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lost the use of his limbs； and for whose recovery the natives seem very anxious； as he is a chief of considerable rank among them。 His situation is beyond the reach of our skill。 He complains of no pain in any peculiar limb； and we therefore think his disorder cannot be rheumatic； and his limbs would have been more diminished if his disease had been a paralytic affection。 We had already ascribed it to his diet of roots； and had recommended his living on fish and flesh； and using the cold bath every morning； with a dose of cream of tartar or flowers of sulphur every third day。〃
It is gratifying to be able to record the fact that Bratton and the Indian （who was treated in the same manner） actually recovered from their malady。 The journal says of the Indian that his restoration was 〃wonderful。〃 This is not too strong a word to use under the circumstances； for the chief had been helpless for nearly three years； and yet he was able to get about and take care of himself after he had been treated by Captain （otherwise Doctor） Clark。 Two of his men met with a serious disaster about this time； going across the river to trade with some Indians； their boat was stove and went to the bottom； carrying with it three blankets； a blanket…coat； and their scanty stock of merchandise； all of which was utterly lost。 Another disaster； which happened next day； is thus recorded：
〃Two of our men； who had been up the river to trade with the Indians； returned quite unsuccessful。 Nearly opposite the village； their horse fell with his load down a steep cliff into the river； across which he swam。 An Indian on the opposite side drove him back to them； but in crossing most of the articles were lost and the paint melted。 Understanding their intentions； the Indians attempted to come over to them； but having no canoe； were obliged to use a raft； which struck on a rock； upset； and the whole store of roots and bread were destroyed。 This failure completely exhausted our stock of merchandise； but the remembrance of what we suffered from cold and hunger during the passage of the Rocky Mountains makes us anxious to increase our means of subsistence and comfort； since we have again to encounter the same inconvenience。〃
But the ingenuity of the explorers was equal to this emergency。 Having observed that the Indians were very fond of brass buttons； which they fastened to their garments as ornaments； and not for the useful purpose for which buttons are made； the men now proceeded to cut from their shabby United States uniforms those desired articles； and thus formed a new fund for trading purposes。 To these they added some eye…water； some basilicon； and a few small tin boxes in which phosphorus had been kept。 Basilicon； of which mention is frequently made in the journal； was an ointment composed of black pitch； white wax； resin； and olive oil； it was esteemed as a sovereign remedy for all diseases requiring an outward application。 With these valuables two men were sent out to trade with the Indians； on the second day of June； and they returned with three bushels of eatable roots and some cowas bread。 Later in that day； a party that had been sent down the river （Lewis'） in quest of food； returned with a goodly supply of roots and seventeen salmon。 These fish； although partly spoiled by the long journey home； gave great satisfaction to the hungry adventurers； for they were the promise of a plenty to come when the salmon should ascend the rivers that make into the Columbia。 At this time we find the following interesting story in the journal of the expedition：
〃We had lately heard； also； that some Indians； residing at a considerable distance； on the south side of the Kooskooskee； were in possession of two tomahawks； one of which had been left at our camp on Moscheto Creek； and the other had been stolen while we were with the Chopunnish in the autumn。 This last we were anxious to obtain； in order to give it to the relations of our unfortunate companion； Sergeant Floyd；＇1＇ to whom it once belonged。 We therefore sent Drewyer； with the two chiefs Neeshnepahkeeook and Hohastillpilp （who had returned to us） to demand it。 On their arrival； they found that the present possessor of it； who had purchased it of the thief； was at the point of death； and his relations were unwilling to give it up； as they wished to bury it in the grave with the deceased。 The influence of Neeshnepahkeeook； however； at length prevailed； and they consented to surrender the tomahawk on receiving two strands of beads and a handkerchief from Drewyer； and from each of the chiefs a horse； to be killed at the funeral of their kinsman； according to the custom of the country。〃
＇1＇ See page 23。
The Chopunnish chiefs now gave their final answer to the two captains who had requested guides from them。 The chiefs said that they could not accompany the party； but later in the summer they might cross the great divide and spend the next winter on the headwaters of the Missouri。 At present； they could only promise that some of their young men should go with the whites； these had not been selected； but they would be sent on after the party； if the two captains insisted on starting now。 This was not very encouraging； for they had depended upon the Indians for guidance over the exceedingly difficult and even dangerous passages of the mountains。 Accordingly； it was resolved that； while waiting on the motions of the Indians； the party might as well make a visit to Quamash flats； where they could lay in a stock of provisions for their arduous journey。 It is not certain which of the several Quamash flats mentioned in the history of the expedition is here referred to； but it is likely that the open glade in which Captain Clark first struck the low country of the west is here meant。 It was here that he met the Indian boys hiding in the grass； and from here he led the expedition out of the wilderness。 For 〃quamash〃 read 〃camass；〃 an edible root much prized by the Nez Perces then and now。
While they lingered at their camp； they were visited by several bands of friendly Indians。 The explorers traded horses with their visitors； and； with what they already had； they now found their band to number sixty…five； all told。 Having finished their trading； they invited the Indians to take part in the games of prisoners' base and foot…racing； in the latter game the Indians were very expert； being able to distance the fleetest runner of the white men's party。 At night； the games were concluded by a dance。 The account of the expedition says that the captains were desirous of encouraging these exercises before they should begin the passage over the mountains； 〃as several of the men are becoming lazy from inaction。〃
On the tenth of June the party set out for Quamash flats； each man well mounted and leading a spare horse which carried a small load。 To their dismay； they found that their good friends； the Chopunnish； unwilling to part with them； were bound to accompany them to the hunting…grounds。 The Indians would naturally expect to share in the hunt and to be provided for by the white men。 The party halted there only until the sixth of June； and then； collecting their horses； set out through what proved to be a very difficult trail up the creek on which they were camped； in a northeasterly direction。 There was still a quantity of snow on the ground； although this was in shady places and hollows。 Vegetation was rank； and the dogtooth violet； honeysuckle； blue…bell； and columbine were in blossom。 The pale blue flowers of the quamash gave to the level country the appearance of a blue lake。 Striking Hungry Creek； which Captain Clark had very appropriately named when he passed that way； the previous September； they followed it up to a mountain for about three miles； when they found themselves enveloped in snow； their limbs were benumbed； and the snow； from twelve to fifteen feet deep； so paralyzed their feet that further progress was impossible。 Here the journal should be quoted：
〃We halted at the sight of this new difficulty。 We already knew that to wait till the snows of the mountains had dissolved； so as to enable us to distinguish the road； would defeat our design of returning to the United States this season。 W