Gifts from a Chief

Only three days after the firewood incident, we find the Expedition being treated to a warm welcome and wood to be shared.

On October 18th, 1806, William Clark wrote:

...nine large Lodges of Indians Drying fish on Scaffolds as above at this place we were called to land, as it was near night and no appearance of wood, we proceeded on about 2 miles lower to Some willows, at which place we observed a drift log formed a Camp on the Lard Side under a high hill nearly opposit to five Lodges of Indians; Soon after we landed, our old Chiefs informed us that the large camp above was the Camp of the 1st Chief of all the tribes in this quarter, and that he had called to us to land and Stay all night with him, that he had plenty of wood for us. This would have been agreeable to us if it had have been understood perticelarly as we were compelled to Use drid willows for fuel for the purpose of cooking, we requested the old Chiefs to walk up on the Side we had landed and call to the Chief to come down and Stay with us all night which they did; late at night the Chief came down accompanied by 20 men, and formed a Camp a Short distance above, the Chief brought with him a large basket of mashed berries which he left at our Lodge as a present. I saw on the, main land opposit those Lodges a number of horses feeding, we made 21 miles to day. (Clark, from Moulton V.5, 298-300)

Clark’s View of the Nez Perces | Stolen Firewood | Gifts from a Chief
Without Knocking | Finders Keepers? | Honorable People