The Indians Seemed To Be
Quite As Well Pleased As Ourselves At The Bargain They Had Made.
We Now Found
That the two inferior chiefs were somewhat displeased
at not having received a present equal to that given to the
Great chief, who appeared in a dress so much finer than their own.
To allay their discontent, we bestowed on them two old coats,
and promised them if they were active in assisting us across
the mountains they should have an additional present.
This treatment completely reconciled them, and the whole
Indian party, except two men and two women, set out in perfect
good humor to return to their home with Captain Clark."
Chapter XIV
Across the Great Divide
Captain Clark had now left the water-shed of the Missouri behind him,
and was pressing on, over a broken, hilly country, to the lands
from which issue the tributaries of the Columbia. The Indian village
which Captain Lewis had previously visited had been removed two miles up
the stream on which it was situated, and was reached by Clark on August 20.
The party was very ceremoniously received by Chief Cameahwait, and all hands
began to explain to the white men the difficulties of the situation.
How to transport the canoes and baggage over the mountains to some
navigable stream leading into the Columbia was now the serious problem.
The Indian chief and his old men dwelt on the obstacles in the way
and argued that it was too late in the season to make the attempt.
They even urged the white men to stay with them until another spring,
when Indian guides would be furnished them to proceed on
their journey westward.
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