The chapters in this book are organised to represent different
segments of the route followed by the Corps of Discovery across
Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The first chapter describes their
crossing of the Continental Divide -- three times on the way west
-- as they looked for the most practical route. This was the most
gruelling terrain they encountered on the entire trip and it was
their introduction to the north-west. At this point they met with
Shoshone Indians to trade for horses and found that Sacagawea, the
young wife of their French interpreter, was a sister to the chief.
She had been captured as a young girl and now returned home as a
member of the expedition. Chapter two describes another dramatic
event involving an Indian woman, the Nez Perce Wetxuiis, who was
never mentioned in the journals of the expedition, but who may have
saved the lives of the starving and exhausted white men. The Nez
Perce proved to be stalwart friends who shared food, knowledge of
the country, and dugout canoe construction so the Corps could
continue on toward the ocean. Chapter three focuses on reaching the
Columbia River, the Big River, a critical milestone that they hoped
would take them swiftly and easily to the Pacific. They met more
friendly tribes there and joined them in feasts of salmon. Chapter
four describes the explorers encounter with the Chinookan Traders
at Celilo Falls, the Great Falls of the Columbia, where they
entered yet another world in the culture of Northwest Indians. Here
they were faced with the sophisticated centre of trade for the
Pacific Plateau Trade System. Tribes from downriver came to trade
and meet with those from the eastern plateau region of the
north-west. The Corps entered the spectacular Columbia River Gorge,
navigated dangerous rapids in dugout canoes and survived to
continue onward downstream. Chapter five covers a gruelling 150
miles downstream from the beginning of tidal influence to the
Pacific Ocean. Battered by storms and tides, this relatively short
distance was anything but a downstream float trip. However, they
did plant the flag for the United States on the northern shore of
the Columbia River, near the ocean, and thus staked a claim to the
north-west. This done, they immediately made plans to pass the
winter in a sheltered spot on the south shore and made their way
across the river to build a stockade they called Fort Clatsop. The
winter passed there is covered in chapter six. They brought
journals and maps up to date, hunted, made moccasins, and traded
with their Indian neighbours. Chapter seven is an account of their
homeward journey east -- now up the Columbia. They portaged around
rapids and, finally, took an overland route to the lands of the Nez
Perces. Chapter eight describes their reunion with their Indian
friends and their stay with them while waiting for the snow to melt
enough to open Lolo Pass for their last crossing of the Divide. The
book ends with an epilogue and brief profiles of Captains Lewis and
Clark, the Shoshone woman Sacagawea, and York, Clarks slave. Each
chapter contains a trail guide which points out actual sites of
camps and significant events and landmarks experienced during the
expedition. There are also regional places of interest and
sightseeing opportunities listed, along with maps. One of the
directives given to the Captains was to collect information on
flora and fauna that might be new to science. They did so with
great scientific care and skill. At the end of this book you will
find a description of the plants and animals the explorers
catalogued as they travelled across the north-west. There is also a
bibliography and an index.
General
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