Captain Clark went on through a country as rugged as usual until he passed a low mountain. He came at the distance of four miles to the forks of a large creek and kept on a southern course for two miles. He then turned to the right and continued over a dividing ridge where the heads of several small streams began. After twelve miles he descended the last of the Rocky Mountains and reached the level country. A beautiful open plain partially covered with pine now presented itself. He continued for five miles when he discovered three Indian boys who had been observing the party and ran off to hide themselves in the grass. Captain Clark immediately dismounted his horse giving his gun to one of the men and went after the boys. He soon relieved their fears and sent them forward to a village about a mile off with presents of small pieces of ribbon.
Soon after the boys reached home a man came out to meet our party with great caution. He conducted us to a large tent in the village and all the inhabitants gathered round to view with a mixture of fear and pleasure these wonderful strangers. The guide now informed Captain Clark by signs that the spacious tent was the residence of the great chief who had set out three days ago with all the warriors to attack some of their enemies toward the southwest. He would not return before fifteen or eighteen days and in the meantime there were only a few men left to guard the women and children.
They now set before us a small piece of buffalo meat, some dried salmon, berries, and several kinds of roots. Among the roots is one which is round, much like an onion in appearance and sweet to the taste. It is called camas and is eaten either in its natural state or boiled into a kind of soup or made into a cake which is then called pasheco. After the long abstinence this was a delicious treat. We returned the kindness of the people by a few small presents and then went on in company with one of the chiefs to a second village in the same plain, at the distance of two miles.
