Lewis & Clark

February 7, 1805

visited by the black-Cat, the principal chief of the Roop-tar-he, or upper mandane village. this man possesses more integrety, firmness, inteligence and perspicuety of mind...

May 31, 1805

...The hills and river Clifts which we passed today exhibit a most romantic appearance . ... The bluffs of the river rise to a height of 2 to 300 feet and in most places nearly perpendicular; they are formed of remarkable sandstone.

An interesting question was now to be determined; which of these rivers was the Missouri, ...and which they had described to us as approaching very near to the Columbia river."

... my ears were saluted with the agreeable sound of a fall of water and advancing a little further I saw the spray arrise above the plain like a collumn of smoke which would frequently dispear again in an instant ... a roaring too tremendious to be mistaken for any cause short of the great falls of the Missouri. ... to gaze on this sublimely grand specticle ... formes the grandest sight I ever beheld...

June 18,1805

...we proceeded on up the river a little more than a mile to the largest fountain or spring I ever saw, and doubt if it is not the largest in America known, this water boils up from under the rocks near the edge of the river and falls imediately into the river 8 feet, and keeps its colour for 1/2 a mile which is emencely clear and of a bluish cast ...

... this evening we entered much the most remarkable clifts that we have yet seen. these clifts rise from the waters edge on either side perpendicularly to the hight of (about) 1200 feet. every object here wears a dark and gloomy aspect. the tow[er]ing and projecting rocks in many places seem ready to rumble on us... from the singular appearance of this place I called it the gates of the rocky mountains.

July 27, 1805

... about 9 oClock we arived at the three forks of the Missourie,

which is in open view of the high Mountains covered in some places with Snow. ... Capt Clark verry unwell. ... we expected to have found the Snake nation of Indians at this place, but as we expect they are further up the River, or perhaps they are gone over the mountains to the Columbian River on the other side to fish &. C. this is the place where our Intrepters wife was taken prisoner by the Grossvauntars, about 4 years ago, &. C.

... the Indian woman recognized the point of a high plain to our right which she informed us was not very distant from the summer retreat of her nation. . .this hill she says her nation calls the beaver's head

from a conceived remblance of it's figure to the head of that animal. she assures us that we shall either find her people on this river or on the river immediately west of it's source. . .

August 12, 1805

I now descended the mountain about 3/4 of a mile which I found much steeper than on the opposite side, to a handsome bold running Creek of cold Clear water. here I first tasted the water of the great Columbia river...

...passed the mouth of a bold running Stream 7 yards wide on the Lard Side below a high point

of Limestone rocks on the Stard Side this Creek

I had not proceeded on one mile before I saw at a distance Several Indians on horseback Comeing towards me.

The Intertrepeter & Squar who were before me at Some distance danced for the joyful sight, and She made signs to me that they were her nation...

September 3, 1805

Some of the mountains

was So Steep and rockey that Several of the horses fell back among the rocks and was near killing them. ... much fatigue and hunger as nothing has been killed this day only 2 or 3 fessents, and have no meat of any kind. Set in to raining hard at dark So we lay down and Slept, wet hungry and cold...

we met a part of the Flathead nation of 33 lodges about 80 men 400 Total and at least 500 horses, those people recved us friendly, threw white robes over our Sholders & Smoked in the pipes of the peace, we encamped with them & found them friendly... I was the first white man who ever wer on the waters of this river"

September 9, 1805

... as our guide inform me that we should leave the river at this place and the weather appearing settled and fair I determined to halt the next day rest our horses and take som scelestial Observations. we called this Creek Travellers rest..

September 13, 1805

... came to a warm Spring which run from a ledge of rocks and nearly boiled and issued out in several places it had been frequented by the Savages. a little dam was fixed and had been used for a bathing place. we drank a little of the water and washed our faces in it.

September 15, 1805

Several horses Sliped and roled down Steep hills which hurt them verry much the one which Carried my desk & Small trunk Turned over & roled down a mountain for 40 yards & lodged against a tree, broke the desk the horse escaped and appeared but little hurt Some others verry much hurt, ...

September 22, 1805

... the natives gave us Such food as they had to eat, consisting of roots of different kinds which was Sweet and good also red & black haws &c. the principal roots which they made use off for food are pleanty. this praries are covred with them they are much like potatoes when cooked, ...

Set out early and proceeded down the river to the bottom on the S. Side opposit. the forks & formed a camp

had ax handled ground &c. our axes all too Small, Indians caught Sammon & Sold us, 2 Chiefs & their families came & camped near us. Several men bad, Capt Lewis Sick I gave Pukes & Salts &c. to Several, I am a little unwell. hot day.

Took our leave of the Chiefs and all those about us and proceeded on down the great Columbia River.

...our old Chiefs over herd the Indians from below say they would try to kill us & informed us of it, we have all the arms examined and put in order, ...

.... for three miles down, the river is so confined by rocks (being not more than 70 yards wide) that it cannot discharge the water, as fast as it comes over the falls, until what is deficient in breadth is made up in depth. About the great pitch the appearance of the place is terrifying, with vast rocks, and the river below the pitch, foaming through different channels.

We took possession of a high Point of rocks to defend our Selves in Case the thre[a]ts of those Indians below Should be put in execution against us

... a remarkable high detached rock Stands in a bottom on the Stard. Side near the lower point of this Island on the Stard. Side about 800 feet high and 400 paces around, we call the Beaten

[Beacon] rock

Great joy in camp we are in viuew of the Ocian, this great Pacific Octean which we been so long anxious to See. and the roreing or noise made by the waves brakeing on the rockey Shores (as I suppose) may be heard disti[n]ctly

November 18, 1805

Capt Clark myself and 10 more of the party set out in order to go down and see the passiffic ocean . ...we proceeded on round high clifts of rocks where we had much trouble to pass. towards evening we arived at the Cape disapointment

on the Sea Shore.

We having fixed on this situation as the one best calculated for our winter quarters

...






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