Clark: March 30, 1806
Sunday March 30th 1806 we got under way verry early and had not proceeded
to the head of the island before we met with the three men of the
Clan-nar-min-a-mon’s who met us yesterday brackfast at the upper point of
the Island we met Several of the Clackstar and Cath-lah-cum-up in two
canoes. Soon after we were overtaken by Several Canoes of different tribes
who reside on each Side of the river the three above Tribes and the
Cldh-in-na-ta cath-lahnah-qui-up & Cath-lah-com-mah-tup reside on each
Side of Wappato inlet and back of Wappato Island which Island is formed by
a Small Chanel which passes from the Lower part of Image Canoe Island into
an inlet which makes in from the S W. Side, and receves the water of a
Creek which heads with the Kil a mox River. this wappato Island is about
18 or 20 Miles long and in places from 6 to 10 miles wide high &
furtile with ponds on different parts of it in which the nativs geather
Wappato. nearly opposit the upper point of the Isld. behing which we
encamped last night, or on the Wappato Isld. is Several Camps of the
nativs catching Sturgion. about 5 miles Still higher up and on the N E.
Side we halted for brackfast at the place which We had encamped the 4th of
November last. here we were visited by several canoes of Indians from two
Towns a Short distance above on the Wappato Island. the 1st of those
Tribes Call themselves Clan-nah-quah and Situated about 2 miles above us,
the other about a mile above Call themselves Mult-no-mah we purchased of
those visitors a Sturgion and Some Wappato & quarmarsh roots for which
we gave Small fishing hooks. at 10 a.m. we Set out and had not proceeded
far before we came to a landing place where there was Several large canoes
hauled up, and Sitting in a canoe, appearantly waiting our arival with a
view to join the fleet indian who was then along Side of us. this man
informed he was a Shoto and that his nation resided a little distance from
the river. we landed and one of the indians pointed to the Shoto village
which is Situated back of Pond which lies parrelal with the river on the N
E. Side nearly opposit the Clan-nah quah village. here we were also joined
by Several Canoes loaded with the natives from the Island who Continued to
accompany us untill about 4 oClock when they all returned and we proceeded
on to the place the Indians Stole my Tomahawk 4th Novr. last and Encamped
in a Small Prarie above a large Pond on N. E and opposit the Center of
image Canoe Island. capt Lewis walked out and Saw Several deer. Jo. Field
Shot at Elk he killed and brought in a fine duck. Soon after I had got
into bead an Indian came up alone in a Small Canoe. Those tribes of
Indians who inhabit this vally differ but little in either their dress,
manners, habuts and language from the Clat Sops Chinnooks, and others on
the Sea coast. they differ in a fiew words and a little in the accent. The
men are Stouter and much better formed than those of the Sea Coast. more
of their womin ware their hair braded in two tresses and hang over each
ear. in Stead of the tissue of bark worn by the women below, they ware a
kind of leather breech clout as before described as worn by the Womin at
the enterance of Lewis’s river-the width of a Common pocket Handkerchief
or Something Smaller and longer. the two Corners of this at one of the
narrow ends are confined in front just above the hips; the other Side is
then brought between their legs, Compressed into a narrow folding bundle
is drawn tight, and the Corners a little Spred in front tucked at the ends
over and around the part first confined about the Waiste. a Small roab
which does not reach the Waiste is their usial and only garment commonly
worn besides this just mentioned. when the weather is a little worm the
roab is thrown aside, and the latter truss or breach clout constitutes the
whole of their apparreal. this is a much more indesant article than the
tissue of bark, and bearly covers the Mons versus, to which it is drawn So
close that the whole Shape is plainly perseived. The Houses are Similar to
those already descrbed. they are fond of Sculpture. various figures are
carved and painted on the pieces which Support the Center of the roof
about their dotes and beads. They are well Supplied with anchoves Sturgion
and Wappato. The latter furnishes the principal article of traffic with
those Tribes which they despose of to the nativs below in exchange for
beeds, Cloath and Various articles. the nativs of the Sea coast and lower
part of this river will dispose of their most valueable articles to obtain
this root. I saw in Several houses of the Cath lah poh tie Village large
Symeters of Iron from 3 to 4 feet long which hangs by the heads of their
beads; the blade of this weapon is thickest in the Center tho thin even
there, all it’s edges are Sharp and its greatest width which is about 9
inches from the point, is about 4 inches. the form is this this is a
formable weapon. they have heavy bludgeons of wood made in the Same form
nearly which I prosume they use for the Same purpose before they obtained
metal. we made 22 Miles only to day the wind and a Strong current being
against us all day, with rain. discovered a high mountain S E. Covered
with Snow which we call Mt. Jefferson.
