Clark: May 1, 1806

Thursday May 1st 1806. This morning we collected our horses and made an
early Start, haveing preveously Sent a hed 4 hunters with derections to
proceed up the Creek and kill every Species of game which they might meet
with. the Small portion of rain which fell last night Caused the road to
be much furmer and better than yesterday. the morning Cloudy and Cool. we
proceeded up the Creek on the N. E. Side through a Countrey of less sand
and Some rich bottoms on the Creek which is partially Supplyed with Small
Cotton trees, willow, red willow, choke Cherry, white thorn, birch, elder,
____ rose & honey suckle. Great portion of these bottoms has been
latterly burnt which has entirely distroyed the timbered growth. at the
distance of nine miles we over took our hunters, they had killed one bever
only at this place the road forked, one leaveing the Creek and the Corse
of it is nearly North. the Chopunnish who had accompanied us with his
family informed us that this was our best way. that it was a long distance
without water. and advised us to Camp on the Creek at this place and in
the morning to Set out early. This information perplexed us a little, in
as much as the idea of going a days march without water thro an open Sandy
plain and on a Course 50° out of our derection. we deturmined to unlode
and wate for our Guide, or the Chopunnish man who had accompanied us from
the long Narrows, who was in the rear with Drewyer our interpreter. on his
arrival we enquired of him which was the best and most direct roade for us
to take. he informed us that the road pointed out by his cumerade was
through a open hilly and Sandy Countrey to the river Lewis’s River, and
was a long ways around, and that we Could not git to any water to day. the
other roade up the creek was a more derect Course, plenty of water wood
and only one hill in the whole distance and the road which he had always
recomended to us. Some words took place between those two men the latter
appeared in great pation Mounted his horse and Set out up the Creek. we
Sent a man after him and brought him back informed him that we believed
what he Said and Should imedeately after dinner proceed on the road up the
Creek with him. we gave the former man Some powder and ball which had been
promised him, and after an early dinner Set out up the Creek with our
guide leaveing the Chopunnish man and his family encamped at the forks of
the road where they intended to Stay untill the morning and proceed on the
rout he had recommended to us. we traviled 17 miles this evening makeing a
total of 26 mls. and encamped. the first 3 miles of our afternoons march
was through a Simaler Country of that of the fore noon; the Creek bottoms
then became higher and wider; to the extent of from 2 to 3 miles. we Saw
Several Deer of which Labiech killed one. the timber on the Creek become
more abundant and less burnt, and its extensive bottoms afford a pleasent
looking Country. we Saw a Great number of Curloos, Some Crains, Ducks,
prarie cocks, and Several Species of Sparrows common to the praries. I See
Very little difference between the apparant face of the Country here and
that of the plains of the Missouri. only that those are not enlivened by
the vast herds of Buffalow, Elk &c. which animated those of the
Missouri. The Courses & distances of this day are N. 45° E. 9 mls.
& N. 75° E. 17 Miles allong the North Side of this Creek to our
encampment. Sometime after we had encamped three young men arrived from
the Wallah wallah Village bringing with them a Steel trap belonging to one
of our party which had been negligently left behind; this is an act of
integrity rearly witnessed among Indians. dureing our Stay with them they
Several times found the knives of the men which had been Carefully lossed
by them and returned them. I think we can justly affirm to the honor of
those people that they are the most hospitable, honist and Sencere people
that we have met with on our Voyage.-