Clark: April 18, 1806

April 18th 1806 early this morning I was awoke by a Indian from the
nieghbourhood of our horses, he had he arived here yesterday & this
morning found a Small bag of powder and ball which had been left when we
exposed our goods yesterday and brought it to me. I had a fire made out
and exposed the articles &c. having increased the articles for each
horse, and Sent out 2 men to hunt the horses bought yesterday. after
Colecting them Sent Shabono and Frazer with the 4 I had purchased down to
Capt Lewis. and was tanterlised with the expectation of purchaseing more
imediately. Great numbers of the Indians from the falls and both above and
below. none of them appeared anxious to part with their horses but told me
that Several were Comeing from the plains about 1 or 2 P M. and laid by 2
parcels of merchindize and told me that they had Sent for their horses.
among other Tribes was those of the Skad-datts who bantered the Skillutes
to play with them at a Singular Kind of game which was Soon Made up and 9
of aside Sat down they were Some time making up their bets of Beeds, brass
thimbles or tubes robes &c. &c. when the bets were all made up the
nine on each Side took opposides faceing each other at the distance of
about 12 feet. in front of each party was placed a long pole on which they
Struck with a Stick and Sung. they made use of 2 Small pices of bone in
this form and Size a bone was given to 2 men of the Same party who changed
it from hand to hand with great dexterity one hand above the other looking
down, and when he was ready for the opposit party to guess he Seperated
his hands Swinging them around the breast looking at the opposit party who
waved their hand to the Side the bone was in. if the opposit party guessed
the hand of each man the bone was given to them. if neither it was
nothing. if they guessed one which they might single out if they pleased
they recived his bone, and lost on the other as they hapened to fail in
guessing the also lose one if they fail guessing both The game is plaid at
different numbers & each party has 5 sticks. Several of those games
were played to day in which the Skillute won, indeed the won all the beeds
and Som robes of the Skad datts which they _____ one other game which they
also played _____ 2 by men with 4 Sticks. 2 black & 2 White under a
kind of hat made of bark. as this is a very intrecut game I cannot
describe it: the one who holds the Sticks places them in different
positions, and the opposit party, guess the position of the black Sticks
by a motion of either one or both of the hands. each man has 4 Sticks.
this as also the other is accompanied with a kind of Song. This hat is
about 12 inches diamuter and the Sticks about 5 inches long-at 3 P
M Sergt Ordway arived with 3 men from Capt Lewis with elk skins and Some
fiew articles Such as a Coat & robes. I had 3 dogs purchased, Soon
after Capt. Lewis Came up with J. Fields he had assended the river with
much dificuelty to the bason 2 Miles below. I left Drewyer, Warner,
Shannon & Goodrich with the articles and went down with Capt Lewis to
the bason, Cut up 2 of our canoes for fire wood no horses more maney
nations resort here for trade

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Friday 18th April 1806 Early this Morning I was awoke by an indian man of
the Chopunnish Nation who informed me that he lived in the neighbourhood
of our horses. this man delivered me a bag of powder and ball which he had
picked up this morning at the place the goods were exposed yesterday I had
a fire made of Some poles purchased of the nativs at a Short distance from
the houses and the articles exposed as yesterday. Collected the 4 horses
purchased yesterday and Sent Frazier and Shabono with them to the bason
where I expected they would meet Cap L-s and Commence the portage of the
baggage on those horses. about 10 A.M. the Indians Came down from the
Eneesher Villages and I expected would take the articles which they had
laid by yesterday. but to my estonishment not one would make the exchange
to day-. two other parcels of good were laid by and the horses promised at
2 P.M. I payed but little attention to this bargain however Suffered the
bundles to lye. I dressed the Sores of the principal Chief gave Some Small
things to his children and promised the Chief Some Medicine for to Cure
his Sores. his wife who I found to be a Sulky Bitch and was Somewhat
efflicted with pains in her back. this I thought a good oppertunity to get
her on my Side giveing here Something for her back. I rubed a little
Camphere on her temples and back, and applyed worm flannel to her back
which She thought had nearly restored her to her former feelings. this I
thought a favourable time to trade with the Chief who had more horses than
all the nation besides. I accordingly made him an offer which he excepted
and Sold me two horses. Great numbers of Indians from defferent derections
visited me at this place to day, none of them appeared willing to part
with their horses, but told me that Several were Comeing from the plains
this evening. among other Nations who visit this place for the purpose of
trade is the Skad-datt’s. those people bantered the Skillutes to play at a
Singular kind of game. in the Course of the day the Skillutes won all
their beeds Skins arrows &c. This game was Composed of 9 men on a
Side. they Set down opposit to each other at the distance of about 10
feet. in front of each party a long pole was placed on which they Struck
with a Small Stick to the time of their Songs. after the bets were made up
which was nearly half an hour after they Set down, two round bones was
producd about the Size of a mans little finger or Something Smaller and
21/4 inches in length. which they held in their hand Changeing it from one
hand to the other with great dexterity. 2 men on the Same Side performed
this part, and when they had the bone in the hand they wished, they looked
at their advosarys Swinging arms around their Sholders for their advosary
Guess which they pirformed by the motion the hand either to the right or
left. if the opposit party guessed the hand of both of the men who had the
bone, the bones were given to them. if neither the bones was retained and
nothing Counted. if they guessed one and not the other, one bone was
dilivered up and the party possessing the other bone Counted one. and one
for every time the advosary miss guessed untill they guessed the hand in
which the bone was in-in this game each party has 5 Sticks. and one Side
wins all the Sticks, once twice or thrice as the game may be Set. I
observed another game which those people also play and is played by 2
persons with 4 Sticks about the Size of a mans finger and about 7 inches
in length. two of those Sticks are black and the other 2 White and
Something larger than the black ones. those Sticks they place in defferent
positions which they perform under a kind of trencher made of bark round
and about 14 inches diamieter. this is a very intricate game and I cannot
Sufficiently understand to discribe it. the man who is in possession of
the Sticks &c places them in defferent positions, and the opposit
party tels the position of the black Sticks by a motion of either or both
of his hands &c. this game is Counted in the Same way as the one
before mentioned. all their games are accompanied with Songs and time. at
3 P. M Sergt. Ordway & three men arived from Cap Lewis they brought
with them Several Elk Skins, two of my Coats and 4 robes of the party to
add to the Stores I had with me for the purchase of horses. Sgt. O.
informed me that Cap L. had arived with all the Canoes into the bason 2
miles below and wished Some dogs to eate. I had 3 dogs purchased and Sent
down. at 5 P.M. Capt. Lewis Came up. he informed me that he had the river
to the bason with much difecuelty and danger, haveing made one portage. as
I had not Slept but very little for the two nights past on account of mice
& virmen with which those indian houses abounded, and haveing no
blanket with me, and the means of keeping a fire Sufficent to keep me worm
out was too Expensive I deturmined to proceed with Capt L. down to Camp at
the bason. I left the Articles of Merchendize &c. with Drewyer,
Werner, Shannon & Goodrich untill the morning-at the bason we
Cut up two of our Canoes for fire wood verry much to the Sagreen of the
nativs not with standing they would give us nothing for them. In my
absence Several Inds. visited Capt. Lewis at his camp among others was the
great Cheif of the Chilluckkitquaw who Continued with him untill he left
Rock fort Camp. Capt L. had 12 pack Saddles Completed and Strings prepared
of the Elk skins for Lashing the loads he also kept out all the hunters
who killed just deer enough for the party with him to Subsist on. The
Cheif who had Visited Capt Lewis promised him that he would bring Some
horses to the bason and trade with him. but he was not as good as his
word. Capt Lewis gave a large Kittle for a horse which was offered to him
at the bason this evening.