for we now view the horses as our only certain resource for food, nor do we look forward to it with any detestation or horrow [horror], so soon is the mind which is occupyed with any interesting object, reconciled to it's situation.

it appeared that this river which they called Mult-no-mah discharged itself behind the Island which we called the image canoe Island and as we had left this island to the S. both in ascending and decending the river we had never seen it. they informed us that it was a large river and run a considerable distance to the South between the mountains.

April 02, 1806
William Clark

I deturmined to take a small party and return to this river and examine its size and collect as much information of the nativs on it or near it's enterance into the Columbia of its extent, the country which it waters and the nativs who inhabit its banks &c.

(Re: Ne-er-che-ki-oo tribe ...)

they were sulkey and they positively refused to sell any. I had a small pece of port fire match in my pocket, off of which I cut a pece one inch in length & put it into the fire and took out my pocket compas and set myself down on a mat on one side of the fire, and [also showed] a magnet which was in the top of my ink stand the port fire cought and burned vehemently, which changed the colour of the fire; with the magnit I turned the needle of the compas about very briskly; which astonished and alarmed these nativs and they laid several parsles of wappato at my feet, & begged of me to take out the bad fire to this I consented; ... I lit my pipe and gave them smoke, & gave the womin the full amount [value] of the roots which they had put at my feet. they appeared somewhat passified and I left them and proceeded on.

April 02, 1806
Patrick Gass

We returned in the morning to camp; and it was agreed to stay here some time longer to hunt and dry meat. Therefore 3 parties went out to hunt. Myself and 4 men went below the mouth of Sandy river, and killed an elk, some deer and a black bear.

April 02, 1806
John Ordway

9 of our men who went out last evening for meat of the 4 Elk Stayed out all night.   our officers determined to delay at this place untill the hunters kill 9 or 10 Elk and jurk the meat to take along with us. so all the best of our hunters [Including Gass, Windsor, Collins, Drouillard, and the two Field brothers] turned out   the most of them went over to the South shore & in different directions a hunting.  the natives informed our officers that their is a large River [The Willamette River] comes in on the South Side Some distance below quick Sand River which we had not Seen So Capt. Clark & 6 men Set out [Seven, neither Clark nor Ordway counted York, Lewis did record the correct number - Thompson, Potts, Cruzatte Weiser, Howard, Whitehouse, and York] with a canoe to go and examine the Sd. River.  took an Indian along for a guide.  the after part of the [day?] clear & pleasant  in the evening 3 of the hunters came in  had killed two Deer.   30 odd Savages Camped with us men women & children.

April 02, 1806
Joseph Whitehouse

The great River is called by the Natives the Mult-no-mack [Multnomah] River; it is 500 Yards wide at its mouth; & continues that width, as high up, as where we ascended it. The Indian guide that was with us, told us that it heads Near the head Waters of the California, ... Our guide also mentioned that he had seen one of the Indians of the Clark-a-mus Nation, & that this Indian was white, & that he mentioned they had fire Arms among them. From the above information received from our guide, I am of opinion, that if any Welch nation of Indians are in existence, it must be those Indians, & not the flatt head Nation, as before mentioned; this I believe, from their Colour, numbers of Town, & fire arms among them, which I flatter myself will be confirmed, whenever the River Mult-no-mack is fully explored.