October 12, 1805
William Clark
a fair cool morning wind from E after purchasing all the drid fish those people
would Spear from their hole in which they wer buried we Set out at 7 oClock and proceeded
on
| S. W. |
3 |
miles passed 4 Islands at 1 1/2 miles <three> 3 nearly oppost
a bad rapid on the Lard Side of those Islands, and Swift water around them to a
Lard. point passed a Stard point |
| West |
3 |
miles to a Lard Bend passed a Small rapid & Island on the Lard.
also an Indian Cabin. |
| N. W. |
2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend the bottoms are narrow from the points, the
bends & high lands have Clifts of ruged rock to the river, & bottoms |
| S. 70o W. |
2 |
miles to a bend on the Stard. at a rapid Isd opsd. passed a rapid on
the Std. Side of a Stoney Island, opsd. to which on the Std. Side below the rapid a Small
Creek [Penawawa Creek near Penawawa, Washington.] falls in Saw an
Indian on the high land at a distance. no timber in view |
| South |
2 |
miles to a pt. in Lard. bend here the Plains become low on both
Sides river about 400 yards wide |
| S. 30o W. |
2 1/2 |
miles to the mouth of a Creek Ente in a Lard. bend opsd. a Small Island on
the Lard Side |
| S. 85o W |
2 1/2 |
to the Stard. bend at a Swift place about half the distance of this
course Cp L took Meridian altitd. on Ld. Side 72o 30' 0" |
| S. 10o W. |
1 1/2 |
to a Lard Bend, (low open country) |
| S. 88o W. |
3 1/2 |
to a Stard. Bend wind S W. and hard. plain country rise
gradually on each side passed Island and rapid an Indian house on the Stard. ["Cabin"
on Clark's map, near present Little Goose Dam.] Some Indians at it &c. |
| S. 60o W. |
6 |
miles to a Stard. bend passed an Isld. at 4 miles & one at 5
miles, Swift water, and Sholey |
| S. 30o W. |
1 |
miles to a Lard Bend passd. a rapid at the upper pt. of a Small
Stoney Isd. |
| West |
1 |
miles to a Stard. bend opsd. a Small Island Close under the Lard Shore
passed a run on the Std. side. here we Came too to view a falls or very bad
rapid imediately below (Camped) which the Inds. informed us was very bad, we found it bad.
Sent our Small Canoe over-- |
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30 |
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[Clark]
A fair Cool morning wind from the East. after purchaseing every Speces of the
provisions those Indians could Spare we Set out and proceeded on at three miles
passed four Islands Swift water and a bad rapid opposit to those Islands on the Lard.
Side. at 14 1/2 miles passed the mouth of a large Creek on the Lard Side [Deadman
Creek, meeting the Snake at Central Ferry State Park, Washington.] opposit a
Small Island here the Countrey assends with a gentle assent to the high plains, and the
River is 400 yards wide about 1 mile below the Creek on the Same Side took meridian
altitude which gave 72o 20' 00" Latitude produced [Blank]
North in the afternoon the wind Shifted to the S. W. and blew hard we passed
to day [Blank] rapids Seveal of them very bad and came to at the head of
one (at 30 miles) on the Stard. Side to view it before we attemptd. to dsend through it.
The Indians had told us was verry bad-- we found long and dangerous about 2 miles
in length, and maney turns necessay to Stear Clare of the rocks, which appeared to be in
every direction. The Indians went through & our Small Canoe followed them, as it
was late we deturmined to camp above untill the morning. [Near present Riparia
below the mouth of Alkali Flat Creek.] we passed Several Stoney Islands
today Country as yesterday open plains, no timber of any kind a fiew Hack berry
bushes & willows excepted, and but few drift trees to be found So that fire wood is
verry Scerce-- The hill or assents from the water is faced with a dark ruged Stone.
The wind blew hard this evening.--
October 12, 1805
Patrick Gass
We had a fine morning and proceeded on early. Two of the Flathead chiefs [Not
likely Flathead] remained on board with us, and two of their men went with the
stranger in a small canoe, and acted as pilots or guides. We saw some ducks and a few
geese, but did not kill any of them. There is no four-footed game of any kind near this
part of the river, that we could discover; and we saw no birds of any kind, but a few
hawks, eagles and crows. At noon we halted; cooked and eat some fish and then proceeded
on. The country and river this day is much the same in appearance as what we passed
yesterday. A little before sunset we came to a bad rapid, which we did not wish to pass at
night, so we encamped above on the north side, having made 30 miles.
Some of the Flathead nation of Indians live all along the river this far down [Tribes
along the river spoke Sahaptian, not that of the Flatheads]. There are not more
than 4 lodges in a place or village, and these small camps or villages are 8 or 10 miles
apart: at each camp there are 5 or 6 small canoes. Their summer lodges are made of willows
and flags, and their winter lodges of split pine, almost like rails, which they bring down
on rafts to this part of the river where there is no timber.
October 12, 1805
John Ordway
a fair morning. we Set out eairly, and proceeded on as usal. passed a
number of old fishing camps along the Shores. high plains no timber.
we came 35 miles this day and Camped [Near Riparia, Washington]
on the Stard Side little above a bad rockey rapid. our Small pilot canoe and the
Indian canoe went over this evening
October 12, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a clear pleasant morning. we Set out eairly and proceeded on as usal. the
country continues the Same as yesterday Saw a nomber of old fishing Camps along the
Shores. the current Swift in Some places, but gentle in general. about 12
oClock we halted to dine on the Lard. Shore. could Scarsely find wood enofe to cook
our victules. Capt. Lewis took an Meridian observation. we then proceeded on
verry well passed Several more fishing Camps. the wind rose hard on each Side.
this River is verry handsom and country pleasant but no timber at all. we
Came 35 miles this day and Camped [Near Riparia, WA] on the Starbord Side
at the head of a bad rockey rapid which we expect is difficult to pass. the Indians
canoe and our Small pilot canoe went over this evening. we expect that we have got
past the numerous flat head nation. [Whitehouse, Gass, and both Captains use the
term "Flathead" erroneously in referring to Indians west of the Continental
Divide. Those inhabiting the region along the Clearwater above and the Snake in this
area were Nez Perces and Palouses.] only the guides who are with us they
tell us that in 2 days more we will come to another nation at a fork which comes in on the
St. Side of the Columbian River.--
October 12, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
We had a clear pleasant morning, & we set out early & proceeded on our Voyage
down the River. The Country has the same appearance as it had Yesterday. we
passed a number of odd fishing Camps, lying along the Shores on both sides of the River,
and found the current of the River run very swift in many places. About 12 o'Clock
A.M. we halted to dine on the South side of the River where we could scarcely find wood
enough to Cook our provisions. Captain Lewis took at this place a Meridian
Observation and found this place to lay in Latitude 46o 29' 21 7/10S North.
We continued our Voyage at 2 o'Clock P.M. & passed several more fishing Camps,
lying on both sides of the River. The wind rose & blew hard from the West.
We also passed high clifts of Rocks & high Priaries, both lying on each side of
the River, & they had a handsome appearance. The Country has a pleasant
appearance this day, but no kind of timber is to be seen. We came about 35 Miles
this day, & encamped on the North side of the River, at the head of a bad Rockey
rapid, where we expect to meet with difficulty in passing it.-- We got the Indians
Canoe & our smallest Canoe over this rapid this evening. We expect that we have
passed the flatt head Nation, which were very numerous. Our Guides who are Indians
inform us, that in 2 days more sailing, that we shall come to another Nation of Indians,
who reside near a fork of the River Columbia & that this fork lies on the South side
of the said River.--
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