Clark: June 3, 1806

Tuesday June 3rd 1806 Our invalids are all on the recovery; bratten is
much Stronger and can walk about with Considerable ease. the Indian Chief
appears to be gradually recovering the use of his limbs, and the child is
nearly well; the inflomation on his neck Continus but the Swelling appears
to Subside. we Still Continue the application of the onion poltice. at 3
P.M. the broken arm and three wariors visited us and remained all night.
Colter, Jos. Fields and Willard returned this evening with five deer and
one bear of the brown Species; the hair of this was black with a large
white Spot on the breast containing a Small circular black Spot. (this
Species of bear is Smaller than our Common black bear) this was a female
bear and as our hunters informed us had cubs last year, this they judged
from the length and Size of her tits &c. this bear I am Confident is
not larger than the yerlin Cubs of our Country. To day the Indians
dispatched an express over the mountains to Travellers rest or to the
neighbourhood of that Creek on Clark’s river in order to learn from a band
of Flat-Heads who inhabit that river and who have probably Wintered on
Clarks river near the enterance of travellers rest Creek, the occurences
which have taken place on the East Side of the mountains dureing the last
winter. this is the band which we first met with on that river. the
Mountains being practicable for this express we thought it probable that
we could also pass, but the Chiefs informs us that Several of the Creek’s
would yet swim our horses, that there was no grass and that the road was
extreemly deep and slipery; they inform us that we may pass Conveniently
in twelve or fourteen days. we have come to a resolution to remove from
hence to the Quawmash Grounds beyond Colins Creek on the 10th to hunt in
that neighbourhood a fiew days, if possible lay in a Stock of Meat, and
then attempt the Mountains about the Middle of this month. I begin to lose
all hope of any dependance on the Salmon as this river will not fall
Sufficiently to take them before we Shall leave it, and as yet I see no
appearance of their running near the Shore as the indians informed us they
would in the course of a fiew days. I find that all the Salmon which they
precure themselves they obtain on Lewis’s river, and the distance thither
is too great for us to think of Sending after them, even had we
merchendize with which to purchase the salmon.-.