Rumor of Attack

Rumor of Attack. . On the journey down the Columbia, the expedition relied upon the Nez Perce chief Twisted Hair (Walamo> ńus'ynia) for his knowledge of the river rapids and interpretive skills with the downstream people. , As the expedition passed village after village on their way down the Columbia they described the people they encountered as "pleased to See us." They gave gifts and traded freely with the expedition. Clark described them as "people well disposed" toward their new visitors from the east. , However, on October 21st 1805, Clark reported in his journal that they camped near five lodges whose "people did not receive us at first with the same cordiality of those above." Most of the villages were on the north side of the river and Clark speculated they were "at war with those tribes" living south of the Columbia River. , October 23rd, Clark wrote that "one of the old Chiefs who had accompanied us from the head of the river, informed us that he herd the Indians Say that the nation below intended to kills, we examined all the arms &c. complete the ammunition to 100 rounds." A later journal entry warned that "The natives leave us earlier this evening usial, which gives a Shadow of Confirmation to the information of our Old chief. Clark adds, "our two old Chiefs appeared very (?/scared ) this evening." , On October 24th, Clark reported the local "Indians approached us with caution and our two old chiefs expressed a desire to return to their band from this place, Saying that they Could be of no further Service to us" and reiterated that "the nation below had expressed hostile intentions." The next day the captains had a "parting Smoke with our two faithful friends" Twisted Hair and Tetoharsky. , By the end of the day the expedition "Came too, under a high point of rocks on the Lard. Side below a creek of 20 yards wide and much water... we found our Camp on the top of a high point of rocks, which forms a kind of fortification in the Point between the river and Creek with a boat guard, this Situation we Concieve well Calculated for defence... from any designs of the natives, Should They be enclined to attack us."