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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 177 of 362
Words from 53766 to 54031
of 110166
