While towing the last and largest dugout canoe up the Cascades of the Columbia, a rope breaks and the boat is lost. To prevent thievery, the men arm themselves as they carry the baggage over the portage. Lewis enjoys a visit from some Watlalas who condemn their relations who steal.
Cascades of the Columbia (1929)
To see labels, point to the image.
Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Largest Dugout Lost
a small distance above our camp there is one of the most difficult parts of the rapid. at this place the current sets with great violence against a projecting rock. in hawling the perogue arround this point the bow unfortunately took the current at too great a distance from the rock, she turned her side to the stream and the utmost exertions of all the party were unable to resist the forse with which she was driven by the current, they were compelled to let loose the cord and of course both perogue and cord went a drift with the stream. the loss of this perogue will I fear compell us to purchase one or more canoes of the indians at an extravegant price.
—Meriwether Lewis
Carrying the Baggage
after breakfast all hands were employed in taking our baggage over the portage. we caused all the men who had short rifles to carry them, in order to be prepared for the natives should they make any attempts to rob or injure them.
—Meriwether Lewis
Friendly Visitors
about 20 of the Y-eh-huhs [Watlalas] remained with me the greater part of the day and departed in the evening. they conducted themselves with much propryety and contemned the conduct of their relations towards us.
—Meriwether Lewis
High River Hills
the mountains are high steep and rocky. the rock is principally black.
—Meriwether Lewis
Weather Diary
State of weather at rise
Wind at rise
State of the weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. River cloudy after rain W rain after cloudy and rain W raised 2 in. cold. snowed on the mountains through which the river passes at the rapids. the duckinmallard which bread in this neighbourhood, is now laying it’s eggs,— vegetation is rapidly progressing in the bottoms tho’ the snow of yesterday and today reaches within a mile of the base of the mountains at the rapids of the Columbia.—
—Meriwether Lewis[1]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.
Notes
| ↑1 | 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. |
|---|
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
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- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).