March 29, 1806
[Lewis]
We set out early this morning and proceeded along the side of Deer Island; halted at 10 A. M. near its upper point and breakfasted. here we were joined by three men of the Clan-nah-min-na-mun nation. [1] the upper point of this Island may be esteemed the lower side or commencement of the Columbian valley. after breakfast we proceeded on and at the distance of 14 miles from our encampment of the last evening we passed a large inlet 300 yds in width. [2] this inlet or arm of the river extends itself to the South 10 or 12 M. to the hills on that side of the river and receives the waters of a small creek [3] which heads with killamucks river, and that of a bayau which passes out of the Columbia about 20 miles above, the large Island thus formed we call wappetoe island. [4] on this inlet and Island the following nations reside, (viz) Clan-nah-min-na-mun, Clacks-star, [5] Cath-lah-cum-up, Clâh-in-na-ta, Cath-lah-nah-qui-ah, and Cath-lah-cam-mah-tup. [6] the two first reside on the inlet and the others on the bayau and island.— observed a speceies of small wild onion [7] growing among the moss on the rocks, they resemble the shives of our gardens and grow remarkably close together forming a perfect turf; they are quite as agreeably flavoured as the shives. on the North side of the columbia a little above the entrance of this inlet a considerable river discharges itself. this stream the natives call the Cah-wah-na-hi-ooks. it is 150 yards wide and at present discharges a large body of water, tho' from the information of the same people it is not navigable but a short distance in consequence of falls and rappids a tribe called the Hul-lu-et-tell reside on this river above it's entr.— at the distance of three miles above the entrance of the inlet on the N. side behind the lower point of an island we arrived at the village of the Cath [X: Quath]-lah-poh-tle wich consists of 14 large wooden houses. [8] here we arrived at 3 P. M. the language of these people as well as those on the inlet and wappetoe Island differs in some measure from the nations on the lower part of the river. tho' many of their words are the same, and a great many others with the difference only of accent. the form of their houses and dress of the men, manner of living habits customs &c as far as we could discover are the same. their women wear their ornaments robes and hair as those do below tho' [NB: Indian women on Wappato Island & in that Valey] [9] here their hair is more frequently braded in two tresses and hang over each ear in front of the body. in stead of the tissue of bark woarn by the women below, they wear a kind of leather breech clout about the width of a common pocket handkerchief and reather longer. the two corners of this at one of the narrow ends are confined in front just above the hips; the other end is then brought between the legs, compressed into a narrow foalding bundel is drawn tight and the corners a little spread in front and tucked at the groin over and arround the part first confind about the waist. the small robe which dose not reach the waist is their usual and only garment commonly woarn be side that just mentioned. when the weather is a litte warm this robe is thrown aside and the leather truss or breech-clout constitutes the whole of their apparel. this is a much more indecent article than the tissue of bark, and bearly covers the mons venes, [10] to which it is drawn so close that the whole shape is plainly perceived. the floors of most of their houses are on a level with the surface of the earth tho' some of them are sunk two or 3 feet beneath. the internal arrangement of their houses is the same with those of the nations below. they are also fond of sculpture. various figures are carved and painted on the peices which support the center of the roof, about their doors and beads. they had large quantities of dryed Anchovies strung on small sticks by the gills and others which had been first dryed in this manner, were now arranged in large sheets with strings of bark and hung suspended by poles in the roofs of their houses; [11] they had also an abundance of sturgeon and wappetoe; the latter they take in great quantities from the neighbouring bonds, which are numerous and extensive in the river bottoms and islands. the wappetoe furnishes the principal article of traffic with these people which they dispose of to the nations below in exchange for beads cloth and various articles. the natives of the Sea coast and lower part of the river will dispose of their most valuable articles to obtain this root. they have a number of large symeters [12] of Iron from 3 to 4 feet long which hang by the heads of their beads; the blade of this weapon is thickest in the center tho' thin even there. all it's edges are sharp and it's greatest width which is about 9 inches from the point is about 4 inches. the form is thus. [13] this is a formidable weapon. they have heavy bludegeons of wood made in the same form nearly which I presume they used for the same purpose before they obtained metal. [14] we purchased a considerable quantity of wappetoe, 12 dogs, and 2 Sea otter skins of these people. they were very hospitable and gave us anchovies and wappetoe to eat. notwithstanding their hospitality if it deserves that appellation, they are great begers, for we had scarcely finished our repast on the wappetoe and Anchovies which they voluntarily set before us before they began to beg. we gave them some small articles as is our custom on those occasions with which they seemed perfectly satisfyed. we gave the 1st Cheif a small medal, which he soon transfered to his wife. after remaining at this place 2 hours we set out & continued our rout between this island, which we now call Cath-lah-poh-tle after the nation, and the Lard shore. at the distance of 2 miles we encamped in a small prarie on the main shore, having traveled 19 miles by estimate. [15] the river rising fast. great numbers of both the large and small swans, gees and ducks seen today. the former are very abundant in the ponds where the wappetoe is found, they feed much on this bulb. the female of the duck [16] which was described yesterday is of a uniform dark brown with some yellowish brown intermixed in small specks on the back neck and breast. the garter snakes [17] are innumerable, & are seen entwined arround each other in large bundles of forty of fifty lying about in different directions through the praries. the frogs [18] are croaking in the swams and marhes; their notes do not differ from those of the Atlantic States; they are not found in the salt marshes near the entrance of the river. heared a large hooting owl [19] hollowing this evening. saw several of the crested fishers [20] and some of the large and small black-birds.— [21]
[Clark]
we Set out very early this morning and proceeded to the head of deer island and took brackfast. the morning was very cold wind Sharp and keen off the rainge of Mountains to the East Covered with snow. the river is now riseing very fast and retards our progress very much as we are compelled to keep out at Some distance in the Curent to clear the bushes, and fallin trees and drift logs makeing out from the Shore. dureing the time we were at Brackfast a Canoe with three Indians of the Clan-nar-min-na-mon Nation came down, one of those men was dressed in a Salors Jacket & hat & the other two had a blanket each, those people differ but little either in their dress manners & Language from the Clatsops & Chinnooks they reside on Wappato Inlet which is on the S W. side about 12 miles above our encampment of the last night and is about 2 miles from the lower point, four other Tribes also reside on the inlet and Sluce which passes on the South W. Side of the Island, the first tribe from the lower point is the Clannarminamon, on the Island, the Clackster Nation on the main S. W. Shore. the next Cath-lah-cum-up, Clâh-in-na-ta, Cath-lah-nah-qui-ah and at Some distance further up is a tribe called Cath-lah-com-mah-up Those tribes all occupie Single Villages. we proceeded on to the lower point of the Said island accompanied by the 3 Indians, & were met by 2 canoes of nativs of the quath-lah-pah-tal who informed us that the chanel to the N E of the Island was the proper one. we prosued their advice and Crossed into the mouth of the Chah-wah-na-hi-ooks River which is about 200 yards wide and a great portion of water into the columbia at this time it being high. The indians inform us that this river is crouded with rapids after Some distance up it. Several tribes of the Hul-lu-et-tell Nation reside on this river. at 3 oClock P. M. we arived at the Quath lah pah tle Village of 14 Houses on main Shore to the N E. Side of a large island. those people in their habits manners Customs and language differ but little from those of the Clatsops and others below. here we exchanged our deer Skins killed yesterday for dogs, and purchased others to the Number of 12 for provisions for the party, as the deer flesh is too poore for the Men to Subsist on and work as hard as is necessary. I also purchased a Sea Otter robe. we purchased wappatoe and Some pashaquar roots. gave a Medal of the Small Size to the principal Chief, and at 5 oClock reembarked and proceeded up on the N E. of an Island to an inlet about 1 mile above the village and encamped on a butifull grassy plac, where the nativs make a portage of their Canoes and Wappato roots to and from a large pond at a Short distance. in this pond the nativs inform us they Collect great quantities of pappato, which the womin collect by getting into the water, Sometimes to their necks holding by a Small canoe and with their feet loosen the wappato or bulb of the root from the bottom from the Fibers, and it imedeately rises to the top of the water, they Collect & throw them into the Canoe, those deep roots are the largest and best roots. Great numbers of the whistling Swan, Gees and Ducks in the Ponds. Soon after we landed 3 of the nativs came up with Wappato to Sell a part of which we purchased. they Continued but a Short time. our men are recoverey fast. Willard quit well & Bratten much Stronger. we made 15 miles to day only.
[Ordway]
Saturday 29th March 1806. we Set out early and proceed. on. Saw blossom and wild onions [22] along the South Side in the afternoon we passd the mo. of [blank] River [23] which came in on N. Side which is high and puts in with a Swift current. little above we arived at the village of the [blank] nation [24] which is a large village and the most of their huts join. this village is more decent than any I have Seen below. we delayed at this village about 3 hours. Capt Clark bought a Robe which was made of 2 Sea otter Skins from the princepal man who he made a chief Gave him a meddle. he put it on his wife. Capt. Clark Gave the chief a blue blanket edged with red & Small also an old flag, which he was Satisfied with. we bought Several fat dogs and some wa pa toes from the natives. towards evening we proceed. on a Short distance further and Camped [25] on a handsom Green where had once been a village. Some of the natives visited us. thier women instead of wearing the Straw & bark Short peticoats wear a Soft leather breach cloth all above this Side of the Mountains are dressed in this way & nothing more to cover the most part of them, but those below on the coast wear the Short pticoats. Some among them all have a kind of a fur garment beaver &C. dressed and cut in narrow stripes & sewed together &C—
[Gass]
Saturday 29th. The morning was pleasant with some white frost and we proceeded on early; passed some old Indian lodges, and in the afternoon came to a large village, where we were received with great kindness, and got fish and wapto roots to eat. Here we bought some dogs and waptos, and then went on again, about a mile and encamped. One of the sick men is quite recovered and the other two are getting better. [26]
[Whitehouse]
Saturday March 29th We set out early this morning & proceeded on, the Columbia River being very high & the current running very swift. in the afternoon we passed the Mouth of a River, which was large & the Water in it very high, and makes into the Columbia River with a greadt deal of rapidity; This River lies a small distance below a large Indian Village of the Kalute Tribe 〈Nation〉 & called the Kalute River & at which place we halted & purchased from the Natives 10 fat dogs. Captain Clarke also purchased from these Indians a Sea Otter Skin robe, for which he gave, a small piece of blue Cloth, & part of an old flag. he also purchased from them some dried fish, Wapatoes &ca These Indians, are a much decenter looking sett of Natives, than those who reside on, or near the Sea Coast. The women among them wore a soft leather Breech Cloth, which they drawed tight about their breech, & is tied with a belt, & comes up forward in the manner that a breech Cloth does, & those on the Coast & near it, wore a short pettycoat, made out of Straw. The remainder of their bodies being exposed to the Weather.— Our Officers made a Chief, of one of those Indians, and gave him a medal; which he gave to his wife. These Kalute tribe of Indians, are a part of the flatt head Nation. Towards evening we proceeded on our Voyage, & went a short distance & encamped at a handsome green where their had formerly been an old Indian Village; laying on the So side of the River. We saw on the River this day, Swan & Geese in great plenty & the Indians that we were among kill plenty of deer, if we are allowed to judge from the quantities of Vension & Skins which we saw among them. [27]
