Lewis: May 23, 1806

Friday May 23rd 1806. Sergt. Pryor wounded a deer early this morning in a
lick near camp; my dog pursud it into the river; the two young Indian men
who had remained with us all night mounted their horses swam the river and
drove the deer into the water again; Sergt. Pryor killed it as it reached
the shore on this side, the indians returned as they had passed over. we
directed half this deer to be given to the indians, they immediately made
a fire and cooked their meat, 4 others joined them from the village with
the assistance of whom they consumed their portion of the spoil in less
than 2 hours and took their leave of our camp. The Creem of tartar and
sulpher operated several times on the child in the course of the last
night, he is considerably better this morning, tho the swelling of the
neck has abated but little; we still apply polices of onions which we
renew frequently in the course of the day and night. at noon we were
visited by 4 indians who informed us they cad come from their village on
Lewis’s river at the distance of two days ride in order to see us and
obtain a little eyewater, Capt. C. washed their eyes and they set out on
their return to their village. our skill as phisicans and the virture of
our medecines have been spread it seems to a great distance. I sincerely
wish it was in our power to give releif to these poor afficted wretches.
at 1 P.M. Shannon, Colter, Labuish, Cruzatte, Collins, and LaPage returned
from hunting without having killed anything except a few pheasants of the
dark brown kind, which they brought with them.These hunters informed us
that they had hunted the country deligently between the river and Creek
for some distance above and below our camp and that there was no game to
be found. all the horses which have been castrated except my poor
unfortunate horse appear as if they would do very well. I am convinced
that those cut by the indians will get well much soonest and they do not
swell nor appear to suffer as much as those cut in the common way.