Monday March 31 1806

Cotton Wood Beach (March 31 - April 6 Encampment)

      We set out early this morning and proceeded until 8 A. M.    when we Landed on the N. side opposite one large wooden house of the Shâh-ha-la nation and took breakfast.    when we decended the river in November last there were 24 other lodges formed of Straw and covered with bark near this house; these lodges are now distroyed and the inhabitants as the indians inform us have returned to the great rapids {The Cascades of the Columbia} of this river which is their permanent residence

 .....they differ in the manner of intering their dead. {This is the farthest downstream occurrence of burial vaults on the Columbia River} they lay them horizontally on boards and cover them with mats, in a valt formed with boards like the roof of a hose supported by forks and a single pole laid horizontally on those forks.    many bodies are deposited in the same valt above ground.    these are frequently laid one on the other, to the hight of three or for corps.    they deposit with them various articles of which they die possessed, and most esteem while living.    their canoes are frequently broken up to strengthen the vault.—

[Whitehouse]
Monday March 31st    A clear pleasant morning, We set out early and proceeded on, & passed a Village which lay on the So. side of the River.    This Village when we descended the River was large, but the greater part of the houses were removed & lay scattering along the Shore, for the convenience of the Inhabitants fishing.    One of our hunters killed a deer, & mention'd that he had seen a number of them, Elk &ca    Several of the natives followed us from the last Indian Village, in small Canoes.    In the Evening we passed the Mouth of a river lying on the North side of the River & encamped a short distance above it, on a handsome high Priari laying on the North Side of the River & Opposite to Quick sand River {Sandy}