June 05, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
Colter and Bratton were permitted to visit the indian villages today for
the purpose of trading for roots and bread, they were fortunate and made a good return.
we gave the indian cheif another sweat today, continuing it as long as he could
possibly bear it; in the evening he was very languid but appeared still to improve in the
use of his limbs. the child is recovering fast the inflamation has subsided
intirely, we discontinued the poltice, and applyed a plaster of basilicon; the part is
still considerably swolen and hard. in the evening R. Feilds Shannon and Labuish [Clark
mentions Collins as being part of this "chaise" in his entry for this date.]
return from the chaise and brought with them five deer and a brown bear. among the
grasses of this country I observe a large speceis [Based on stature, habit, and
ecology, this is clearly the Common Reedgrass, Phragmites communis which is
nearly world wide in distribution.] which grows in moist situations; it rises to
the hight of eight or ten feet, the culm is jointed, hollow, smooth, as large as a goos
quill and more firm than ordinary grasses; the leaf is linnear broad and rough; it has
much the appearance of the maden cain as it is called in the state of Gergia, and retains
it's virdure untill late in the fall. this grass propegates principally by the root
which is horizontal and perennial. a second speceis [Based on stature,
habit, and ecology this is clearly basin wildrye. The corn grass of the southern
states may refer to weedy, coarse grass associated with corn cultivated there, such as
Johnson-grass, Sorghum halepense, although it is not a clump forming species such
as basin wildrye. Foxtail, Setaria italica, is another large, coarse
species also associated with corn cultivation, but also not clump forming.] grows
in tussucks and roses to the hight of six or eight feet; it seems to delight in the soil
of the river bottoms which possess a greater mixture of sand than the hills in this
neighbourhood. this is also a harsh course grass; it appears to abe the same which
is called the Corn grass in the Southern states, and the foxtail of Virginia. a
third speceis [Probably California Brome, Bromus carinatus, but also
possibly Fringed Brome, B. ciliatus, or Smooth Brome, B. inermis.
"Cheet" may refer to an eastern species of Bromus with which Lewis was familiar,
perhaps Cheat, B. secalinus.] resembles the cheet, tho' the horses feed
on it very freely. a fourth and most prevalent speceis [Sandberg Bluegrass, Poa
secunda. Lewis is correct that this is the most common type of native bluegrass, both
in the bottoms and in the uplands. It is frost tolerant, greens up early in the
spring, and is important as a forage species. It is part of a complex of species
that occupies a wide range of habitats in the region.] is a grass which appears
to be the same called the blue grass common to may parts of the United States; it is
common to the bottom as well as the uplands, is now seeding and is from 9 inches to 2 feet
high; it affords an excellent pasture for horses and appears to bear the frosts and snow
better than any grass in our country; I therefore regret very much that the seed will not
be ripe before our probable departure. this is a fine soft grass and would no doubt
make excellent hay if cultivated. I do not find the greenswoard [Lewis seems
to refer to a definite plant species as "greenswoard" rather than to an
ecological setting of a green meadow. See August 17, 1805. The species to which he
refers is unknown.] here which we met with on the lower part of the Columbia.
there are also several speceis of the wild rye [Including Canada Wildrye, Elymus
canadensis, and other species of Elymus. Possibly also Wheatgrasses, Agropyron.]
to be met with in the praries. among the plants and shrubs common to our contry I
observe here the seven bark, wild rose [Including both Western Wild, or Wood's
Rose, Rosa woodsii ultramontana and Nootka Rose, R. nutkana.],
vining honeysickle, sweet willow, red willow, longleafed pine, Cattail or cooper's flag,
lamsquarter [Probably Fremont Goosefoot, Chenopodium fremontii, commonly
found in sagebrush to pine forest habitats. The lambsquarter with which Lewis was
familiar, C. album is a Eurasian, weedy species, which was introduced widely over
North America after white settlement.], strawberry [Likely Wild
Strawberry, possibly Woodland Strawberry], raspberry [Possibly Black
Raspberry, Black Cap, Rubus leucodermis, but more likely Red Raspberry.],
tonge grass [Probably Peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum.],
musterd [All of the mustard species, Brassica, are introduced weeds of a
later era. It is unclear to which genus of the mustard family, Brassicaceae (Cruciferae),
Lewis refers.], tanzy [Not common Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare, an
Old World plant, but one with which Lewis was probably familiar. This unknown species
probably had deeply divided, compound leaves similar to tansy. A distinct possibility is
Western Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, which is present in this area and has
characteristics similar to tansy. This determination may also apply to earlier references
to tansy on June 6 and July 31, 1805.], sinquefield, horsemint, colts foot [Possibly
Arrowleaf Coltsfoot, Petasites sagittatus, from the mountains north of their
extended campsite, but it is uncommon even there. It is likely that Lewis used the name
coltsfoot for a similar plant that remains unknown.], <horsemint> green
plantin, cansar weed [Possibly a species of Broomrape Cancerroot, Orobanche.
Lewis's reference may have been to an easten plant called cancerroot, Salvia lyrata.],
elder, shoemate and several of the pea blume flowering plants.-- [Any number of
species in the pea family, Fabaceae (Leguminosae). Possibly a species of Lupine, Lupinus,
or Sweet Pea, Lathyrus, or the Sweet Vetch, Hedysarum boreale.]
Observed equal Altitudes of the sun with Sextant. Altitude
62o 46' 30"
Observed Sun's Magnetic Azimuth with Curcumferenter &c. Altd. of
Sun's U. L. with Sextant 58o 46' 15"
June 05, 1806
William Clark
Colter and Bratten were permitted to visit the Indian Village to day for
the purpose of tradeing for roots and bread, they were fortunate and made a good return.
we gave the Indian Cheif another Sweat to-day, continuing it as long as he could
bear it. in the evening he was very languid but Still to improve in the use of his
limbs. the child is revovereing fast. I applied a plaster of Sarve made of the
Rozen of the long leafed pine, Beas wax and Beare oil mixed, which has Subsided the
inflomation entirely, the part is Considerably Swelled and hard--. in the evening
Reuben Fields, G. Shannon, Labiech, & Collins returned from the chaise and brought
with them five deer and a brown bear.
Among the Grasses of this Country I observe a large Species which
grows in moist Situations; it rises to the hight of Eight or ten feet, the Culm is
jointed, hollow, Smooth, as large as a goose quill, and more firm than ordinary grass; the
leaf is linner broad and rough; it has much the appearance of the Meadin Cain as it is
Called in the Southern parts of the U' States, and retains it's virdue untill late in the
fall. this grass propegates principally by the Root which is horozontal and
perennial.--. a Second Species grows in tussucks and rises to the hight of Six or
Eight feet; it Seams to delight in the Soil of the river bottoms which possess agreater
mixture of Sand than the hills in this neighbourhood. this is also a harsh Course
grass; it appears to be the Same which is Called the Corn grass in the Southern States,
and the Foxtail in Virginia. a third Species resembles the cheet, tho' the horses
feed on it very freely, a fouth and most prevalent Species is a grass which appears to be
the Same Called the blue Grass common to maney parts of the United States; it is common to
the bottoms as well as the uplands, is now Seeding and is from 9 inches to 2 feet high; it
affords an excellent paterage for horses and appears to bear the frost and Snow better
than any grass in our Country; I therefore regrete very much that the Seed will not be
ripe before our probable departure. this is a fine Soft grass and would no doubt
make excellent hay if cultivated. I do not find the Green Sword here which we met
with on the lower part of the Columbia. There are also Several Species of the wild
Rye to be met with in the praries. among the plants and Shrubs common to our Country
I observe here the Seven bark, Wild rose, vineing honey suckle, Sweet willow, red willow,
long leafed pine, Cattail or Coopers Flag. Lambs quarter, Strawberries, Raspberries,
Goose berries, tongue grass, Mustard, tanzy, Sinquefield, horse mint, water penerial [The
Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium, to which Clark refers is a European species.],
elder, Coalts foot, Green Plantin, canser weed, Shoemate, <red black & yellow
Currents> and Several of the pea blume flowering plants.--. Frazier who had
permission to visit the Twisted Hairs Lodge at the distance of ten or twelve miles did not
return this evening--. The river falls in course of the day and rises Some at night
as will be Seen by the remarks in the Diary of the weather. this most probably is
the melding of the Snows dureing the day &c.
June 05, 1806
John Ordway
a fair morning. Several of the party went across the river to Some
villages and purchased Some uppah & couse.-- towards evening our hunters hunters
[Collins, Reubin Fields, Labiche, and George Shannon.] all came in had
killed one black bear and five deer and informed us that an Indian had Set out Some days
past to cross the mountains if possable but Soon after dark he returned to our Camp and
informed us that he went over one mountain and in attempting to cross a creek which was
high and rapid his horse fell and hurt him So he turned back to wait untill the water
falls. the river kooskee is falling fast.
June 05, 1806
Patrick Gass
There was a fine pleasant morning with heavy dew. In the afternoon four
hunters came in with the meat of five more deer, and a bear. An Indian came with them, who
had been part of the way over the mountains; but found the road too bad and the snow too
deep to cross; so we are obliged to remain where we are sometime longer.
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