Clark: May 4, 1806

Sunday May 4th 1806 Collected our horses and Set out early; the morning
was Cold and disagreeable. we assended the Larboard Hill of the Creek and
Steared N 60° E 4 M. through a high leavil plain to a revine which forms
the Source of a small creek, thence down the Creek N 75° E. 8 Ms. to it’s
enterance into Lewis’s river 71/2 ms. below the enterance of Koos koos ke.
on the river a little above this Creek we arived at a lodge of 6 families
of which We-ark’-koomt had Spoken. We halted here for brackfast and with
much dificuelty purchased 2 lean dogs. the inhabitents were miserably
pore. we obtained a fiew large cakes of half cured bread made of a root
which resembles the Sweet potatoe, with these we made Some Soope and took
brackfast. the lands through which we passed to day are fertile consisting
of a dark rich loam. the hills of the river are high and abrupt
approaching it nearly on both Sides. no timber in the plains. the S. W.
Mountains which appear to be about 15 Miles from us Still Continue to
become lower, they are Covered with Snow at present nearly to their bases.
Lewis’s river appear to pass through those Mountains near the N Eastern
extremity. those hills termonate in a high leavil plain between the
Kooskoske & Lewis’s river. these plains are in maney places well
covered with the long leafed pine and Some balsom fir. the Soil is
extreamly fertile. no does it appear So thirsty as that of the Same
apparrant texture of the open plains. it produces great quantities of the
quawmash a root of which the nativs are extreemly fond. a Great portion of
the Chopunnish we are informed are now distributed in Small villages
through this plain Collecting the Cowse a white Meley root which is very
fine in Soup after being dried and pounded; the Salmon not yet haveing
arived to Call them to the river-. The hills of the Creek which we
decended this morning are high and in most parts rocky and abrupt. one of
our pack horses Sliped from one of those hights and fell into the Creek
with it’s load Consisting principally of amunition, but fortunately
neither the horse nor load Suffered any Matereal injury. the ammunition
being Secured in Canesters the water did not effect it.

after dinner we Continued our rout up the West Side of the river 3 ms.
opposit 2 Lodges the one Containing 3 and the other 2 families of the
Chopunnish Nation; here we met with Te-toh-ar-sky the oldest of the two
Chiefs who accompanied us last fall to the Great falls of the Columbia.
here we also met with our old pilot who decended the river with us as low
as the Columbia these indians recommended our passing the river at this
place and going up on the N E Side of the Kooskoske. they Sayed it was
nearer and a better rout to the forks of that river where the twisted hair
resided in whose charge we had left our horses; thither they promised to
Conduct us. we determined to take the advise of the indians and imediately
prepared to pass the river which with the assistance of three indian
Canoes we effected in the Course of the evening, purchased a little Wood,
Some Cows bread and encamped, haveing traveled 15 miles to day only. We
ark koomt whose people reside on the West Side of Lewis’s river above left
us when we deturmined to pass the river. before he left us he expressed
his concern that his people would be deprived of the pleasure of Seeing us
at the forks at which place they had assimbled to Shew us Sivilities &c.
I gave him a Small piece of tobacco and he went off Satisfied. the evening
was Cold and disagreeable, and the nativs Crouded about our fire in great
numbers in so much that we Could Scercely Cook or keep ourselves worm. at
all those Lodges of the Chopunnish I observe an appendage of a Small lodge
with one fire, which Seames to be the retreat of their women in a certain
Situation. the men are not permited to approach this Lodge within a
certain distance, and if they have any thing to Convey to the Occupents of
this little hospital they Stand at the distance of 50 or 60 paces and
throw it towards them as far as they Can and retire.