August 20, 1805
Meriwether Lewis
This morning I sent out the two hunters and employed the ballance of the party pretty
much as yesterday. I walked down the river about 3/4 of mile and scelected a place near
the river back unperceived by the Indians for a cash, which I set three men to make, and
directed the centinel to discharge his gun if he perceived any of the Indians going down
in that direction which was to be the signal for the men at work on the cash to desist and
seperate, least these people should discover our deposit and rob us of the baggage we
intend leaving here. by evening the cash was completed unperceived by the Indians,
and all our packages made up. the Pack-saddles and harnes is not yet complete.
in this operation we find ourselves at a loss for nails and boards; for the first
we substitute throngs of raw hide which answer verry well, and for the last to cut off the
blades of our oars and use the plank of some boxes which have heretofore held other
articles and put those articles into sacks of raw hide which I have had made for the
purpose. by this means I have obtained as many boards as will make 20 saddles which
I suppose will be sufficient for our present exegencies. The Indians with us behave
themselves extreemly well; the women have been busily engaged all day making and mending
the mockersons of our party. In the evening the hunters returned unsuccessfull.
Drewyer went in search of his trap which a beaver had taken off last night; he found the
beaver dead with the trap to his foot about 2 miles below the place he had set it.
this beaver constituted the whole of the game taken today. the fur of this animal is
as good as I ever saw any, and beleive that they are never out of season on the upper part
of the Missouri and it's branches within the Mountains. [Silas]
Goodrich caught several douzen fine trout today. I made up a small assortment of
medicines, together with the specemines of plants, minerals, seeds &c. which, I have
collected betwen this place and the falls of the Missouri which I shall deposit here.
the robe woarn by the Shoshonees is the same in both sexes and is loosly thrown
about their sholders, and the sides at pleasure either hanging loose or drawn together
with the hands, sometimes if the weather is cold they confine it with a girdel around the
waist; they are generally about the size of a 2 1/2 point blanket [Referring to a
system for measuring trade blankets by size and weight, used by the Hudson's Bay Company
and other traders. The "points" were lines woven in near one corner of the
blanket. A 2 1/2 point blanket would be 5 feet 4 inches by 4 feet 3 inches, and weigh 3
1/16 pounds.] for grown persons and reach as low as the middle of the leg.
this robe forms a garment in the day and constitutes their only covering at night.
with these people the robe is formed most commonly of the skins of Antelope, Bighorn, or
deer, dressed with the hair on, tho' they prefer the buffaloe when they can procure
them. I have also observed some robes among them of beaver, moonax, [Possibly
the Yellow-Bellied Marmot, Marmota flaviventris. The Yellow-Bellied Marmot was
not known to science at the time of the expedition. Lewis's "moonax" is a
variation of an Algonquian word and of the scientific name for the Woodchuck, Marmota
monax.] and small wolves. the summer robes of both sexes are
also frequently made of the Elk's skin dressed without the hair. The shirt of the
men is really a commodious and decent garment. it roomy and reaches nearly half way
the thye, there is no collar, the apperture being sufficiently large to admit the head and
is left square at top, or most frequently, both before and behind terminate in the tails
of the animals of which they are made and which foald outwards being frequently left
entire or sometimes cut into a fring on the edges and ornimented with the quills of the
Porcupine. [Yellow-Haired Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum expiranthum.]
the sides of the shirt are sewed deeply fringed, and ornamented in a similar manner
from the bottom upwards, within six or eight inches of the sleve from whence it is left
open as well as the sleve on it's under side to the elbow nearly. from the elbow the
sleve fits the arm tight as low as the wrist and is not ornimented with a fringe as the
sides and under parts of the sleve are above the elbow. the sholder straps are wide
and on them is generally displayed the taste of the manufacterer in a variety of figures
wrought with the quills of the porcupine of several colours; beads when they have them are
also displayed on this part. the tail of the shirt is left in the form which the
fore legs and neck give it with the addition of a slight fringe. the hair is usually
left on the tail, & near the hoofs of the animal; part of the hoof is also retained to
the skin and is split into a fring by way of orniment. these shirts are generally
made of deer's Antelope's, Bighorn's, or Elk's skins dressed without the hair. the
elk skin is less used for this purpose than either of the others. their only thread
used on this or any other occasion is the sinews taken from the back and loins of the deer
Elk buffaloe &c. Their legings are most usually formed of the skins of the
Antelope dressed without the hair. in the men they are very long and full each
leging being formed of a skin nearly entire. the legs, tail and neck are also left
on these, and the tail woarn upwards; and the neck deeply fringed and ornimented with
porcupine qulls drags or trails on the ground behind the heel. the skin is sewn in
such manner as to fit the leg and thye closely; the upper part being left open a
sufficient distance to permit the legs of the skin to be dran underneath a girdle both
before and behind, and the wide part of the skin to cover the buttock and lap before in
such manner that the breechcloth is unnecessary. they are much more decent in
concealing those parts than any nation on the Missouri the sides of the legings are
also deeply fringed and ornimented. sometimes this part is ornimented with little
fassicles of the hair of an enimy whom they have slain in battle. The tippet of the
Snake Indians is the most elegant peice of Indian dress I ever saw, the neck or collar of
this is formed of a strip of dressed Otter skin with the fur. it is about four or
five inches wide and is cut out of the back of the skin the nose and eyes forming one
extremity and the tail the other. begining a little behind the ear of the animal at
one edge of this collar and proceeding towards the tail, they attatch from one to two
hundred and fifty little roles of Ermin skin formed in the following manner. the
skin is first dressed with the fur on it and a narrow strip is cut out of the back of the
skin reaching from the nose and imbracing the tail. this is sewed arround the cord
of the silk-grass [A variety of Dogbane, Apocynum.] twisted for
the purpose and regularly tapering in such manner as to give it ajust proportion to the
tail which is to form the lower extremity of the stran. thus arranged they are confined at
the upper point in little bundles of two--three, or more as the disign may be to make them
more full; these are then attatched to the collars as before mentioned, and to conceal the
connection of this part which would otherwise have a course appearance they attatch a
broad fringe of the Ermin skin to the collar overlaying that part. little bundles of
fine fringe of the same materials is fastened to the extremity of the tails in order to
shew their black extremities to greater advantage. the center of the otterskin
collar is also ornamented with the shells of the perl oister. the collar is confined
arond the neck and the little roles of Ermin skin about the size of a large quill covers
the solders and body nearly to the waist and has the appearance of a short cloak and is
really handsome. these they esteem very highly, and give or dispose of only on
important occasions. the ermin whic is known to the traiders of the N.W. by the name
of the white weasel is the genuine ermine, and might no doubt be turned to great advantage
by those people if they would encourage the Indians to take them. they are no doubt
extreemly plenty and readily taken, from the number of these tippets which I have seen
among these people and the great number of skins employed in the construction of each
timppet. scarcely any of them have employed less than one hundred of these skins in
their formation.-- This morning Capt. Clark set out at 6 in the morning and soon
after arrived near their camp they having removed about 2 miles higher up the river than
the camp at which they were when I first visited them. the chief requested a halt,
which was complyed with, and a number of the indians came out from the village and joined
them after smoking a few pipes with them they all proceeded to the village where
Capt C. was conducted to a large lodge prepared in the center of the encampment for
himself and party. here they gave him one salmon and some cakes of dryed berries.
he now repeated to them what had been said to them in council at this place which
was repeated to the village by the Cheif. when he had concluded this address he
requested a guide to accompany him down the river and an elderly man was pointed out by
the Cheif who consented to undertake this task. [The captains refer to the
"elderly man" by name only once in the journals, by the nickname
"Toby"; see May 12, 1806. However, Sergeant John Ordway does refer to him
as "tobe" on May 4, 1806. "Toby" guided Clark on his examination
of the Salmon River and conducted the entire party over the Lolo Trail to the Clearwater
River.] this was the old man of whom Cameahwait had spoken as a person
well acquainted with the country to the North of this river. Capt. C. encouraged the
Indians to come over with their horses and assist me over with the baggage. he
distributed some presents among the Indians. about half the men of the village
turned out to hunt the antelope but were unsuccessfull. at 3 P.M. Capt. Clark
departed, accompanyed by his guide and party except one man [Cruzatte; see Lewis's
entry for August 21, 1805.] whom he left with orders to purchase a horse if
possible and overtake him as soon as he could. he left Charbono and the indian woman
to return to my camp with the Indians. he passed the river about four miles below
the Indians, and encamped on a small branch, eight miles distant. [He crossed to
the west side of the Lemhi River and camped near Baker. The stream may be Withington
Creek.] on his way he met a rispectable looking indian who returned and
continued with him all night; this indian gave them three salmon. Capt. C. killed a
cock of the plains or mountain cock. it was of a dark brown colour with a long and
pointed tail larger than the dunghill fowl and had a fleshey proturberant substance about
the base of the upper chap, something like that of the turkey tho' without the snout.
Latitude N. deduced from the Hor. 44o 33' 50.5"
Observed Equal Altitudes with Sextant of the Sun. Latitude deduced from this
observation N. 44o 39' 43"
August 20, 1805
William Clark
Set out at half past 6 oClock and proceeded on (met maney parties of Indians) tho' a
hilley Countrey to the Camp of the Indians on a branch of the Columbia River, [About
four miles north of Tendoy near where Kenney Creek joins the Lemhi River.] before
we entered this Camp a Serimonious hault was requested by the Chief and I Smoked with all
that Came around for Several pipes, we then proceeded on to the Camp & I was
introduced into the only Lodge they had which was pitched in the Center for my party all
the other Lodges made of bushes, after a fiew Indian Seremonies I informed the Indians the
object of our journey our good intentions towards them my consern for their distressed
Situation, what we had done for them in makeing a piece with the Minitarras Mandans
Rickara &c. for them--. and requested them all to take over their horses &
assist Capt Leiwis across &c. also informing them the oject of my journey down
the river and requested a guide to accompany me, all of which was repeited by the Chief to
the whole village.
Those pore people Cound only raise a Sammon & a little dried Choke Cherris for us
half the men of the tribe with the Chief turned out to hunt the antilopes, at 3
oClock after giveing a fiew Small articles as presents I set out accompanied by an old man
as a Guide (I endevered to procure as much information from thos people as possible
without much Suckcess they being but little acquainted or effecting to be So--[)]
I lef one man to purchase a horse and overtake me and proceeded on thro a wide rich bottom
on a beaten Roade 8 miles Crossed the river and encamped on a Small run, this
evening passed a number of old lodges, and met a number of men women children &
horses, met a man who appeared of Some Consideration who turned back with us, he halted a
woman & gave us 3 Small Sammon, this man continued with me all night and partook of
what I had which was a little Pork verry Salt. Those Indians are verry
attentive to Strangers &c. I left our interpreter & his woman to accompany the
Indians to Capt Lewis tomorrow the Day they informed me they would Set out I killed
a Pheasent at the Indian Camp larger than a dungal [dunghill] fowl with
feshey proturberances about the head like a turkey. Frost last night.
August 20, 1805
John Ordway
a clear cold morning. a light frost. two men out a hunting. the men
at Camp all employed dressing Skins &C. the 2 Indians at our Camp behave verry well
and their Squaws mend our mockisons, and make Some &C. and are as friendly as any
Savages we have yet Seen. our hunters returned in the afternoon but had killed
nothing. the game Scarse. G. Drewyer caught a beaver in a trap last night. it got
away and carried the trap 2 miles down the river he got it in the afternoon it was a
verry large beaver. the Indians eat it. a nomber of fine Trout caught this
day. Capt. Lewis went a Short distance down the River and looked out a place
undiscovered from the natives for a carsh or hole to hide Some of our baggage which we can
Spare or do without untill our return
August 20, 1805
Patrick Gass
A fine cool frosty morning. We set out early and travelled about 4 miles to a village
of the Indians on the bank of a branch of the Columbia river [The Lemhi River.],
about ten yards wide and very rapid. At this place there are about 25 lodges made of
willow bushes. They are the poorest and most miserable nation I ever beheld; having
scarcely any thing to subsist on, except berries and a few fish, which they contrive by
some means, to take. They have a great many fine horses, and nothing more; and on account
of these they are much harassed by other nations. They move about in any direction where
the berries are most plenty. We had a long talk with them, and they gave us very
unfavourable accounts with respect to the rivers. From which we understood that they were
not navigable down, and expect to perform the rout by land. Here we procured a guide [Toby],
and left our interpreters to go on with the natives, and assist Captain Lewis and his
party to bring on the baggage.
Captain Clarke and our party proceeded down the river with our guide, through a valley
about 4 miles wide, of a rich soil, but almost without timber. There are high mountains on
both sides, with some pine trees on them. We went about 8 miles and encamped on a fine
spring. [On Withington Creek] One of our men remained behind at the
village to buy a horse, and did not join us this evening [Cruzatte]. Five
of the Indians came and stayed with us during the night. They told us that they were
sometimes reduced to such want, as to be obliged to eat their horses.
August 20, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a clear cold morning. a white frost. two men out hunting. the
men at Camp employed dressing Skins &c. the 2 Indians who Stay at Camp behave
well their women mend & make our moccasons. these Indians behave as well and are
as friendly as any Savages we have yet Seen. our hunters returned had killed
nothing. one beaver caught which ran off with a Steel trap last night. we
found 2 miles down the river. a nomber of fish caught to day. Capt. Lewis
looked out a place down the river a Short distance for a carsh or hole to put Some baggage
in which we can do without untill our return.
August 20, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
This morning we had a white frost & Clear, Cool weather, Two of our Men were sent
out a hunting, and the Men at Camp employed in dressing of Skins, the two Indian men that
were in our Camp behave well, & their Women [crossed out, illegible]
employed themselves in making & mending Moccasins for our men. they are the most
friendly Indians that we have yet met with. Our hunters returned in the afternoon,
but had killed nothing. We caught one beaver in a trap, we set last night. he
had run off with the trap, & we found it 2 Miles down the river, with the beaver fast
in it. The party that went out fishing caught a number of fine fish; which they
brought to Camp. Captain Lewis went down the River a short distance to look out a place to
have a Cashe, or hole dug to put in some of the baggage which we intend leaving behind us
till we return.
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