The early days of October were spent in making preparations for the
descent of the river, - the Kooskooskee. Here they made their canoes,
and they called their stopping-place Canoe Camp. This was at
the junction of the north fork of the river with the main stream;
and all below that point is called the Lower Kooskooskee, while that
above is known as the upper river. The latitude of the camp,
according to the journal of the explorers, was 46'0 34' 56" north.
Here they buried in a cache their saddles, horse-gear, and a small
supply of powder and musket balls for possible emergencies.
The Kooskooskee, it should be borne in mind, is now better known
as the Clearwater; it empties into the Snake River, and that into
the Columbia. As far as the explorers knew the water-course down
which they were to navigate, they called it Clark's River, in honor
of Captain Clark. But modern geographers have displaced the name
of that eminent explorer and map-maker and have divided the stream,
or streams, with other nomenclature.
On the eighth of October the party set out on their long water
journey in five canoes, one of which was a small craft intended
to go on ahead and pilot the way (which, of course, was unknown)
for the four larger ones, in which travelled the main party
with their luggage. They met with disaster very soon after
their start, one of the canoes having struck a rock, which made
a hole in its side and caused the sinking of the craft.
Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the voyage was interrupted.
The party went ashore and did not resume their journey
until their luggage was dried and the canoe repaired.
On the ninth, says the journal:
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