Silas Goodrich Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Clark: August 12, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:52 +0000

Thursday 12th August 1806 I set out early this morning and had not
proceeded on far before Shannon discovered he had lost his Tomahk. I
derected him to land his Skin Canoe and go back to our Camp of last night
in Serch of it, and proceeded on my self with the two wood and one Skin
Canoe to a large hottom on the N. E Side above the head of Jins island and
landed to take brackfast as well as to delay untill Shannon & Gibson
Should arive. Sent out Shields & Labiech to hunt deer in the bottom,
at 2 P m. Shannon and gibson arived having found the tomahawk at our camp
they killed 3 Elk &c. one of the Canoes of Buffalow Skin by accident
got a hole peirced in her of about 6 inches diamuter. I derected two of
the men to patch the Canoe with a piece of Elk skin over the hole, which
they did and it proved all Sufficient, after which the Canoe did not leak
one drop. The two hunters returned without haveing killed any thing. at
meridian Capt Lewis hove in Sight with the party which went by way of the
Missouri as well as that which accompanied him from Travellers rest on
Clarks river; I was alarmed on the landing of the Canoes to be informed
that Capt. Lewis was wounded by an accident-. I found him lying in the
Perogue, he informed me that his wound was slight and would be well in 20
or 30 days this information relieved me very much. I examined the wound
and found it a very bad flesh wound the ball had passed through the
fleshey part of his left thy below the hip bone and cut the cheek of the
right buttock for 3 inches in length and the debth of the ball. Capt L.
informed me the accident happened the day before by one of the men Peter
Crusat misstakeig him in the thick bushes to be an Elk. Capt Lewis with
this Crusat and Several other men were out in the bottom Shooting of Elk,
and had Scattered in a thick part of the woods in pursute of the Elk.
Crusat Seeing Capt L. passing through the bushes and takeing him to be an
Elk from the Colour of his Cloathes which were of leather and very nearly
that of the Elk fired and unfortunately the ball passed through the thy as
aforesaid. Capt Lewis thinking it indians who had Shot him hobbled to the
canoes as fast as possible and was followered by Crusat, the mistake was
then discovered. This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one
eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed
the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole rout.After Capt. Lewis
and my Self parted at Travellers rest, he with the Indians proceeded down
the West Side of Clarks river Seven miles and crossed on rafts 2 miles
below the East fork 120 yards wide, after Crossing the river he proceeded
up the North Side of the east fork and encampd. here the Indians left him
and proceeded down Clarks river in Serch of the Tushepaws. an Indian man
Came up with Cap L. from the W. of the mountains and proceeded on with
those who had accompanied us. Capt. L. proceeded up the E. fork of Clarks
river 17 ms. to the enterance of Cokahlarishkit river or the river to
buffalow, he proceeded up on the North Side of this river which is 60
yards wide crossing Several Small Streams and the N. fork, and passing
over part of the dividing mountain onto the waters of Deabourns river in
the plains and in a Derection to the N. extremity of Easte range of rocky
mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine Island Rapid. from thence he
bore his Course to the N E untill he Struck Meadcin river near where that
river Enters the rocky Mts. and proceeded down Medicine river to the
Missouri at the white bear Islands at the upper part of the portage. this
rout is a very good one tho not the most derect rout, the most derect rout
would be to proceed up the Missouri above Dearborns river and take a right
hand road & fall on a South branch of the Cokatlarishkit R. and
proceed down that river to the main road but the best rout would be from
the falls of the Missouri by fort mountain and passing the N. extremity of
that range of the Rocky Mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine
Island rapid Course nearly S. W. and to the gap through which the great
road passeds the dividing mountain the distance from the falls to this gap
about 45 miles through a tolerable leavel plain on an old indian road. and
the distance from thence to Clarks river is 105 miles. The total distance
from the falls of the Missouri to Clarks river is only 150 miles of a
tolerable roadCapt L. arived at the white Bear Islands and encampd.
on the West Side of the Missouri and in the morning he discovered that the
Indians had taken of Seven of his best horses, drewyer prosued the indians
two day’s on the rout towards Clarks river. he Saw their camp on Dearborns
river near the road on which Capt. Lewis & party Come on a by place
where they had left only one or two day at this encampment he Saw great
appearanc of horseson the return of Drewyer Capt L. took Drewyer
& the 2 fieldses & proceeded on his intended rout up Marias river
leaving Sergt. Gass, Thompson, Frazier, Werner, McNeal & Goodrich at
the portage to prepare Geer and repar the wheels & Carrage against the
arival of the Canoes and he also left 4 horses for the purpose of hauling
the Canoes across. The Canoes arrived on the 16th, and on the 26th they
had all except one across, the Plains becom So muddy from the emence rains
which had fallen, that they Could not get her over the portage. on the
28th they joined Capt Lewis at the Grog Spring a fiew miles above the
enterance of Marias river From the Falls of Missouri Capt. L. proceeded on
with Drewyer & the 2 fieldses Courss

On the 26th of July Capt Lewis Set out on his return to the enterance of
Marias river to meet with the party with, the Canoes from the falls. his
course was through the plains

S. E. 5 Milespassing a Small Creek from the mts

S. 70° E. 9 Miles to a principal branch of Marias River 65 yards wide not
very deep at 7 mile. this last branch is Shallow and rapid about the Size
of the former from the S W. both of those Streams Contain a great
preportion of timberhere we find the 3 Specis of Cotton before
mentioned

N 80° E. 4 miles down Marias river and met with 8 Indians of the Blackfoot
nation with about 30 horses, those Indians professed friendship and Set
out with him and encamped together the night of the 26th of July, thy
informed him that there was two large bands of their nation in that
quarter one of which would be at the enterance of Marias river in a fiew
days. they also informed that a french Trader was with one of those bands,
that they traded with the white people on the Suskashwen River at 6 easy
days march or about 150 miles distant from whome they precured Guns Powder
Lead blankets &c. in exchange for wolf and beaver Skins. Capt Lewis
gave them a Flag Meadel & Handkerchief Capt. L. informed those Indians
where he was from & where he had been and his objects & friendly
views &c. of which they appeared to be well Satisfied.

“on the morning of the 27th at day light the indians got up and crouded
around the fire, Jo. Field who was on post had carelessly laid his gun
down behind him near where his brother was Sleeping. one of the Indians
Slipd. behind him and took his gun and that of his brother unperceived by
him, at the Same instant two others advanced and Seized the guns of
Drewyer and Capt Lewis who were yet asleep. Jo. Fields Seeing this turned
about to take his gun and Saw the fellow running off with his and his
brothers, he called to his brother who instantly jumped up and prosued the
indian with him whome they overtook at the distance of 50 or 60 paces
Siezed their guns and rested them from him and R. Field as he Seized his
gun Stabed the indian to the heart with his knif who fell dead; (this Cap
L. did not know untill Some time after.) drewyer who awoke at the first
alarm jumped up and Seized & rested his gun from the indian &c.
Capt L. awoke and asked what was the matter Seeing Drewyer in a Scuffle
for his gun he turned to get his gun and found her gorn, he drew a pistol
from his holsters and prosued the Indian whom he Saw in possession of his
gun making off he presented the pistol and the indian lay down the gun.
the two Fields Came up and drew up to Shoot the Indian which Capt L.
forbid the indians then attempted to drive off all the horses. Capt L.
derected the men to fire on them if they attempted to drive off the
horses, and prosued two fellows who Continued to drive of his horses he
Shot the indian who had taken his gun and then in possession of his horse
through the belly, he fell and raised on his elbow and fired at Capt L.
the other made his escape into a nitch out of Sight with his bow and
arrows and as Capt L. guns was empty and he without his Shot pouch he
returnd. to the Camp where the 2 fields and Drewyer joind him having
prosued the indians across the river the were now in possession of the
most of their own as well as the indian horses and a gun Several bows
& arrows and all the indians baggage the gun & Some feathers and
flag they took and burnt all the other articles. and Saddled up a many of
the best horses as they wished with Some Spear horses, and Set out for to
intersept the party at Marias river and proceded on a little to the S. of
East 112 Miles to the Missouri at the Grog Spring. here they met with
Canoes and party decending joined them leaving their horses on the river
bank, and proceeded on to the enterance of Marias river opened the
deposits, found Several articles damaged. 3 Beaver traps could not be
found, the red perogue unfit for Service, from thenc they proceeded
without delay to the River Rochejhone See cources of Capt Lewis rout in
next book.”

at 2 P.M. Shannon & Gibson arived in the Skin Canoe with the Skins and
the greater part of the flesh of 3 Elk which they had killed a fiew miles
above. the two men Dixon & Handcock the two men we had met above came
down intending to proceed on down with us to the Manclans. at 3 P M we
proceded on all together having left the 2 leather Canoes on the bank. a
little below the enterance of (Jos) Shabonos Creek we Came too on a large
Sand point from the S. E. Side and Encamped. the wind blew very hard from
the S W. and Some rain. I washed Capt L. wound which has become Sore and
Somewhat painfull to him.

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Lewis: July 30, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:49 +0000

Wednesday July 30th 1806. The rain still continued this morning it was
therefore unnecessary to remain as we could not dry our baggage I
Consequently set out early as usual and pursued my rout downwards. the
currant being strong and the men anxious to get on they plyed their oars
faithfully and we went at the rate of about seven miles an hour. we halted
several times in the course of the day to kill some bighorns being anxious
to procure a few more skins and skeletons of this animal; I was fortunate
enough to procure one other malle and female for this purpose which I had
prepared accordingly. seven others were killed by the party also 2
buffaloe one Elk 2 beaver with & a female brown bear with tallons 61/4
inches in length. I preserved the skin of this bear also with the tallons;
it was not large and in but low order. we arrived this evening at an
island about 2 ms. above Goodriches Island and encamped on it’s N. E.
side. the rain continued with but little intermission all day; the air is
cold and extreemly disagreeable. nothing extraordinary happened today

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Lewis: July 2, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:39 +0000

Wednesday July 2ed 1806. We sent out the hunters early this morning, they
returned not so succesfull as yesterday having killed 2 deer only. Sheilds
continued repairing the gunns which he compleated by evening. all
arrangements being now compleat we determined to set out in the morning.
in the course of the day we had much conversation with the indians by
signs, our only mode of communicating our ideas. they informed us that
they wished to go in surch of the Ootslashshoots their friends and
intended leaving us tomorrow morning, I prevailed on them to go with me as
far as the East branch of Clark’s River and put me on the road to the
Missouri. I gave the Cheif a medal of the small size; he insisted on
exchanging names with me according to their custom which was accordingly
done and I was called Yo-me-kol-lick which interpreted is the white
bearskin foalded. in the evening the indians run their horses, and we had
several foot races betwen the natives and our party with various success.
these are a race of hardy strong athletic active men. nothin worthy of
notice transpired in the course of the day. Goodrich and McNeal are both
very unwell with the pox which they contracted last winter with the
Chinnook women this forms my inducement principally for taking them to the
falls of the Missouri where during an intervail of rest they can use the
murcury freely. I found two speceis of native clover here, the one with a
very narrow small leaf and a pale red flower, the other nearly as
luxouriant as our red clover with a white flower the leaf and blume of the
latter are proportionably large. I found several other uncommon plants
specemines of which I preserved. The leaf of the cottonwood on this river
is like that common to the Columbia narrower than that common to the lower
part of the Missouri and Mississippi and wider than that on the upper part
of the Missouri. the wild rose, servise berry, white berryed honeysuckle,
seven bark, elder, alder aspin, choke cherry and the broad and narrow
leafed willow are natives of this valley. the long leafed pine forms the
principal timber of the neighbourhood, and grows as well in the river
bottoms as on the hills. the firs and larch are confined to the higher
parts of the hills and mountains. the tops of the high mountains on either
side of this river are covered with snow. the musquetoes have been
excessively troublesome to us since our arrival at this place.

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Lewis: July 1, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:38 +0000

Tuesday July 1st 1806. This morning early we sent out all our hunters. set
Sheilds at work to repair some of our guns which were out of order Capt.
Clark & my self consurted the following plan viz. from this place I
determined to go with a small party by the most direct rout to the falls
of the Missouri, there to leave Thompson McNeal and goodrich to prepare
carriages and geer for the purpose of transporting the canoes and baggage
over the portage, and myself and six volunteers to ascend Maria’s river
with a view to explore the country and ascertain whether any branch of
that river lies as far north as Latd. 50 and again return and join the
party who are to decend the Missouri, at the entrance of Maria’s river. I
now called for the volunteers to accompany me on this rout, many turned
out, from whom I scelected Drewyer the two Feildses, Werner, Frazier and
Sergt Gass accompanied me the other part of the men are to proceed with
Capt Clark to the head of Jefferson’s river where we deposited sundry
articles and left our canoes. from hence Sergt Ordway with a party of 9
men are to decend the river with the canoes; Capt C. with the remaining
ten including Charbono and York will proceed to the Yellowstone river at
it’s nearest approach to the three forks of the missouri, here he will
build a canoe and decend the Yellowstone river with Charbono the indian
woman, his servant York and five others to the missouri where should he
arrive first he will wait my arrival. Sergt Pryor with two other men are
to proceed with the horses by land to the Mandans and thence to the
British posts on the Assinniboin with a letter to Mr. Heney whom we wish
to engage to prevail on the Sioux Chefs to join us on the Missouri, and
accompany them with us to the seat of the general government. these
arrangements being made the party were informed of our design and prepared
themselves accordingly. our hunters killed 13 deer in the course of this
day of which 7 were fine bucks, deer are large and in fine order. the
indians inform us that there are a great number of white buffaloe or
mountain sheep of the snowey hights of the mountains West of this river;
they state that they inhabit the most rocky and inaccessible parts, and
run but badly, that they kill them with great ease with their arrows when
they can find them. the indian warrior who overtook us on the 26th Ult.
made me a present of an excellent horse which he said he gave for the good
council we had given himself and nation and also to assure us of his
attatchment to the white men and his desire to be at peace with the
Minnetares of Fort de Prarie. we had our venison fleeced and exposed in
the sun on pole to dry. the dove the black woodpecker, the lark
woodpecker, the logcock, the prarie lark, sandhill crain, prarie hen with
the short and pointed tail, the robin, a speceis of brown plover, a few
curloos, small black birds, ravens hawks and a variety of sparrows as well
as the bee martin and the several speceis of Corvus genus are found in
this vally.

Windsor birst his gun near the muzzle a few days since; this Sheilds cut
off and I then exchanged it with the Cheif for the one we had given him
for conducting us over the mountains. he was much pleased with the
exchange and shot his gun several times; he shoots very well for an
inexperienced person.

The little animal found in the plains of the Missouri which I have called
the barking squirrel weighs from 3 to 31/2 pounds. it’s form is that of
the squirrel. it’s colour is an uniform light brick red grey, the red
reather predominating. the under side of the neck and bely are lighter
coloured than the other parts of the body. the legs are short, and it is
wide across the breast and sholders in propotion to it’s size, appears
strongly formed in that part; the head is also bony muscular and stout,
reather more blontly terminated wider and flatter than the common
squirrel. the upper lip is split or divided to the nose. the ears are
short and lie close to the head, having the appearance of being cut off,
in this particular they resemble the guinea pig. the teeth are like those
of the squrrel rat &c. they have a false jaw or pocket between the
skin and the mustle of the jaw like that of the common ground squrrel but
not so large in proportion to their size. they have large and full
whiskers on each side of the nose, a few long hairs of the same kind on
each jaw and over the eyes. the eye is small and black. they have five
toes on each foot of which the two outer toes on each foot are much shoter
than those in the center particularly the two inner toes of the fore feet,
the toes of the fore feet are remarkably long and sharp and seem well
adapted to cratching or burrowing those of the hind feet are neither as
long or sharp as the former; the nails are black. the hair of this animal
is about as long and equally as course as that of the common grey squrrel
of our country, and the hair of the tail is not longer than that of the
body except immediately at the extremity where it is somewhat longer and
frequently of a dark brown colour. the part of generation in the female is
placed on the lower region of the belly between the hinder legs so far
forward that she must lie on her back to copolate. the whole length of
this animal is one foot five inches from the extremity of the nose to that
of the tail of which the tail occupyes 4 inches. it is nearly double the
size of the whistleing squirrel of the Columbia. it is much more quick
active and fleet than it’s form would indicate. these squirrels burrow in
the ground in the open plains usually at a considerable distance from the
water yet are never seen at any distance from their burrows. six or eight
usually reside in one burrow to which there is never more than one
entrance. these burrows are of great debth. I once dug and pursued a
burrow to the debth of ten feet and did not reach it’s greatest debth.
they generally associate in large societies placing their burrows near
each other and frequently occupy in this manner several hundred acres of
land. when at rest above ground their position is generally erect on their
hinder feet and rump; thus they will generally set and bark at you as you
approach them, their note being much that of the little toy dogs, their
yelps are in quick succession and at each they a motion to their tails
upwards. they feed on the grass and weeds within the limits of their
village which they never appear to exceed on any occasion. as they are
usually numerous they keep the grass and weeds within their district very
closely graized and as clean as if it had been swept. the earth which they
throw out of their burrows is usually formed into a conic mound around the
entrance. this little animal is frequently very fat and it’s flesh is not
unpleasant. as soon as the hard frosts commence it shuts up it’s burrow
and continues within untill spring. it will eat grain or meat.

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Clark: July 1, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:38 +0000

Tuesday July 1st 1806 on Clark’s river We Sent out all the hunters very
early this morning by 12 OClock they all returned haveing killd. 12 Deer
Six of them large fat Bucks, this is like once more returning to the land
of liveing a plenty of meat and that very good. as Capt. Lewis and Myself
part at this place we make a division of our party and such baggage and
provisions as is Souteable. the party who will accompany Capt L. is G.
Drewyer, Sergt. Gass, Jo. & R. Fields, Frazier & Werner, and
Thompson Goodrich & McNear as far as the Falls of Missouri at which
place the 3 latter will remain untill I Send down the Canoes from the head
of Jeffersons river. they will then join that party and after passing the
portage around the falls, proceed on down to the enterance of Maria where
Capt. Lewis will join them after haveing assended that river as high up as
Laid. 50° North. from the head of Jeffersons river I shall proceed on to
the head of the Rockejhone with a party of 9 or 10 men and desend that
river. from the R Rockejhone I Shall dispatch Sergt. Pryor with the horses
to the Mandans and from thence to the Tradeing Establishments of the N. W.
Co on the Assinniboin River with a letter which we have written for the
purpose to engage Mr. H. Haney to endeaver to get Some of the principal
Chiefs of the Scioux to accompany us to the Seat of our government &.
we divide the Loading and apportion the horses. Capt L. only takes 17
horses with him, 8 only of which he intends to take up the Maria &c.
One of the Indians who accompaned us Swam Clarks river and examined the
Country around, on his return he informed us that he had discovered where
a Band of the Tushepaws had encamped this Spring passed of 64 Lodges,
& that they had passed Down Clarks river and that it was probable that
they were near the quawmash flatts on a Easterly branch of that river.
those guides expressed a desire to return to their nation and not
accompany us further, we informed them that if they was deturmined to
return we would kill some meat for them, but wished that they would
accompy Capt. Lewis on the rout to the falls of Missouri only 2 nights and
show him the right road to cross the Mountains. this they agreed to do. we
gave a medal of the Small Size to the young man Son to the late Great
Chief of the Chopunnish Nation who had been remarkably kind to us in every
instance, to all the others we tied a bunch of blue ribon about the hair,
which pleased them very much. the Indian man who overtook us in the
Mountain, presented Capt. Lewis with a horse and said that he opened his
ears to what we had said, and hoped that Cap Lewis would see the
Crovanters of Fort De Prarie and make a good peace that it was their
desire to be at peace. Shew them the horse as a token of their wishes
&c.

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Lewis: June 7, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:30 +0000

Saturday June 7th 1806. The two young Cheifs who visited last evening
returned to their village on Commeap C. with some others of the natives.
Sergt. Gass, McNeal, Whitehouse and Goodrich accompanyed them with a view
to procure some pack or lash ropes in exchange for parts of an old sain,
fish giggs, peices of old iron, old files and some bullets. they were also
directed to procure some bags for the purpose of containing our roots
& bread. in the evening they all returned except Whitehouse and
Goodrich who remained all night. they procured a few strings but no bags.
Hohastillpilp passed the river today and brought over a horse which he
gave Frazier one of our party who had previously made him a present of a
pair of Cannadian shoes or shoe-packs. Drewyer set out on a hunting
excurtion up Collins’s Creek this evening. we wish to leave the deer in
the neighbourhood of the quawmash plains undisturbed untill the 10th when
we intend removing thither to lay in some meat for our voyage over the
Mountains. our party are much engaged in preparing their saddles arranging
their loads provisions &c for our departure. There is a speceis of
cherry which grows in this neighbourhood in sitations like the Choke
cherry or near the little rivulets and wartercouses. it seldom grows in
clumps or from the same cluster of roots as the choke cherry dose. the
stem is simple branching reather diffuse stem the cortex is of a redish
dark brown and reather smooth. the leaf is of the ordinary dexture and
colour of those of most cherries, it is petiolate; a long oval 11/4 inhes
in length and 1/2 an inch in width, obtuse, margin so finely serrate that
it is scarcely perseptable & smooth. the peduncle is common 1 inch in
length, branch proceeding from the extremities as well as the sides of the
branches, celindric gradually tapering; the secondary peduncles are about
1/2 an inch in length scattered tho proceeding more from the extremity of
the common peduncle and are each furnished with a small bracted. the parts
of fructification are much like those discribed of the choke cherry except
that the petals are reather longer as is the calix reather deeper. the
cherry appears to be half grown, the stone is begining to be hard and is
in shape somewhat like that of the plumb; it appears that when ripe it
would be as large as the Kentish cherry, which indeed the growth of the
bush somewhat resembles; it rises about 6 or 8 feet high

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Clark: June 7, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:30 +0000

Saurday June 7th 1806. The two young cheafs and other Indians who
accompanied them Crossed the river and returned to their Village this
morning after brackfast; Shabono Sergt Gass McNeal, Whitehouse &
Goodrich accompanied them for the purpose of purchaseing or exchangeing
old peces of Sane, fish gig, peces of iron, bullets, and old files and
Such articles as they Could raise for ropes and Strings for to lash their
loads, and bags to Cary their roots in Sergt. Gass, Shabono & McNeal
returned at 2 P M haveing precured a String each only. Whitehouse and
Goodrich continued at the Village all night. Hohastillpilp crossed the
river to day and brought over a horse and gave it to Frazier one of our
party who had made him a present previously of a Par of Canidian Shoes.
one of our men informed me one of the young Chiefs who had given us two
horses already was in Serch of one which he intended to give to me. George
Drewyer Set out on a hunting excurtion up Collins’s Creek alone. our party
are all much engaged in prepareing Sadles and packing up their Stores of
Provisions &c.The Flat Head river is about 150 yards wide at
this place and discharges a vast body of water; notwithstanding it’s high
State the water remains nearly transparent, and it’s temperature appears
to be quit as cold as that of our best Springs. we met with a butifull
little bird in this neighbourhood about the Size and Somewhat the Shape of
the large Sparrow. it measures 7 inches from the extremity of the beak to
that of the tail, the latter Occupying 21/2 inches. the beak is reather
more than half an inch in length, and is formed much like the Virginia
Nightingal; red bd. it is thick and large for a bird of it’s size, wide at
the base, both Chaps convex, and pointed, the upper exceeds the under chap
a little is Somewhat cirved and of a brown Colour; the lower chap of a
Greenish yellow. the eye full reather large and of a black colour both
puple and iris. the plumage is remarkably delicate; that of the neck and
head is of a fine orrange yellow and red. the latter predomonates on the
top of the head and around the base of the beak from whence it gradually
diminishes towards the lower part of the Neck, the orring yellow prevails
most, the red has the Appearance of haveing been laid over a Ground of
yellow. the breast, the Sides, rump and some long feathers which lie
between the legs extend underneath the tail is of a fine orrange yellow.
the tail, back and wings are black, except a Small Strip of yellow on the
outer part of the Middle joint of the wing, 1/4 of an inch wide and an
inch in length. the tail is composed of 12 feathers of which those in the
Center are reather Shortest, and the plumage of all the feathers of the
tail is longest on that Side of the quill next to the Center of the tail.
the legs and feet are black, nails long and Sharp; it has four toes on
each foot, of which three are forward and one behind; that behind is as
long as the two outer of the three toes in front

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Lewis: May 31, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:27 +0000

Saturday May 31st 1806. Goodrich and Willard visited the indian Villages
this morning and returned in the evening. Willard brought with him the
dressed skin of a bear which he had purchased for Capt. C. this skin was
an uniform pale redish brown colour, the indians informed us that it was
not the Hoh-host or white bear, that it was the Yack-kah. this distinction
of the indians induced us to make further enquiry relative to their
opinons of the several speceis of bear in this country. we produced the
several skins of the bear which we had killed at this place and one very
nearly white which I had purchased. The white, the deep and plale red
grizzle, the dark bron grizzle, and all those which had the extremities of
the hair of a white or frosty colour without regard to the colour of the
ground of the poil, they designated Hoh-host and assured us that they were
the same with the white bear, that they ascosiated together, were very
vicisious, never climbed the trees, and had much longer nails than the
others. the black skins, those which were black with a number of intire
white hairs intermixed, the black with a white breast, the uniform bey,
brown and light redish brown, they designated the Yack-kah;-said that they
climbed the trees, had short nails and were not vicious, that they could
pursue them and kill them with safety, they also affirmed that they were
much smaller than the white bear. I am disposed to adopt the Indian
distinction with rispect to these bear and consider them two distinct
speceis. the white and the grizzly of this neighbourhood are the same of
those found on the upper portion of the Missouri where the other speceis
are not, and that the uniform redish brown black &c of this
neighbourhood are a speceis distinct from our black bear and from the
black bear of the Pacific coast which I believe to be the same with those
of the Atlantic coast, and that the common black bear do not exist here. I
had previously observed that the claws of some of the bear which we had
killed here had much shorter tallons than the variagated or white bear
usually have but supposed that they had woarn them out by scratching up
roots, and these were those which the indians called Yak-kah. on enquiry I
found also that a cub of an uniform redish brown colour, pup to a female
black bear intermixed with entire white hairs had climbed a tree. I think
this a distinct speceis from the common black bear, because we never find
the latter of any other colour than an uniform black, and also that the
poil of this bear is much finer thicker and longer with a greater
proportion of fur mixed with the hair, in other ispects they are much the
same.This evening Joseph and R. Feilds returned with the three deer
which they had killed. The Indians brought us another of our origional
Stock of horses; there are only two absent now of those horses, and these
the indians inform us that our shoshone guide rode back when he returned.
we have sixty five horses at this time, most of them in excellent order
and fine strong active horses.-

The Indians pursued a mule deer to the river opposite to our camp this
evening; the deer swam over and one of our hunters killed it. there being
a large party of indians assembled on this occasion on the opposite side,
Hohast-ill-pilp desired them to raise our canoe which was sunk on that
side of the river yesterday; they made the attempt but were unable to
effect it.

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Clark: May 31, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:27 +0000

Saturday May 31st 1806 Goodrich and Willard visited the indian Village
this morning and returned in the evening Willard brought with him the
dressed Skin of a bear which he had purchased for me. this Skin was of a
uniform pale redish brown colour, the indians inform us that it was not
the Hoh-host or white bear, that it was the Yack-kah this distinction of
the indians induced us to make further enquiry relitive to their oppinions
of the defferent Species of bear in this country. We produced the Several
Skins of the bear which our hunters had killed at this place and one very
nearly white which Capt Lewis had purchased. the White, the deep and pale
red grizzle, the dark brown grizzle, and all those that had the
extremities of the hair of a White or frosty Colour without reguard to the
Colour of the ground of the poil, they disignated Hoh-host and assured us
that they were the Same with the White bear, that they associated
together, were very vicisious, never climb the trees, and had much longer
nails than the others. The black skins, those which were black with a
number of entire white hairs intermixed, the black with a White breast,
the uniform bey, brown and light redish brown, they disignated the
Yack-kah-; Said that they Climb the trees had Short nails and were not
viscisious, that they could prosue them and kill them in Safty, they also
affirmed that they were much Smaller than the white bear. I am disposed to
adopt the Indians distinction with respect to these bear and consider them
two distinct Species. the White and the Grizzly of this neighbourhood are
the Same as those found on the upper part of the Missouri where the other
Species are not, and that the uniform redish brown black &c. of this
neighbourhood are a Species distinct from both Species of our black bear
and from the black bear of the Pacific Coast which I believe to be the
Same with those of the Atlantic Coast, and that the Common black bear do
not exist here. I had previously observed that the claws of Some of the
bear which we had killed here had much Shorter tallons than the varigated
or White bear usially have but Supposed that they had worn them out by
scratching out roots, and these were those which the indians call Yahkah.
on enquiry I found also that a Cub of a uniform redish brown Colour pup to
a female black bear intermixed with entire white hairs, had climbed a
tree. I think this a distinct Species from the common black bear becaus we
never find the latter of any other Colour than a uniform black, and also
that the poil of this bear is much finer thicker and longer with a greater
proportion of fur mixed with the hair, in other respects they are much the
same

This evening, Joseph and Reuben Fields returned with the three deer they
had killed. The indians brought us another of our Original Stock of
Horses; there are only two Absent now of these horses, and these the
indians inform us that our Sho-Sho-ne guide rode back when he returned. we
have Sixty five horses at this time, most of them in excellent order and
fine Strong active horses

The Indians pursued a Mule deer to the river opposit to our Camp this
evening; the deer Swam over and one of our hunters killed it. there being
a large party of indians assembled on this Occasion on the opposit Side
with Tin-nach-e-moo-tolt they attempted to rais our Canoe which was Sunk
on that Side of the river yesterday; they made the attempt but were unable
to effect it-.

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Lewis: May 28, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:26 +0000

Wednesday May 28th 1806. We sent Goodrich to the village of the broken arm
this morning he returned in the evening with some roots bread and a parsel
of goats-hair for making our saddle pads. Reubin and Joseph Feilds set out
this morning to hunt high up on a creek which discharges itself into this
river about 8 miles above us. at Noon Charbono, York and Lapage returned;
they had obtained four bags of the dryed roots of Cows and some bread. in
the evening Collins Shannon and Colter returned with eight deer. they had
fortunately discovered a ford on Collins’s Creek where they were enabled
to pass it with their horses and had hunted at the quawmash ground where
we first met with the Chopunnish last fall. deer were very abundant they
informed us, but there were not many bear. The sick Cheif was much better
this morning he can use his hands and arms and seems much pleased with the
prospect of recovering, he says he feels much better than he has for a
great number of months. I sincerely wish these sweats may restore him; we
have consented that he should still remain with us and repeat these
sweats. he set up a great proportion of the day.The Child is also
better, he is free of fever, the imposthume is not so large but seems to
be advancing to maturity.- since my arrival here I have killed several
birds of the corvus genus of a kind found only in the rocky mountains and
their neighbourhood. I first met with this bird above the three forks of
the Missouri and saw them on the hights of the rocky Mountains but never
before had an opportunity of examining them closely. the small corvus
discribed at Fort Clatsop is a different speceis, tho untill now I had
taken it to be the same, this is much larger and has a loud squawling note
something like the mewing of a cat. the beak of this bird is 11/2 inches
long, is proportionably large, black and of the form which characterizes
this genus. the upper exceeds the under chap a little. the head and neck
are also proportionably large. the eye full and reather prominent, the
iris dark brown and puple black. it is about the size and somewhat the
form of the Jaybird tho reather rounder or more full in the body. the tail
is four and a half inches in length, composed of 12 feathers nearly of the
same length. the head neck and body of this bird are of a dove colour. the
wings are black except the extremities of six large fathers ocupying the
middle joint of the wing which are white. the under disk of the wing is
not of the shining or grossy black which marks it’s upper surface. the two
feathers in the center of the tail are black as are the two adjacent
feathers for half their width the ballance are of a pure white. the feet
and legs are black and imbricated with wide scales. the nails are black
and remarkably long and sharp, also much curved. it has four toes on each
foot of which one is in the rear and three in front. the toes are long
particularly that in the rear. this bird feeds on the seed of the pine and
also on insects. it resides in the rocky mountains at all seasons of the
year, and in many parts is the only bird to be found.our hunters
brought us a large hooting Owl which differs considerably from those of
the Atlantic States which are also common here. the plumage of this owl is
an uniform mixture of dark yellowish brown and white, in which the dark
brown predominates. it’s colour may be properly termed a dark iron grey.
the plumage is very long and remarkably silky and soft. these have not the
long feathers on the head which give it the appearance of ears or horns.
the leathers of the head are long narrow and closely set, they rise
upwright nearly to the extremity and then are bent back sudonly as iff
curled. a kind of ruff of these feathers incircle the thoat. the head has
a flat appearance being broadest before and behind and is 1 foot 10 Is. in
circumference. incircling the eyes and extending from them like rays from
the center a tissue of open hairy long feathers are placed of a light grey
colour, these conceal the ears which are very large and are placed close
to the eyes behind and extending below them. these feathers meet over the
beak which they nearly conceal and form the face of the owl. they eyes are
remarkably large and prominant, the iris of a pale goald colour and iris
circular and of a deep sea green. the beak is short and wide at it’s base.
the upper chap is much curved at the extremity and comes down over and in
front of the under chap. this bird is about the size of the largest
hooting Owl. the tail is composed of eleven feathers, of which those in
the center are reather the longest. it is booted to the extremity of the
toes, of which it has four on each foot, one in the rear one on the outer
side and two in front. the toes are short particularly that in rear, but
are all armed with long keen curved nails of a dark brown colour. the beak
is white and nostrils circular large and unconnected. the habits and the
note of this owl is much that of the common large hooting owl.

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