to cross the Rocky-mountain divide into the Salmon River Valley, but found the country too rough for travel, and turning back worked along the crests of the difficult double chain northward, following for a time the headwaters of Clark's Fork of the Columbia, but finally struck west over the Bitter Root Mountains by the Lo Lo trail. They had suffered considerable hardship, encountering storms of rain and even of snow, the time being in August and September, 1805. They had been eating colts and old horses, in lack of game, and their pack animals were almost incapable of travel from sore feet.
On page 603, of Coues, is stated, in the language of the journal, the first discovery of the Nez Perces, as follows: "He (Captain Clark) continued for five miles, when he discovered three Indian boys, who, on observing the party, ran off and hid themselves in the grass. Captain Clark immediately alighted, and, giving his horse to one of the men, went after the boys. He soon relieved their apprehensions, and sent them forward to a village, about a mile off, with presents of small pieces of ribbon. Soon after the boys reached home a man came out to meet the party with great caution; but he conducted them to a large tent in the village, and all the inhabitants gathered around to view with a mixture of fear and pleasure these wonderful strangers. * * * They soon set before them a small piece of buffalo meat, some dried salmon, berries, and several kinds of roots. Among the last is one which is round, much like an onion in appearance, and sweet to the taste. It is called 'quamash.' * * * They (Clark and seven men) then went on in company with one of the chiefs to a second village in the same plain, at a distance of two miles. Here the party were treated with great kindness. The two villages consist of about thirty double tents, and the inhabitants call themselves Chopunnish, or Pierced Nose.
