We follow them from the Dalles to Walla Walla River—April 18th to May 1st—for we are on the trail of Sacajawea. We see now that she alone was successful in getting a fine mare— though Clark says it was Charbono and gives no credit for the trade, yet it is easy to guess that it was her clever negotiations that got the animal for herself, for here Clark was doing all the talking—makes no mention of her in all the two day dealing among great crowds of natives and many horses. However, next day, Clark tells of the wife of a big chief whom he doctored for a pain in the back ;—says: "she was a sulky bitch ;" he rubbed on some camphor at her 'temples' and back—nearly restored her, at which he thought it an opportune time to make the chief an offer—<>'for which he sold me 2 horses.' Sergeant Ordway reported to Clark that Lewis was 2 miles below and wanted some dogs to eat,—'I had 3 dogs purchased and sent down.' "Captain Lewis had 12 pack saddles completed—and strings of Elk skins—for lashing on the loads—a chief had promised to bring horses to trade, but he was not as good as his word—gave a large iron 'kittle' for a horse which was offered him this evening." Next day they decided to portage around the rapids—a very difficult matter—but they succeeded and on arrival at the Indian village were lucky enough to get four more horses—at an 'ememce price' leaving them but one small 'kittle' for a mess of 8 men—these people are very faithless,—so says Clark. We have read three large volumes and are now half way through the second part of the fourth volume of the Lewis and Clark journals, trying to learn the fate of the young Indian maiden and her babe.—on which so much of the fortunes of the wild and dangerous expedition depended; so far, she has faithfully worked for and starved with them, but desperate trials and frightening dangers lie ahead. On April 20th Clark writes: "This morning is very cold—hills covered with snow—attempted to purchase horses—would not sell any—offered blue robe, calico shirt, a handkerchief, 5 parcels of paint, a knife, a wompom moon, 4 braces of ribin, a piece of brass and six braces of yellow beads–and added to that my large blue blanket, my coat, Sword and Plume, none of which enticed these people to give up their horses if they have any—they set in their huts of mats covered with poles without a fire—have little to eat–some roots and dried fish—I am half frozed in this inhospitable village." Same date–"having nine horses loaded—one Bratton rides—is not yet able to walk—two canoes dispatched this morning—arrived at Enesher village, found Captain Clark—he had not purchased a single horse—his party had fared—on dogs. For the 23rd Clark records: "we purchased 3 horses and hired 3 others of the Chopunnish man who accompanies us—at 1 P. M. we proceeded on through an open country, rugid and sandy— great numbers of natives pass us on horse back— purchased 3 dogs—poor but fattest we could procure and cooked them with straw and dry willow." The 27th, they camped beside a head chief of the Walla Walla whose name was Yelleppet, who insisted they camp two or three days with him; a woman of the Shoshones who had been taken prisoner, lived with them; here Sacajawea came into service once more—she furnished a means to converse freely—and thereby a new road was pointed out by the chief to save them 80 miles of travel—by their ability to converse intelligently, their neighbor tribes came to visit—to the number of 500—they played the violin and the men danced for their entertainment—later the Indians all joined in a grand dance for the white party. This was the first really friendly meeting they had with natives since Lemhi—and the 'squar' was wholly responsible for that. Chief Yellept was so favorably influenced that he presented Captain Clark a fine white horse—and next day saw to it that more were sold to them—making in all 23 head. On May 1st—after they had this delightful meeting with the Walla Wallas, they began their march up the stream which empties into the Columbia here. They have horses enough to carry the goods that remain and the equipment for camping —but they have hard times to find any food—bad weather—cold snow and freezing rains, but they finally reached the Chopunnish tribe and hold a great council—here the leading chief is Hosatillpilp with whom they camp several days to reconcile them to peace with the adjoining tribes–Shoshones,—and later the Blackfeet—these people are impressed—for the "squar" is busy—they present a supply of camas root—and fat horses to be slaughtered for food—but the Indians tell them that the snow will not permit going on until a change of moon—the prospect for making further progress is gloomy indeed. Farther on they make a permanent camp waiting the melting of the mountain snows–game becoming scarce—another location is decided upon —on May 20th in Lewis' diary we find: "Charbono's child is very ill—cutting teeth—for several days past a violent lax—high fever—neck and throat much swollen—gave him cream of tartar flour of sulfer and applied poultice of boiled onions to his neck." Lewis' entry of the 22nd, says: "the cream tarter and sulfer operated—child considerably better—swelling not abated—24th—the child very restless last night—jaw and back of neck much worse tho fever has abated. 25th,—the child is more unwell than yesterday—gave it a doze of cream of tarter which did not operate, therefore, gave it a clyster this evening." Next day 26th— 'The clyster given the child operated very well— clear fever and much better, swelling considerably abated—continue to apply poultice." June 3rd, he says the child is nearly well—and on the 5th Clark "the child is recovering fast—I applied a plaster of sarve made of rosin—beeswax and bear's oil mixed." The 18th, the Indians tell them that they cannot pass the mountains until the next full moon or about the first of July. It has been a long and trying time for them here—little game, no trade goods left, and sickness, but they have accumulated dried roots and camas meal, and goodly number of horses on which they must subsist from now on. This camp was on the Kooskooski, or what is now known as the middle fork of Clearwater— now Idaho. On the 10th, they set out–well mounted and with a drove of 'supernumerary horses in case of accident or want of provision, we therefore, feel ourselves perfectly equipped for the mountains."—l4th, they prepare to move on—got away the 15th at 10 A. M. Soon they got into deep snows making the way further impassable—they therefore returned to the present camp—waiting for an Indian who might guide them. With the guidance of the Indians, all this difficult crossing of the main range, they were finally delivered safely on the eastern slope. Here they made plans for the next and final voyage; it was decided that Lewis, with six of the men would go down the Marias River to its junction with the Missouri, while Clark would take the ten including Sacajawea, Charbono, York, with him to the Jefferson, and then follow the Yellowstone to its mouth— meantime, the Sergeant Ordway with the rest of the party—nine, to descend the river in canoes– the Missouri proper.

previous page	home	next page