Lewis: April 28, 1806

Monday April 28th 1806. This morning early Yellept brought a very eligant
white horse to our camp and presented him to Capt. C. signifying his wish
to get a kettle but on being informed that we had already disposed of
every kettle we could possibly spear he said he was content with whatever
he thought proper to give him. Capt. C. gave him his swoard a hundred
balls and powder and some sail articles with which he appeared perfectly
satisfyed. it was necessary before we entered on our rout through the
plains where we were to meet with no lodges or resident indians that we
should lay in a stock of provision and not depend altogether on the gun.
we directed Frazier to whom we have intrusted the duty of makeing those
purchases to lay in as many fat dogs as he could procure; he soon obtained
ten. being anxious to depart we requested the Cheif to furnish us with
canoes to pass the river, but he insisted on our remaining with him this
day at least, that he would be much pleased if we would conset to remain
two or three, but he would not let us have canoes to leave him today. that
he had sent for the Chym nap’-pos his neighbours to come down and join his
people this evening and dance for us. we urged the necessity of our going
on immediately in order that we might the sooner return to them with the
articles which they wished but this had no effect, he said that the time
he asked could not make any considerable difference. I at length urged
that there was no wind blowing and that the river was consequently in good
order to pass our horses and if he would furnish us with canoes for that
purpose we would remain all night at our present encampment, to this
proposition he assented and soon produced us a couple of canoes by means
of which we passed our horses over the river safely and bubbled them as
usual. we found a Shoshone woman, prisoner among these people by means of
whome and Sahcahgarweah we found the means of conversing with the
Wollahwollahs. we conversed with them for several hours and fully
satisfyed all their enquiries with rispect to ourselves and the objects of
our pursuit. they were much pleased. they brought several diseased persons
to us for whom they requested some medical aid. one had his knee
contracted by the rheumatism, another with a broken arm &c to all of
which we administered much to the gratification of those poor wretches. we
gave them some eye-water which I beleive will render them more essential
service than any other article in the medical way which we had it in our
power to bestoe on them. soar eyes seem to be a universal complaint amonge
these people; I have no doubt but the fine sand of these plains and river
contribute much to this disorder. ulsers and irruptions of the skin on
various parts of the body are also common diseases among them. a little
before sunset the Chymnahpos arrived; they were about 100 men and a few
women; they joined the Wallahwollahs who were about the same number and
formed a half circle arround our camp where they waited very patiently to
see our party dance. the fiddle was played and the men amused themselves
with dancing about an hour. we then requested the Indians to dance which
they very cheerfully complyed with; they continued their dance untill 10
at night. the whole assemblage of indians about 550 men women and children
sung and danced at the same time. most of them stood in the same place and
merely jumped up to the time of their music. some of the men who were
esteemed most brave entered the space arrond which the main body were
formed in solid column, and danced in a circular manner sidewise. at 10
P.M. the dance concluded and the natives retired; they were much gratifyed
with seeing some of our party join them in their dance.