August 21, 1805
Meriwether Lewis
This morning was very cold. the ice 1/4 of an inch thick on the water which stood in
the vessels exposed to the air. some wet deerskins that had been spread on the
grass last evening are stiffly frozen. the ink f[r]eizes in
my pen. the bottoms are perfectly covered with frost insomuch that they appear
to be covered with snow. This morning early I dispatched two hunters to kill some
meat if possible before the Indians arrive; Drewyer I sent with the horse into the cove
for that purpose. The party pursued their several occupations as yesterday.
by evening I had all the baggage, saddles, and harness completely ready for a march.
after dark, I made the men take the baggage to the cash and deposit it. I beleve we
have been unperceived by the Indians in this movement. notwithstanding the coldness
of the last night the day has proved excessively warm. neither of the hunters
returned this evening and I was obliged to issue port and corn. The mockersons of
both sexes are usually the same and are made of deer Elk or buffaloe skin dressed without
the hair. sometimes in the winter they make them of buffaloe skin dressed with the
hair on and turn the hair inwards as the Mandans Minetares and most of the nations do who
inhabit the buffaloe country. the mockerson is formed with one seem on the outer
edge of the foot is cut open at the instep to admit the foot and sewed up behind. in
this rispect they are the same with the Mandans. they sometimes ornament their
mockersons with various figures wrought with the quills of the Porcupine, some of the
dressey young men orniment the tops of their mockersons with the skins of polecats [Striped
Skunk, Mephitis mephitis.] and trale the tail of that animal on the
ground at their heels as they walk.-- the robe of the woman is generally smaller
than that of the man but is woarn in the same manner over the sholders. the Chemise
is roomy and comes down below the middle of the leg the upper part of this garment
is formed much like the shirt of the men except the sholder strap which is never used with
the Chemise. in women who give suck, they are left open at the sides nearly as low
as the waist, in others, close as high as the sleeve. the sleeve underneath is low
as the elbow is open, that part being left very full. the sides tail and upper part
of the sleeves are deeply fringed and sometimes ornimented in a similar manner with the
shirts of the men with the addition of little patches of red cloth about the tail edged
around with beads. the breast is usually ornament with various figures of party
colours rought with the quills of the Porcupine. it is one this part of the garment
that they appear to exert their greatest ingenuity. a girdle of dressed leather
confines the Chemise around the waist. when either the man or woman wish to
disengage their arm from the sleeve they draw it out by means of the opening underneath
the arm an throw the sleeve behind the body. the legings of the women reach as high
as the knee and are confined with a garter below. the mockerson covers and confins
it's lower extremity. they are neither fringed nor ornamented. these legings
are made of the skins of the antelope and the Chemise usually of those of the large deer
Bighorn and the smallest elk.-- They seldom wear the beads they possess about their
necks at least I have never seen a grown person of either sex wear them on this part; some
their children are seen with them in this way. the men and women were them supen
from the ear in little bunches or intermixed with triangular peices of the shells of the
perl oister. the men also were them attached in a similar manner to the hare of the
fore part of the crown of the head; to which they sometimes make the addition of the wings
and tails of birds. the nose in neither sex is pierced nor do they wear any
ornament in it. they have a variety of small sea shells of which they form collars
woarn indiscriminately by both sexes. these as well as the shell of the perl oister
they value very highly and inform us that they obtain them from their friends and
relations who live beyond the barren plain towards the Ocean in a S. Westerly
direction. these friends of theirs they say inhabit a good country abounding
with Elk, deer, bear, and Antelope, and possess a much greater number of horses and mules
than they do themselves; or using their own figure that their horses and mules are as
numerous as the grass of the plains. the warriors or such as esteem themselves
brave men wear collars made of the claws of the brown bear which are also esteemed of
great value and are preserved with great care. these claws are ornamented with beads
about the thick end near which they are peirced through their sides and strung on a throng
of dressed leather and tyed about the neck commonly with the upper edge of the talon next
the breast or neck but sometimes are reversed. it is esteemed by them an act of
equal celebrity the killing of one of these bear or an enimy, and with the means they have
of killing this animal it must really be a serious undertaking. the sweet sented
grass [Known as Sweetgrass, Holy Grass, Vanilla Grass and Seneca Grass, Hierochloe
odorata.] which grows very abundant on this river is either twisted or
plaited and woarn around the neck in ether sex, but most commonly by the men. they
have a collar also woarn by either sex. it generally round and about the size of a
man's finger; formed of leather or silk-grass twisted or firmly rolled and covered with
the quills of the porcupine of different colours. the tusks of the Elk are pierced
strung on a throng and woarn as an orniment for the neck, and is most generally woarn by
the women and children. the men frequently wear the skin of a fox [Most
likely the Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes.] or a broad strip of that of the
otter around the forehead and head in form of a bando. they are also fond of the
feathers of the tail of the beautiful eagle or callumet bird [Golden Eagle, Aquila
chrysaetos.] with which they ornament their own hair and the tails and mains
of their horses. The dress of these people is quite as desent and convenient as that
of any nation of Indians I ever saw.
This morning early Capt. C. resumed his march; at the distance of five miles he arrived
at some brush lodges of the Shoshones inhabited by about seven families here he
halted and was very friendly received by these people, who gave himself and party as much
boiled salmon as they could eat; they also gave him several dryed salmon and a
considerable quantity of dryed chokecherries. after smoking with them he visited
their fish wear which was abut 200 yds distant. he found the wear extended across
four channels of the river which was here divided by three small islands. [The
three islands were located on the Lemhi river a few miles southeast of present Salmon,
ID.] three of these channels were narrow, and were stoped by means of trees
fallen across, supported by which stakes of willow were driven down sufficiently near each
other to prevent the salmon from passing. about the center of each a cilindric
basket of eighteen or 20 feet in length terminating in a conic shape at it's lower
extremity, formed of willows, was opposed to a small apperture in the wear with it's mouth
up stream to receive the fish. the main channel of the water was conducted to this
basket, which was so narrow at it's lower extremity that the fish when once in could not
turn itself about, and were taken out by untying the small ends of the longitudinal
willows, which frormed the hull of the basket. the wear in the main channel was
somewhat differently contrived. there were two distinct wears formed of poles and
willow sticks, quite across the river, at no great distance from each other. each of
these, were furnished with two baskets; the one wear to take them ascending and the other
in decending. in constructing these wears, poles were first tyed together in parcels
of three near the smaller extremity; these were set on end, and spread in a triangular
form at the base, in such manner, that two or the three poles ranged in the direction of
the intended work, and the third down the stream. two ranges of horizontal poles
were next lashed with willow bark and wythes to the ranging poles, and on these willow
ticks were placed perpendicularly, reaching from the bottom of the river to about 3 or
four feet above it's surface; and placed so near each other, as not to permit the passage
of the fish, and even so thick in some parts, as with the help of gravel and stone to give
a direction to the water which they wished.-- the baskets were the same in form of
the others. this is the form of the work, and disposition of the baskets.

After examining the wears Capt. C. returned to the lodges, and shortly continued his
rout and passed the river to the Lard. side a little distance below the wears. he
sent Collins with an Indian down the Lard. side of the river to the forks 5 me. in surch
of Cruzatte who was left at the upper camp yesterday to purchase a horse and had followed
on today and passed them by another road while they were at the lodges and had gone on to
the forks. while Capt. Clark was at these lodges an Indian brought him a tomehawk
which he said he found in the grass near the lodge where I had staid at the upper camp
when I was first with his nation the tommahawk was Drewyer's he missed it in the
morning before we had set out and surched for it but it was not to be found I
beleive the young fellow stole it, but if he did it is the only article they have pilfered
and this was now returned. Capt. C. after travelling about 20 miles through the
valley with the course of the river nearly N.W. encamped on the Stard. side in a small
bottom under a high Clift of rocks. [Clark went down the Lemhi to its junction
with the Salmon, then down the Salmon. The creek where the salmon was caught may be Carmen
Creek. The camp was on the east side of the Salmon River a few miles north of present
Carmen, and below the mouth of Tower Creek.] on his way one of the party
killed a very large Salmon in a creek which they passed at the distance if 14 ms. he
was joined this evening by Cruzatte and Collins who brought with them five fresh salmon
which had been given them by the Indians at the forks. the forks of this river is
famous as a gig fishery and is much resorted by the natives.-- They killed one deer
today. The Guide apeared to be a very friendly intelligent old man, Capt. C. is much
pleased with him.
This day I observed Equal Altitudes with Sextant. Altitude at the time of
observation 65o 57' 30"
Latitude deduced from this observation North 44o 30' 21.7"
observation for equal Altitudes on the 20th Instant N. 44o 35' 28.1"
August 21, 1805
William Clark
Frost last night proceeded on with the Indians I met about miles to there
Camp, I entered a lodge and after Smokeing with all who Came about me I went to See the
place those people take the fish, a wear across the Creek in which there is Stuk baskets
Set in different derections So as to take the fish either decending or assending on
my return to the Camp which was 200 yards only the different lodges (which is only bushes)
brought in to the lodge I was introduced into, Sammon boiled, and dried Choke Chers.
Sufficent for all my party.-- one man brought me a tomahawk which we expected they
had Stolen from a man of Capt Lewis's party, this man informed me he found the tomk in the
grass near the place the man Slept. Crossed the River and went over a point of high land
& Struck it again near a Bluff on the right Side the man I left to get a horse at the
upper Camp missed me & went to the forks which is about five miles below the last
Camp.
I sent one man by the forks with derections to join me to night with the one now at
that place, those two men joined me at my Camp on the right Side below the 1st Clift with
5 Sammon which the Indians gave them at the forks, the place they gig fish at
this Season. Their method of takeing fish with a gig or bone is with a long
pole, about a foot from one End is a Strong String attached to the pole, this String is a
little more than a food long and is tied to the middle of a bone form 4 to 6 inches long,
one end Sharp the other with a whole to fasten on the end of the pole with a beard [The
barb of the fish-spear.] to the large end, the fasten this bone on one end &
with the other, feel for the fish & turn and Strike them So hard that the bone passes
through and Catches on the opposit Side, slips off the End of the pole and holds the
Center of the bone. Those Indians are mild in their disposition, appear
Sincere in their friendship, punctial, and decided. kind with what they have,
to spare. They are excessive pore, nothing but horses there Enemies
which are noumerous on account of there horses & Defenceless Situation, have Deprived
them of tents and all the Small Conveniances of life. They have only a few indifferent
Knives, no ax, made use of Elk's horn Sharpened to Sp[l]it ther wood, no
clothes except a Short Legins & robes of different animals, Beaver, bear, Buffalow,
wolf Panthor, Ibex, Sheep Deer, but most commonly the antilope Skins which they ware
loosely about them.-- Their ornements are Orter Skins dcurated with See Shells &
the Skins & tales of the white weasel, Sea Shels of different size hung to their Ears
hair and breast of their Shirts, beeds of Shells platted grass, and Small Strings of otter
Skin dressed, they are fond of our trinkets, and give us those ornements as the most
valueable of their possession. The women are held [ML: more]
Sacred [ML: among them than any nation we have seen] and appear
to have an equal Shere in all Conversation, which is not the Case in any other nation I
have Seen. their boeys & Girls are also admited to speak except in
Councils, the women doe all the drugery except fishing and takeing care of the horses,
which the men apr. to take upon themselves.-- The men ware the hair loose flowing
over ther Sholders & face the women Cut Short, orniments of the back bones of fish
Strung plated grass grains of Corn Strung Feathers and orniments of Birds Claws of the
Bear encurcling their necks the most Sacred of all the orniments of this
nation is the Sea Shells of various Sizes and Shapes and colours, of the bassterd perl
kind, which they inform us they get from the Indians to the South on the other Side of a
large fork of this river in passing to which they have to pass thro Sandy & barron
open plains without water to which place they can travel in 15 or 20 days-- The men
who passed by the forks informed me that the S W. fork was double the Size of the one I
came down, and I observed that it was a handsom river at my camp I shall in justice
to Capt. Lewis who was the first white man ever on this fork of the Columbia Call this
Louis's [Lewis's] river. one Deer killed this morning, and a Sammon
in the last Creek 2 1/2 feet long The Westerley fork of the Columbia River is
double the Size of the Easterley fork [The east fork is the present Lemhi River,
and the west fork and the main river below the junction are the Salmon.] &
below those forks the river is about the Size Jeffersons River near its mouth or 100 yards
wide, it is verry rapid & Sholey water Clear but little timber. This Clift
is of a redish brown Colour the rocks which fall from it is a dark brown flint tinged with
that Colour. Some Gullies of white Sand Stone and Sand fine & a[s]
white as Snow. The mountains on each Side are high, and those on the East ruged
& Contain a fiew Scattering pine, those on the West contain pine on ther tops &
high up the hollows-- [The Salmon River Mountains to the west, the
Beaverhead Mountains to the east.] The bottoms of this is wide & rich
from some distance above the place I struck the East fork they are also wide on the
East Passed a large Creek which fall in on the right Side 6 miles below the
forks a road passes up this Creek & to the Missouri.
August 21, 1805
John Ordway
the ground is covred with a hard white frost. the water which stood in the small
vessells froze 1/4 of an Inch thick. a little. Some deer skins which was spread out wet
last night are froze Stiff this morning. the Ink freezes in my pen now the sun jest
ariseing clear and pleasant this morning one hunter out a hunting. took
a horse with them. four men sent to dig a hole or carsh. Capt. Lewis took his
observations at the place and the Latidude produced is 44d 35m 28.Is
North. this evening after dark we carried the baggage to the carsh or hole which we
leave at this place. we took it to hide undiscovred from the natives. all the baggage
which we carry with us packed up & pack Saddles made ready to cross the diveding ridge
as soon as the horses return from the other Side.--
August 21, 1805
Patrick Gass
About 7 o'clock in the morning we continued our journey down the valley, and came to a
few lodges of Indians where our guide lives. We remained here about two hours, during
which time a number of Indians passed us, going to fish. We proceeded on the way the
Indians had gone; and one of our men went with them to the fishing place. The valley
becomes very narrow here, and a large branch of the river comes in a short distance below [Carmen
Creek]. Here we had to ascend high ground, the bottom is so narrow; and continued
on the high ground about six miles when we came again to the river, where a fine branch
flows in, the valley 4 or 5 miles wide. In this branch we shot a salmon about 6 pounds
weight. We travelled 20 miles this day, and encamped at a place where the mountains come
close to the river. In the valley through which we passed and all along the river, there
are cherries, currants and other small fruit. The man [Cruzatte] who had
remained behind at the first village and the other who had gone with the Indians to their
fishing place, both joined us here. The Indians gave them five salmon to bring to us; and
he that had stayed for a horse, brought one with him. At this place the river is about 70
yards wide.
August 21, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a hard white frost the water which Stood in the Small vessells froze a little.
Some deer Skins which was Spread out wet last night are froze Stiff this
morning. the Ink freezes in the pen at Sunrise. a clear pleasant
morning. one hunter out with a horse a hunting. 4 men Sent to dig a
carsh or hole. at 8 oClock A m Some of the party found Ice in Some
Standing water 1/4 of an Inch thick. Captain Lewis took observations at this place
and the Latidide produced is 43D 44m 19s North. in the evening after dark we carried
our baggage we conclude to carsh to the place of cashing, So as that the Indians neet not
discover us, or mistrust that we are going to berry any thing at this place &c &c.
August 21, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
We had a hard white frost this morning, the water that stood in small vessills froze,
and some Deer Skins which was spread out wet last night, was froze stiff this morning,
& the Ink froze in the pen at Sun rise; The morning was clear & got pleasant, One
of the hunters went out hunting on horse back & 4 of our Men were sent down the River
to dig a hole or Cashe to deposit some of our baggage in. At 8 oClock A. M. some of
the party found Ice in some standing water 1/4 of an inch thick, In the evening we carried
the baggage that was to be left at the Cashe, or hole that was dug, in order to deposit it
there. The evening was dark, & Captain Lewis thought it best to have it done at
that time, so that the Indians that were at our Camp, should not mistrust, or discover
that we were going to bury anything at this place
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