Clark: April 19, 1806

April 19th 1806 this morning early Some rain had the Small Canoes hauled
out to dry every man Capable of Carrying a load Comencd the portage and by
5 P. M had every part of our baggage and canoes across the portage. I then
took Sgt. Pryor, G. Shannon & Crusat & Labiech and went up to the
falls at which place I arivd. about 8 P.M. in the Course of this day I
purchased 4 horses at the town & Capt Lewis purchased one. the nativs
finding that we were about to proceed on by water Sold us those fiew
horses for which we were Compd. to pay them emence prices and the horses
were indefferent. Several Showers of rain this day. description of those
people &c narrows bad

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Saturday 19th April 1806. We deturmined to make the portage to the head of
the long narrows with our baggage and 5 Small Canoes, the 2 large Canoes
we Could take no further and therefore Cut them up for fuel. we had our
Small Canoes drawn up very early and employed all hands in transporting
our baggage on their backs and by means of 4 pack horses, over the
portage. This labour we had accomplished by 3 P.M. and established our
Camp a little above the present Skillute village which has been removed as
before observed a fiew hundred yards lower down the river than when we
passed it last fall. I left Capt L. at the bason and proceeded to the
village early this morning with a view to recive the horses which were
promised to be brought this morning for articles laid by last evining. in
the Course of this day I purchased four horses at the Village, and Capt
Lewis one at the bason before he left it. after the baggage was all Safely
landed above the portage, all hands brought over the Canoes at 2 lodes
which was accomplished by 5 P.M. as we had not a Sufficiency of horses to
transport our baggage we agreed that I should proceed on to the Enesher
villages at the great falls of the Columbia and if possible purchase as
maney horses as would transport the baggage from that place, and rid us of
the trouble and dificuelty of takeing our Canoes further. I set out with
Serjt Pryor, Geo Shannon Peter Crusat & Labiech at half past 5 P.M.
for the Enesher Village at which place I arrived at 8 P.M. Several Showers
of rain in the after part of to day, and the S W wind very high. there was
great joy with the nativs last night in consequence of the arrival of the
Salmon; one of those fish was cought, this was the harbenger of good news
to them. They informed us that those fish would arive in great quantities
in the Course of about 5 days. this fish was dressed and being divided
into Small pieces was given to each Child in the village. this Custom is
founded on a Supersticious opinion that it will hasten the arrival of the
Salmon.

we were oblige to dispence with two of our kitties in order to acquire two
of the horses purchasd. to day. we have now only one Small kittle to a
mess of 8 men. These people are very fathless in Contracts; they
frequently reive the merchindize in exchange for their horses and after
Some hours insist on Some additional article being given them or revoke
the exchange.

The long narrows are much more formadable than they were when we decended
them last fall, there would be no possibility of passing either up or down
them in any vessle at this time.

I entered the largest house of the Eneeshers village in which I found all
the enhabitents in bead. they rose and made a light of Straw, they haveing
no wood to burn. many men Collected. we Smoked and I informed them that I
had come to purchase a fiew horses of them. they promused to Sell me Some
in the morning.