N3833

Lewis & Clark Expedition - Bicentennial

Fred's Anecdotal Note

The Chinooks

In late October the expedition rested for 3 days at a place they named Fort Rock Camp to repair canoes, dry baggage, and hunt. Chinook Indians made contact for the first time as they crossed the river bringing presents of deer meat and cakes made from roots. The Corps quickly discovered that this tribe was prone to theft, and they had to guard their supplies and equipment. The chiefs spent the night and everyone feasted on venison from the Indians and steelhead trout from the Corps. Cruzatte's violin and York's dancing delighled the visitors.

On Nov. 5th the explorers encountered the first of the larger

coastal conoes. There were four of varying lengths' and they had intricate and colorfirl designs. The bows were carved into figures of animals, and Lewis mentioned that one was of a bear. The warriors wore conical cedar slat hats that were common to ihe area and displayed their war axes, spears, and bows. Clark disdainfully wrote "Those fellows we found assumeing and disagreeable. We smoked with them and treated them with every attention & friendship." 

On Nov. 14th Lewis, Drouillard and 3 privates went exploring. They chanced upon privates Shannon and Willard who had gone hunting the previous day. Those two had encountered five Chinooks with whom they spent the night. In the morning they discovered their rifles had been stolen and were trying to get them back when Lewis and his party arrived on the scene. The thieves were forcefully convinced to give back the missing guns. Lewis had the Chinooks escorted back to Clark, and when he heard Shannon's story he became very angry. He wrote "I told those Indians they should not come near us, and if any one of their nation stold anything from us, I would have him shot, which they understoot verry well." Throughout their winter encampment the Corpi had to guard against theft by the Chinooks. Luckily their fort was in the territory of the Clatsops, and they wire much more trustworthy. Even as the expedition was leaving on April 11th, three Chinooks stole Seaman. Lewis sent a party after them with orders to use force if necessary to recover his dog. The black Newfoundland was rescued and the captains were happy to leave behind the territory of the troublesome Chinooks.