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The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: Dates August 16, 1805 - August 17, 1805
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark. Dates: August 16, 1805 - August 17, 1805
August 16, 1805
Friday, 16. As neither our party nor the Indians had any
thing to eat, Captain Lewis sent two of his hunters ahead
this morning to procure some provision: at the same time
he requested Cameahwait to prevent his young men from going
out, lest by their noise they might alarm the game; but
this measure immediately revived their suspicions: it now
began to be believed that these men were sent forward in
order to apprise the enemy of their coming, and as Captain
Lewis was fearful of exciting any further uneasiness, he
made no objection on seeing a small party of Indians go
on each side of the valley under pretence of hunting, but
in reality to watch the movements of our two men: even this
precaution however did not quiet the alarms of the Indians,
a considerable part of whom returned home, leaving only
twenty-eight men and three women.
After
the hunters had been gone about an hour, Captain Lewis again
mounted with one of the Indians behind him, and the whole
party set out; but just as they passed through the narrows
they saw one of the spies coming back at full speed across
the plain: the chief stopped and seemed uneasy, the whole
band were moved with fresh suspicions, and Captain Lewis
himself was much disconcerted, lest by some unfortunate
accident some of their enemies might have perhaps straggled
that way. The young Indian had scarcely breath to say a
few words as he came up, when the whole troop dashed forward
as fast as their horses could carry them, and Captain Lewis
astonished at this movement was borne along for nearly a
mile before he learnt with great satisfaction that it was
all caused by the spy's having come to announce that one
of the white men had killed a deer. Relieved from his anxiety
he now found the jolting very uncomfortable; for the Indian
behind him being afraid of not getting his share of the
feast had lashed the horse at every step since they set
off; he therefore reined him in and ordered the Indian to
stop beating him.
The
fellow had no idea of losing time in disputing the point,
and jumping off the horse ran for a mile at full speed.
Captain Lewis slackened his pace, and followed at a sufficient
distance to observe them. When they reached the place where
Drewyer had thrown out the intestines, they all dismounted
in confusion and ran tumbling over each other like famished
dogs: each tore away whatever part he could and instantly
began to eat it; some had the liver, some the kidneys, in
short no part on which we are accustomed to look with disgust
escaped them: one of them who had seized about nine feet
of the entrails was chewing at one end, while with his hand
he was diligently clearing his way by discharging the contents
at the other. It was indeed impossible to see these wretches
ravenously feeding on the filth of animals, and the blood
streaming from their mouths, without deploring how nearly
the condition of savages approaches that of the brute creation:
yet though suffering with hunger they did not attempt, as
they might have done, to take by force the whole deer, but
contented themselves with what had been thrown away by the
hunter.
Captain
Lewis now had the deer skinned, and after reserving a quarter
of it gave the rest of the animal to the chief to be divided
among the Indians, who immediately devoured nearly the whole
of it without cooking. They now went forward towards the
creek where there was some brushwood to make a fire, and
found Drewyer who had killed a second deer: the same struggle
for the entrails was renewed here, and on giving nearly
the whole deer to the Indians, they devoured it even to
the soft part of the hoofs. A fire being made Captain Lewis
had his breakfast, during which Drewyer brought in a third
deer: this too, after reserving one quarter, was given to
the Indians, who now seemed completely satisfied and in
good humor. At this place they remained about two hours
to let the horses graze, and then continued their journey,
and towards evening reached the lower part of the cove having
on the way shot an antelope, the greater part of which was
given to the Indians. As they were now approaching the place
where they had been told by Captain Lewis they would see
the white men, the chief insisted on halting: they therefore
all dismounted, and Cameahwait with great ceremony and as
if for ornament, put tippets or skins round the necks of
our party, similar to those worn by themselves. As this
was obviously intended to disguise the white men, Captain
Lewis in order to inspire them with more confidence put
his cocked hat and feather on the head of the chief, and
as his own over-shirt was in the Indian form, and his skin
browned by the sun, he could not have been distinguished
from an Indian: the men followed his example, and the change
seemed to be very agreeable to the Indians.
In order to guard however against any disappointment Captain
Lewis again explained the possibility of our not having
reached the forks in consequence of the difficulty of the
navigation, so that if they should not find us at that spot
they might be assured of our not being far below. They again
all mounted their horses and rode on rapidly, making one
of the Indians carry their flag, so that we might recognise
them as they approached us; but to the mortification and
disappointment of both parties on coming within two miles
of the forks, no canoes were to be seen. Uneasy lest at
this moment he should be abandoned, and all his hopes of
obtaining aid from the Indians be destroyed, Captain Lewis
gave the chief his gun, telling him that if the enemies
of his nation were in the bushes he might defend himself
with it; that for his own part he was not afraid to die,
and that the chief might shoot him as soon as they discovered
themselves betrayed. The other three men at the same time
gave their guns to the Indians, who now seemed more easy,
but still wavered in their resolutions. As they went on
towards the point, Captain Lewis perceiving how critical
his situation had become, resolved to attempt a stratagem
which his present difficulty seemed completely to justify.
Recollecting the notes he had left at the point for us,
he sent Drewyer for them with an Indian who witnessed his
taking them from the pole.
When
they were brought, Captain Lewis told Cameahwait that on
leaving his brother chief at the place where the river issues
from the mountains, it was agreed that the boats should
not be brought higher than the next forks we should meet;
but that if the rapid water prevented the boats from coming
on as fast as they expected, his brother chief was to send
a note to the first forks above him to let him know where
the boats were; that this note had been left this morning
at the forks, and mentioned that the canoes were just below
the mountains, and coming slowly up in consequence of the
current. Captain Lewis added, that he would stay at the
forks for his brother chief, but would send a man down the
river, and that if Cameahwait doubted what he said, one
of their young men would go with him whilst he and the other
two remained at the forks. This story satisfied the chief
and the greater part of the Indians, but a few did not conceal
their suspicion, observing that we told different stories,
and complaining that the chief exposed them to danger by
a mistaken confidence. Captain Lewis now wrote by the light
of some willow brush a note to captain Clarke, which he
gave to Drewyer, with an order to use all possible expedition
in ascending the river, and engaged an Indian to accompany
him by a promise of a knife and some beads. At bedtime the
chief and five others slept round the fire of Captain Lewis,
and the rest hid themselves in different parts of the willow
brush to avoid the enemy, who they feared would attack them
in the night.
Captain
Lewis endeavored to assume a cheerfulness he did not feel
to prevent the despondency of the savages: after conversing
gayly with them he retired to his mosquito bier, by the
side of which the chief now placed himself: he lay down,
yet slept but little, being in fact scarcely less uneasy
than his Indian companions. He was apprehensive that finding
the ascent of the river impracticable, captain Clarke might
have stopped below the Rattlesnake bluff, and the messenger
would not meet him. The consequence of disappointing the
Indians at this moment would most probably be, that they
would retire and secrete themselves in the mountains, so
as to prevent our having an opportunity of recovering their
confidence: they would also spread a panic through all the
neighboring Indians, and cut us off from the supply of horses
so useful and almost so essential to our success: he was
at the same time consoled by remembering that his hopes
of assistance rested on better foundations than their generosity—their
avarice, and their curiosity. He had promised liberal exchanges
for their horses; but what was still move seductive, he
had told them that one of their country-women who had been
taken with the Minnetarees accompanied the party below;
and one of the men had spread the report of our having with
us a man perfectly black, whose hair was short and curled.
This last account had excited a great degree of curiosity,
and they seemed more desirous of seeing this monster than
of obtaining the most favorable barter for their horses.
In the meantime we had set out after breakfast, and although
we proceeded with more ease than we did yesterday, the river
was still so rapid and shallow as to oblige us to drag the
large canoes during the greater part of the day. For the
first seven miles the river formed a bend to the right so
as to make our advance only three miles in a straight line;
the stream is crooked, narrow, small, and shallow, with
highlands occasionally on the banks, and strewed with islands,
four of which are opposite to each other. Near this place
we left the valley, to which we gave the name of Serviceberry
valley, from the abundance of that fruit now ripe which
is found in it. In the course of the four following miles
we passed several more islands and bayous on each side of
the river, and reached a high cliff on the right. Two and
a half miles beyond this the cliffs approach on both sides
and form a very considerable rapid near the entrance of
a bold running stream on the left. The water was now excessively
cold, and the rapids had been frequent and troublesome.
On
ascending an eminence captain Clarke saw the forks of the
river and sent the hunters up. They must have left it only
a short time before Captain Lewis's arrival, but fortunately
had not seen the note which enabled him to induce the Indians
to stay with him. From the top of this eminence he could
discover only three trees through the whole country, nor
was there along the sides of the cliffs they had passed
in the course of the day, any timber except a few small
pines: the low grounds were supplied with willow, currant
bushes, and serviceberries. After advancing half a mile
further we came to the lower point of an island near the
middle of the river, and about the centre of the valley:
here we halted for the night, only four miles by land, though
ten by water, below the point where Captain Lewis lay. Although
we had made only fourteen miles, the labors of the men had
fatigued and exhausted them very much: we therefore collected
some small willow brush for a fire, and lay down to sleep.
August 17, 1805
Saturday, August
17. Captain Lewis rose very early and dispatched Drewyer
and the Indian down the river in quest of the boats. Shields
was sent out at the same time to hunt, while M‘Neal prepared
a breakfast out of the remainder of the meat. Drewyer had
been gone about two hours, and the Indians were all anxiously
waiting for some news, when an Indian who had straggled
a short distance down the river, returned with a report
that he had seen the white men, who were only a short distance
below, and were coming on. The Indians were all transported
with joy, and the chief in the warmth of his satisfaction
renewed his embrace to Captain Lewis, who was quite as much
delighted as the Indians themselves; the report proved most
agreeably true. On setting out at seven o'clock, captain
Clarke with Charbonneau and his wife walked on shore, but
they had not gone more than a mile before captain Clarke
saw Sacajawea, who was with her husband one hundred yards
ahead, began to dance, and show every mark of the most extravagant
joy, turning round him and pointing to several Indians,
whom he now saw advancing on horseback, sucking her fingers
at the same time to indicate that they were of her native
tribe.
As
they advanced captain Clarke discovered among them Drewyer
dressed like an Indian, from whom he learnt the situation
of the party. While the boats were performing the circuit,
he went towards the forks with the Indians, who as they
went along, sang aloud with the greatest appearance of delight.
We soon drew near to the camp, and just as we approached
it a woman made her way through the crowd towards Sacajawea,
and recognising each other, they embraced with the most
tender affection. The meeting of these two young women had
in it something peculiarly touching, not only in the ardent
manner in which their feelings were expressed, but from
the real interest of their situation. They had been companions
in childhood, in the war with the Minnetarees they had both
been taken prisoners in the same battle, they had shared
and softened the rigors of their captivity, till one of
them had escaped from the Minnetarees, with scarce a hope
of ever seeing her friend relieved from the hands of her
enemies. While Sacajawea was renewing among the women the
friendships of former days, captain Clarke went on, and
was received by Captain Lewis and the chief, who after the
first embraces and salutations were over, conducted him
to a sort of circular tent or shade of willows. Here he
was seated on a white robe; and the chief immediately tied
in his hair six small shells resembling pearls, an ornament
highly valued by these people, who procured them in the
course of trade from the seacoast. The moccasins of the
whole party were then taken off, and after much ceremony
the smoking began.
After
this the conference was to be opened, and glad of an opportunity
of being able to converse more intelligibly, Sacajawea was
sent for; she came into the tent, sat down, and was beginning
to interpret, when in the person of Cameahwait she recognised
her brother: she instantly jumped up, and ran and embraced
him, throwing over him her blanket and weeping profusely;
the chief was himself moved, though not in the same degree.
After some conversation between them she resumed her seat,
and attempted to interpret for us, but her new situation
seemed to overpower her, and she was frequently interrupted
by her tears. After the council was finished, the unfortunate
woman learnt that all her family were dead except two brothers,
one of whom was absent, and a son of her eldest sister,
a small boy, who was immediately adopted by her. The canoes
arriving soon after, we formed a camp in a meadow on the
left side, a little below the forks; took out our baggage,
and by means of our sails and willow poles formed a canopy
for our Indian visitors.
About
four o'clock the chiefs and warriors were collected, and
after the customary ceremony of taking off the moccasins
and smoking a pipe, we explained to them in a long harangue
the purposes of our visit, making themselves one conspicuous
object of the good wishes of our government, on whose strength
as well as its friendly disposition we expatiated. We told
them of their dependance on the will of our government for
all future supplies of whatever was necessary either for
their comfort or defence; that as we were sent to discover
the best route by which merchandize could be conveyed to
them, and no trade would be begun before our return, it
was mutually advantageous that we should proceed with as
little delay as possible; that we were under the necessity
of requesting them to furnish us with horses to transport
our baggage across the mountains, and a guide to show us
the route, but that they should be amply remunerated for
their horses, as well as for every other service they should
render us. In the meantime our first wish was, that they
should immediately collect as many horses as were necessary
to transport our baggage to their village, where, at our
leisure we would trade with them for as many horses as they
could spare.
The speech made a favorable impression: the chief in reply
thanked us for our expressions of friendship towards himself
and his nation, and declared their willingness to render
us every service. He lamented that it would be so long before
they should be supplied with firearms, but that till then
they could subsist as they had heretofore done. He concluded
by saying that there were not horses here sufficient to
transport our goods, but that he would return to the village
to-morrow, and bring all his own horses, and encourage his
people to come over with theirs. The conference being ended
to our satisfaction, we now inquired of Cameahwait what
chiefs were among the party, and he pointed out two of them.
We then distributed our presents: to Cameahwait we gave
a medal of the small size, with the likeness of president
Jefferson, and on the reverse a figure of hands clasped
with a pipe and tomahawk: to this was added an uniform coat,
a shirt, a pair of scarlet leggings, a carrot of tobacco,
and some small articles. Each of the other chiefs received
a small medal struck during the presidency of general Washington,
a shirt, handkerchief, leggings, a knife, and some tobacco.
Medals of the same sort were also presented to two young
warriors, who though not chiefs were promising youths and
very much respected in the tribe. These honorary gifts were
followed by presents of paint, moccasins, awls, knives,
beads and looking-glasses. We also gave them all a plentiful
meal of Indian corn, of which the hull is taken off by being
boiled in lye; and as this was the first they had ever tasted,
they were very much pleased with it.
They
had indeed abundant sources of surprise in all they saw:
the appearance of the men, their arms, their clothing, the
canoes, the strange looks of the negro, and the sagacity
of our dog, all in turn shared their admiration, which was
raised to astonishment by a shot from the airgun: this operation
was instantly considered as a great medicine, by which they
as well as the other Indians mean something emanating directly
from the Great Spirit, or produced by his invisible and
incomprehensible agency. The display of all these riches
had been intermixed with inquiries into the geographical
situation of their country; for we had learnt by experience,
that to keep the savages in good temper their attention
should not be wearied with too much business; but that the
serious affairs should be enlivened by a mixture of what
is new and entertaining. Our hunters brought in very seasonably
four deer and an antelope, the last of which we gave to
the Indians, who in a very short time devoured it. After
the council was over, we consulted as to our future operations.
The game does not promise to last here for a number of days,
and this circumstance combined with many others to induce
our going on as soon as possible. Our Indian information
as to the state of the Columbia is of a very alarming kind,
and our first object is of course to ascertain the practicability
of descending it, of which the Indians discourage our expectations.
It was therefore agreed that captain Clarke should set off
in the morning with eleven men, furnished, besides their
arms, with tools for making canoes; that he should take
Charbonneau and his wife to the camp of the Shoshones, where
he was to leave them, in order to hasten the collection
of horses; that he was then to lead his men down to the
Columbia, and if he found it navigable, and the timber in
sufficient quantity, begin to build canoes. As soon as he
had decided as to the propriety of proceeding down the Columbia
or across the mountains, he was to send back one of the
men with information of it to Captain Lewis, who by that
time would have brought up the whole party, and the rest
of the baggage as far as the Shoshone village.
Preparations were accordingly made this evening for such
an arrangement. The sun is excessively hot in the day time,
but the nights very cold, and rendered still more unpleasant
from the want of any fuel except willow brush. The appearances
too of game, for many days' subsistence, are not very favorable.
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