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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 employed either for pleasure or for health； and is used indiscriminately for all kinds of diseases。〃
The expedition was now on the Snake River； making all possible speed toward the Columbia； commonly known to the Indians as 〃The Great River。〃 The stream was crowded with dangerous rapids； and sundry disasters were met with by the way； thus； on the fourteenth of October； a high wind blowing； one of the canoes was driven upon a rock sidewise and filled with water。 The men on board got out and dragged the canoe upon the rock； where they held her above water。 Another canoe； having been unloaded； was sent to the relief of the shipwrecked men； who； after being left on the rock for some time； were taken off without any other loss than the bedding of two of them。 But accidents like this delayed the party； as they were forced to land and remain long enough to dry the goods that had been exposed to the water。 Several such incidents are told in the journal of the explorers。 Few Indians were to be seen along the banks of the river； but occasionally the party came to a pile of planks and timbers which were the materials from which were built the houses of such Indians as came here in the fishing season to catch a supply for the winter and for trading purposes。 Occasionally； the complete scarcity of fuel compelled the explorers to depart from their general rule to avoid taking any Indian property without leave； and they used some of these house materials for firewood； with the intent to pay the rightful owners； if they should ever be found。 On the sixteenth of October； they met with a party of Indians； of whom the journal gives this account：
〃After crossing by land we halted for dinner； and whilst we were eating were visited by five Indians； who came up the river on foot in great haste。 We received them kindly； smoked with them； and gave them a piece of tobacco to smoke with their tribe。 On receiving the present they set out to return； and continued running as fast as they could while they remained in sight。 Their curiosity had been excited by the accou