Lewis: May 5, 1806

Monday May 5th 1806. Collected our horses and set out at 7 A.M. at 41/2
miles we arrived at the entrance of the Kooskooske, up the N. Eastern side
of which we continued our march 12 ms. to a large lodge of 10 families
having passed two other large mat lodges the one at 5 and the other at 8
Ms. from the mouth of the Kooskooske but not being able to obtain any
provision at either of those lodges continued our march to the third where
we arrived at 1 P.M. & with much difficulty obtained 2 dogs and a
small quanty of root bread and dryed roots. at the second lodge we passed
an indian man gave Capt. C. a very eligant grey mare for which he
requested a phial of eye-water which was accordingly given him. while we
were encamped last fall at the entrance of the Chopunnish river Capt. C.
gave an indian man some volitile linniment to rub his kee and thye for a
pain of which he complained, the fellow soon after recovered and has never
ceased to extol the virtues of our medecines and the skill of my friend
Capt C. as a phisician. this occurrence added to the benefit which many of
them experienced from the eyewater we gave them about the same time has
given them an exalted opinion of our medicine. my friend Capt. C. is their
favorite phisician and has already received many applications. in our
present situation I think it pardonable to continue this deseption for
they will not give us any provision without compensation in merchandize
and our stock is now reduced to a mere handfull. we take care to give them
no article which can possibly oinjure them. we foud our Chopunnish guide
at this lodge with his family. the indians brought us Capt. Clark’s horse
from the oposite side of the river and delivered him to us while here.
this horse had by some accedent seperated from our other horses above and
had agreeably to indian information been in this neighbourhood for some
weeks. while at dinner an indian fellow verry impertinently threw a poor
half starved puppy nearly into my plait by way of derision for our eating
dogs and laughed very heartily at his own impertinence; I was so provoked
at his insolence that I caught the puppy and thew it with great violence
at him and struk him in the breast and face, siezed my tomahawk and shewed
him by signs if he repeated his insolence I would tommahawk him, the
fellow withdrew apparently much mortifyed and I continued my repast on dog
without further molestation. after dinner we continued our rout 4 miles to
the entrance of Colter’s Creek about 1/2 a mile above the rapid where we
sunk the 1st canoe as we decended the river last fall. we encamped on the
lower side of this creek at a little distance from two lodges of the
Chopunnish nation having traveled 201/2 ms. today. one of these lodges
contained eight families, the other was much the largest we have yet seen.
it is 156 feet long and about 15 wide built of mats and straw. in the form
of the roof of a house having a number of small doors on each side, is
closed at the ends and without divisions in the intermediate space this
lodge contained at least 30 families. their fires are kindled in a row in
the center of the house and about 10 feet assunder.

all the lodges of these people are formed in this manner. we arrived here
extreemly hungry and much fatiegued, but no articles of merchandize in our
possession would induce them to let us have any article of provision
except a small quantity of bread of cows and some of those roots dryed. we
had several applications to assist their sick which we refused unless they
would let us have some dogs or horses to eat. a man whose wife had an
absess formed on the small of her back promised a horse in the morning
provided we would administer to her accordingly Capt. C. opened the absess
introduced a tent and dressed it with basilicon; I prepared some dozes of
the flour of sulpher and creem of tarter which were given with directions
to be taken on each morning. a little girl and sundry other patients were
offered for cure but we posponed our operations untill morning; they
produced us several dogs but they were so poor that they were unfit for
use. This is the residence of one of 4 principal Cheifs of the nation whom
they call Neesh-ne,-park-ke-ook or the cut nose from the circumstance of
his nose being cut by the snake indians with a launce in battle. to this
man we gave a medal of the small size with the likeness of the President.
he may be a great cheif but his countenance has but little inteligence and
his influence among his people seems but inconsiderable. a number of
indians beside the inhabitants of these lodges geathered about us this
evening and encamped in the timbered bottom on the creek near us. we met
with a snake indian man at this place through whome we spoke at some
length to the natives this evening with rispect to the objects which had
induced us to visit their country. this address was induced at this moment
by the suggestions of an old man who observed to the natives that he
thought we were bad men and had come most probably in order to kill them.
this impression if really entertained I beleive we effaced; they appeared
well satisfyed with what we said to them, and being hungry and tired we
retired to rest at 11 oClock.We-ark-koomt rejoined us this evening.
this man has been of infinite service to us on several former occasions
and through him we now offered our address to the natives.