Lewis: June 9, 1806

Monday June 9th 1806. This morning we had all our horses brought up and
indeavoured to exchange five or shix with the Indians in consequence of
their having unsound backs but succeeded in exchanging one only.
Hohastillpilp with several of the natives who visited us yesterday took
leave of us and set out for the plains near Lewis’s river where the nation
are about to assemble themselves. The broken arm made us a short visit
this morning and took leave of us, being about to set out with his village
today in order to join the nation at their rendezvouz on Lewis’s R. The
Cutnose or Neeshneeparkkeeook borrowed a horse and rode down the
Kooskooske River a few miles this morning in quest of some young eagles
which he intends raising for the benifit of their feathers; he returned
soon after with a pair of young Eagles of the grey kind; they were nearly
grown and prety well feathered. in the evening the young Chief who gave
both Capt. C. and myself a horse some time since, came to our camp with a
party of young men and remained all night. this evening one of our party
obtained a very good horse for an indifferent one by giving the indian an
old leather shirt in addition. we eat the last of our meat yesterday
evening and have lived on roots today. our party seem much elated with the
idea of moving on towards their friends and country, they all seem allirt
in their movements today; they have every thing in readiness for a move,
and notwithstanding the want of provision have been amusing themselves
very merrily today in runing footraces pitching quites, prison basse &c.
the river has been falling for several days and is now lower by near six
feet than it has been; this we view as a strong evidence that the great
body of snow has left the mountains, though I do not conceive that we are
as yet loosing any time as the roads is in many parts extreemly steep
rocky and must be dangerous if wet and slippry; a few days will dry the
roads and will also improve the grass.