Clark: April 17, 1806

April 17th 1806 I rose early and took a position near to the village and
exposed the artiles I had for Sale Great numbers of Indians Came from
different derections, Some from below Some above and others across the
Countrey from the Tapteet river See description of the Nations &c.I
obtained a Sketch of the Columbia as also Clarks river. See sketch I made
a bargin with the Chief who has more horses than all the village besides
for 2 horses. Soon after he Canseled his bargin, and we again bargined for
3 horses, they were brought forward, and only one fit for Service, the
others had Such intolerable backs as to render them entirely unfit for
Service. as I would not take the 3 he would not Sell the good one to me,
and we were off the bargin. I then packed up and was about Setting out for
the Falls when one Indian Sold me 2 horses and one other one horse, and
Some others Said they wished to trade which caused me to conclude to delay
here one other night. Maney of the natives from above Come and Said they
would trade, but asked a higher price than I thought I could give or
reather more than this nation asked.Great numbers of Men.I
hed to purchase 3 dogs for the men to eate & Some Shap-per-lell. I
Sent Crusat, Wiser, Willard and McNeal back to Capt Lewis informing him of
my ill Suck’sess, and adviseing him to proceed on to this place as Soon as
possible, and my intention of proceededing on to the falls to purchase
horses if possible Several Indians arived late this evening. Capt. Lewis
Sent me a note by Shannon informing me that he would Set early on tomorrow
morning early &c. &c. I sleped in house of the 2d Chief and they
had not any thing except fish to eate and no wood for fire. those people
have a number of buffalow robes. They have great number of Skimming nets

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Thursday 17th of April 1806 I rose early after bad nights rest, and took
my merchindize to a rock which afforded an elegable Situation for my
purpose, and at a Short distance from the houses, and divided the articles
of merchindize into parsels of Such articles as I thought best Calculated
to pleas the Indians, and in each parcel I put as many articles as we
could afford to give, and thus exposed them to view, informing the Indians
that each parcel was intended for a horse. they tanterlised me the greater
part of the day, Saying that they had Sent out for their horses and would
trade as Soon as they Came. Several parcels of merchindize was laid by for
which they told me they would bring horses. I made a bargin with the Chief
for 2 horses, about an hour after he canseled the bargin and we again
bargained for 3 horses which were brought foward, only one of the 3 could
be possibly used the other two had Such intolerable backs as to render
them entirely unfit for Service. I refused to take two of them which
displeased him and he refused to part with the 3rd. I then packed up the
articles and was about Setting out for the Village above when a man Came
and Sold me two horses, and another man Sold me one horse, and Several
others informed me that they would trade with me if I would Continue
untill their horses could be drove up. this induced me to Continue at this
Village another day. Maney of the nativs from different villages on the
Columbia above offered to trade, but asked Such things as we had not and
double as much of the articles which I had as we could afford to give.
this was a very unfavourable circumstance as my dependance for precureing
a Sufficiency of horses rested on the Suckcess above where I had reasons
to believe there were a greater abundance of those animals, and was in
hopes of getting them on better terms. I purchased 3 dogs for the party
with me to eate and Some Chap-pa-lell for my Self. before precureing the 3
horses I dispatched Crusat, Willard & McNeal and Peter Wiser to Capt
Lewis at the Rock fort Camp with a note informing him of my ill Suckcess
in precureing horses, and advised him to proceed on to this place as Soon
as possible. that I would in the mean time proceed on to the Enesher
Nation above the Great falls and try to purchase Some horses of that
people. Soon after I had dispatched this party the Chief of the Enesher’s
and 15 or 20 of his people visited me and appeared to be anxious to See
the articles I offered for the horses. Several of them agreeed to let me
have horses if I would add Sundery articles to those I offered which I
agreeed to, and they lay’d those bundles by and informed me they would
deliver me the horses in the morning. I proposed going with them to their
Town. the Chief informed me that their horses were all in the plains with
their womin gathering roots. they would Send out and bring the horses to
this place tomorrow. this entiligence was flattering, tho I doubted the
Sincerity of those people who had Several times disapointed me in a
Similar way. however I deturmined to Continue untill tomorrow. in the mean
time industously employd. our Selves with the great multitude of indians
of differant Nations about us trying to purchase horses. Shabono purchased
a verry fine Mare for which he gave Hurmen, Elks Teeth, a belt and Some
other articles of no great value. no other purchase was made in the Course
of this day. in the evening I recved a note from Capt Lby Shannon
informing me that he Should Set out early on tomorrow morning and Should
proceed up to the bason 2 miles below the Skillute Village. and adviseing
me to give double the prices which we had first agreed on for each horse.
I observe at every house Scooping Nets with which they take the Salmon.

I was envited into the house of the 2nd Chief where Concluded to Sleep.
this man was pore nothing to eat but dried fish, and no wood to burn.
altho the night was Cold they Could not rase as much wood as would make a
fire