Clark: October 23, 1805

October 23rd (Saturday) Wednesday 1805 Took the Canoes over the Portage on
the Lard. Side with much dificuelty, description on another Paper one
Canoe got loose & cought by the Indians which we were obliged to pay.
our old Chiefs over herd the Indians from below Say they would try to kill
us & informed us of it, we have all the arm examined and put in order,
all th Inds leave us early, Great numbers of flees on the Lard SideShot
a Sea Oter which I did not get, Great Numbers about those rapids we
purchased 8 dogs, Small & fat for our party to eate, the Indians not
verry fond of Selling their good fish, compells us to make use of dogs for
food Exchanged our Small canoe for a large & a very new one built for
riding the waves obsd Merdn. altd. 66° 27′ 30″ Latd. prodsd. 45° 42′ 57
3/10″ North

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October 23d Wednesday 1805 a fine morning, I with the greater part of the
men Crossed in the Canoes to opposit Side above the falls and hauled them
across the portage of 457 yards which is on the Lard. Side and certainly
the best side to pass the canoes I then decended through a narrow chanel
of about 150 yards wide forming a kind of half circle in it course of a
mile to a pitch of 8 feet in which the chanel is divided by 2 large rocks
at this place we were obliged to let the Canoes down by Strong ropes of
Elk Skin which we had for the purpose, one Canoe in passing this place got
loose by the Cords breaking, and was cought by the Indians below. I
accomplished this necessary business and landed Safe with all the Canoes
at our Camp below the falls by 3 oClock P.M. nearly covered with flees
which were So thick amongst the Straw and fish Skins at the upper part of
the portage at which place the nativs had been Camped not long Since; that
every man of the party was obliged to Strip naked dureing the time of
takeing over the canoes, that they might have an oppertunity of brushing
the flees of their legs and bodiesGreat numbers of Sea Otters in
the river below the falls, I Shot one in the narrow chanel to day which I
could not get. Great numbers of Indians visit us both from above and below-one
of the old Chiefs who had accompanied us from the head of the river,
informed us that he herd the Indians Say that the nation below intended to
kill us, we examined all the arms &c. complete the amunition to 100
rounds. The nativs leave us earlyer this evening than usial, which gives a
Shadow of Confirmation to the information of our Old Chief, as we are at
all times & places on our guard, are under no greater apprehention
than is common.

we purchased 8 Small fat dogs for the party to eate the nativs not being
fond of Selling their good fish, compells us to make use of Dog meat for
food, the flesh of which the most of the party have become fond of from
the habits of useing it for Some time past. The Altitude of this day 66°
27′ 30″ gave for Latd. 45° 42′ 57 1/10 N.

I observed on the beach near the Indian Lodges two Canoes butifull of
different Shape & Size to what we had Seen above wide in the midde and
tapering to each end, on the bow curious figures were Cut in the wood
&c. Capt. Lewis went up to the Lodges to See those Canoes and
exchanged our Smallest Canoe for one of them by giveing a Hatchet &
few trinkets to the owner who informed that he purchased it of a white man
below for a horse, these Canoes are neeter made than any I have ever Seen
and Calculated to ride the waves, and carry emence burthens, they are dug
thin and are suported by cross pieces of about 1 inch diamuter tied with
Strong bark thro holes in the Sides. our two old Chiefs appeared verry
uneasy this evening.