October 16, 1805
William Clark
a cool morning Set out early passed the rapid with all the Canoes except
Sgt. Pryors which run on a rock near the lower part of the rapid and Stuck fast, by the
assistance of the 3 other Canoes She was unloaded nd got off the rock without any further
injorey than, the wetting the greater part of her loading-- loaded and proceeded on
I walked around this rapid
Course
| S. 12o E |
3 |
miles to the Lard. bend passed a bad rapid all the way, here one
Canoe Stuck. bad rapid |
| S. 60o W. |
3 |
miles to a Stard. bend to a Scaffel of Split timber on an Island opsd. 2
other Isds. on Lard. |
| S 10o W. |
3 <1/2> |
miles to a Point of rocks at a rapid opsd. the upper point of Small Island
on th Lard. Side, passd. a rapid at the lower point of the 3 first Isds. one at the
Lard. pt. 1 1/2 mi. below Swift water |
| S. 50o W. |
6 |
miles to Lard pt. opsd. a rapid and a pt. of an Island the Countrey low on
both Sides Passed a rapid at 3 miles, passed a verry Bad rapid or falls, obliged to
unload at 5 miles at the lower point of a Small Island Stard dined Lard. 5
Inds come to us |
| S. 28 W. |
6 1/2 |
miles to the Junction of Columbia R. in the Point Stard Passed the rapid
opposit the upper Point of the Said Island and Passed a Small Isd. on Lard Side opposit,
passed the lower point of the Island on Stard Side at 2 1/2 miles a gravelley bare
in the river at 3 miles, river wide Countrey on each side low, a rainge of hill on
the west imedeately in front on the opposit side of Columbia |
| |
|
| [Opposite the above information is a column of figures: |
1 |
|
30 |
|
30 |
|
23 |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
21 |
|
140 |
|
60 |
|
200 |
| |
|
| The figures represent mileages for October 11-16,
1806, the first number is possibly an adjustment.] |
We halted a Short time above the Point and Smoked with the Indians,
& examined the Point and best place for our Camp, we Camped on the Columbia River a
little above the point I Saw about 200 men Comeing down from their villages &
were turned back by the Chief, after we built our fires of what wood we Could Collect,
& get from the Indians, the Chief brought down all his men Singing and dancing as they
Came, formed a ring and danced for Some time around us we gave them a Smoke, and
they returned the village a little above, the chief & Several delay untill I went to
bead. bought 7 dogs & they gave us Several fresh Salmon & Som horse dried
[Clark]
A cool morning deturmined to run the rapids, put our Indian guide in front our
Small Canoe next and the other four following each other, the canoes all passed over Safe
exept the rear Canoe which run fast on a rock at the lower part of the Rapids, with the
early assistance of the other Canoes & the Indians, who was extreamly ellert every
thing was taken out and the Canoe got off without any enjorie further than the articles
which it was loaded all wet. at 14 miles passed a bad rapid at which place we
unloaded and made a portage of 3/4 of a mile, [Possibly in the area of Strawberry
Island.] haveing passd. 4 Smaller rapids, three Islands and the parts of a house
above, I Saw Indians & Horses on the South Side below. five Indians [Probably
Palouse Indians.] came up the river in great haste, we Smoked with them and gave
them a piece of tobacco to Smoke with their people and Sent them back, they Set out in a
run & continued to go as fast as They Could run as far as we Could See them.
after getting Safely over the rapid and haveing taken Diner Set out and proceeded
on Seven miles to the junction of this river and the Columbia which joins from the N. W.
[The junction of the Columbia River and the Snake (Lewis's) River.] passd.
a rapid two Islands and a graveley bare, and imediately in the mouth a rapid above an
Island. In every direction from the junction of those rivers the Countrey is one
Continued plain low and rises from the water gradually, except a range of high Countrey [The
Horse Heaven Hills, or Mountains running southwest toward the Cascade Range.]
which runs from S. W & N E and is on the opposit Side about 2 miles distant from the
Collumbia and keeping its derection S W untill it joins a S W. range of mountains.
We halted above the point on the river Kimooenim [The Snake (Lewis's ) River.
On Clark's map the word "Kimooenim" is crossed out and
"Lewis's" substituted.] to Smoke with the Indians who had collected
there in great numbers to view us, [They met Indians of two groups which the
captains called Chimnapams and Sokulks, today known as the Yakimas and Wanapams
respectively.] here we met our 2 Chiefs who left us two days ago and proceeded on
to this place to inform those bands of our approach and friendly intentions towards all
nations &c. we also met the 2 men who had passed us Several days ago on hors
back, one of them we observed was a man of great influence with those Indians, harranged
them; after Smokeing with the Indians who had collected to view us we formed a camp at the
point [Southeast of Pasco, Washington at the site of Sacajawea State Park.]
near which place I Saw a fiew pieces of Drift wood after we had our camp fixed and fires
made, a Chief came from their Camp which was about 1/4 of a mile up the Columbia river at
the head of about 200 men Singing and beeting on their drums Stick and keeping time to the
musik, they formed a half circle around us and Sung for Some time, we gave them all Smoke,
and Spoke to their Chiefs as well as we could by Signs informing them of our friendly
disposition to all nations, and our joy in Seeing those of our Children around us, Gave
the principal chief [Cutssahnem, see October 18, 1805. All that is known of him is
in the journals.] a large Medal Shirt and Hankkf. a 2nd Chief a Meadel of Small
Size, and to the Cheif who came down from the upper villages a Small Medal &
Handkerchief.
The Chiefs then returned with the men to their camp; Soon after we purchased for our
Provisions Seven Dogs, Some fiew of those people made us presents of fish and
Several returned and delayed with us untill bedtime-- The 2 old Chiefs who
accompanied us from the head of the river precured us Some fuil <wood> Such as
<woods> the Stalks of weed or plant and willow bushes-- one man made me a
present of about 20 lb. of verry fat Dried horse meat.
Great quantities of a kind of prickley pares, much worst than any I have before seen of
a tapering form and attach themselves by bunches.
The Course's Distance and Remarks Decending the |
Lewis's river from the mouth of Kos kos kia |
in Latd. 46o 29' 21.7" N. |
|
|
October 10, 1805 |
| West |
1 |
mile to a bluff of high land in a bend to the
Starboard Side, passed an old Encampment of Indians S. S. |
|
|
October 11th |
| S 40o W. |
1 1/2 |
miles to a point of rocks in a Lard. bend
opposit to a bottom an old lodge on the larboard Side. |
| West |
2 |
miles to a Starboard bend passed a rapid
at 1/2 a mils, 2 houses on the Std. Side, <passed two large Island> rockey hill
Sides. |
| S. 40o W. |
3 |
miles to the mouth of a Brook on the Lard. Side,
passed a large Camp of Alpowa Cr. Indians on the Lard Side above, a Large vacant house
opposit St. Side. |
| N. 75o W. |
1 1/2 |
miles in the Lard Bend passed a rapid and
Some Swift water |
| N. 40o E. |
1 |
miles to a Stard. Bend at a rapid
a large vacant house on the Std. Side |
| N. 60o W. |
2 |
miles to a Lard Bend at a bad rapid
no timber except a fiew lose Hackberies. |
| N. 10o W. |
2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend at a rapid Some
Huts on the Stard. Side. |
| N. 40o W. |
4 |
miles to a Stard. Bend, passed a Std. point to three
Lodges of Indians on the Stard. Side |
|
18 |
|
| S. 60o W. |
2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend, passed a Stard. point;
two large houses vacant on the Stard. Side, Killed gees & Duck |
| S. 30o W. |
1 |
miles to a lard Bend opposit an old Indian
fishing encampment. |
| N. 60o W. |
2 |
To a Clift in a Stard. Bend passed a rapid
at 1/2 a mile; an Indian house on the Stard. Side. |
| West |
1/2 |
a mile to a Lard. Bend. |
| N. 10o W. |
1 1/2 |
miles to a Stard. bend passed a house St.
S |
| West |
2 1/2 |
miles to a lard Bend passed a rapid opposit a
Stoney Island from the Std. opposit to which & on the Stard Side is an Indian House, a
rapid at the lower point of the Island. |
| N 45o W. |
3 1/2 |
miles to the mouth of a Brook in the Stard.
Bend. below is two Indian houses inhabited, a great fishing place. we encamped |
|
|
October 12th |
| S. 45o W. |
3 |
miles passed 4 Islands first at 1/2 a mile
and the 3 others nearly opposit each other, and above a bad rapid, on the Lard Side, and
Swift water, passed a Stard point. |
| West |
3 |
miles to a Lard Bend passing a Small rapid and
Island on the Lard. Side, a vacant House on the Lard. Side |
| N. 45o W. |
2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend the bottoms are narrow in
the Points, the bends now have Clifts of rugid rocks to the river, also to the bottoms. |
| S. 70o W. |
2 |
miles to a bend on the Stard. Side at a rapid
opposit an Island and on the Lard. Side, passed a rapid on the Stard. Side of a Stoney
Island below which and on the Stard. Sid a Brook falls in, Saw Indians at a distance on
the high lands. |
| South |
2 |
miles to a point in a lard Bend, here the plains
or high Countrey become much lower on both Sides, and river about 400 yeards wide. |
| S. 30o W. |
2 1/2 |
miles to the mouth of a Small Creek in a Lard
Bend opposit to a Small island on the Lard Side. |
| S. 85o W. |
2 1/2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend at a Swift part of the
river, at 1 1/2 miles Took Median altiude 72o 30' 0" |
| S. 10o W. |
1 1/2 |
miles to a Lard Bend, low open countrey on each
Side. |
| S. 88o W. |
3 1/2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend (wind hard from the S.
W,) passed a rapid and Island. a large House of Indians opposit on the Stard. Side
Countrey rise gradually on each Sides |
| S. 60o W. |
6 |
miles to a Stard. Bend, passed an Island at 4
miles, one at 5 miles water Swift and Shallow. |
| S. 30o W. |
1 |
miles to a Lard Bend passed a rapid at the
upper point of a Small Stoney Isld. |
| West |
1 |
miles to a Stard Bend opposit to a Small Island
close under the Lard Side, passed a Brook on the Std. Side. Came too to View a rapid |
|
|
13th October 1805 |
| S. 20o W. |
2 |
miles to a Lard. Bend passed in the
greater part of this distance through a verry bad rapid, rocks in every direction; Chanel
on the lard. Side abt. the Center of the rapid. |
| S. 70o W. |
3 |
miles to a large Creek in a Lard. Bend Ki
moo onymm C passed a Bad rocky rapid at 2 miles |
| N. 50o W. |
5 |
miles to a large Crek in a Stard. Bend Drewyers
R at a great fishing establishment below the Creek at which place Several Scaffols of the
parts of Indian Houses remained passing for 4 miles over a bad rapid, and through a narrow
Channel, river Compressed and passes for 1 1/2 miles thro' a Chanel not more than 25 yards
wide, the other part of the river being crouded with black rough rocks, Saw Several
Indians at Those narrows. |
| N. 75o W. |
2 |
miles to the Starboard bend. |
| S. 45o W. |
2 1/2 |
miles to a Lardboard Bend. |
| N. 80o W. |
3 |
miles to a Stard. Bend |
| S. 60o W. |
2 |
on the Stard. Side. passed a rapid. |
| S 40o W. |
3 1/2 |
miles to a high Clifts in a Lard bend
passed the parts of a House put up on forks on the Lard. Side, a Grave yard on the
Stard. Side, near which we Encamped, 2 Indians overtook us here and informed they intinded
to proceed on by land to the great river. &c.-- |
|
|
14th October |
| West |
2 1/2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend opposit to a rock on the
Lardside resembling a Ship at a Distance, passed Some Swift water |
| S. 10o W. |
2 1/2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend. passed a rapid
<and Small island on the Std. Side> |
| S. 45o W. |
3 |
miles to a Stard. Bend passed a rapid
& Small Isld. on the Stard. Side |
| S. 10o E. |
2 1/2 |
miles to a Lard. Bend, passed a Small Island
Stard. Side. |
| S. 70o W. |
1 1/2 |
miles to a Stard. Bend (wind hard from S. W.
Cool) |
| South 18o West |
3 <99>
114 |
miles to a Lard. Bend passed a long bad
rapid on which 3 canoes Stuck fast, with 2 Small rockey Islands in the rapid, at 3 miles
is a Cave in a <lard point> the Std. Side in which the Indians have laterly lived, a
grave yard near it above the Caves is a rapid on both Sides one Canoe Struck a rock and in
passing this rapid & Sunk |
|
|
15th October 1805 |
| South |
4 1/2 |
miles to the lower point of an Island Close
under the Stard Side passed one on the Lard Side and one in the middle of the river;
four smal rapids, three of them at the lower points of the Said 3 Islands. |
| S. 45o E |
1 |
miles to the lower point of an Islannd
Close under the Lard Bend opsd the upper point of an Island on the Stard. Side at
which place there is a Small rapid |
| S 35o W. |
9 |
miles to a point of ricks on the lard. Side,
passed a place of Swift water at the lower point of the 1st Island, a Small rpid a little
below, a Lard point at 2 miles, a stard point at 4 miles, a Lard point at 5 miles, a Stard
point and 3 Small Islands opposit <near> the Stard. Side and 2 Islands opds. on the
lard Side at 6 1/2 miles, a Small rapid below the Islands, Several Scaffolds of the parts
of Houses on the Stard Side, at 8 1/2 miles passed an Island and Swift water, opposit on
the Stard Side is the parts of a house raised on forks. a Small Willow bottom on
Lard. The Countrey becoms low on each Side Say from 90' to 100 feet above the water |
| South |
5 |
miles to an Island at the head of a rapid,
passed for 3 miles thro' Still gentle water Confined between purpendicular Clifts of
rocks, & then widens into a kind of basin. come to and Encamped at an old
fishing place near a Saffle of the parts of a house. |
| S. 12o E |
3 |
miles to a Lard. bend passed a bad rapid
in this whole. course, one Conoe Stuck & filed. |
| S. 60o W. |
3 |
miles to a Stard Bend passed an Island on
which the parts of a house was raised on forks &c. 2 Small Islds. on the Lard. Side |
| S. 10o W |
3 |
miles to a point of rocks at a rapid opposit to
the upper point of a Small Island & on the lard. side, passed a rapid at the lower
point of 3 islands; and one 1 1/2 miles below them. |
| S. 60o W. |
6 148 1/2 |
miles to a Lard. point opposit to a rapid at the
upper point of an Island, passed a rapid at 3 miels, passed a (falls) or verry bad rapid
at 5 miles at which place we were obliged to unlode and make a protage of 3/4 of a mile.
an Isd. on Std Side in the rapid. |
| S. 28o W. |
6 1/2 154 |
miles to the junction of the ki moo-e nim with
the Columbia River, passed a rapid opposit to the upper point of a Sandy Isld., passed a
Small Island on the Lard. side, opposit, passed the lower point of the Island on the Std.
Side at 2 miles, a graveley bare in the river at 3 miles. |
October 16, 1805
Patrick Gass
We had a fine morning and embarked early; proceeded on about 3 miles, when one of the
canoes run upon some rocks in a rapid, but by unloading another canoe and sending it to
her assistance, we go all safe to land, and then continued our voyage. About 1 o'clock we
came to another rapid, where all hands carried a load of the baggage by land about a mile,
and then took the canoes over the rapids, two at a time, and in that way we got them all
down safe and proceeded on. Having gone 21 miles we arrived at the great Columbia river,
which comes in from the northwest. We found here a number of natives, of whose nations we
have not yet found out the names. We encamped on the point between the two rivers. The
country all round is level, rich and beautiful, but without timber.
October 16, 1805
John Ordway
we Set out as usal and proceed on over the rockey rapids one of the canoes
run fast on a rock in a bad rapid and Stayed untill we went with a canoe to their
assistance. got all Safe to land loaded and Set out again and proceeded on.
in the afternoon we Came to the last bad rapid as the Indians Sign to us. we
halted little above and carried Some of the baggage past by land abt. one mile then took
the canoes Safe down and loaded them again and procd. on passed over Several
rapid places in the River. towards evening we arived at the big forks. [Here
the Snake joins the Columbia River] the large River which is wider
than the Columbia River comes in from a northerly direction. [Ordway believed
since passing the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater that the River the Corp. was
traveling was the Columbia rather than the Snake] the Country around
these forks is level Smooth plain. no timber. not a tree to be Seen as
far as our Eyes could extend. a fiew willows Scattering along the Shores.
about 200 Savages [Yakima & Wanapam] are Camped on the
point between the 2 rivers. we Camped near them. they Sold us
eight fat dogs and Some fresh sammon. in the evening the whole band came Singing in
their way to our Camp around our fires and Smoaked with us, and appeared verry friendly.
they have pleanty of beeds Copper & brass trinkets, about them which they Sign
to us that they got them from Some tradors on a River to the North of this place-- [Perhaps
members of the Hudson's Bay Company or Northwest Fur Company]
October 16, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
we Set out as usal and proceeded on over Several bad rapids with was full of rocks.
one of the canoes Struck a rock in a rapid and Swung on it they Stayed their
untill we unloaded and took a canoe. I was on board the canoe which Struck.
the Small canoes came to our assistance also. we got the load and canoe Safe to
Shore, loaded again and proceeded on over Several more rapids then came to a very
bad rapid, the worst or had the highest waves of any we have yet passd. we halted above
the rapid and carried considerable of the baggage by land about a mile. then took
the canoes Safe over, and loaded up and proceeded on down Several more rapids
towards evening we arived at the forks of the river [The junction of the Snake and
Columbia rivers.] which came from a northly direction and is larger than this
Columa. R. the country around these forks is level Smooth barron plains not even a
tree to be Seen as far as our eyes could extend a fiew willows along the
Shores. we found about 2 hundred or upwards [Yakima and Wanapam Indians; the
former lived in the immediate vicinity of the Snake-Columbia fork, with the latter nearby.
Also nearby were the Walulas (Walla Wallas), Unatillas, and Palouses. All spoke languages
of the Shahaptian family.] Camped on the point between the two Rivers. a
verry pleasant place. we Camped [At a point between the rivers just
southeast of Pasco at the site of Sacajawea State Park.] near them on the point.
the natives Sold us eight dogs and Some fresh Sammon. the whole band came in a body
Singing in their form to our fires and Smoaked with us and appeared friendly. they have
beeds and brass and coper in Small peaces hanging about them, which they Sign to us that
they got them from white people on a River to the north, and Some down about the mouth of
this River. we went [blank] miles this day. passed Several Islands &c.
October 16, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a pleasant morning & we set out early; and proceeded on; we passed over several bad
Rapids, which lay quite across the River, which were <was> full of rocks. One
of our Canoes struck on a rock, which was in a rapid, & swung around and remained
fast, where she staid, till the Canoe that I was in came to their assistance & a small
Canoe belonging to our party. The Men from the two Canoes got the load out of the
Canoe, & got her off the rock & to the shore. We got the Canoes loaded again
& continued on our Voyage. we passed over several more bad Rapids; and came to a
place in the River, where we found a very bad Rapid by far the worst that we had yet seen
on this River; & we halted our Canoes above the Rapid. We carried a considerable
quantity of our baggage about a Mile by land below this rapid.-- We got all our
canoes safe over this <rapid> difficult place & loaded them and proceeded on
down the River; & passed everal more Rapids.-- Towards evening we arrived at a
large fork that came into this River from a Northerly direction & was muchlarge than
the fork which we descended which we supposed to be the Columbia River.-- The
country round where the forks of these two Rivers lay <is> was Level &
<is> smooth barren plains, with not a Tree to be seen as far as our Eyes could
extend. Along the Shores <are> grew a few Willows. We found upwards of
200 Indians, that were encamped on a point of land, that lay between these two Rivers, in
a very pleasant situated place. We Encamped nar those Indians on the sme point of
land. These natives came to our encampment & sold us 8 dogs & some fresh
Salmon. This whole Band of Indians came in a body, Singing in their manner to our
fires, Smoaked with us, & appeared friendly.-- These Indians had beads, and
small pieces of brass & Copper hanging about them, which they made signs to us, that
they got them from White people, who live on a River; lying to the North of this place,
& that they also got some of them at the Mouth of this River. We passed several
Islands this day & came 26 Miles, the Course with us is the same as Yesterday.--
|