The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: Dates October 1, 1805 - October 7, 1805
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark. Dates: October 1, 1805 - October 7, 1805
October 1, 1805
Tuesday, October 1, 1805. The morning was cool, the wind
easterly, but the latter part of the day was warm. We were
visited by several Indians from the tribes below, and others
from the main south fork. To two of the most distinguished
men, we made presents of a ring and broach, and to five
others a piece of riband, a little tobacco, and the fifth
part of a neckcloth. We now dried our clothes and other
articles, and selected some articles such as the Indians
admire, in order to purchase some provisions, as we have
nothing left except a little dried fish, which operates
as a complete purgative.
October
2, 1805
Wednesday 2. The
day is very warm. Two men were sent to the village with
a quantity of these articles to purchase food. We are now
reduced to roots, which produce violent pains in the stomach.
Our work continued as usual, and many of the party are convalescent.
The hunters returned in the afternoon with nothing but a
small prairie-wolf, so that our provisions being exhausted,
we killed one of the horses to eat, and provide soup for
the sick.
October
3, 1805
Thursday 3. The
fine cool morning and easterly wind had an agreeable effect
upon the party, most of whom are now able to work. The Indians
from below left us, and we were visited by others from different
quarters.
October
4, 1805
Friday 4. Again
we had a cool east wind from the mountains. The men were
now much better, and Captain Lewis himself so far recovered
as to walk about a little. Three Indians arrived to-day
from the Great river to the south. The two men also returned
from the village with roots and fish, and as the flesh of
the horse killed yesterday was exhausted, we were confined
to that diet, although unwholesome as well as unpleasant.
The afternoon was warm.
October
5, 1805
Saturday 5. The
wind easterly, and the weather cool. The canoes being nearly
finished it became necessary to dispose of our horses. They
were therefore collected to the number of thirty-eight,
and being branded and marked were delivered to three Indians,
the two brothers and the son of a chief, who promises to
accompany us down the river. To each of those men we gave
a knife and some small articles, and they agreed to take
good care of the horses till our return. The hunters with
all their diligence are unable to kill any thing, the hills
being high and rugged, and the woods too dry to hunt deer,
which is the only game in the country. We therefore continue
to eat dried fish and roots, which are purchased from the
squaws, by means of small presents, but chiefly white beads,
of which they are extravagantly fond. Some of these roots
seem to possess very active properties, for after supping
on them this evening, we were swelled to such a degree as
to be scarcely able to breathe for several hours. Towards
night we lanched two canoes which proved to be very good.
October
6, 1805
Sunday 6. This
morning is again cool, and the wind easterly. The general
course of the winds seems to resemble that which we observed
on the east side of the mountain. While on the head waters
of the Missouri, we had every morning a cool wind from the
west. At this place a cool breeze springs up during the
latter part of the night, or near daybreak, and continues
till seven or eight o'clock, when it subsides, and the latter
part of the day is warm. Captain Lewis is not so well as
he was, and captain Clarke was also taken ill. We had all
our saddles buried in a cache near the river, about half
a mile below, and deposited at the same time a canister
of powder, and a bag of balls. The time which could be spared
from our labors on the canoes, was devoted to some astronomical
observations. The latitude of our camp as deduced from the
mean of two observations is 46° 34' 56" 3"' north.
October
7, 1805
Monday 7. This
morning all the canoes were put in the water and loaded,
the oars fixed, and every preparation made for setting out
but when we were all ready, the two chiefs who had promised
to accompany us, were not to be found, and at the same time
we missed a pipe tomahawk. We therefore proceeded without
them. Below the forks this river is called the Kooskooskee,
and is a clear rapid stream, with a number of shoals and
difficult places. For some miles the hills are steep, the
low grounds narrow, but then succeeds an open country with
a few trees scattered along the river. At the distance of
nine miles is a small creek on the left. We passed in the
course of the day ten rapids, in descending which, one of
the canoes struck a rock, and sprung a leak: we however
continued for nineteen miles, and encamped on the left side
of the river, opposite to the mouth of a small run. Here
the canoe was unloaded and repaired, and two lead canisters
of powder deposited; several camps of Indians were on the
sides of the river, but we had little intercourse with any
of them.
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