.MTE2Nw.ODgzMDk

278 unclear the mountain down a rough rockey way unclear along through a large thicket of bolsom fir timber in which we killed a dozen unclear then decended down in to a large valley on a branch and halted to dine our hunter killed a deer. saw french Indian sign we ate? our deer our Indian guide and the young Indian who accompanied hime eat the paunch and all the small guts of the deer we then proceeded on down the valley towards evening we arived at a large encampment of the flat head nation which a large band of the nation of about 40 lodges they have between 4 and 500 well looking horse now feeding in this valley or plain in our view they recieved us as friends and appeared to be glad to see us. 2 of our men who were a hunting came to their lodges first the natives spread a white robe over them and put their arms around their necks as a great token of friendship then smoaked with them when Capt. Lewis and Capt. Clark arived they spread white robes over their shoulders and smoaked with them. our officers told them that they would speak with them tomorrow and tell them our business and where we are going &c. the natives are light complectioned decent looking people the most of them well cloathed with unclear sheep and other skins. they have buffalow robes leather lodges to live in but have no meat at this time but gave us abundance of their dryed fruit such as servis berrys & cherries. different kinds of roots unclear of which eat verry well they tell us that we can go in 6 days to where white traders come