first across the continent-第31部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃All around the village the women are busily employed in gathering and dressing the pasheco…root； of which large quantities are heaped in piles over the plain。 We now felt severely the consequence of eating heartily after our late privations。 Captain Lewis and two of the men were taken very ill last evening； to…day he could hardly sit on his horse； while others were obliged to be put on horseback； and some； from extreme weakness and pain； were forced to lie down alongside of the road for some time。 At sunset we reached the island where the hunters had been left on the 22d。 They had been unsuccessful； having killed only two deer since that time； and two of them were very sick。 A little below this island is a larger one on which we camped； and administered Rush's pills to the sick。〃
The illness of the party continued for several days； and not much progress was made down…stream。 Having camped； on the twenty…seventh of September； in the Kooskooskee River； at a place where plenty of good timber was found； preparations for building five canoes were begun。 From this time to the fifth of October； all the men capable of labor were employed in preparing the canoes。 The health of the party gradually recruited； though they still suffered severely from want of food； and； as the hunters had but little success in procuring game； they were obliged on the second to kill one of their horses。 Indians from different quarters frequently visited them； but all that could be obtained from them was a little fish and some dried roots。 This diet was not only unnutritious； but in many cases it caused dysentery and nausea。
Chapter XV
Down the Pacific Slope
The early days of October were spent in making preparations for the descent of the river；the Kooskooskee。 Here they made their canoes； and they called their stopping…place Canoe Camp。 This was at the junction of the north fork of the river with the main stream； and all below that point is called the Lower Kooskooskee； while that above is known as the upper river。 The latitude of the camp； according to the journal of the explorers； was 46'0 34' 56〃 north。 Here they buried in a cache their saddles； horse…gear； and a small supply of powder and musket balls for possible emergencies。 The Kooskooskee； it should be borne in mind； is now better known as the Clearwater； it empties into the Snake River； and that into the Columbia。 As far as the explorers knew the water…course down which they were to navigate； they called it Clark's River； in honor of Captain Clark。 But modern geographers have displaced the name of that eminent explorer and map…maker and have divided the stream； or streams； with other nomenclature。
On the eighth of October the party set out on their long water journey in five canoes； one of which was a small craft intended to go on ahead and pilot the way （which； of course； was unknown） for the four larger ones； in which travelled the main party with their luggage。 They met with disaster very soon after their start； one of the canoes having struck a rock； which made a hole in its side and caused the sinking of the craft。 Fortunately； no lives were lost； but the voyage was interrupted。 The party went ashore and did not resume their journey until their luggage was dried and the canoe repaired。 On the ninth； says the journal：
〃The morning was as usual cool； but as the weather both yesterday and to…day was cloudy； our merchandise dried but slowly。 The boat； though much injured； was repaired by ten o'clock so as to be perfectly fit for service； but we were obliged to remain during the day till the articles were sufficiently dry to be reloaded。 The interval we employed in purchasing fish for the voyage； and conversing with the Indians。 In the afternoon we were surprised at hearing that our old Shoshonee guide and his son had left us and had been seen running up the river several miles above。 As he had never given any notice of his intention； nor had even received his pay for guiding us； we could not imagine the cause of his desertion； nor did he ever return to explain his conduct。 We requested the chief to send a horseman after him to request that he would return and receive what we owed him。 From this； however； he dissuaded us； and said very frankly that his nation； the Chopunnish； would take from the old man any presents that he might have on passing their camp。 The Indians came about our camp at night； and were very gay and good…humored with the men。 Among other exhibitions was that of a squaw who appeared to be crazy。 She sang in a wild； incoherent manner； and offered to the spectators all the little articles she possessed； scarifying herself in a horrid manner if anyone refused her present。 She seemed to be an object of pity among the Indians； who suffered her to do as she pleased without interruption。〃
The river was full of rapids and very dangerous rocks and reefs； and the voyagers were able to make only twenty miles a day for some distance along the stream。 At the confluence of the Kooskooskee and the Snake River they camped for the night； near the present site of Lewiston； Idaho。 This city； first settled in May； 1861； and incorporated in 1863； was named for Captain Lewis of our expedition。 From this point the party crossed over into the present State of Washington。 Of their experience at their camp here the journal says：
〃Our arrival soon attracted the attention of the Indians； who flocked in all directions to see us。 In the evening the Indian from the falls； whom we had seen at Rugged rapid； joined us with his son in a small canoe； and insisted on accompanying us to the falls。 Being again reduced to fish and roots； we made an experiment to vary our food by purchasing a few dogs； and after having been accustomed to horse…flesh； felt no disrelish for this new dish。 The Chopunnish have great numbers of dogs； which they employ for domestic purposes； but never eat； and our using the flesh of that animal soon brought us into ridicule as dog…eaters。〃
When Fremont and his men crossed the continent to California； in 1842； they ate the flesh of that species of marmot which we know as the prairie…dog。 Long afterwards； when Fremont was a candidate for the office of President of the United States； this fact was recalled to the minds of men； and the famous explorer was denounced as 〃a dog…eater。〃
The journal of the explorers gives this interesting account of the Indians among whom they now found themselves：
〃The Chopunnish or Pierced…nose nation； who reside on the Kooskooskee and Lewis' ＇Snake＇ rivers； are in person stout； portly； well…looking men； the women are small； with good features and generally handsome； though the complexion of both sexes is darker than that of the Tushepaws。 In dress they resemble that nation； being fond of displaying their ornaments。 The buffalo or elk…skin robe decorated with beads； sea…shells； chiefly mother…of…pearl； attached to an otter…skin collar and hung in the hair； which falls in front in two cues； feathers； paints of different kinds； principally white； green； and light blue； all of which they find in their own country； these are the chief ornaments they use。 In the winter they wear a short skirt of dressed skins； long painted leggings and moccasins； and a plait of twisted grass round the neck。 The dress of the women is more simple； consisting of a long shirt of argalia ＇argali＇ or ibex ＇bighorn＇ skin； reaching down to the ankles； without a girdle； to this are tied little pieces of brass； shells； and other small articles； but the head is not at all ornamented。
〃The Chopunnish have very few amusements； for their life is painful and laborious； all their exertions are necessary to earn even their precarious subsistence。 During the summer and autumn they are busily occupied in fishing for salmon and collecting their winter store of roots。 In winter they hunt the deer on snow…shoes over the plains； and toward spring cross the mountains to the Missouri for the purpose of rafficking for buffalo…robe。 The inconveniences of their comfortless life are increased by frequent encounters with their enemies from the west； who drive them over the mountains with the loss of their horses； and sometimes the lives of many of the nation。〃
After making a short stage on their journey； October 11； the party stopped to trade with the Indians； their stock of provisions being low。 They were able to purchase a quantity of salmon and seven dogs。 They saw here a novel kind of vapor bath which is thus described in the journal：
〃While this traffic was going on we observed a vapor bath or sweating…house； in a different form from that used on the frontier of the United States or in the Rocky Mountains。 It was a hollow square six or eight feet deep； formed in the river bank by damming up with mud the other three sides and covering the whole completely； except an aperture about two feet wide at the top。 The bathers descend by this hole； taking with them a number of heated stones and jugs of water； after being seated round the room they throw the water on the stones till the steam becomes of a temperature sufficiently high for their purposes。 The baths of the Indians in the Rocky Mountains are of different sizes； the most common being made of mud and sticks like an oven； but the mode of raising the steam is exactly the same。 Among both these nations it is very uncommon for a man to bathe alone； he is generally accompanied by one or sometimes several of his acquaintances； indeed； it is so essentially a social amusement； that to decline going in to bathe when invited by a friend is one of the highest indignities which can be offered to him。 The Indians on the frontier generally use a bath which will accommodate only one person； formed of a wicker…work of willows about four feet high； arched at the top； and covered with skins。 In this the patient sits； till by means of the heated stones and water he has perspired sufficiently。 Almost universally these baths are in the neighborhood of running water； into which the Indians plunge immediately on coming out of the vapor bath； and sometimes return again and subject themselves to a second perspiration。 This practice is； however； less frequent among our neighboring nations than those to the westward。 This bath is
