Lewis: May 4, 1806

Sunday May 4th 1806. Collected our horses and set out early; the morning
was cold and disagreeable. we ascended the Lard. hills of the creek and
steered N. 60° E. 4 miles through a high level plain to a ravine which
forms the source of a small creek, thence down this creek N. 75° E. 8 ms.
to it’s entrance into Lewis’s river 71/2 ms. below the entrance of the
Kooskooske. on the river a little above this creek we arrived at a lodge
of 6 families of which Weark-koomt had spoken. we halted here for
breakfast and with much difficulty purchase 2 lean dogs. the inhabitants
were miserably poor. we obtained a few large cakes of half cured bread
made of a root which resembles the sweet potatoe, with these we made some
scope and took breakfast. the lands through which we passed today are
fertile consisting of a dark rich loam the hills of the river are high and
approach it nearly on both sides. no timber in the plains. the S. W.
Mountains which appear to be about 15 Ms. above us still continue to
become lower they are covered with snow at present nearly to their bases.
Lewis’s river appeas to pass through these mots. near their N. Eastern
extremity. these hills terminate in a high level plain between the
Kooskooske and Lewis’s river. these plains are in many places well covered
with the Longleafed pine, with some Larch and balsom fir. the soil is
extreemly fertile no dose it appear so thisty as that of the same apparent
texture of the open plains. it produces great quantities of the quawmash a
root of which the natives are extreemly fond. a great portion of the
Chopunnish we are informed are now distributed in small vilages through
this plain collecting the quawmash and cows; the salmon not yet having
arrived 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 ammunition but fortunately neith
the horse nor load suffered any material injury. the amunition 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. opposite to 2
lodges the one containing 3 and the other 2 families of the Chopunnish
nation; here we met with Te-toh, ar sky, the youngest of the two cheifs
who accompanied us last fall the great falls of the Columbia here we also
met with our pilot who decended the river with us as far as the Columbia.
these indians recommended our passing the river at this place and
ascending the Kooskooske on the N. E. side. they said it was nearer and a
better rout to the forkes 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 advice of the indians and immediately 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 and some
bread of cows from the natives and encamped having traveled 15 Ms. only
today. We-ark-koomt whose people resided on the West side of Lewis’s river
above left us when we determined to pass the river and went on to his
lodg. the evening was cold and disagreeable, and the natives crouded about
our fire in great numbers insomuch that we could scarcely cook of keep
ourselves warm. at all these lodges of the Chopunnish I observe an
appendage of a small lodg with one fire which seems to be the retreat of
their women in a certain situation. the men are not permitted to approach
this lodge within a certain distance and if they have any thing to convey
to the occupants 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.