Journals of the
Lewis & Clark Expedition

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April 30, 1806 - Clark, William
  • I informed the chief and he mounted Capt Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) horse and went in Serch of the horse himself. about half an hour after the Chopunnish (Nez Perce Indians) man brought my horse.    we deturmined to proceed on with the party leaving one man to bring up Capt L.
  • We took leave of those honest friendly people the Wallah wallahs (Walula Indians) and departed at 11 A. M. accompanied by our guide and the Chopunnish (Nez Perce Indians) man and family.   
  • Fields (Field, Reubin) over took us with Capt Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) horse    our Stock of horses have now increased to 23 and 〈several〉 most of them excellent young horses, but much the greatest part of them have Sore backs.    those Indians are cruel horse masters; they ride hard and their Saddles illey constructed.   
  • April 30, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
August 22, 1805 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • these are certainly the best root I have yet seen in uce among the Indians.    I asked the Indians to shew me the plant of which these roots formed a part but they informed me that neither of them grew near this place.
  • the Indians are very orderly and do not croud about our camp nor attempt to disterb any article they see lying about.   
  • The triad of foodstuffs of river Indians on the lower Missouri (Missouri River) : corn, Zea maise L.; beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L.; and squash, Cucurbita peop L.
  • August 22, 1805
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
August 29, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • Ordway Wednesday 29th    a hard Storm arose from the N W. of wind & rain about 8 o.C. last night    rained considerable part of the Night.    the men who went for the Indians did not return last night    Cloudy morning. Some Thunder, Colter (Colter, John) Sent on for to find the man that went on with the horses    the pearogue repaired.   
  • in the afternoon Sergt. pryor (Pryor, Nathaniel Hale) & the 2 men who went with him returned to our Camp & brought with them 60 Indians of the Souix (Sioux Indians) nation.    they Camped on the opposite Shore & did not incline to cross this evening.   
  • August 29, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
October 12, 1804 - Gass, Patrick
  • We had a pleasant morning, and remained here the forenoon to hear the chief of this village speak. Last night the Indians stole an axe from our cook, which of course in some degree diminished our confidence, and lessened the amicable character we had conceived of them.
  • One of the natives agreed to go with us as far as the Mandans (Mandan Indians) . We encamped on the north side. After dark we heard some person hallooing on the opposite shore; and a periogue went over and brought an Indian and two squaws, who remained with us all night.
  • October 12, 1804
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
September 21, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark Septr. 21st Saturday 1805 a fine morning    Sent out all the hunters early in different directions to Kill Something and delayed with the Indians to prevent Suspicion & to acquire as much information as possible.   
  • The day proved warm, 2 Chifs of Bands visited me to day—    the hunters all returned without any thing, I collected a horse load of roots & 3 Sammon & Sent R Fields (Field, Reubin) with one Indian to meet Capt Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether)    at 4 oClock Set out with the other men to the river, passed thro a fine Pine Country    decended a Steep ruged hill verry long to a Small river which comes from our left and I suppose it to be [blank] River    passed down the river 2 miles on a Steep hill side    at 11 oClock P. M. arrived at a camp of 5 Squars a boy & 2 Children    those people were glad to See us & gave us drid Sammon    one had formerly been taken by the Minitarries (Atsina Indians) of the north & Seen white men, our guide (Old Toby) called the Chief who was fishing on the other Side of the river, whome I found a Cherfull man of about 65    I gave him a Medal.
  • September 21, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
October 29, 1805 - Ordway, John
  • we Set out eairly, and proceeded on about 6 miles and halted at Some Indian lodges where we bought a number more dogs and proceeded on    the current gentle    passed a great number of Indian villages on the Stard Side.   
  • Side.— More Chilluckittequaws (Wishram-Wasco Indians) , living in Klickitat County (Klickitat County, Wash.) , Washington (Washington) .
  • October 29, 1805
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
October 27, 1805 - Gass, Patrick
  • We suppose them to be a band of the Flathead (Flathead Indians) nation, as all their heads are compressed into the same form; though they do not speak exactly the same language, but there is no great difference, and this may be a dialect of the same.
  • The Dalles (Columbia River, The Dalles of the (Great Narrows)) area marked the dividing line between the Shahaptian language (upstream) and the Chinookan language (downstream). The Wishrams (Wishram-Wasco Indians) lived on the north side of the Columbia (Columbia River) , and the closely allied Wascos (Wishram-Wasco Indians) on the south side; both spoke Chinookan languages.
  • October 27, 1805
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
November 15, 1805 - Gass, Patrick
  • One of the two men who first went out came to us here, the other had joined Captain Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) party. Last night the Indians had stolen their arms and accoutrements, but restored them on the arrival of Captain Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) and his men in the morning. They rounded Point Ellice (Point Ellice (Point Distress)) and entered Baker Bay (Baker (Haley's) Bay) , Pacific County (Pacific County, Wash.) , Washington (Washington) , which the captains called Haley's Bay (Baker (Haley's) Bay) , after a sea captain–trader who used the bay as an anchorage, and whom the Indians had described as their favorite trader. See Clark's (Clark, William) entries for November 6, 1805, and January 1, 1806. Shannon (Shannon, George) , accompanied by five Indians; Willard (Willard, Alexander) had joined Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) party.
  • November 15, 1805
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
December 30, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark December 30th Monday 1805 Hard wind and Some rain last night, this morning fair and the Sun Shown for a Short time    4 Indians Came from the upper Villages    they offered us roots which we did not Chuse to axcept of, as their expectations for those presents of a fiew roots is 3 or 4 times their real worth, those Indians with those of yesterday Continued all day.
  • The fort was Completed this evening and at Sun Set we let The Indians know that, our Custom will be to Shut the gates at Sun Set, at which time, they must all go out of the fort    those people who are verry foward and disegreeable, left the huts with reluctiance—    This day proved the best we have had Since at this place, only 3 Showers of rain to day, Cloudy nearly all day, in the evening the wind luled and the fore part of the night fair and clear.
  • December 30, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
The Way to the Western Sea Lewis and Clark across the Continent
  • The whites referred to it as the Buffalo Calling Dance. To the Indians it was the Red Stick Ceremony. Like most Indian rituals, the Red Stick gathering was designed to fill a need, in this case the luring back of the buffalo that had wandered far away, leaving the Indians short of food.
  • The dichotomy is clearly revealed in the captains' handling of Indian studies. Before leaving Washington, Lewis had been advised to collect information about such things as Indian pulse rates, menstrual cycles, funeral customs, medical practices, and religious observances.
  • According to their understanding of Indian information, it was the last major northern tributary of the Missouri.
  • N.D.
  • Texts
  • David Lavender
July 18, 1804 - Floyd, Charles
  • Saw a Dog on the Bank Which we Sepose to be Indians had ben Lost    this is the first Sine of Indians we have Saw    Camptd on the South Side    the Land is Low    that on the N.
  • July 18, 1804
  • Journals
  • Floyd, Charles
August 14, 1804 - Floyd, Charles
  • Floyd Tuesday august 14th    Lay by for ouer men How we had Sent after the Desarter on the 7th    thes Indians 〈onley live at this village〉 has not Live at the town Sence the Smallpoks was So bad abut 4 years ago    thay Burnt thare town and onley live about it in the winter and in the Spring Go all of them in the praries 〈of〉 after the Buflow and dos not Return untill the fall to meet the french traders    thay Rase no Corn nor aney thing excep Som times thay Rase Som Corn and then the Ottoe (Oto Indians) nation Comes and Cuts it Down while thay are in the praries
  • August 14, 1804
  • Journals
  • Floyd, Charles
October 4, 1804 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • at 9 oClock we halted for breakfast    an Indian Swam the river & came to us.    proceeded on    passed a creek on S.
  • We stopp'd to take our break fast, soon after, an Indian swam the River, and came to us; We proceeded on, and passed a Creek, lying on the South side of the River, called Teel Creek (Stove (Teel) Creek) , and in the Evening, we encamped on the upper point of an Island
  • October 4, 1804
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
November 10, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • Probably Sho-ta-harro-ra (Coal, The (Sho-ta-harro-ra)) , The Coal (Coal, The (Sho-ta-harro-ra)) , the second chief of the Mandans (Mandan Indians) and apparently an Arikara (Arikara Indians) by birth, from Mitutanka (Mitutanka (Matootonha) village) .
  • November 10, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
November 22, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • Pryor (Pryor, Nathaniel Hale) & 5 men Sent with a pearogue to the 2nd village of the mandens (Mandan Indians) for corn    we completed building the backs of our chimneys.   
  • It involved the sergeant sleeping with an Indian woman, whose husband was then about to kill her; see Clark's (Clark, William) entry for this day.
  • November 22, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
December 27, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Clark 27th December 1804 Thursday a little fine Snow    weather something Colder than yesterday    Several Indians here to Day, much Surprised at the Bellos & method of makeing Sundery articles of Iron    wind hard from the N W.
  • Besides repairing expedition equipment, they made tomahawk heads and other articles to trade to the Indians for food. Russell (FTT), 358–61; Ronda (LCAI), 102–4.
  • December 27, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
February 22, 1805 - Clark, William
  • a Cloudy morning, at about 12 oClock it began to rain and Continud for a fiew minits, and turned to Snow, and Continud Snowing for about one hour, and Cleared away fair    The two hunters left below arrived, They killed two Elk, and hung them up out of the reach of the wolves—    The Coal (Coal, The (Sho-ta-harro-ra)) a Ricara (Arikara Indians) who is a considerable Chief of the Mandans (Mandan Indians) visited us to day, and maney others of the three nations in our neighbourhood.—
  • February 22, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
March 9, 1805 - Ordway, John
  • a nomber of the Savages called the Big Belleys (Hidatsa Indians) , chiefs came to the Fort to See the Commanding officers    Capt.
  • Among them Le Borgne (Le Borgne (One Eye)) , or One Eye (Le Borgne (One Eye)) , principal chief of the Hidatsas (Hidatsa Indians) . The expedition's quadrant.
  • March 9, 1805
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
September 28, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark Thursday 28th Septr. 1805 [NB: Saturday] Our men nearly all Complaining of ther bowels, a heaviness at the Stomach & Lax, Some of those taken first getting better, a number of Indians about us gazeing &c. &c. This day proved verry worm and Sultery, nothing killed    men complaining of their diat of fish & roots.    all that is able working at the Canoes, Several Indians leave us to day, the raft continue on down the river, one old man informed us that he had been to the White peoples fort at the falls & got white beeds &c    his Story was not beleved as he Could explain nothing.—
  • September 28, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
December 19, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Pryor (Pryor, Nathaniel Hale) with 8 men in 2 Canoes across Meriwethers Bay (Youngs (Meriwether's) Bay) for the boards of an old Indian house which is vacant, the residue of the men at work at their huts—    the after part of the Day Cloudy with Hail and rain, Serjt. Pryor (Pryor, Nathaniel Hale) & party returned in the evening with a load of old boards which was found to be verry indifferent 2 Indians Cam and Stayed a Short time to day
  • December 19, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
January 11, 1806 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • Whitehouse Saturday Janry 11th    We had a number of Indians encamped near the fort last night, And this morning, we had pleasant weather.   
  • We returned in the Evening with the Elk Meat—    The Indians left the fort, in order to return to their Villages.    We had Rain towards night.—
  • January 11, 1806
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
October 29, 1805 - Clark, William
  • E. from which direction I concluded they were Snake Indians (Paiute Indians) ; his is the first Instance I ever knew of the Indians takeing any other trofea of their exploits off the dead bodies of their Enimies except the Scalp.—    The Chief painted those fingers with Several other articles which was in his bag red and Securely put them back, haveing first mad a Short harrang which I Suppose was bragging of what he had done in war.   
  • we call this rockey Island the Sepulchar (Memaloose (Sepulcher) Island) —    The last river we passed we Shall Call the Cataract River (Klickitat (Cataract) River) from the number of falls which the Indians say is on it—    passed 2 Lodges of Indians a Short distance below the Sepulchar Island (Memaloose (Sepulcher) Island) on the Stard.
  • Side, opposit to a large Sand bar, in this creek the Indians above take their fish, here we Saw Several canoes, which induced us to call this Canoe Creek (White Salmon River (Canoe Creek)) it is 28 yards wide, about 4 miles lower and below the Sand bar is a butifull cascade falling over a rock of about 100 feet [NB: high], a Short distance lower passed 4 Indian houses on the Lard.
  • October 29, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 8, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Shoshone Indians
  • the fauns they boiled and eate every part of them even the Skins with the hair. The Snake Indian (Shoshone Indians) was much displeased that he was not furnished with as much Deer as he could eate.   
  • the Indians retired and we lay down. Derected 5 hunters to turn our early in the morning to hunt and meet us at the twisted hair's (Twisted Hair (Walamotinin)) lodge.
  • May 8, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
June 29, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • I think the temperature of these springs about the same as the hotest of the hot springs in Virginia (Virginia) .    both the men and indians amused themselves with the use of a bath this evening. I observed that the indians after remaining in the hot bath as long as they could bear it ran and plunged themselves into the creek the water of which is now as cold as ice can make it; after remaining here a few minutes they returned again to the warm bath, repeating this transision several times but always ending with the warm bath.
  • I also saw some young pheasants which were about the size of Chickens of 3 days old.    saw the track of two bearfoot indians who were supposed to be distressed refugees who had fled from the Minnetares (Hidatsa Indians) .
  • The "Minnetares" here might be either Atsinas (Atsina Indians) or Hidatsas (Hidatsa Indians) . A red vertical line runs through the last sentences of the entry, probably to strike out the material about the "pheasants" and perhaps done by Biddle (Biddle, Nicholas) .
  • June 29, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
July 17, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • : Tansy] river (Teton (Rose, Tansy) River) where I purposed remaining all night as I could not reach maria's river (Marias River) this evening and unless I did there would be but little probability of our finding any wood and very probably no water either. on our arrival at the river we saw where a wounded and bleading buffaloe had just passed and concluded it was probable that the indians had been runing them and were near at hand.    the Minnetares of Fort de prarie (Atsina Indians) and the blackfoot indians (Blackfeet Indians) rove through this quarter of the country and as they are a vicious lawless and reather an abandoned set of wretches I wish to avoid an interview with them if possible.
  • Fields (Field, Reubin) to resume their resurches for the indians; and set myself down to record the transactions of the day.   
  • Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) information on these people came primarily from their enemies, like the Shoshones (Shoshone Indians) and the Nez Perces (Nez Perce Indians) , but his experience of July 27, 1806, no doubt confirmed his unfavorable opinion.
  • July 17, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
April 30, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • C's (Clark, William)    about half an hour after he set out our Chopunnish (Nez Perce Indians) man brought up Capt. C's (Clark, William) horse we now determined to leave one man to bring on my horse when Yellept (Yelleppit) returned and to proceed on with the party    accordingly we took leave of these friendly honest people the Wollahwollahs (Walula Indians) and departed at 11 A. M. accompanyed by our guide and the Chopunnish (Nez Perce Indians) man and family.    we continued our rout N. 30 E. 14 ms. through an open level sandy plain to a bold Creek 10 yds. wide.   
  • Franklin & Dyrness, 245–46; Welsh (Welsh Indians) et al., 723. Probably a species of bulrush, or possibly of horsetail, often referred to by Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) as sand rush.
  • April 30, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
The Way to the Western Sea Lewis and Clark across the Continent
  • Realizing this, the neighborhood Indians refused to trade even a single dog for vessels they expected would be abandoned.
  • Lewis sold two of the remaining vessels, along with some elkskins and pieces of scrap iron, for beads, a staple item of Indian currency everywhere. When the Indians declined to buy the third canoe, he cut it up for fuel.
  • But first they would have to find Indians who would help ferry them, their goods, and their horses across the swollen Columbia.
  • N.D.
  • Texts
  • David Lavender
March 21, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Chotieu & Gratiot (Gratiot, Charles) & went to stop 110 Kickpo (Kickapoo Indians) from going to war against the Osarges (Osage Indians) & [perhaps words missing]    good W[eather?]   
  • By the time of the Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) and Clark (Clark, William) expedition some Kickapoos (Kickapoo Indians) were moving west from Illinois (Illinois) , across the Mississippi River (Mississippi River) , to escape advancing European settlement.
  • Gibson; Callender, Pope, & Pope. For the Osage (Osage Indians) s, see May 31, 1804.
  • March 21, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 22, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) walk on Shore a little & passed a Camp of Kickapoo (Kickapoo Indians) Indians, & incamped in the mouth of a Small Creek in a large Bend on the Stbd Side.
  • [Tavern] Isld: and at the mouth of Osage Woman river (Femme Osage (Osage Woman's) River) Total 18   Possibly the Kickapoo (Kickapoo Indians) town referred to on May 18, 1804, but "town" usually refers to a more permanent Indian settlement than the hunting camp this seems to have been.
  • May 22, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 27, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • Gass (Gass, Patrick) informed me as he was at the village to day that he counted 80 Lodges (of the Teton (Sioux Indians, Teton) Tribe) which contain ten persons each, which were built round with poles about 15 or 20 feet high & covered with dressed Buffalo hides painted    Some of them red &.C.   
  • roused all hands and got Safe to Shore on S. S.    the Indians hearing us, and expected that the Mahars (Omaha Indians) Indians had come to attack us.   
  • September 27, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
October 31, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Clark 31st of October Wednesday 1804 a fine morning, the Chief of the Mandans (Mandan Indians) Sent a 2d Chief to invite us to his Lodge to recive Some Corn & here what he had to Say    I walked down and with great ceremoney was Seeted on a roab by the Side of the Chief, he threw a handsom Roabe over me and after smokeing the pipe with Several old men arround, the Chief Spoke Said he believed what we had told them, and that peace would be general, which not only gave him Satisfaction but all his people, they now Could hunt without fear, & ther womin Could work in the fields without looking everry moment for the Enemey, and put off their mockersons at night, [NB: sign of peace undress] as to the Reares we will Show you that we wish peace with all, and do not make war on any without Cause, that Chief pointing to the 2d and Some brave men will accompy. the Ricare (Arikara Indians) Chief now with you to his village & nation, to Smoke with that people, when you Came up the Indians in the neighbouring Villages, as well as those out hunting when they heard of you had great expectations of reciving presents    they those hunting imediately on hearing returned to the Village and all was Disapointed, and Some Dessatisfied, as to himself he was not much So but his Village was—    he would go and See his great father &c.
  • Soon after those Chiefs left us the Grand Chief of the Mandans (Mandan Indians) Came Dressed in the Clothes we had given with his 2 Small Suns, and requested to See the men Dance which they verry readily gratified him in,—    the wind blew hard all the after part of the day from the N E and Continud all night to blow hard from that point, in the mornig it Shifed N W.   
  • October 31, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
October 12, 1805 - Clark, William
  • W.   3 miles    passed 4 Islands at 1½ miles 〈three〉 3 nearly op- post    a bad rapid on the Lard Side of those Islands, and Swift water around them to a Lard. point    passed a Stard point West   3 miles to a Lard Bend    passed a Small rapid & Island on the Lard. also an Indian Cabin. N. W.   2 miles to a Stard.
  • Side below the rapid a Small Creek falls in    Saw an Indian on the high land at a distance.    no timber in view South   2 miles to a pt. in Lard. bend    here the Plains become low on both Sides    river about 400 yards wide S. 30° W.   2 ½ miles to the mouth of a Creek Ente in a Lard. bend opsd. a Small Island on the Lard Side S. 85° W   2 ½ to the Stard. bend at a Swift place    about half the distance of this course Cp L took Meridian altitd. on Ld.
  • plain country rise gradually on each side    passed Island and rapid an Indian house on the Stard. Some Indians at it &c.
  • October 12, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
October 30, 1805 - Ordway, John
  • a cloudy morning.    we bought 3 dogs of the Indians and Set out and proceeded on    the River wide and Strait    the current gentle.   
  • Side about 40 yards wide    we passed a large Indian village on the Stard. Side a Short distance above the big Shoote (Columbia River, Cascades (Great Rapids, Great Shute)) .   
  • Until November 1 they camped here, just above the Cascades (Cascade Range) of the Columbia (Columbia River) (Ordway's (Ordway, John) "Shoote"), on an island in Skamania County (Skamania County, Wash.) , nearly opposite Cascade Locks (Cascade Locks, Oreg.) , Hood River County (Hood River County, Oreg.) , Oregon (Oregon) . The Indians are Yehuhs (Yehuh Indians) .
  • October 30, 1805
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
November 24, 1805 - Clark, William
  • A fair morning    Sent out 6 hunters, and we proceeded to make the following observations    a Chief and Several men of the Chin nook (Chinook Indians) nation Came to Smoke with us this evening    one of the men brought a Small Sea otter Skin for which we gave Some blue beads—    this day proved fair which gave us an oppertunity of drying our wet articles, bedding &c.
  • They generaly agree that the most Elk is on the opposit Shore, and that the greatest numbers of Deer is up the river at Some distance above— The Elk being an animal much larger than Deer, easier to kiled better meat (in the winter when pore) and Skins better for the Clothes of our party: added to—, a convenient Situation to the Sea coast where we Could make Salt, and a probibility of vessels Comeing into the mouth of Columbia (Columbia River) ("which the Indians inform us would return to trade with them in 3 months["]) from whome we might precure a fresh Supply of Indian trinkets to purchase provisions on our return home: together with the Solicitations of every individual, except one of our party induced us Conclude to Cross the river and examine the opposit Side, and if a Sufficent quantity of Elk could probebly be precured to fix on a Situation as convenient to the Elk & Sea Coast as we Could find—    added to the above advantagies in being near the Sea Coast one most Strikeing one ocurs to me i'e, the Climate which must be from every appearance 〈must be〉 much milder than that above the 1st range of Mountains, The Indians are Slighly Clothed and give an account of but little Snow, and the weather which we have experiened Since we arrived in the neighbourhood of the Sea Coast has been verry warm, and maney of the fiew days past disagreeably So.   
  • November 24, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
February 7, 1806 - Clark, William
  • In this neighbourhood I observe the honeysuckle common in the U States, I first met with it on the waters of the Kooskooske (Clearwater (Flathead, Kooskooskee) River) near the Chopunnish (Nez Perce Indians) Nation, and again below the grand rapids (Columbia River, Cascades (Great Rapids, Great Shute)) in the Columbian (Columbia River) Vally on tide water.
  • The Small Pox had distroyed a great number of the nativs in this quarter. it provailed about 4 or 5 yrs Sinc among the Clatsops (Clatsop Indians) , and distroy'd Several hundreds of them, four of their Chiefs fell a victym to it's ravages. these Clatsops (Clatsop Indians) are Deposited in their Canoes on the bay a fiew miles below us. I think the late ravages of the Small Pox, may well acount for the number of remains of villages which I Saw on my rout to the Kil a mox (Tillamook Indians) in Several places—.
  • February 7, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
June 21, 1806 - Clark, William
  • at the pass of Collin's Creek (Lolo (Collins's) Creek (Idaho)) we met two indians who were on their way over the mountains, they had brought with them the three horses and the Mule which had left us and returned to the quawmash ground (Weippe Prairie (Camas Flats, Quawmash Flats)) .    those indians returned with us about ½ mile down the Creek where we 〈expected〉 halted to dine and graze our horses.    as well as we Could understand the indians they informed us they had Seen Geo Drewyer (Drouillard, George) & Shannon (Shannon, George) , and that they would not return untill the expiration of two days.   
  • June 21, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
Part 2: Miscellany - Clark, William
  • add Several on Wappato Island (Sauvie (Wapato) Island) The Multnomah (Willamette (Multnomah) River) The Skillute (Watlala Indians) Nation on The Coweleske River (Cowlitz (Coweliskee) River) Multnomah River (Willamette (Multnomah) River) and the tribes on Wappato Island (Sauvie (Wapato) Island) Seal (Washougal (Seal) River) & Quicksand (Sandy (Quicksand) River) Rivers add Several nations and their names on the Columbia (Columbia River) Mt.
  • add the Skaddatts— (Klickitat Indians) and other nations a large Creek above River la page (John Day (Lepage's) River (Sherman-Gilliam counties, Oreg.))
  • Galletins River (Gallatin (South, Southeast Fork) River) andn the portage of 48 miles & mountains River Rochejhone (Yellowstone River) and it's waters This document is a loose sheet in the Voorhis collection, written by Clark (Clark, William) some time after he completed his exploration of the Yellowstone River (Yellowstone River) . This list of Indian tribes and locations was apparently intended as an aid in the creation of a map of the explorers' route and the placement of Indian tribes.
  • Postexpedition 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 26, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Durion (Dorion, Pierre, Sr.) at the 〈Bous roulee (Sioux Indians, Brulé or Bois Brule) 〉 [NB: Bois brulé (Sioux Indians, Brulé or Bois Brule) ] Tribe, those are a retched and Dejected looking people    the Squars appear low & Corse but this is an unfavourabl time to judge of them we gave our Mahar (Omaha Indians) inteptr.
  • Bois roulé, otherwise kinnickinnick, comes from the Chippewa (Chippewa Indians) word, kinikinigân, "something mixed by hand." It was a mixture of bark, perhaps with some tobacco, used by many western tribes for smoking.
  • Pemmican was a basic travel ration with Indians and fur traders. The North West and Hudson's Bay (Hudson's Bay) companies carried on a considerable trade with the northern Plains tribes to obtain pemmican for their employees in the subarctic.
  • September 26, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 6, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • Clark (Clark, William) .    for this stream we know no indian name and no whiteman but ourselves was ever on it's principal branches.   
  • the banks low and bed formed of pebbles.—    had a small shower of rain this evening.— The Skitswish (Coeur d'Alene Indians) , a Salish (Flathead Indians) an-language people now known as the Coeur d'Alenes (Coeur d'Alene Indians) (from the French "Awl Hearts").
  • A historic Nez Perce (Nez Perce Indians) village, yatoynu, "over-ripe kouse," coincided with this location and an archaeological site has also been recorded here.
  • May 6, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
The Way to the Western Sea Lewis and Clark across the Continent
  • Because this was a heavily traveled Indian route, the captains had no trouble planning procedures. Accompanied by an old Indian, they located a rough, twelve-hundred-foot portage across solid rock and windblown sand.
  • But were the Indians pilfering as the word is defined by property-conscious Anglo-Saxons?
  • All the Indians wanted was honest payment for the use of their territory, the theory holds.
  • N.D.
  • Texts
  • David Lavender
October 10, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • Ordway Wednesday October 10th 1804 A Journal continued from 90th page at R. Ree (Arikara Indians) villge.    10th Oct. About 2 oClock P. M. the chiefs & Warrirs of the Rick a Rees (Arikara Indians) Nation assembled at our Camp under the american flag to Counsel with our Officers.
  • Side 1550 ml. to the River Clifs abo. old vill. of Mandans (Mandan Indians) S. W. S. 1600½ ml. to Fort Mandens on the N.
  • Kakawissassa (Lighting Crow (Kakawissassa)) or Lighting Crow (Lighting Crow (Kakawissassa)) , Pocasse (Hay (Pocasse)) or Hay, and Piaheto (Toone) or Eagle's Feather (Toone) are the Arikara (Arikara Indians) chiefs. See Clark's (Clark, William) entries for October 8–11 for a discussion of the meeting with the Arikaras (Arikara Indians) and notes on the Indian villages.
  • October 10, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
March 19, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • .— do not. The Killamucks (Tillamook Indians) , Clatsops (Clatsop Indians) , Chinnooks (Chinook Indians) , Cathlahmahs (Cathlamet Indians) and Wâc'-ki-a-cums [NB: Qu: Wackms.]
  • it is from this peculiar form of the head that the nations East of the Rocky mountains (Rocky Mountains) , call all the nations on this side, except the Aliahtans or snake Indians (Shoshone Indians) , by the generic name of Flat heads (Flathead Indians) .
  • the management of the canoe for various purposes seems to be a duty common to both sexes, as also many other 〈domestic〉 occupations which with most Indian nations devolves exclusively on the woman.    their feasts which they are very fond are always prepared and served by the men.— Comowool (Coboway) and the two Cathlahmahs (Cathlamet Indians) left us this evening.   
  • March 19, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
August 13, 1804 - Clark, William
  • passed a Creek on which the Mahar (Omaha Indians) village is Situated    at 1½ me. a Sand bar on the S. S. & one on the L.
  • Oddeway (Ordway, John) Peter Crousett (Cruzatte, Pierre) & 3 men to the Village of the Mahars (Omaha Indians) , 1 League for the nation to Come and talk with us on tormorrow, the S.
  • This is perhaps the best-known Omaha (Omaha Indians) village. It was called "Big Village," or Tonwontonga (Tonwontonga village) .
  • August 13, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 27, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) came on Shore and we Continued untill we were Sleepy & returned to our boat, the 2nd Chief & one principal man accompanid us, those two Indians accompanied me on board in the Small Perogue, Capt. Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) with a guard Still on Shore, the man who Steered not being much acustomed to Steer, passed the bow of the boat & peroge Came broad Side against the Cable & broke it 〈our Cable broke I ordered〉 which obliged me to order in a loud voice all hands 〈up〉 all hands up & at their ores, my preempty order to the men and the bustle of their getting to their ores allarmd the Cheifs, togethr with the appearance of the men on Shore, as the boat turnd. The Cheif hollowered & allarmed the Camp or Town informing them that the Mahars (Omaha Indians) was about attacting us. [NB: them] in about 10 minits the bank was lined with men armed the 1st Cheif at their head, about 200 men appeared and after about ½ hour returned all but about 60 men who Continued on the bank all night, the Cheifs Contd. all night with us—    This allarm I as well as Captn.
  • C [Cruzatte] (Cruzatte, Pierre) —our Bowman who Cd. Speek Mahar (Omaha Indians) informed us in the night that the Maha (Omaha Indians) Prisoners informed him we were to be Stoped—    we Shew as little Sighns of a Knowledge of their intentions as possible all prepared on board for any thing which might hapen, we kept a Strong guard all night in the boat    no Sleep Spelling unclear, but presumably Clark (Clark, William) means "peremptory."
  • September 27, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 29, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Clarks (Clark, William) Notes Continued as first taken — 29th of September Satturday 1804 —    Set out early    Some bad Sand bars, at 9 oClock we observed the 2d Chief with 2 men and Squars on Shore, they wished to go up with us as far as the other part of their band, which would meet us on the river above not far Distant    we refused to let one more Come on board Stateing Suffient reasons, observd they would walk on Shore to the place we intended to Camp, offered us women    we objected and told them we Should not Speake to another teton (Sioux Indians, Teton) except the one on board with us, who might go on Shore when ever he pleased, those Indians proceeded on untill later in the evening when the Chief requested that the Perogue might put him across the river which we agreed to—    Saw numbers of Elk on the Sand bars today, passed an old Ricara (Arikara Indians) Village at the mouth of a Creek without timber    we Stayed all night on the Side of a sand bar ½ a Mile from the Shore.
  • The entries on document 60 cover the last month of travel up the Missouri (Missouri River) to the Mandan (Mandan Indians) villages, from September 29 to October 24, 1804. Osgood (FN), xviii–xix, 152 n. 1.
  • Dak.) , South Dakota (South Dakota) . The Arikara (Arikara Indians) village is believed to have been abandoned by 1794. Mattison (OR), 39–40; Robinson, 571; Atlas map 23; MRC map 41.
  • September 29, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
April 11, 1805 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • Hidatsa Indians
  • the country from fort Mandan (Mandan Indians) to this place is so constantly hunted by the Minetaries (Hidatsa Indians) that there is but little game we halted at two P.
  • there is a high bluff opposite to us, under which we saw some Indians, but the river is here so wide that we could not speake to them; suppose them to be a hunting party of Minetares (Hidatsa Indians) .—    we killed two gees today.
  • April 11, 1805
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
October 24, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • We got through this dangerous place, without any accident happening to us, & passed by several Indian fishing Camps, & high barren land which lay on both sides of the River.—    About 4 o'Clock P. M. we went down a bad rapid, where the River had made channels, in rockey Islands, & dangerous places; and a short distance below that place, we came to a Narrow place in the River, where across the River, was many high Rocks, & several rapid Channels running between them.—    We halted above this Narrow, & encamped for the night at a Village Inhabited by Indians.    These Indians had their houses built, in the same form that we build our houses in the United States with these exceptions, that they were built in the ground, & the Roofs were made, of white Cedar bark, & neatly put on.   
  • We saw some timber here, which grew a distance back from the River.—    We conclude that their must have been some white people among these Indians, as they had among them, a new Copper Tea kettle, beads, small pieces of Copper & a number of other articles    We saw also a Child among them, which was a mix'd breed, between a White Man & Indian Women.   
  • October 24, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
November 30, 1805 - Clark, William
  • States The Chinnooks (Chinook Indians) Cath lâh mâh (Cathlamet Indians) & others in this neighbourhood bury their dead in their Canoes.   
  • In addition to the more common use of burial canoes as described here by Clark (Clark, William) , the Chinookan (Chinook Indians) peoples around the mouth of the Columbia River (Columbia River) also sometimes placed the dead in boxes. A combination of these methods was employed by the Tillamook Indians (Tillamook Indians) of the northern Oregon (Oregon) coast (see Clark's (Clark, William) entry for January 8, 1806).
  • November 30, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
January 10, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Gass (Gass, Patrick) here and Set out at Sun rise, Crossed the little river which I waded 85 yards wide & 3 feet Deep Swift, at which place I Saw Several Indians one of which had 2 butifull Sea orter Skins on as a roabe, 〈I proceded on〉 here the Creek which I crossed at a tree and on which I camped the 6th inst. came within [illegible interlineation of three letters] 200 yds of the river & they Inds. make a portage here, Continued on a place 3 miles Crossed this Creek in a Small Canoe.   
  • M.    found a Cheif & number of Indians both Encamped on the Shore, and at the fort of the 〈Cha〉 Cath la-hur (Cathlamet Indians) Tribe which lives at no great distance above this back of an Island Close under the South Side of the Columbia River (Columbia River) Those people Speake the Same Language of the Clotsops (Clatsop Indians) dress nearly alike    the men of both Cut their hair in the neck.    use blankets of 〈this〉 the manifactory of the nativs near the falls of the Sheep Wool—fond of brass arm bands and Check, They bring Wap-pa-to root (which is Sagittifolia or the Common arrow head which is Cultivated by the Chinees (Chinook Indians) ) to Sell. This ends daily entries in the draft for Clark's (Clark, William) excursion of the whale site.
  • January 10, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
April 19, 1806 - Clark, William
  • M. and established our Camp a little above the present Skillute (Watlala Indians) village which has been removed as before observed a fiew hundred yards lower down the river than when we passed it last fall.
  • I entered the largest house of the Eneesher (Tenino Indians) s village in which I found all the enhabitents in bead.    they rose and made a light of Straw, they haveing no wood to burn.   
  • In the vicinity of present Wishram (Wishram-Wasco Indians) , Klickitat County (Klickitat County, Wash.) . Atlas map 78.
  • April 19, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William

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