Clark: May 13, 1806

Tuesday 13th May 1806. a fine morning I administered to the Sick and gave
directions. we collected all our horses and Set out at 1 P.M. and
proceeded down the Creek to the Flat head River a Short distance below the
enterance of the Creek at the distance of 3 miles from the Village. at
this place we expected to have met the Canoe which was promised to be
furnished us, and for which an indian Set out very early this morning. we
halted at the Flat Head River unloaded our horses and turnd. them out to
feed. Several Indians accompanied us to the river and Continued untill
evening. The man who Set out early this morning to the forks of this river
for a Canoe and was to meet us at this place. as the Canoe did not arive
untill after Sun set we remained all night; in the evening we tried the
Speed of Several of our horses. these horses are strong active and well
formed. Those people have emence numbers of them 50 or 60 or a Hundred
head is not unusial for an individual to possess.

The Chopunnish are in general Stout well formd active men. they have high
noses and maney of them on the acqueline order with chearfull and
agreeable countinances; their complexions are not remarkable. in common
with other Indian Nations of America they extract their beard, but the men
do not uniformly extract the hair below, this is more particularly
confined to the females. they appear to be cheerfull but not gay; they are
fond of gambling and of their amusements which consists principally in
shooting their arrows at a targit made of Willow bark, and in rideing and
exersiseing themselves on horsback, raceing &c. they are expirt marks
men & good riders. they do not appear to be So much devoted to baubles
as most of the nations we have met with, but Seen anxious always to riceve
articles of utility, Such as knives, axes, Kittles, blankets &
Mockerson awls. blue beeds however may form an exception to this remark;
This article among all the nations of this Country may be justly compared
to gold and Silver among civilized nations. They are generally well
clothed in their Stile. their dress Consists of a long shirt which reaches
to the middle of leg, long legins which reach as high as the waist,
mockersons & robe. those are formed of various skins and are in all
respects like those of the Shoshone. Their orniments consists of beeds,
Shells and peices of brass variously attached to their dress, to their
ears arround theire necks wrists arms &c. a band of Some kind usially
Serounds the head, this is most frequently the Skin of Some fer animal as
the fox otter &c.; I observed a tippet worn by Hohastillpilp, which
was formed of Humane Scalps and ornemented with the thumbs and fingers of
Several men which he had Slain in battle. they also were a coller or
breast plate of otter Skin orniminted with Shells beeds & quills. the
women brade their hair in two tresses which hang in the same position of
those of the men, which ar Cewed and hang over each sholder. &c