September 06, 1805
William Clark
Some little rain, purchased two fine horses & took a Vocabiliary of the language
litened our loads & packed up, rained contd. untill <2> 12 oClock we Set
out at 2 oClock at the Same time all the Indians Set out on Ther way to meet the Snake
Indians at the 3 forks of the Missouri. Crossed a Small river [East Fork
Bitterroot River.] from the right we call [blank] Soon
after Setting out, also a Small Creek [Possibly Cameron Creek.] from the
North all three forks comeing together below our Camp at which place the Mountains Close
on each Side of the river, We proceeded on N 30 W. Crossed a Mountain and Struck the river
Several miles down, at which place the Indians had Encamped two days before, we Proceeded
on Down the River which is 30 yds. wide Shallow & Stoney. Crossing it Several times
& Encamped in a Small bottom on the right side. [A few miles northwest of
Sula, MT, on the East Fork Bitterroot River, apparently above Warm Springs Creek on the
opposite side. The party had apparently passed over Sula Peak in route.]
rained this evening nothing to eate but berries, our flour out, and but little Corn, the
hunters killed 2 pheasents only-- all our horses purchased of the <flat heads>
oote lash Shutes we Secured well for fear of their leaveing of us, and watched them all
night for fear of their leaving us or the Indians prosuing & Steeling them.
September 06, 1805
John Ordway
a clear cold morning. we packed up our baggage the natives got up their
horses also and Struck their Lodges in order to Set out for the Missourie. we have
now got 40 good pack horses and three Colts. four hunters were furnished horses
without loads in order to hunt constant. about 1 oClock we Set out again on our
journey. the natives Set out at the Same time for the Missourie we proceeded
on soon crossed a large creek [East Fork Bitterroot River] in this
valley then Soon took the mountains. one of the hunters left us. we went over
a Mountain about 7 miles and descended down the Mountain on a creek and Camped. [Possibly
they followed Cameron Creek down to the East Fork Bitterroot River and camped above Warm
Springs Creek] eat a little parched corn. light Sprinkling of rain, through
the course of this day--
September 06, 1805
Patrick Gass
A cloudy morning. We exchanged some of our horses, that were fatigued, with the
natives; about 12 o'clock some rain fell; and we prepared to move on. At 1 we started,
when the Indians also set out. We proceeded over the mountain to a creek, and went down
the creek, our course being northwest; found the country mountainous and poor; and the
game scarce. Having travelled about 7 miles we encamped. Four hunters had been out to day,
but killed nothing; we therefore supped upon a small quantity of corn we had yet left.
September 06, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a clear cold morning. we began to pack up our baggage and look up our horses
&c. bought a nomber of lash chords and other Small articles from the natives
at 10 oClock A. m. the natives all got up their horses and Struck their
lodges in order to move over on the head of the Missourie after the buffalow. they
make a large Show as they are numerous and have abundance of horses. we take these
Savages to be the Welch Indians [This is a reference to the myth that some
interior Indians may have descended from legendary Welsh travelers. Some have applied this
myth to the Mandans.] if their be any Such from the Language. So Capt. Lewis took
down the names of everry thing in their Language, in order that it may be found out
whether they are or whether they Sprang or origenated first from the welch or not.
about noon we got ready to Set out. we have now 40 good pack horses, and three
Colts. we loadd. the horses Several men had to take 2 horses &c. 4
hunters were furnished horses without loads to hunt constant. about 1 oClock P. m.
we Set out. the natives Set out at the Same time to go over on the missourie.
we proceeded on our journey. crossed a large creek [East Fork Bitterroot River]
went over a mountain about 7 miles came down on the Same creek and Camped [A few
miles northwest of Sula, on the East Fork Bitterroot River, probably above and opposite
Warm Springs Creek.] nothing to eat but a little pearched corn. on[e]
hunter Stayed out all night. light Sprinklings of rain through the course of the
day.
September 06, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
A clear cold morning, and we began to pack up our baggage & collect our horses in
order to get ready to proceed on our Journey, we purchased a number of Cords & other
small articles from the Indians, for some small articles of merchandise. About 10
o'Clock A. M. the Indians collected their horses, & struck their lodges, in order to
move over on the head waters of the Mesouri River after Buffalo. they made a large
show & were numerous and had abundance of horses. We all suppose these Indians
to be the Welch nation of Indians, if there be any such a Nation; & from their
language we believe them to be the same. Captain Lewis took down the names of almost
every thing in their language in order to find whether they are the same,-- or if
possible to find out from their language & if there is any thing similiarity between
it & the Antient Welch language, & [illegible, crossed out]
whether they originated from the Welch.-- About noon we got ready to set out on our
Journey, & we have 40 good pack horses which our officers had purchases <from>
& exchanged with these Indians.
They had also purchased 3 Colts; that in case we should be without provisions, that we
might have something for to subsist on.-- We loaded our horses, & our hunters
were also furnish'd with horses without loads, to hunt on.-- About 1 oClock P. M we
set out. The natives set out at the same time, to go over on the Mesouri River to
hunt Buffalo, after taking an affectionate leave of us.-- We proceeded on our
Journey, and crossed a large Creek, and went over a Mountain about 7 Miles across.--
We asscended this Mountain, and came to the same Creek that we crossed this day,
& encamped.-- We had nothing to eat except a little parched Corn Meal, but our
party are all contented. One of our hunters did not return to us this night
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