Clark: May 27, 1806

Tuesday 27th May 1806 A cloudy morning Serjt. Pryor and party Set out at 7
A.M. Serjt. Ordway and two men are ordered to cross this river and proceed
on through the plains to Lewis’s and precure Some Salmon on that river,
and return tomorrow if possible he Set out at 8 A.M. we Sent Rub. Field in
Serch of the horse which the indians had given us to kill. at 10 A. M he
returned with the horse and he was killed and butchered; he was large and
in good order. hohastillpilp told us that most of the horses which we Saw
running in those plains in this neighbourhood at large belonged to himself
and his people, and whenever we were in want of meet, he requested that
would kill any of them we wished; this is a piece of liberallity which
would do honour to Such as host of civilization. Serjt. Pryor, Gibson
& Shields returned from the Village with a good Stock of roots and
bread. Shabono Lapage & Yourk whome we had Sent to purchase roots for
ourselves remained at the Village all night. Drewyer, Labiech & Crusat
return at 4 P.M. with 5 Deer which they had killed at Some distance up
Collin’s Creek on this Side, that Stream Still continue So high that they
could not pass it.

Shabono’s child is much better to day; tho the Swelling on the Side of his
neck I believe will termonate in an ugly imposthume a little below the
ear. The Indians were so anxious that the Sick Chief (who has lost the use
of his limbs) Should be Sweted under our inspection they requested me to
make a 2d attempt to day; accordingly the hole was enlargened and his
father a very good looking old man performed all the drugery &c. we
could not make him Swet as copously as we wished. being compelled to keep
him erect in the hole by means of Cords. after the oppiration he
complained of Considerable pain, I gave him 30 drops of Laudnom which Soon
composed him and he rested very well-. I observe the Strongest marks of
parental affection. they all appear extreemly attentive to this Sick man,
no do they appear to relax in their ascituity towards him not withstanding
he has been Sick and helpless for near 5 years. The Chopunnish appeare to
be very attentive & kind to their aged people and treat their women
with more respect than the nativs on the Missouri.

There is a Species of whistleing Squirel common in these plains which in
their habit Somewhat resembles those of the Missouri but are a distinct
Species. this little animale measures 1 foot 5 inches & a half from
the nose to the extremity of the tail, of which the tail occupies 21/4
inches only; in the girth it is 11 inches the body is perpotionably long,
the neck and legs Short; the ears are Short, obtusely pointed, and lye
close to the head; the aperture of the ear is larger proportionably than
most animals which burrow. the eyes are of Moderate Size, the puple black
and iris of a dark dusky brown. the teeth are like those of the Squirel as
is it’s whole contour. the whiskers are full, long and black; it has also
Some long black hars above the eye-. it has five toes on each foot; the 2
iner toes of the fore feet are remarkably Short, and have Short blunt
nails. the remaining toes on these feet are long Slightly Curved, black
and Sharply pointed. the outer and inner toes of the hind feet are not
Short yet they are by no means as long as the three toes in the Center of
the foot which are remarkably long but the nails are not as long as those
of the fore feet tho of the Same form and colour. the bars of the tail tho
thickly inserted on every part respects the two Sides only. this givs it a
flat appearance and a long oval form. the tips of the hair which forms the
outer edges of the tail are white. the bace of the hair are either black
or a fox red. the under disk of the tail is an iron gray, the upper a
redish brown. the lower part of the jaws, under part of the neck, legs and
feet from the body down and belly are of a light brick red. the nose as
high as the eyes is of a darker brick red. the upper part of the head neck
and body are of a curious brownish gray colour with a cast of the brick
red. the longer hairs of these parts being of a redish white colour at
their extremities fall together in Such a Manner as to give it to the
appearance of being Spekled at a little distance. these animals form large
ascoations as those of the Missouri, occupying with their burroughs one or
Sometimes 200 acres of Land. the burrows are Seperate and are each
occupyed perhaps by 10 or 12 of those Animals. there is a little Mound in
front of the hole formed of the earth thrown out of the burrow and
frequently there are three or four distinct holes forming what I call one
burrow, around the base of the mound, which Seams to be occupied as a
watch tower in common by the inhabitents of those Several holes. these
Mounds are Sometimes as much as 2 feet high, and 4 feet in diameter, and
are irregularly distributed over the tract they occupy at the distance of
from ten to 30 or forty yards. When you approach a burrow the Squirels
one, or more, usially Set erect on these Mounds and make a kind of Shrill
whistleing nois, Something like tweet, tweet, tweet &c. they do not
live on grass as those of the Missouri but on roots. one which I examoned
had in his mouth two Small bulbs of a Species of grass, which resembles
very much what is Sometimes Called the Grass Nut. the intestins of these
little animals are remarkably large for it’s Size; fur Short and very
fine. the grass in their village is not Cut down as in these of the plains
of the Missouri. I preserved the Skins of Several of these animals with
the heads feet and legs entire-.-. The Black Wood pecker which is found in
most parts of the rocky Mountains as will as the Western and S W.
mountains, I had never an oppertunity of examineing, untill a fiew days
Since when we killed and preserved Several of them. this bird is about the
Size of the lark woodpecker or the turtle dove, tho it’s wings are longer
than either of these birds. the beak is black, one inch long reather wide
at the base, Somewhat cirved, and Sharply pointed; the chaps are of equal
length. around the bace of the beak including the eye and a Small part of
the throat is of a crimson red. the neck and as low as the croop in front
is of an iron gray. the belly and breast is of a curious mixture of white
and blood red which has much the appearance of haveing been artifically
painted or Stained of that colour, the red reather predominates. the top
of the head, back, Sides, upper Surface of the wings and tail are black,
the under Side of the wings and tail are black. it has ten feathers in the
tail, Sharply pointed, and those in the center reather longest, being 21/2
inches in length. the tongue is barbed, pointed, and of an elastic
cartalaginous Substance. the eye is moderately large, puple black and iris
of a dark yellowish brown. this bird in it’s actions when flying resemble
the Small redish woodpecker common to the altantic States; it’s note also
Somewhat resembles that bird. the pointed tail Seems to assist it in
sitting with more ease or retaining it, in it’s resting position against
the perpendicular Side of a tree. the legs and feet are black, and covered
with imbricated scales. it has four toes on each foot, of which two are in
rear and two in front; the nails are much curved long and remarkably Keen
or Sharply pointed. it feeds on bugs, worms and a variety of insects.-.