Clark: May 30, 1806

Friday May 30th 1806. Lapage and Shabono Set out early this morning to the
Indian Village in order to trade with them for roots; Serjt. Gass was Sent
this morning to obtain Some goats hair to Stuf the pads of our Saddles; he
assended the river on this Side and being unable to pass the river to the
village he wished to visit returned in the evening unsucksessfull. Shannon
and Collins were permited to pass the river in order to trade with the
nativs and lay in a Store of roots and bread for themselves with their
proportion of the merchendize as others had done; on landing on the
opposit Shore the Canoe was driven broad Side with the full force of a
very Strong Current against Some Standing trees and instantly filled with
water and Sunk. Potts who was with them is an indifferent Swimer, it was
with dificuelty he made the land. they lost three blankets and a Blanket
Cappo and their pittance of Merchindize. in our bear State of Clothing
this was a Serious loss. I Sent Serjt. Pryor and a party over in the
Indian Canoe in order to raise and Secure ours but the debth of the water
and the Strength of the Current baffled every effort. I fear that we have
also lost our Canoe.all our involedes are on the recovery. we gave the
Sick Chief a Severe Swet to day, Shortly after which he could move one of
his legs and thy’s and work his toes pritty well, the other leg he can
move a little; his fingers and arms Seem to be almost entirely restored.
he Seems highly delighted with his recovery. I begin to entertain Strong
hope of his recovering by these Sweats in the evening Joseph Fields
returned in serch of his horses which had left them last evening and
returned to Camp. Field informed us that himself and his brother whome he
had left at their Camp 6 ms. distant on Collins Creek had killed 3 Deer.The
reptiles which I have observed in this quarter are the Rattle Snake of the
Species discribed on the Missouri, they are abundant in every part of the
Country and are the only poisonous Snake which we have met with Since we
left St. Louis. the Second Species of Snake of an inosent kind already
discribd. the Common black Lizzard, the horned Lizzard, a small green
tree-frog; the Same frog which is common to our Country which Sings in the
Spring of the year. a large Species of frog which resorts the water
considerably larger than our bull-frog, it’s Shape Seems to be a Medium
between the delicate and lengthy form of our bullfrogs and that of our
land frog or toad as they are Sometimes called in the United States. like
the latter their bodies are covered with little pustles or lumps, elevated
above the ordinary Surface of the body; I never heard them make any Sound
or noise, the Mockerson Snake or Copper head, a number of vipers, a
variety of Lizzards, the toad bullfrog &c. common to the U. States are
not to be found in this Country. Most of the insects common to the U
States are found here. the butterfly, common house and blowing flies, the
horse flies, except the gold coloured ear fly. tho in Stead of this fly we
have a brown coloured fly about the same Size which attatches itself to
that part of the horse and is equally as troublesom. the Silk worm is also
found here. a great variety of beatles common to the atlantic States are
Seen here likewise. except from this order the large Cow beatle and the
black beatle usially termed tumble bug which are not found here. the
hornet, the Wasp and yellow Wasp or yellow jacket as they are frequently
Called are not met with in this quarter. there is an insect which much
resembles the latter only a vast deel larger which are very noumerous
particular in the Rocky mountains on the waters of the Columbia, those
build in the ground where they form a nest like the hornet with an outer
covering to the Comb in which they deposit their eggs and raise their
young. the Sheets of this Comb are attatched to each other as those of the
hornets are. their wings are four of a dark brown Colourthe head is
black, the body and abdomin are yellow insercled with transverce rings of
black, they are firce and Sting very Severely; we found them troublesom in
frightening our horses as we passed through mountains. the honey bee is
not found here. the bumblebee is. one of the men brought me to day Some
Onions from the high plains of a different Species from those near the
borders of the river as they are also from the Shive or Small Onion
noticed below the Falls of Columbia. these Onions were as large as an
nutmeg, they generally grow double or two bulbs connected by the same
tissue of radicles; each bulb has two long liner flat solid leaves. the
pedencle is solid celindric and cround with an umble of from 20 to 30
flowers. this Onion is exceedingly crisp and delicately flavoured indeed.
I think more Sweet and less strong than any I ever tasted, it is not yet
perfectly in blume, the parts of the flower are not distinct