A Disagreeable Meal

While dining just east of the mouth of the Clearwater River with some Nez Perces on May 5th, 1806, Lewis was confronted by an angry Nez Perce. About this incident, he wrote:

...while at dinner an indian fellow verry impertinently threw a poor half starved puppy nearly into my plait by way of derision for our eating dogs and laughed very heartily at his own impertinence; I was so provoked at his insolence that I caught the puppy and thew it with great violence at him and struk him in the breast and face, siezed my tomahawk and shewed him by signs if he repeated his insolence I would tommahawk him, the fellow withdrew apparently much mortifyed and I continued my repast on dog without further molestation. (Lewis, from Moulton V.7, 210)

<< Return to Stories Reveal Character