April 20, 1806 - Discover Lewis & Clark

Contents

Working at Celilo Falls, the captains have difficulty buying more horses and even lose one. After six tomahawks are stolen, Lewis orders all Indians away from his camp near a Wishram village. After a day of fruitless trading at a Tenino village, Clark endures a cold night.

Still Trying to Purchase Horses

by Yellowstone Public Radio^[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

Elk Skin Shirt Decorated with Porcupine Quills

Courtesy of Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 8759.

Indian Clothing

The Enesher [Teninos] an Skillutes [ Wascos and Wishrams] are much better clad than they were last fall, there men have generally legings mockersons and large robes; many of them wear shirts of the same form with those of the Shoshone Chopunnish [The Nez Perces] &c highly ornamented with porcupine quills.
—Meriwether Lewis

Deserted lodge – Yakima (1910)

Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952)

Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Curtis’s “The North American Indian,” 2003.

Six Stolen Tomahawks

This morning I was informed that the natives had pilfered six tomahawks and a knife from the party in the course of the last night. I spoke to the cheif on this subject. he appeared angry with his people and addressed them but the property was not restored.
—Meriwether Lewis

Another Horse Lost

one horse which I had purchased and paid for yesterday and which could not be found when I ordered the horses into close confinement yesterday I was now informed had been gambled away by the rascal who had sold it to me and had been taken away by a man of another nation. I therefore took the goods back from this fellow.
—Meriwether Lewis

A Gun for Two Elk Skins

I purchased a gun from the cheif for which I gave him 2 Elkskins. in the course of the day I obtained two other indifferent horses for which I gave an extravigant price.
—Meriwether Lewis

Lewis On Guard

I ordered the indians from our camp this evening and informed them that if I caught them attempting to perloin any article from us I would beat them severely. they went off in reather a bad humour and I directed the party to examine their arms and be on their guard.
—Meriwether Lewis

Clark’s Cold Night

they Speak defferent from those below, have but little to eate. Some roots & Dryed fish is to be found in their houses. I am half frozed at this inhospitable Village
—William Clark

Weather Diary

State of weather at rise Wind at rise State of the weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. River

fair after rain S W cloudy after rain S. W. fallen 2 ½ in.

weather cold. rain slight snow on the hills adjacent— wind violent. some frost this morning.
—Meriwether Lewis^[2]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.

State of weather at rise	Wind at rise	State of the weather at 4 P.M.	Wind at 4 P.M.	River
fair after rain	S W	cloudy after rain	S. W.	fallen 2 ½ in.

Notes[+]

Notes
↑1	Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.
↑2	To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.