket] wake, com ma-tax Musket which is, a good Musket do not under Stand this kind of Musket &c.
  • in my absence the Men brought in the Six Elk which was killed Several days ago—.    4 men Complaining of violent Coalds.    three Indians in a Canoe Came up from the Clat Sop (Clatsop Indians) Village yesterday and returned to day.
  • The sentence is in the Chinook (Chinook Indians) jargon: ƛuš musket, wek kǝmtǝks musket, "[it is a] good musket, [I do] not understand [this] musket."
  • December 10, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
January 3, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • this blubber they informed us they had obtained from their neighbours the Callamucks (Tillamook Indians) who inhabit the coast to the S. E. near whose vilage a whale had recently perished.   
  • this reminded us of the necessity of taking time by the forelock, and keep out several parties while we have yet a little meat beforehand.— I gave the Chief Commowooll (Coboway) a pare of sattin breechies with which he appeared much pleased.— In Chinookan (Chinook Indians) the term is tia. In the Chinook (Chinook Indians) jargon it is táyi which is borrowed from the Nootkan word ta·yi,; all mean "chief." The Tillamooks (Tillamook Indians) ; the direction should be southwest. Probably the northwestern crow, Corvus caurinus [AOU, 489], a new species.
  • January 3, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether

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