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re discovered hiding in the grass； in great alarm。 Captain Clark at once dismounted from his horse； and； making signs of amity； went after the boys。 He calmed their terrors； and； giving them some bits of ribbon； sent them home。
〃Soon after the boys reached home； a man came out to meet the party； with great caution； but he conducted them 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 conductor 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； that he would not return before fifteen or eighteen days； and that in the mean time there were only a few men left to guard the women and children。 They now set before them a small piece of buffalo…meat； some dried salmon； berries； and several kinds of roots。 Among these last is one which is round； much like an onion 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。 Fro