Lewis and Clark Expedition Index
Journal
Summaries Index
Lewis and
Clark Journal Summary 16: Dates May 2, 1806 - May 30,
1806
The following
is a summary of the journal entries made by Lewis and
Clark. Dates: May 2, 1806 - May 30, 1806
Heading
Towards the Bitterroot Mountains and Notable Generosity
From Some Indians
The ‘Corps of Discovery’
encountered some rough weather in May with strong winds,
rain, hail and snow. As they made their way toward the
mountains they noted that the snow covered them almost
to the bases. Lewis and Clark gave medical assistance
to some more Indians and were recompensed with dogs
and a horse which they used for food.
May
8, 1806
Lewis and Clark met up with the Chopunnish Chief that
they’d left their horses and saddles with on the way
down the river. The Chief wasn’t pleased to see them
as he’d let the horses become scattered. The following
day the Indians managed to round up 21 of the horses.
Lewis and Clark discovered that 5 of them had injured
backs caused by the Indians who had ridden them.
Over the next few days the expedition made its way across
some high plains through the snow that had recently
fallen. They met with some more Indians who, after hearing
about their lack of meat, made a present of 2 young
fat horses for them to kill and eat. Lewis commented
in his journal ‘This is a much greater act of hospitality
than we have witnessed from any nation or tribe since
we have passed the Rocky Mountains’.
They stayed with these Indians a while and Clark treated
many of their ailments. The Corps of Discovery then
set up a camp nearby to wait for the snow to clear from
the plains. The area was good for hunting and they managed
to kill several bears. Sacagawea gathered a quantity
of Fennel roots which they enjoyed as they tasted like
aniseed. As the days passed, she collected a good stock
of the Fennel for use on their return over the Rockies.
While it continued to rain at the camp, it continued
to snow on the plains. Hunting became a little harder
as the animals moved away, so Lewis and Clark decided
to divide the remains of the goods they’d had for trading
amongst the men so that they could each barter with
the Indians for bread and roots to sustain them during
their trip across the Bitterroot Mountains. They also
set about building a canoe for fishing. They planned
to exchange the canoe for a horse when it was no longer
required.
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