first across the continent-第34节
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in appearance； and sweet to the taste。 It is called quamash； 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 sumptuous treat。 They 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。 Here the party were treated with great kindness； and passed the night。 The hunters were sent out； but； though they saw some tracks of deer； were not able to procure anything。〃
The root which the Indians used in so many ways is now known as camas； it is still much sought for by the Nez Perces and other wandering tribes in the Northwest； and Camas Prairie； in that region； derives its name from the much…sought…for vegetable。
Captain Clark and his men stayed with these hospitable Indians several days。 The free use of wholesome food； to which he had not lately been accustomed； made Clark very ill； and he contented himself with staying in the Indian villages； of which。 there were two。 These Indians called themselves Chopunnish； or Pierced Noses； this latter name is now more commonly rendered Nez Perces； the French voyageurs having given it that translation into their own tongue。 But these people； so far as known； did not pierce their noses。 After sending a man back on the trail to notify Captain Lewis of his progress； Captain Clark went on to the village of Chief Twisted…hair。 Most of the women and children； though notified of the coming of the white man； were so scared by the appearance of the strangers that they fled to the woods。 The men； however； received them without fear and gave them a plentiful supply of food。 They were now on one of the upper branches of the Kooskooskee River； near what is the site of Pierce City； county seat of Shoshonee County； Idaho。 The Indians endeavored； by means of signs； to explain to their visitors the geography of the country beyond。
〃Among others； Twisted…hair drew a chart of the river on a white elk…skin。 According to this； the Kooskooskee forks ＇confluence of its North fork＇ a few miles from this place； two days toward the south is another and larger fork ＇confluence of Snake River＇； on which the Shoshonee or Snake Indians fish； five days' journey further is a large river from the northwest ＇that is； the Columbia itself＇ into which Clark's River empties； from the mouth of that river ＇that is； confluence of the Snake with the Columbia＇ to the falls is five days' journey further； on all the forks as well as on the main river great numbers of Indians reside。〃
On the twenty…third of September； Captain Lewis and his party having come up； the white men assembled the Indians and explained to them where they came from and what was their errand across the continent。 The Indians appeared to be entirely satisfied； and they sold their visitors as much provisions as their half…famished horses could carry。 The journal here says：
〃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 St
