Joan's Lewis & Clark Geek Page

March 31st Monday, 1806

[Lewis] 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  of this river which is their permanent residence; the house which remains is inhabited; soon after we landed two canoes came over from this house with 4 men and a woman.    they informed us that their relations who were with them last fall usuly visit them at that season for the purpose of hunting deer and Elk and collecing wappetoe and that they had lately returned to the rapids I presume to prepare for the fishing season as the Salmon will begin to run shortly.—    this morning we overtook the man who had visited our camp last night he had a fine sturgeon in his canoe which he had just taken.    the Sagittaria Sagittifolia dose not grow on this river above the Columbian valley.—    These indians of the rapids frequently visit this valley at every season of the year for the purpose of collecting wappetoe which is abundant and appears never to be out of season at any time of the year.    at 10 A. M. we resumed our march accompanyed by three men in a canoe; one of these fellows appeared to be a man of some note among them; he was dressed in a salor's jacket which was decorated in this own fassion with five rows of large and small buttons in front and some large buttons on the pocket flaps.    they are remarkably fond of large brass buttons.    these people speak a different language from those below   tho' in their dress habits manners &c they differ but little from the quathlahpohtles.    their women wear the truss as those do of all the nations residing from the quathlahpohtles to the entrance of Lewis's river.    they differ in the manner of intering their dead.   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.—    these people have a few words the same with those below but the air of the language is intirely different, insomuch, that it may be justly deemed a different language. their women wear longer and larger robes generally, than those below; these are most commonly made of deer skins dressed with the hair on them.    we continued our rout along the N. side of the river passed diamond Island and whitebrant island  to the lower point of a handsom prarie opposite to the upper entrance of the Quicksand river;   here we encamped having traveled 25 miles today.    a little below the upper point of the White brant Island Seal river discharges itself on the N. side.    it is about 80 yards wide, and at present discharges a large body of water. the water is very clear.    the banks are low and near the Columbia overflow and form several large ponds.    the natives inform us that it is of no great extent and heads in the mountains just above us.    at the distance of one mile from the entrance of this stream it forks, the two branches being nearly of the same size.    they are both obstructed with falls and innumerable rappids, insomuch that it cannot be navigated.    as we could not learn any name of the natives for this stream we called it Seal river from the great abundance of those animals   which we saw about it's entrance. we determined to remain at our present encampment a day or two for the several purposes of examining quicksand river [NB: which Capt Clark could not believe to be the river watering the Country to the Sth & for the purpose of] making some Celestial observations, and procuring some meat to serve us as far as the falls or through the Western mountains where we found the game scarce as we decended.—    the three indians who accompanied us last evening encamped a little distance above us and visited our camp where they remained untill 9 P. M.    in the entrance of Seal river I saw a summer duck or wood duck  as they are sometimes called.    this is the same with those of our country and is the first I have seen since I entered the rocky mountains last summer.—    our hunters who had halted a little below Seal river in consequence of the waves being too high for their small canoe did not join us untill after dark. Drewyer who was out below Seal river informed us that game was very scarce in that quarter, a circumstance which we did not expect.

Their 25 miles upriver today brought them to the Quicksand river (now just the Sandy river) and they decide to camp a day or two to look the country over and hopefully lay in a supply of meat.  They still encounter many natives in their usual pursuit of different foodstuffs, and they are generally friendly and helpful.

March 30th Sunday, 1806

[Clark] we got under way verry early and had not proceeded to the head of the island before we met with the three men of the Clan-nar-min-a-mon's who met us yesterday brackfast    at the upper point of the Island we met Several of the Clackstar and Cath-lah-cum-up in two canoes. Soon after we were overtaken by Several Canoes of different tribes who reside on each Side of the river    the three above Tribes and the Clâh-in-na-ta cathy-lah-nah-qui-up & Cath-lah-com-mah-tup reside on each Side of Wappato inlet and back of Wappato Island which Island is formed by a Small Chanel which passes from the Lower part of Image Canoe Island into an inlet which makes in from the S W. Side, and receves the water of a Creek  which heads with the Kil a mox River.    this wappato Island is about 18 or 20 Miles long and in places from 6 to 10 miles wide high & furtile with ponds on different parts of it in which the nativs geather Wappato. nearly opposit the upper point of the Isld. behing which we encamped last night, or on the Wappato Isld. is Several Camps of the nativs catching Sturgion.    about 5 miles Still higher up and on the N E. Side we halted for brackfast at the place which We had encamped the 4th of November last.    here we were visited by several canoes of Indians from two Towns a Short distance above on the Wappato Island.    the 1st of those Tribes Call themselves Clan-nah-quah and Situated about 2 miles above us, the other about a mile above Call themselves Mult-no-mah    we purchased of those visitors a Sturgion and Some Wappato & quarmarsh roots for which we gave Small fishing hooks.    at 10 a. m. we Set out and had not proceeded far before we came to a landing place where there was Several large canoes hauled up, and Sitting in a canoe, appearantly waiting our arival with a view to join the fleet indian who was then along Side of us.    this man informed he was a Shoto and that his nation resided a little distance from the river.    we landed and one of the indians pointed to the Shoto village which is Situated back of Pond which lies parrelal with the river on the N E. Side nearly opposit the Clan-nah quah village.    here we were also joined by Several Canoes loaded with the natives from the Island who Continued to accompany us untill about 4 oClock when they all returned and we proceeded on to the place the Indians Stole my Tomahawk 4th Novr. last and Encamped in a Small Prarie above a large Pond on N. E and opposit the Center of image Canoe Island.    capt Lewis walked out and Saw Several deer. Jo. Field Shot at Elk he killed and brought in a fine duck. Soon after I had got into bead an Indian came up along in a Small Canoe. Those tribes of Indians who inhabit this vally differ but little in either their dress, manners, habuts and language from the Clat Sops Chinnooks, and others on the Sea coast.    they differ in a fiew words and a little in the accent. The men are Stouter and much better formed than those of the Sea Coast.    more of their womin ware their hair braded in two tresses and hang over each ear.    in Stead of the tissue of bark worn by the women below, they ware a kind of leather breech clout as before described

as worn by the Womin at the enterance of Lewis's river—the width of a Common pocket Handkerchief or Something Smaller and longer.      the two Corners of this at one of the narrow ends are confined in front just above the hips; the other Side is then brought between their legs, Compressed into a narrow folding bundle is drawn tight, and the Corners a little Spred in front tucked at the ends over and around the part first confined about the Waiste.    a Small roab which does not reach the Waiste is their usial and only garment commonly worn besides this just mentioned.    when the weather is a little worm the roab is thrown aside, and the latter truss or breach clout constituted the whole of their apparreal.    this is a much more indesant article than the tissue of bark, and bearly covers the Mons venus, to which it is drawn So close that the whole Shape is plainly perseived. The Houses are Similar to those already descrbed.    they are fond of Sculpture. various figures are carved and painted on the pieces which Support the Center of the roof about their dores and beads. They are well Supplied with anchoves Sturgion and Wappato. The latter furnishes the principal article of traffic with those Tribes which they despose of to the nativs below in exchange for beeds, Cloath and Various articles.    the nativs of the Sea coast and lower part of this river will dispose of their most valueable articles to obtain this root. I saw in Several houses of the Cath lah poh tle Village large Symeters of Iron from 3 to 4 feet long which hangs by the heads of their beads; the blade of this weapon is thickest in the Center tho' thin even there, all it's edges are Sharp and its greatest width which is about 9 inches from the point, is about 4 inches.    the form is this    this is a formable weapon.    they have heavy bludgeons of wood made in the Same form nearly which I prosume they use for the Same purpose before they obtained metal.    we made 22 Miles only to day the wind and a Strong current being against us all day, with rain.    discovered a high mountain S E. Covered with Snow which we call Mt. Jefferson. 

Despite the Columbia's current and an eastern wind they make 22 miles on this day.  All of the visiting natives must interfere with the progress as well.  Clark copies from Lewis's post of the previous day, a long essay on the native women's dress, and also with Lewis, finds it most indecent.

March 29th Saturday, 1806

[Clark]   we Set out very early this morning and proceeded to the head of deer island and took brackfast.    the morning was very cold wind Sharp and keen off the rainge of Mountains to the East Covered with snow.    the river is now riseing very fast and retards our progress very much as we are compelled to keep out at Some distance in the Curent to clear the bushes, and fallin trees and drift logs makeing out from the Shore.    dureing the time we were at Brackfast a Canoe with three Indians of the Clan-nar-min-na-mon Nation came down, one of those men was dressed in a Salors Jacket & hat & the other two had a blanket each, those people differ but little either in their dress manners & Language from the Clatsops & Chinnooks    they reside on Wappato Inlet which is on the S W. side about 12 miles above our encampment of the last night and is about 2 miles from the lower point, four other Tribes also reside on the inlet and Sluce which passes on the South W. Side of the Island, the first tribe from the lower point is the Clannarminamon, on the Island, the Clackster Nation on the main S. W. Shore.    the next Cath-lah-cum-up, Clâh-in-na-ta, Cath-lah-nah-qui-ah and at Some distance further up is a tribe called Cath-lah-com-mah-up Those tribes all occupie Single Villages. we proceeded on to the lower point of the Said island accompanied by the 3 Indians, & were met by 2 canoes of nativs of the quath-lah-pah-tal who informed us that the chanel to the N E of the Island was the proper one.    we prosued their advice and Crossed into the mouth of the Chah-wah-na-hi-ooks River which is about 200 yards wide and a great portion of water into the columbia at this time it being high. The indians inform us that this river is crouded with rapids after Some distance up it. Several tribes of the Hul-lu-et-tell Nation reside on this river.    at 3 oClock P. M. we arived at the Quath lah pah tle Village of 14 Houses on main Shore to the N E. Side of a large island.    those people in their habits manners Customs and language differ but little from those of the Clatsops and others below.    here we exchanged our deer Skins killed yesterday for dogs, and purchased others to the Number of 12 for provisions for the party, as the deer flesh is too poore for the Men to Subsist on and work as hard as is necessary. I also purchased a Sea Otter robe.    we purchased wappatoe and Some pashaquar roots.    gave a Medal of the Small Size to the principal Chief, and at 5 oClock reembarked and proceeded up on the N E. of an Island to an inlet about 1 mile above the village and encamped on a butifull grassy plac, where the nativs make a portage of their Canoes and Wappato roots to and from a large pond at a Short distance.    in this pond the nativs inform us they Collect great quantities of pappato, which the womin collect by getting into the water, Sometimes to their necks holding by a Small canoe and with their feet loosen the wappato or bulb of the root from the bottom from the Fibers, and it imedeately rises to the top of the water, they Collect & throw them into the Canoe, those deep roots are the largest and best roots. Great numbers of the whistling Swan, Gees and Ducks in the Ponds. Soon after we landed 3 of the nativs came up with Wappato to Sell a part of which we purchased.    they Continued but a Short time.    our men are recoverey fast. Willard quit well & Bratten much Stronger.    we made 15 miles to day only.

The Party's  homeward direction seems to have benefited the sick men, even if the diet is still mainly thin venison.  Paddling their canoes against the current must be pretty tough but they seem to make good progress most days.  The natives they've met  so for are surprisingly helpful and it appears Clark is still ready to part with scarce trade goods for sea otter skins.

March 28th Friday, 1806

[Lewis]   This morning we set out very early and at 9 A. M. arrived at the old Indian Village on Lard side of Deer Island  where we found our hunters had halted and left one man with the two canoes at their camp; they had arrived last evening at this place and six of them turned out to hunt very early this morning; by 10 A. M. they all returned to camp having killed seven deer.    these were all of the common fallow deer with the long tail.   I measured the tail of one of these bucks which was upwards of 17 Inches long; they are very poor, tho' they are better than the black tailed fallow deer of the coast.     these are two very distinct speceis of deer.    the Indians call this large Island E-lal-lar or deer island which is a very appropriate name.    the hunters informed us that they had seen upwards of a hundred deer this morning on this island.    the interior part of the island is praries and ponds, with a heavy growth of Cottonwood ash and willow near the river.    we have seen more waterfowl on this island than we have previously seen since we left Fort Clatsop, consisting of geese, ducks, large swan, and Sandhill crains. I saw a few of the Canvisback duck.   the duckinmallard are the most abundant.    one of the hunters killed a duck which appeared to be the male,  it was a size less than the duckinmallard.    the head neck as low as the croop, and back tail and covert of the wings were of a fine black with a small addmixture of perple about the head and neck, the belley & breast were white; some long feathers which lie underneath the wings and cover the thye were of a pale dove colour with fine black specks; the large feathers of the wings of the wings are of a dove colour.    the legs are dark, the feet are composed of 4 toes each of which there are three in front connected by a web, the 4th is short flat and placed high on the heel behind the leg.    the tail is composed of 14 short pointed feathers.    the beak of this duck is remarkably wide, and is 2 inches in length, the upper chap exceeds the under one in both length and width, insomuch that when the beak is closed the under is entirly concealed by the upper chap.    the tongue, indenture of the margin of the chaps &c. are like those of the mallard.    the nostrils are large longitudinal and connected.    a narrow strip of white garnishes the upper part or base of the upper chap; this is succeeded by a pale skye blue colour which occupys about one inch of the chap, is again succeeded by a transverse stripe of white and the extremity is of a pure black.    the eye is moderately large the puple black and iris of a fine orrange yellow.    the feathers on the crown of the head are longer than those on the upper part of neck and other parts of the head; these feathers give it the appearance of being crested.    at ½ after ten A. M. it became fair, and we had the canoes which wanted repairing halled out and with the assistance of fires which we had kindled for the purpose dryed them sufficiently to receive the pitch which was immediately put on them; at 3 in the evening we had them compleat and again launched and reloaded.    we should have set out, but as some of the party whom we had permitted to hunt since we arrived have not yet returned we determined to remain this evening and dry our beding baggage &c. the weather being fair. Since we landed here we were visited by a large canoe with ten natives of the quathlahpahtle nation  who are numerous and reside about seventeen miles above us on the lard. side of the Columbia, at the entrance of a small river.    they do not differ much in their dress from those lower down and speak nearly the same language, it is in fact the same with a small difference of accent.    we saw a great number of snakes on this island they were about the size and much the form of the common garter snake of the Atlantic coast and like that snake are not poisonous.      they have 160 scuta on the abdomen and 71 on the tail.    the abdomen near the head, and jaws as high as the eyes, are of a blueish white, which as it receedes from the head becomes of a dark brown.    the field of the back and sides is black.    a narrow stripe of a light yellow runs along the center of the back, on each side of this stripe there is a range of small transverse oblong spots of a pale brick ret which gradually deminish as they receede from the head and disappear at the commencement of the tail.    the puple of the eye is black, with a narrow ring of white bordering it's edge; the ballance of the iris is of a dark yellowish brown.—    the men who had been sent after the deer returned and brought in the remnent which the Vultures and Eagles had left us; these birds had devoured 4 deer in the course of a few hours.    the party killed and brought in three other deer a goose some ducks and an Eagle. Drewyer also killed a tiger cat.   Joseph Fields informed me that the Vultures had draged a large buck which he had killed about 30 yards, had skined it and broken the back bone.    we came five miles only today.—

The Officers find enought sunshine on Deer Island to dry out the canoes and repair the cracks in them.  Also collect several of Islands (which still carries the name) deer which are "pore" but still more fleshed out than their counterparts at the Columbia's mouth.  Their many activities lets them make only five miles this day.

March 27th Thursday, 1806

[Clark] a rainey disagreeable night    rained the greater part of the night    we Set out this morning verry early and proceeded on to two houses of the Skil-lute Indians on the South Side here we found our hunters who had Seperated from us last evening.    the wind rose and the rain became very hard Soon after we landed    here we were very friendly receved by the natives who gave all our party as much fish as they Could eate, they also gave us Wappato and pashaquaw roots to eate prepared in their own way.    also a Species of Small white tuberous roots about 2 inches in length and as thick as a mans finger, these are eaten raw, or crips, milkey and agreeably flavoured; the nativs insists on our remaining all day with them and hunt the Elk and deer which they informed us was very abundant in this neighbourhood.    but as the weather would not permit our drying our Canoes in order to pitch them, we declined their friendly invertation, and resumed our voyage at 12 oClock. The principal village of the Skil-lutes is Situated on the lower Side of the Cow-e-lis kee river a fiew miles from it's enterance into the Columbia.    those people are Said to be noumerous, in their dress, habits, manners and Language they differ but little from the Clatsops, Chinnooks &c.    they have latterly been at war with the Chinnooks, but peace is Said to be now restored between them, but their inter Course is not yet restored.    but no Chinnook Come above the Warkiacums, nor do the Skillutes visit the Mouth of the Columbia. The Clatsops, Cath lahmahs & War kia coms are the Carriers between those nations being in alliance with both—. The Cow e lis kee river is 150 yards wide, is deep and from Indian information navigable a very conslderable distance for canoes.    it discharges itself into the Columbia about 3 miles above a remarkable knob which is high and rocky and Situated on the North Side of the Columbia, and Seperated from the Northern hills of the river by a Wide bottom of Several Miles, to which it united. I Suspect that this river Waters the Country lying west of a range of Mountains which passes the Columbia between the Great falls and rapids, and North of the Same nearly to the low country which Commences on the N W. Coast about Latitude 4° [blank]  North.    above the Skil lutes on this river another nation by the name of the Hul-loo-et-tell reside who are Said also the be numerous.    at the distance of 2 miles above the village at which we brackfast we passed the enterance of this river; we Saw Several fishing camps of the Skillutes on both Sides of the Columbia, and also on both Sides of this river.    we were attended all the evening by parties of the nativs in their Canoes who visited us for the purpose of tradeing their fish and roots; we purchased as maney as we wished on very moderate terms; they Seamed perfectly Satisfied with the exchange and behaved themselves in a very orderly manner.    late in the evening we passed the place we Camped the 5th of Novr. and Encamped about 4 miles above at the Commencement of the Columbian Vally on the Stard. Side below Deer Island.    we had Scercily landed before we were visited by a large Canoe with 8 men; from them we obtained a dried fruit which resembled the raspberry and which I beleave is the fruit of the large leafed thorn frequently mentioned.    it is reather ascide tho' pleasently flavored. Saw Cotton wood, Sweet Willow, w[hite] oake, ash and the broad leafed ash the Growth which resembles the bark &c.    these form the groth of the bottom lands, whilst the Hills are almost exclusively Covered with the various Species of fir heretofore discribed.    the black alder appears on Maney parts of the hills Sides as on the bottoms.    before we Set out from the 2 houses where we brackfast we Sent on two Canoes with the best hunters, with orders to pro ceed as fast as they Could to Deer island and there to hunt and wait our arrival.    we wish to halt at that place and repare 2 of our Canoes if possible.    the Indians that visited us this evining remained but a Short time, they passed over to an Island and encamped.    the night as well as the day proved Cold wet and excessively disagreeable.    we Came 20 miles in the Course of this day.

Despite the rain and waves the Party makes pretty good mileage again this day.  The natives of this locality are amazingly helpful and generous with their supply of food.  Perhaps those tribes at the mouth of the Columbia are less pleased with white men and traders after being much more exposed to the trading vessels.

March 26th Wednesday, 1806

[Lewis] The wind blew so hard this morning that we delayed untill 8 A. M. we gave a medal of small size to a man by the name of Wal-lal'-le,   a principal man among the Cathlahmahs, he appeared very thankfull for the honour conferred on him and presented us a large sturgeon.    we continued our rout up the river to an old village on the Stard. side where we halted for dinner.     we met on the way the principal Cheif of the Cathlahmahs, Sâh-hâh-wôh-cap,  who had been up the river on a trading voyage.    he gave us some Wappetoe and fish; we also purchased some of the latter.    soon after we halted for dinner the two Wackiacums who have been pursuing us since yesterday morning with two dogs for sale, arrived.    they wish tobacco in exchange for their dogs which we are not disposed to give as our stock is now reduced to a very few carrots.    our men who have been accustomed to the use of this article Tobaco and to whom we are now obliged to deny the uce of this article appear to suffer much for the want of it.    they substitute the bark of the wild crab which they chew; it is very bitter, and they assure me they find it a good substitute for tobacco. the smokers substitute the inner bark of the red willow and the sacacommis.    here our hunters joined us having killed three Eagles and a large goose. I had now an oportunity of comparing the bald with the grey Eagle;   I found that the greay Eagle was about ¼ larger, it's legs and feet were dark while those of the bald Eagle wer of a fine orrange yellow; the iris of the eye is also of a dark yellowish brown while that of the other is of a bright silvery colour with a slight admixture of yellow.    after dinner we proceeded on and passed an Elegant and extensive bottom on the South side and an island near it's upper point which we call Fanny's Island and bottom.    the greater part of the bottom is a high dry prarie.    near the river towards the upper point we saw a fine grove of whiteoak trees;   we saw some deer and Elk at a distance in the prarie, but did not delay for the purpose of hunting them.    we continued our rout after dinner untill late in the evening and encamped on the next island above fanny's Island.    we found it difficult to obtain as much wood as answered our purposes.    the hunters   who had proceeded on before us after dinner did not join us this evening.    some indians visited us after dark, but did not remain long.    agreeably to our estimate as we decended the river, we came 16 m. 23rd, 16 m. the 24th, 15 the 25th, and 18 m. the 26th, tho' I now think that our estimate in decending the river was too short.

Tobacco leaves were stored by twisting several leaves together and a sort of carrot shape was the result hence the "carrot".  The tobacco shortage could be really serious although the enlisted men  maintain the bark of the wild crab apple a suitable substitute.  The canoe traffic on the river continues at a great pace and Lewis figures they didn't get enough miles counted on their way down last November.

March 25th Tuesday, 1806

[Clark] Last night and this morning are cool wend hard a head and tide going out, after an early brackfast we proceeded on about 4 miles and came too on the south side to worm and dry our Selves a little. Soon after we had landed two Indians Came from a War kia cum village on the opposite Side with 2 dogs and a fiew Wappato to Sell neither of which we bought. Som Clatsops passed down in a Canoe loaded with fish and Wappato.    as the wind was hard a head and tide against us we Concluded to delay untill the return of the tide which we expected at 1 oClock, at which hour we Set out    met two Canoes of Clatsops loaded with dried anchovies and Sturgion which they had taken and purchased above    we crossed over to an Island on which was a Cath lahmah fishing Camp of one Lodge; here we found 3 man two woman and a couple of boys who must have for Some time for the purpose of taking Sturgeon which they do by trolling.    they had 10 or 12 very fine Sturgeon which had not been long taken; we wished to purchase some of their fish but they asked Such extravegent prices that we declined purchaseing.    one of our Party purchased a Sea otter Skin at this Lodge for which he gave a dressed Elk Skin & a Handkerchief.    we remained at this place about half an hour and then Continued our rout.    the winds in the evening was verry hard, it was with Some dificuelty that we Could find a Spot proper for an encampment, the Shore being a Swamp for Several miles back; at length late in the evening opposit to the place we had encamped on the 6th of Novr. last; we fouond the enterance of a Small Creek which offered us a Safe harbour from the Winds and Encamped.    the Ground was low and moist tho' we obtained a tolerable encampment.    here we found another party of Cathlahmahs about 10 in number, who had established a temporary residence for the purpose of fishing and takeing Seal.    they had taken about 12 Sturgeon and Some Seal.    they gave us Some of the flesh of the Seal which I found a great improvement to the poor Elk.    here we found Drewyer and the 2 Fields' who had been Seperated from us Since Morning; they had passed on the North Side of the large Island which was much nearest.    the bottom lands are Covered with a Species of Arspine, the Growth with a broad leaf which resembles ash except the leaf.    the under brush red willow, broad leafed Willow, Seven bark, Goose berry, Green bryor, and the larged leaf thorn; the latter is Now in blume, the nativs inform us that it bears a leaf fruit about an Inch in diamieter which is a good to eate.    the red willow and 7 bark begin to put foth their leaves. The green bryor which I have before mentioned retains leaves all winter.    made 15 Miles.

A lot of canoe traffic on the lower Columbia this day.  Clark really likes the seal meat and I guess if one had wintered on lean elk meat, they'd feel the same.  The huge array of edibles the Columbia provides is  truly amazing.

March 24th Monday, 1806

[Lewis] This morning we sent out a party of 15, at light, for the meat, and concluded to take breakfast before we set out.    they soon returned.    we breakfasted and set out at ½ after 9 A. M. Saw a white woodpecker with a red head of the small kind common to the United States;   this bird has but lately returned.    they do not remain during the winter.    the country thick and heavily timbered.    we saw very few waterfowl today, not a single swan, white brant nor a small goose is to be seen.    a few Cormorant, duckinmallard, butterbox, and common large geese were only to be found.     the tide being out this morning we found some difficulty in passing through the bay below the Cathlahmah village;   this side of the river is very shallow to the distance of 4 miles from the shore tho' there is a channel sufficient for canoes near S. side.    at 1 P. M. we arrived at the Cathlahmah village where we halted and purchased some wappetoe,  a dog for the sick, and a hat for one of the men.    on one of the seal Islands   opposite to the village of these people thy have scaffolded their dead in canoes elivating them above tidewater mark.    these people are very fond of sculpture in wood of which they exhibit a variety of specemines about their houses.    the broad peices supporting the center of the roof and those through which the doors are cut, seem to be the peices on which they most display their taist. I saw some of these which represented human figures setting and supporting the burthen on their sholders.    at half after 3 P. M. we set out and continued our rout among the seal Islands; not paying much attention we mistook our rout which an Indian perceiving pursued overtook us and put us in the wright channel.    this Cathlahmah claimed the small canoe which we had taken from the Clatsops.    however he consented very willingly to take an Elk's skin for it which I directed should be given him and he immediately returned.    we continued our rout along the South side of the river and encamped at an old village of 9 houses opposite to the lower Wackkiacum village.    the night was cold tho' wood was abundant after dark two Chinnook men came to us in a small canoe.    they remained with us all night.    came 15 miles today.

The Party continues upriver with navigation assistance from the natives.  They strike a pretty good deal for themselves, trading the Indian canoe they had filched earlier for a single elk hide.  Dog meat evidently still holds high regard among the men and the sick get first choice.

March 23rd Sunday, 1806

[Clark] This morning proved So raney and uncertain that we were undeturmined for Some time whether we had best Set out & risque the [river?] which appeared to be riseing or not.    Jo. Colter returned haveing killed an Elk about 3 miles towards Point Adams.    the rained Seased and it became fair about Meridean, at which time we loaded our Canoes & at 1 P. M. left Fort Clatsop on our homeward bound journey.    at this place we had wintered and remained from the 7th of Decr. 1805 to this day and have lived as well as we had any right to expect, and we can Say that we were never one day without 3 meals of Some kind a day either pore Elk meat or roots, not withstanding the repeeted fall of rain which has fallen almost Constantly Since we passed the long narrows on the [blank] of Novr. last      indeed w[e] have had only [blank] days fair weather since that time. Soon after we had Set out from Fort Clatsop we were met by De lash el wilt & 8 men of the Chinnooks, and Delashelwilts wife the old boud and his Six Girls, they had, a Canoe, a Sea otter Skin, Dried fish and hats for Sale, we purchased a Sea otter Skin, and proceeded on, thro' Meriwethers Bay, there was a Stiff breese from the S. W. which raised Considerable Swells around Meriwethers point  which was as much as our Canoes Could ride.    above point William we came too at the Camp of Drewyer & the 2 Field's.    they had killed 2 Elk which was about 1½ miles distant.    here we Encampd. for the night having made 16 miles.

Well, windy or not, they've made a start on their homeward journey and 16 miles doesn't sound too bad. Looks like they'll have fresh elk meat for a meal or two.  The Captains find it hard to pass up a sea otter skin.

March 22nd Saturday, 1806

[Lewis]   Drewyer and the Feildses departed this morning agreably to the order of the last evening.    we sent out seven hunters this morning in different directions on this side the Netul.    about 10 A. M. we were visited by 4 Clatsops and a killamucks; they brought some dried Anchoveis and a dog for sale which we purchased.    the air is perefectly temperate, but it continues to rain in such a manner that there be is no possibility of geting our canoes completed.—    at 12 OCk. we were visited by Comowooll and 3 of the Clatsops.    to this Cheif we left our houses and funiture.    he has been much more kind an hospitable to us than any other indian in this neighbourhood.     the Indians departed in the evening.    the hunters all returned except Colter, unsuccessfull.    we determined to set out tomorrow at all events, and to stop the canoes temperarily with Mud and halt the first fair day and pay them.    the leafing of the hucklebury  riminds us of spring.

The Captains decide they're leaving Fort Clatsop the next day despite their lack of fresh elk meat and without repairing the cracked canoes.  Comowooll inherits Fort Clatsop and it's stock of furniture.

March 21st Friday, 1806

[Clark] as we could not Set out we thought it best to Send out Some hunters and accordingly dispatched Shields and Collins on this Side of the Netul for that purpose with orders to return in the evening or Sooner if they were Successfull.    they returned late in the evening unsuccessfull.    we have not now more than two days provisions on hand.    we derected Drewyer and the two Fieldses to Set out tomorrow morning early, and indevour to provide us Some provision on the Bay beyond point William. we were visited to day by Some Clatsops who left us in the evening.    our sick men Willard and Bratten do not Seem to recover; the former was taken with a violent pain in his leg and thye last night. Bratten is now so much reduced that I am Somewhat uneasy with respect to his recovery; the pain of which he complains most Seems to be Settled in the Small of his back and remains obstenate. I believe that it is the Rheumatism with which they are both affected.—.

Again the high waves hold the Party back from the much anticipated return trip.  As has been the case for most of the winter, they're real short on their diet main stays, elk meat.  The two sick men are very much on the Captians' minds and it will be interesting to see if making progress towards their eastern homes might help.

March 20th Thursday, 1806

[Clark] It continued to rain and blow so violently to day that nothing could be done towards forwarding our departure.    we intended to have dispatched Drewyer & the 2 Field'es to hunt above Point William untill we joined them from hense but the rain renders our departure So uncertain that we decline this measure for the present.    nothing remarkable happened dureing the day.    we have yet Several days provisions on hand, which we hope will be Sufficient to Serve us dureing the time we are compell'd by the weather to remain at this place.—.

Altho' we have not fared Sumptuously this winter & Spring at Fort Clatsop, we have lived quit as comfortably as we had any reason to expect we Should; and have accomplished every object which induced our remaining at this place except that of meeting with the traders who visit the enterance of this river.    our Salt will be very sufficient to last us to the Missouri where we have a Stock in Store.—    it would have been very fortunate for us has Some of those traders arrived previous to our departure from hence; as we Should then have had it in our power to obtain an addition to our Stock of merchandize, which would have made our homeward bound journey much more comfortable.

Maney of our men are Still Complaining of being unwell; Bratten and Willard remain weak principally I believe for the want of proper food. I expect when we get under way that we Shall be much more healthy.    it has always had that effect on us heretofore.

The Guns of Sergt. Pryor & Drewyer were both out of order.    the first had a Cock screw broken which was replaced by a duplicate which had been prepared for the Locks at Harpers Ferry; the Second repared with a new Lock, the old one becoming unfit for use.    but for the precaution taken in bringing on those extra locks, and parts of locks, in addition to the ingenuity of John Shields, most of our guns would at this moment been entirely unfit for use; but fortunate for us I have it in my power here to record that they are in good order, and Complete in every respect—

The weather of wind and rough seas holds our Party back and now they're anxious to leave their Fort Clatsop.  Clark figures their stay there was as comfortable as could have been made and laments the fact they were unable to meet any traders. John Shields gunsmithing receives his high praise for without their weapons the Party would have been faced with starvation many times.

March 19th Wednesday, 1806

[Lewis] It continued to rain and hail today in such manner that nothing further could be done to the canoes.    a pratry were sent out early after the Elk which was killed yesterday with which they returned in the course of a few hours.    we gave Comowooll alias Connia, a cirtificate of his good conduct and the friendly intercourse which he has maintained with us during our residence at this place; we also gave him a list of our names.— do not.   The Killamucks, Clatsops, Chinnooks, Cathlahmahs and Wâc'-ki-a-cums [NB: Qu: Wackms.] resemble each other as well in their persons and dress as in their habits and manners.—    their complexion is not remarkable, being the usual copper brown of most of the tribes of North America.    they are low in statue reather diminutive, and illy shapen; possessing thick broad flat feet, thick ankles, crooked legs wide mouths thick lips, nose moderately large, fleshey, wide at the extremity with large nostrils, black eyes and black coarse hair.    their eyes are sometimes of a dark yellowish brown the puple black. I have observed some high acqualine noses among them but they are extreemly rare.    the nose is generally low between the eyes.—    the most remarkable trait in their physiognomy is the peculiar flatness and width of forehead which they artificially obtain by compressing the head between two boards while in a state of infancy and from which it never afterwards perfectly recovers.   this is a custom among all the nations we have met with West of the Rocky mountains. I have observed the heads of many infants, after this singular bandage had been dismissed, or about the age of 10 or eleven months, that were not more than two inches thick about the upper edge of the forehead and reather thiner still higher.    from the top of the head to the extremity of the nose is one streight line.    this is done in order to give a greater width to the forehead, which they much admire.    this process seems to be continued longer with their female than their mail children, and neither appear to suffer any pain from the operation.    it is from this peculiar form of the head that the nations East of the Rocky mountains, call all the nations on this side, except the Aliahtans or snake Indians, by the generic name of Flat heads. I think myself that the prevalence of this custom is a strong proof that those nations having originally proceeded from the same stock. The nations of this neighbourhood or those recapitulated above, wear their hair loosly flowing on the back and sholders; both men and women divide it on the center of the crown in front and throw it back behind the ear on each side.    they are fond of combs and use them when they can obtain them; and even without the aid of the comb keep their hair in better order than many nations who are in other rispects much more civilized than themselves.—    the large or apparently swolen legs particularly observable in the women are obtained in a great measure by tying a cord tight around the ankle.    their method of squating or resting themselves on their hams which they seem from habit to prefer to siting,  no doubt contributes much to this deformity of the legs by preventing free circulation of the blood.    the dress of the man consists of a smal robe, which reaches about as low as the middle of the thye and is attatched with a string across the breast and is at pleasure turned from side to side as they may have occasion to disencumber the right or left arm from the robe entirely, or when the have occasion for both hands, the fixture of the robe is in front with it's corners loosly hanging over their arms.    they sometimes wear a hat which has already been discribed. this robe is made most commonly of the skins of a small animal which I have supposed was the brown mungo, tho' they have also a number, of the skins of the tiger cat, some of those of the Elk which are used principally on their war excursions, others of the skins of the deer panther and bear and a blanket wove with the fingers of the wool of the native sheep. a mat is sometimes temperarily thrown over the sholders to protect them from rain.    they have no other article of cloathing whatever neither winter nor summer.    and every part except the sholders and back is exposed to view.    they are very fond of the dress of the whites, which they wear in a similar manner when they can obtain them, except the shoe which I have never seen woarn by any of them.    they call us pâh-shish'-e-ooks, or cloth men.   The dress of the women consists of a robe, tissue, and sometimes when the weather is uncomonly cold, a vest.    their robe is much smaller than that of the men, never reaching lower than the waist nor extending in front sufficiently far to cover the body.    it is like that of the men confined across the breast with a string and hangs loosly over the sholders and back.    the most esteemed and valuable of these robes are made of strips of the skins of the Sea Otter net together with the bark of the white cedar or sil-grass.    these strips are first twisted and laid parallel with each other a little distance assunder, and then net or wove together in such manner that the fur appears equally on both sides, and unites between the strands.    it make a warm and soft covering.    other robes are formed in a similar manner of the skin of the Rackoon, beaver &c.    at other times the skin is dressed in the hair and woarn without any further preperation.    in this way one beaver skin, or two of those of the Raccoon or tiger catt forms the pattern of the robe.    the vast is always formed in the manner first discribed of their robes and covers the body from the armpits to the waist, and is confined behind, and destitute of straps over the sholder to keep it up.    when this vest is woarn the breast of the woman is concealed, but without it which is almost always the case, they are exposed, and from the habit of remaining loose and unsuspended grow to great length particularly in aged women in many of whom I have seen the bubby reach as low as the waist. The garment which occupys the waist, and from thence as low as nearly to the knee before and the ham, behind, cannot properly be denominated a peticoat, in the common acceptation of that term; it is a tissue of white cedar bark, bruised or broken into small shreds, which are interwoven in the middle by means of several cords of the same materials, which serve as well for a girdle as to hold in place the shreds of bark which form the tissue, and which shreds confined in the middle hand with their ends pendulous from the waist, the whole being of sufficient thickness when the female stands erect to conceal those parts usually covered from familiar view, but when she stoops or places herself in many other attitudes, this battery of Venus is not altogether impervious to the inquisitive and penetrating eye of the amorite.  This tissue is sometimes formed of little twisted cords of the silk grass knoted at their ends and interwoven as discribed of the bark.    this kind is more esteemed and last much longer than those of bark.    they also form them of flags and rushes which are woarn in a similar manner.    the women as well as the men sometimes cover themselves from the rain by a mat woarn over the sholders.    they also cover their heads from the rain sometimes with a common water cup or basket made of the cedar bark and beargrass.    these people seldom mark their skins by puncturing and introducing a colouring matter.    such of them as do mark themselves in this manner prefer their legs and arms on which they imprint parallel lines of dots either longitudinally or circularly.    the women more frequently than the men mark themselves in this manner.

Lewis finds a rather dull news day, to give a long discourse on the dress , or lack thereof, of the natives. One must wonder at their ability to stay warm and healthy with so little between theirselves and the Oregon coastal winter.  Perhaps it's the mishaped foreheads.

March 18th Tuesday, 1806

[Clark] Drewyer was taken last night with a violent pain in his Side. I bled him. Several of the men are complaining of being unwell.    it is truly unfortunate that they Should be Sick at the moment of our departure. Derected Sergt. Pryor to prepare the two Indian Canoes which we had purchased for his mess.    they wanted Some knees to Strengthen them, and Several cracks corked and payed.    he compleated them except paying.    the frequent Showers of rain prevented the Canoes drying Sufficient to pay them even with the assistance of fire.—

Commorwool and two Cathlahmahs visited us to day; we Suffered them to remain all night.    this morning we gave Delashelwilt a certificate of his good deportment &c. and also a list of our names, after which we dispatched him to his village with his female band. Those list's of our Names we have given to Several of the nativs, and also pasted up a Copy in our room.    the Object of these lists we Stated in the preamble of the Same as follows Viz: "The Object of this list is, that through the medium of Some civilized person who may See the Same, it may be made known to the informed world, that the party consisting of the persons whose names are hereunto annexed, and who were Sent out by the Government of the United States in May 1804, to explore the interior of the Continent of North America, did penetrate the Same by way of the Missouri and Columbia rivers, to the discharge of the latter into the Pacific Ocian, where they arrived on the 14th of November 1805, and from whence they departed the [blank] day of March 1806 on their return to the United States by the Same rout they had come out."

On the back of lists we added a Sketch of the continent of the upper branches of the Missouri with those of the Columbia, particularly of its upper N. E. branch or Lewis's River, on which we also delineated the track we had Came and that we ment to pursue on our return, when the Same happened to vary. There Seemes So many chances against our governments ever obtaining a regular report, through the medium of the Savages, and the traders of this Coast that we decline makeing any. Our party are too small to think of leaveing any of them to return to the Unt. States by Sea, particularly as we Shall be necessarily devided into two or three parties on our return in order to accomplish the Object we have in View; and at any rate we Shall reach the U, States in all humain probabillity much earlier than a man Could who must in the event of his being left here depend for his passage to the U, State on the traders of the Coast, who may not return imediately to the U, States.    or if they should, might probably Spend the next Summer in tradeing with the nativs before they would Set out on their return. This evening Drewyer went in quest of his traps, and took an otter. Joseph Field killd and Elk.— The Indians repeated to us Eighteen distinct Nati[ons?] resideing on the S S. E Coast who Speak the Kil a mox language or understand it.    and beyend those Six other Nations which Speak a different language which they did not comprehend.

The Captains are seriously moving up their departure date,  reinforcing the indian canoes structures and trying to get everyone healthy.  Their interest in preserving their great feat is especially interesting.  No doubt we'll see them headed eastward in a real short time.

March 17th Monday, 1806

[Lewis] Catel and his family left us this morning. Old Delashelwilt and his women still remain    they have formed a ca[m]p near the fort and seem to be determined to lay close sege to us but I beleive notwithstanding every effort of their wining graces, the men have preserved their constancy to the vow of celibacy which they made on this occasion to Capt C. and myself.    we have had our perogues prepared for our departer, and shal set out as soon as the weather will permit.    the weather is so precarious that we fear by waiting untill the first of April that we might be detained several days longer before we could get from this to the Cathlahmahs as it must be calm or we cannot accomplish that part of our rout. Drewyer returned late this evening from the Cathlahmahs with our canoe which Sergt. Pryor had left some days since, and also a canoe which he had purchased from those people.    for this canoe he gave my uniform laced coat and nearly half a carrot of tobacco.    it seems that nothing excep this coat would induce them to dispose of a canoe which in their mode of traffic is an article of the greatest val[u]e except a wife, with whom it is equal, and is generally given in exchange to the father for his daughter. I think the U' States are indebted to me another Uniform coat, for that of which I have disposed on this occasion was but little woarn.—    we yet want another canoe, and as the Clatsops will not sell us one at a price which we can afford to give we will take one from them in lue of the six Elk which they stole from us in the winter.

The Captains are making ready for the return trip, waiting for favorable weather.  They're still short a canoe but the footnotes quote a post from Sergeant Ordway that on the following day four men made a trip downstream and returned with a canoe which had to be hidden for a bit as there were visiting natives at the Fort when they returned. Lewis gives up his uniform coat for a canoe and feels the U.S. should reimburse him.

March 16th Sunday, 1896

[Clark] Not any occurrence worthy of relation took place today. Drewyer and party did not return from the Cath lah mah's this evening as we expected. we Suppose he was detained by the hard winds today.    the Indians remain with us all day, but would not dispose of their Canoe at a price which it was in our power to give consistently with the State of our Stock of Merchandize. One handkerchief would contain all the Small articles of merchandize which we possess, the ballance of the Stock Consists of 6 Small blue robes or Blankets one of Scarlet.    one uniform Artillerist's Coat and hat, 5 robes made of our larg flag, and a fiew our old Clothes trimed with ribon.    on this Stock we have wholy to depend for the purchase of horses and Such portion of our Subsistence from the Indians as it will be in our power to obtain.    a scant dependence indeed for the tour of the distance of that before us.

The pellucid jelly like Substance, called the Sea nettle I found in great abundance along the Strand where it has been thrown up by the waves and tide, and adheres to the Sand.

There are two Species of the Fuci,  or (Seawead) Seawreck which we also found thrown up by the waves.    the 1st Specie at one extremity consists of a large sesicle or hollow vessale which would contain from one to 2 gallons, of a conic form, the base of which forms the extreem End and is convex and Globelar bearing on its center Some Short broad and irregular fibers.    the Substance is about the consistancy of the rind of a citron Mellon and ¾ of an inch thick, yellow celindrick, and regularly tapering the tube extends to 20 or 30 feet and is then termonated with a number of branches which are flat ½ inch in width, rough particularly on the edges, where they are furnished with a number of little oval vesicles or bags of the size of a Pigions egg.    this plant Seams to be calculated to float at each extremity, while the little end of the tube from whence the branches proceed, lies deepest in the water.

The white Salmon Trout which we had previously seen only at the Great Falls of the Columbia, or a little below the Great Falls, has now made its appearance in the creeks near this place.    one of them was brought us to day by an indian who had just taken it with his gig. This is a likeness of it;   it was 2 feet 8 inches long, and weighed ten pounds.    the eye is moderately large, the puple black with a Small admixture of yellow and the iris of a Silvery white with a Small admixture of yellow and a little tirbed near its border with a yellowish brown.    the position of the fins may be seen from the drawing, they are small in perpotion to the fish.    the fins are boney but not pointed except the tail and back fins which are a little So, the prime back fin and venteral ones, contain each ten rays; those of the gills twelve, and the Small finn placed near the tail above has no long rays, but is a tough flexable Substance covered with Smooth Skin.    it is thicker in perpotion to it's width than the Salmons.    the tongue is thick and firm beset on each border with small subulate teeth in a Single Series.    the Teeth of the mouth are as before discribed.    neither this fish nor the Salmon are cought with the hook, nor do I know on what they feed.—.—. now begin to run &c. &c.

Clark's inventory of trade goods is alarmingly small considering the the long trail back to St Louis. The Coho Salmon Clark describes, are starting to run up the rivers and creeks and should take some pressure from the elk hunters.

March 15th Saturday, 1806

[Lewis] This morning at 11 OCk. the hunters  arrived, having killed four Elk only. Labuish it seems was the only hunter who fell in with the Elk and having by some accedent lost the fore sight of his gun shot a great number of times but killed only the number mentioned.    as the elk were scattered we sent two parties for them, they returned in the evening with four skins and the flesh of three Elk, that of one of them having become putrid from the liver and pluck  having been carelessly left in the animal all night.    we were visited this afternoon by Delashshelwilt  a Chinnook Chief his wife and six women of his nation which the old baud his wife had brought for market.    this was the same party that had communicated the venerial to so many of our party in November last, and of which they have finally recovered. I therefore gave the men a particular charge with rispect to them which they promised me to observe.    late this evening we were also visited by Catel a Clatsop man and his family.    he brought a canoe and a Sea Otter Skin for sale neither of which we purchased this evening. The Clatsops who had brought a canoe for sale last evening left us early this morning.— Bratton still sick.

There is a third speceis of brant  in the neighbourhood of this place which is about the size and much the form of the pided brant.    they weight about 8½ lbs.    the wings are not as long nor so pointed as those of the common pided brant.    the following is a likeness of it's head and beak.  a little distance around the base of the beak is white and is suddonly succeeded by a narrow line of dark brown.    the ballance of the neck, head, back, wings, and tail all except the tips of the feathers are of the bluish brown of the common wild goose.    the breast and belly are white with an irregular mixture of black feathers which give that part a pided appearance.    from the legs back underneath the tail, and arond the junction of the same with the body above, the feathers are white.    the tail is composed of 18 feathers; the longest of which are in the center and measure 6 Inches with the barrel of the quill; those sides of the tail are something shorter and bend with their extremeties inwards towards the center of the tail.    the extremities of these feathers are white.    the beak is of a light flesh colour.    the legs and feet which do not differ in structure from those of the goose or brant of the other speceis, are of an orrange yellow colour.    the eye is small; the iris is a dark yellowish brown, and pupil black.    the note of this brant is much that of the common pided brant from which in fact they are not to be distinguished at a distance, but they certainly are a distinct speis of brant.    the flesh of this fowl is as good as that of the common pided brant.    they not remain here during the winter in such numbers as the white brant do, tho' they have now returned in considerable quantities.    first saw them below tide-water.

Four more elk brought in and the Captains give their soldiers a solid lecture on the value of abstinence. The new species of Geese described by Lewis is the greater white fronted goose and his description is indeed a first.

March 14th Friday, 1806

[Clark]  This morning we dispatched a party after two Elk which Collins killed last evening, they returned with them about noon. Jos: Field, Collins, Go: Shannon & Labiesh went in quest of the Gang of Elk out of which Collins had killed the 2 yesterday.    this evening we herd upwards of twenty Shot and expect they have fallen in with and killed Several of them. Reuben Field and Thompson returned this evening unsuksessfull haveing killed only one Brant.    late in the evening Geo: Drewyer arrived with a party of the Clatsops who brought an indifferent Canoe, three hats and Some roots for Sale    we could not purchase the Canoe without giveing more than our Stock of merchandize would lisence us. Capt Lewis offered his laced uniform Coat for a verry indiferent Canoe, agreeable to their usial way of tradeing his price was double.    we are informed by the Clatsops that they have latterly Seen an Indian from the Quin-na-chart Nation  who reside Six days march to the N. W and that four vessels were there and the owners Mr. Haley, Moore, Callamon & Swipeton were tradeing with that noumerous nation, whale bone Oile and Skins of various discription.

The soldiers are hard after more elk and with some real success.  The Captains feel they cannot afford an indian canoe and they hear rumors of white traders to the north.

March 13th Thursday, 1806

[Lewis] This morning Drewyer Jos Feilds and Frazier returned; they had killed two Elk and two deer.    visited by two Cathlahmahs who left us in the evening.    we sent Drewyer down to the Clatsop village to purchase a couple of their canoes if possible. Sergt. Pryor and a party made another surch for the lost peroge but was unsuccessfull; while engaged in surching for the perogue Collins one of his party killed two Elk near the Netul below us.    we sent Sergt. Ordway and a party for the flesh of one of the Elk beyond the bay with which they returned in the evening.    the other Elk and two deer were at some distance. R. Fields and Thompson who set out yesterday morning on a hunting excurtion towards point Adams have not yet returned. The horns of some of the Elk have not yet fallen off, and those of others have shotten out to the length of six inches.   the latter are in the best order, from which it would seem that the poor Elk retain their horns longest.

The Porpus  is common on this coast and as far up the river as the water is brackish.    the Indians sometimes gig them and always eat the flesh of this fish when they can procure it; to me the flavor is disagreeable.    the Skaite  is also common to the salt water, we have seen several of them that had perished and were thrown out on the beach by the tide. The flounder is also an inhabitant of the salt water, we have seen them also on the beach where they had been left by the tide.    the Indians eat the latter and esteem it very fine.    these several speceis are the same with those of the Atlantic coast.    the common Salmon  and red Charr are the inhabitants of both the sea and rivers.    the former is usually largest and weighs from 5 to 15 lbs.    it is this speceis that extends itself into all the rivers and little creeks on this side of the Continent, and to which the natives are so much indebted for their subsistence.    the body of this fish is from 2½ to 3 feet long and proportionably broad.    it is covered with imbricated scales of a moderate size and is variagated with irregular black spots on it's sides and gills.    the eye is large and the iris of a silvery colour the pupil black.    the rostrum or nose extends beyond the under jaw, and both the upper and lower jaws are armed with a single series of long teeth which are subulate and infleted near the extremities of the jaws where they are also more closely arranged.    they have some sharp teeth of smaller size and same shape placed on the tongue which is thick and fleshey.    the fins of the back are two; the first is plaised nearer the head than the ventral fins and has [blank] rays, the second is placed far back near the tail is small and has no rays.    the flesh of this fish is when in order of a deep flesh coloured red and every shade from that to an orrange yellow, and when very meager almost white.    the roes of this fish are much esteemed by the natives who dry them in the sun and preserve them for a great length of time.    they are about the size of a small pea nearly transparent and of a redish yellow colour.    they resemble very much at a little distance the common currants of our gardens but are more yellow.    this fish is sometimes red along the sides and belley near the gills particularly the male. The red Charr are reather broader in proportion to their length than the common salmon, the skales are also imbricated but reather large.    the nostrum exceeds the lower jaw more and the teeth are neither as large nor so numerous as those of the salmon. some of them are almost entirely red on the belley and sides; others are much more white than the salmon and none of them are variagated with the dark spots which make the body of the other.    their flesh roes and every other particular with rispect to their form is that of the Salmon. this fish we did not see untill we decended below the grat falls of the Columbia; but whether they are exclusively confined to this portion of the river or not at all seasons, I am unable to determine.—

Well, more elk are killed and retrieved and Lewis sets to work writing about both the sea and river fish.  The fish he calls Charr are probably King and Sockeye salmon and the new species named Steelhead.

March 12th Wednesday, 1806

[Clark] We Sent a party again in Serch of the Canoe but they returned unsucksessfull as yesterday    Sent one hunter out on this Side of the Netul he did not return this evening. Our party are now furnished with 358 par of Mockersons exclusive of a good portion of Dressed leather, they are also previded with Shirts Overalls Capoes of dressed Elk Skins for the homeward journey.

Besides the fish of this Coast and river already mentioned we have met with the following Species.    viz. the Whale, Porpus, Skaite, flounder, Salmon, red-carr, two Specis of Salmon trout, mountain or Speckled trout, and a Speceis Similar to one of those noticed on the Missouri within the mountains, called in the Eastern States, bottle nose. I have no doubt but there are many other Species of fish which also exist in this quarter at different Seasons of the year, which we have not had an oppertunity of seeing.    the shell fish are the Clam, perriwinkle, common Muscle, cockle, and a Species with a circular flat Shell.

The Whale is Sometimes pursued harpooned and taken by the Indians of this Coast; thos I believe it is much more frequently killed by running on the rocks of the Coast to S. S. W. in violent Storms, and thrown on different parts of the Coast by the winds and tide—.    in either case the Indians preserve and eat the blubber and Oil as has been before mentioned.    the whale bone they also carefully preserve for Sale.

The Reptiles of this Country are the rattle snake, garter Snake a common brown Lizzard. The Season was so far advanced on this side of the Rocky Mountains that but fiew rattle Snakes were Seen, I did not remark one particularly my Self, nor do I know if they are of either of the four Species found in different parts of the United States, or of that Species before observed only on the upper parts of the Missouri & its branches.

The Garter Snake So Called in the U States is very common in this country, they are found in great numbers on the open and Sometimes marshy grounds in this neighbourhood.    they differ not at all from those of the United States.    the Black or Dark brown Lizzard we Saw at the long narrows or Commencement of the woody country on the Columbia; they are also the Same with those of the U, States. The Snail is noumerous in the woodey Country on this Coast, they are in Shape like those of the U, States, but are at least five times their bulk.    there is a Specis of water Lizzard of which I only Saw one just above the grand rapid of the Columbia.    it is about 9 inches long the body is reather flat and about the Size of a mans finger, covered with a Soft Skin of dark brown Colour with an uneaven sufice covered with little pimples, the neck and head are Short, the latter termonateing in an accute angular point and flat.    the fore feet each have four toes, the hinder ones five unconnected with a web and destitute of tallons.    it's tail was reather longer than the body, and in form like that of the muskrat, first riseing in an arch higher than the back, and decending lower than the body at the extremety, and flated perpindicularly.    the belly and under part of the neck and head were of a Brick red every other part of the colour of the upper part of the body are dark brown.    the mouth was Smooth without teeth.

The horns of Some of the Elk have not yet fallen off and those of others have Grown to the length of Six inches.    the latter are in the best order, from which it would Seem that the pore Elk retain their horns longer.

Well, the Party is practically rich in Mocassins and leather.  They'll  probably need it before the reach St. Louis.  Clark turns his description talents to snakes, lizards and the shedding horns of elk and writes an interesting essay.

March 11th Tuesday, 1806

[Clark] Early this morning Sergt. Pryor arrived with a Small Canoe loaded with fish which he had obtained from the Cath-lah-mah's for a very Small part of the articles he had taken with him.    the wind had prevented his going to the fishery on the opposit Side of the river above the Waukie-cum's, and also as we had suspected, prevented his return as early as he otherwise would have been back. The dogs of the Cathlahmah's had bitten the throng assunder which confined his canoe and she had gorn adrift.    he borrowed a Canoe from the Indians in which he has returned.    he found his canoe on the way and Secured her, untill we return the Indians their Canoe—Sent Sergt. Gass and a party in Serch of one of our Canoes which was reported to have been lost from a hunting party of Shields R. Field & Frazier when they were last out on the opposit Side of the Netul.    they returned and reported that they Could not find the Canoe which had broken the Cord with which it was attached, and was caried off by the tide. Drewyer Jo. Field & Frazier Set out by light this morning to pass the bay in order to hunt as they had been directed last evening.    we once more live in Clover; Anchovies fresh Sturgeon and Wappatoe.    the latter Sergt. Pryor had also procured a fiew and brought with him. The Deer of this Coust differ from the Common Deer, fallow Deer or Mule Deer as has beformentioned.

The Mule Deer we have never found except in rough Country; they prefer the Open Grounds and are Seldom found in the wood lands near the river; when they are met with in the wood lands or river bottoms and pursued, they imediately run to the hills or open country as the Elk do, the Contrary happens with the common Deer.    there are Several differences between the mule and common deer as well as in form as in habits.    they are fully a third larger in general, and the male is particularly large; think there is Somewhat greater disparity of Size between the Male and Female of this Species than there is between the male and female fallow Deer; I am Convinced I have Seen a Buck of this Species twice the volume a Buck of the Common Deer.    the Ears are peculiarly large, I measured those of a large Buck [of this Species] which I found to be eleven inches long and 3½ in width at the widest part; they are not so delicately formed, their hair in winter is thicker longer and of a much darker grey, in Summer the hair is Still coarser longer and of a paler red, more like that of the Elk; in winter they also have a Considerable quantity of very fine wool intermixed with the hair and lying next to the Skin as the Antelope has.    the long hair which grows on the outer Side of the first joint of the hind legs, and which in the Common Deer do not usially occupy more than 2 inches in them occupy from 6 to 8; their horns also differ, those in the Common deer consist of two main beams gradually deminishing as the points proceed from it, with the mule deer the horns consist of two beams which at the distance of 4 or 6 inches from the head divide themselves into two equal branches which again either divide into two other equal branches or terminate in a Smaller, and two equal ones; haveing either 2, 4 or 6 points on a beam; the horn is not so rough about the base as the common deer, and are invariably of a much darker Colour. the most Strikeing differance of all, is the white rump and tail.    from the root of the tail as a center there is a circular Spot perfectly white of about 3½ inches radius, which occupy a part of the rump and the extremities of buttocks and joins the white of the belley underneath; the tail which is usially from 8 to 9 inches long for the first 4 or 5 inches from its upper extremity is covered with Short white hairs, much Shorter indeed than those hairs of the body; from hence for about one inch further, the hair is Still white but gradually becoms longer; the tail then termonates in a tissue of Black hair of about 3 inches long.    from this black hair of the tail they have obtained among the French engages the appelation of the black tailed Deer, but this I conceive by no means Characteristic of the Animal as much the larger portion of the tail is white.    the Ears and the tail of this Animale when Compared with those of the Common Deer, So well Comported with those of the Mule when compared with the Horse, that we have by way of distinction adapted the appellation of the mule Deer  which I think much more appropriate.    on the inner corner of each eye there is a drane (like the Elk) or large recepticle which Seams to Answer as a drane to the eye which givs it the appearance of weeping, this in the Common Deer of the Atlantic States is scercely proceptable but becoms more Conspicious in the fallow Deer, and Still more So in the Elk; this recepticle in the Elk is larger than any of the Pecora order  with which I am acquainted.

I have Some reasons to believe that the Calumet Eagle is Sometimes found on this Side of the Rocky mountains from the information of the Indians in whose possession I have Seen their plumage.    those are the Same with those of the Missouri, and are the most butifull of all the family of the Eagle of America it's colours are black and white with which it is butifully varigated.    the feathers of the tail which is so highly prized by the Indians is composed of twelve broad feathers of equal length those are white except about two inches at the extremity which is of a jut black.    their wings have each a large circular white Spot in the middle when extended.    the body is variously marked with white and black.    the form is much that of the Common bald Eagle, but they are reather Smaller and much more fleet.    this Eagle is feared by all carnivarous birds, and on his approach all leave the carcase instantly on which they were feeding.    it breads in the inaccessable parts of the Mountains where it Spends the Summer, and decends to the plains and low country in the fall and winter when it is usially Sought and taken by the nativs.    two tails of this bird is esteemed by Mandans, Minnetares, Ricaras, &c. as the full value of a good horse, or Gun and accoutrements.    with the Osage & Kanzas and those nations enhabiting Countrys where this bird is more rare, the price is even double of that mentioned.    with these feathers the nativs deckerate the Stems of their Sacred pipes or Calumets; whence the name of Calumet Eagle, which has Generally obtained among the Engages. The Ricaras have domesticated this bird in many instances for the purpose of obtaining its plumage.    the nativs in every part of the Continent who can precure those feathers attach them to their own hair and the mains and tail of their favorite horses by way of orniment.    they also deckerate their own caps or bonnets with those feathers.  The Leather winged bat is found &c.

The Party feasts on the foodstuffs Pryor brings back. One can imagine how great this tastes after the dried lean elk meat.  They seem to relish the wappatoe and one wonders why they don't have a detail out harvesting this root.  Clark describes in great length the mule deer, which they supplied the name to which it still carries.  He also praises the beauty of the golden eagle and their worth to the natives.

March 10th Monday, 1806

[Lewis] About 1 P. M. it became fair and we sent out two parties of hunters on this side of the Netul the one below and the other above.    we also directed a party to set out early in the morning and pass the bay and hunt beyond the Kilhowanackkle.    from the last we have considerable hope as we have as yet hunted but little in that quarter.    it blew hard all day.    in the evening the Indians departed. The hunters who were over the Netull the other day informed us that they measured a pine tree, (or fir No 1) which at the hight of a man's breast was 42 feet in the girth about three feet higher, or as high as a tall man could reach, it was 40 feet in the girth which was about the circumpherence for at least 200 feet without a limb, and that it was very lofty above the commencement of the limbs.    from the appearance of other trees of this speceis of fir and their account of this tree, I think it may be safely estimated at 300 feet.    it had every appearance of being perfectly sound.

The black and white duck are small abut the size of the blue-winged teal, or reather larger.    the male is beautifully variagated with black and white.    the white occupys the sides of the head, breast and back, black, the tail feathers of the wings two tufts of feathers which cover the upper part of the wings when foalded, the neck and head.    the female is darker or has much less white about her. I take this to be the same speceis of duck common to the Atlantic coast, and frequently called the butterbox.    the beak is wide and short, and as well as the legs, of a dark colour.    the flesh of this duck is very well flavored.    the brown duck  is much in form like the duckinmallard, tho' not much more than half it's size.    the colour is an uniform mixture of yellowish and dark brown.    there is nothing remarkable in the appearance of this duck it generally resorts the same kind of grassey marshes with the duckinmallard and feeds in a similar manner, on grass seed, and roots.    both these ducks are common to the river for some distance above tide water as well as below. The black duck is about the size of the bluewinged teal.    their colour is a duskey black the breast and belley somewhat lighter than the other parts, or a dark brown.    the legs stand longitudinally with the body, and the bird when on shore stands of cours very erect.    the legs and feet are of a dark brown, the toes are four on each foot, a short one at the heel and three long toes in front, which are unconnected with a web.    the webs are attatched to each sides of the several joints of the toe, and divided by deep sinuses at each joint.    the web assuming in the intermediate part an eliptical figure.    the beak is about two inches long, streight, flated on the sides, and tapering to a sharp point.    the upper chap somewhat longest, and bears on it's base at the joining of the head, a little conic protuberance of a cartelagenous substace, being redish brown at the point.    the beak is of an ivory white colour.    the eye dark.    these ducks usually associate in large flocks, and are very noisey; their note being a sharp shrill whistle.    they are usually fat and agreeably flavored; and feed principally on moss, and other vegitable productions of the water.    we did not meet with them untill we reached tide-water, but I believe them not exclusively confined to that district at all seasons, as I have noticed the same duck on many parts of the Rivers Ohio and Mississippi.    the gizzard and liver are also remarkably large in this fowl.    the divers are the same with those of the Atlantic States.    the smaller species has some white feathers about the rump with no perceptable tail and is very active and quck in it's motion; the body is of a redish brown.    the beak sharp and somewhat curved like that of the pheasant.    the toes are not connected but webed like those discribed of the black duck.    the larger speceis are about the size of the teal and can flye a short distance which the small one scarcely ever attapts.    they have a short tail.    their colour is also an uniform brickredish brown, the beak is streight and pointed.    the feet are of the same form of the other speceis and the legs are remarkably thin and flat one edge being in front.    the food of both speceis is fish, and the flesh unfit for uce.    the bluewinged teal are a very excellent duck, and are the same with those of the Atlantic coast.— There are some other speceis of ducks which shall be hereafter discribed as I may hereafter have an opportunity to examine them.—

The Party goes for the scarce elk in a very businesslike hunt and Lewis writes his description of the area's duck population.  The footnotes name this large tree mentioned by Lewis, a Sitka Spruce.

March 9th Sunday, 1806

[Clark] This morning the men Set out at day light to go in quest of the Elk which Collins had killed, they returned at 11 A. M Bratten complains of his backs being very painfull to him to day.    we Still apply the linnement & flannel; in the evening he was much better. Jos: Field & Drewyer returned not haveing found any Elk. Sergt. Pryor and the fishing party not yet returned, Suppose they are detained by the winds.    we are visited by 3 Clatsop men who brought a Dog, Some fish and a Sea otter Skin for Sale.    we Suffered them to remain all night.    we Set Shields at work to make Some Sacks of Elk Skin to contain my papers, and various articles which we wish kept Dry.

The large Swan is precisely the Same Common to the Missouri, Mississippi and the Atlantic States &c. The Small Swan differ only from the large one in Size and it's note.    it is about ¼th less, and its notes entirely diferent.    the latter cannot be justly immetated by the Sound of letters nor do I know any Sound with which a comparison would be pertinent.    it begins with a kind of whistling Sound and terminates in a round full note which is reather louder than the whistling, or former part; this note is as loud as that of the large Swan.    from the peculiar whistling of the note of this bird I have Called it the Whistleing Swan.    it's habits colour and contour appear to be precisely those of the large swan.    we first saw them below the great narrows of the Columbia near the Chilluck-kittequaw Nation.    they are very abundant in this neighbourhood and have remained with us all winter.    in number they are fully five for one of the large Species of the Swan's.

The Duckinmallard are the Same here with those of the U, States. they are abundant and are found on every part of the river below the mountains.    they remain here all winter, but I believe they do not remain all winter above tide water.—    a butifull Duck and one of the most delicious in the world is found in Considerable quantities in this neighbourhood dureing the Autumn and winter.    this is the Same as that known in the Dilliwar, Susquehannah and Potomac by the name of the Canvisback and James River by that of Shell-Drake; in the latter river I am informed that they have latterly almost entirely disapeared.    the epicures of those parts of the Union where those Ducks abound nothing need be added in prais of the exquisit flavor of this duck. I have eaten of them in Several parts of the Union and I think those of the Columbia equally as delicious.    this duck is never found above tide water; we did not meat with them untill after we reached the marshey Islands; and I believe that they have already left this neighbourhood; but whether they are gorn Northerly or Southerly, I am unable to deturmine; nor do I know in what part of the Country they rais their young.—.

The red headed fishing duck is common to every part of the river and are found as well in the Rocky Mountains as elsewhere; in short this was the only duck we Saw within the Mountain on the Columbian waters. they feed principally on Crawfish; and are the Same in every respects as those on the Ohio and rivers in the mountains of the atlantic Ocian.

The black and white Duck  are Small about the Size of the blue-winged teal, or reather larger.    the mail is butifully varigated with black and white.    the white occupies the Side of the head, breast and back.    black the tail, large feathers of the wing, two tufts of feathers which cover the upper part of the wings when folded, the neck and head.    the female is darker or has much less white about her. I take this to be the Same Species of duck common to the ohio, as also the atlantic Coast, and Sometimes called the butter box.    the back is wide and Short, and as well as the legs of a dark Colour.    the flesh of this duck is verry well flavored I think Superior to the Duckinmallard.

Well, the herd of elk reported yesterday seem to have disappeared by today.  Such are the ways of elk.  Clark turns his pen to description of the various ducks in their general coastal area.  The fishing detail sent a few days before, have not returned.

March 8th Saturday, 1806

[Lewis]    Bratton is much better today, his back gives him but little pain. Collins returned early in the morning and informed us that he had killed three Elk about five miles distant on the edge of the prarie in Point Adams. one of them fell in a deep pond of water and could not get it, the other two he butcherd and secured.    he saw two large herds of Elk in that quarter. we sent Drewyer and Joseph Fields to hunt those Elk.    a party were also sent with Labuish for the flesh of the Elk which Drewyer and himself had killed up the netul, they returned with it in the evening. Shields, R. Fields and Frazier returned this evening from the Kilhawanackkle unsuccessfull having seen no Elk. McNeal and Goodrich having recovered from the Louis veneri I directed them to desist from the uce of mercury. The white brant is very common in this country particularly below tidewater where they remain in vast quantities during the winter.    they feed like the swan gees &c on the grass roots and seeds which they find in the marshes.    this bird is about the size of the brown brant  or a third less than the common Canadian or wild goose.    the head is proportionably with the goose reather large; the beak also thicker shorter and of much the same form, being of a yellowish white colour except the edges of the chaps, which are frequently of a dark brown.    the legs and feet are of the same form of the goose and are of a redish white or pale flesh colour.    the tail is composed of sixteen feathers of equal length as those of the geese and brown brant are and bears about the same proportion in point of length. the eye is of a dark colour and nothing remarkable as to size.    the wings are rether longer compared with those of the goose but not as much so as in the brown or pided brant.    the colour of the plumage of this bird is unifomly a pure white except the large feathers of the extremities of the wings which are black.    the large feathers of the 1st joint of the wing next to the body are white.    the note of this bird differs essentially from that of the goose; it more resembles that of the brown brant but is somewhat different.    it is like the note of young domestic goose which has not perfectly attainted it's full note.    the flesh of this bird is exceedingly fine, preferable to either the goose or pided brant.— The Brown or pided brant are much the same size and form of the white only that their wings are considerably longer and more pointed.    the plumage of the upper part of the body neck head and tail is much the colour of the canadian goose but reather darker in consequence of som dark brown feathers which are distributed and irregularly scattered throughout.    they have not the white on the neck and sides of the head as the goose has nor is the neck darker than the body.    like the goose there are some white feathers on the rump at the joinging of the tail.    the beak is dark and the legs and feet also dark with a greenish cast; the breast and belley are of a lighter colour than the back and is also irregularly intermixed with dark brown and black feathers which give it a pided appearance.    the flesh of this bird is dark and in my estimation reather better than that of the goose. the habits of this bird are the same nearly with the goose and white brant with this difference that they do not remain in this climate in such numbers during the winter as the others, and that it sets out earlier in the fall season on it's return to the south and arrives later in the spring than the goose. I see no difference between this bird and that called simply the brant, common to the lakes the Ohio and Mississippi &c. The small goose of this country is reather less than the brant; it's head and neck like the brant are reather larger than that of the goose in proportion; their beak is also thicker and shorter.    their notes are more like those of our tame gees; in all other rispects they are the same with the large goose with which, they so frequently ascociate that it was some time after I first observed this goose before I could determine whether it was a distinct speceis or not. I have now no hesitation in declaring them a distinct speceis.    the large goose is the same of that common on the Atlantic coast, and known by the appellation of the wild, or Canadian goose.

Good news on the elk front even if they aren't packing much fat.  Drewyer is their ace hunter and we'll see if he finds the big herd.  Lewis closely defines the local wild geese population between snow geese, bants, canadian and small canadian.

March 7th Friday, 1806

[Clark] The wind was So high that Comowol did not leave us untill late this evening. Drewyer & Labiesh returned at Sunset haveing killed one Elk only.    they report that there are Some Scattering mail Elk in the neighbourhood of the place they killed this one or about 5 miles up the Netul river on the west Side—. Bratten is much worst to day he complains of a violent pain in the Small of his back, and is unable in consequence of it to Set up.    we gave him one of our flanel Shirts. I applied a bandage of flanel to the part and rubed it well with Some volatile linniment which was prepared with Sperits of wine, camphire, Sastile Soap, and a little laudinum.    he felt himself better in the evening at which time I repeated the linnement and bathed his beet [feet], to restore circulation which he complaind of in that part.

There are two Species of Loons.    1st the Speckled loon found on every part of the rivers of this quarter, they are the Same Size Colour and form with those of the Ohio, and atlantic coasts.    the 2d Species we first met with at the great falls of the Columbia and from thence down.    this bird is not more than half the Size of the Speckled loon, it's neck is long, Slender and white in front.    the colour of the body and back of the neck and hear are of a dun or ash Colour, the breast and belly are white.    the back is like that of the Speckled loon, and like them it cannot fly, but flutters along on the top of the water or Dives for Security when pursued.

John Shields Reubin Fields & Robert frasure measured 2 trees of the fur kind    one 37 feet around, appears sound, has but fiew limbs for 200 feet    it is East of the Netul    abt 280 feet high.

Clark deals with his men's aches and pains and notes his fairly consistent remedies.  Wonder if the big tree he describes isn't a red-wood, although I guess the Douglas Fir can grow that big also.

March 6th Thursday, 1806

[Clark] This morning, the fishing and hunting party's Set out agreeably to their instructions given them last evening. At 11 a. m. we were visited by Commowoll and two boys Sons of his.    he presented us with Some Anchovies which had been well Cured in their manner, we found them excellent.    they were very acceptable perticularly at this moment.    we gave the old mans Sones a twisted wire to ware about his neck, and I gave him a par of old glovs which he was much pleased with.    this we have found much the most friendly and decent Indian that we have met with in this neighbourhood.

Hall had his foot and ankle much injured yesterday by the fall of a log which he had on his Sholder; the bones are fortunately not broken, I expect he will be able to walk again Shortly. Bratten is now weaker than any of the convalessants, and complains verry much of his back, all of them recovering Slowly in consequence of the want of proper diet, which we have it not in our power to precure.—

The large Blue and brown Herons or crains as they are usially called in the U States are found below tide water.    they are the Same of those of the U, States. The Fishing Hawk with the Crown of the head white, and back of a milkey white, and the blue crested or king fisher are found on every part of the Columbia and its water Along which we passed and are the Same with those of the U, States.    the fishing hawk is not abundant, particularly in the mountains. There are 4 Species of the larus or gull on this coast and river.    1st a Small Species the Size of a Pegion;  white except some black spots about the head and the little bone on the but of the wing.    2d a Species Somewhat larger of a light brown colour, with a mealy coloured back.   3rd the large Grey Gull,  or white larus with a greyish brown back, and light grey belly and breast, about the Size of a well grown pullet, the wings are remarkably long in perpotion to the Size of the body and it's under chap towards the extremity is gibbous and protuberant than in either of the other Species.    a White Gull about the Size of the Second with a remarkable beak; adjoining the head and on the base of the upper Chap there is an elivated orning of the Same Substance with the beak which forms the nostriels at A; it is Somewhat in this form.      the feet are webed and the legs and feet of a yellow colour.    the form of the wings body &c are much that of the 2d Species this bird was Seen on Haleys bay.

The large Grey Gull  is found on the Columbian waters as high as the enterance of the Koos koos ke and in common with the other Species on the coast; the others appear confined to the tidwater, and the 4th Species not So common as either of the others. The Comorant is a large black duck which feeds on fish; I proceive no difference between it & these found in the rivers of the Atlantic Coasts.    we met with as high up the river as the enterance of the Chopunnish into the Kooskooske river.    they increased in numbers as we decended, and formed much the Greatest portion of waterfowls which we saw on the Columbia untill we reached tidewater, where they also abound but do not bear a Similar proportion to the fowls found in this quarter.    we found this bird fat and tolerably flavoured as we decended the Columbia.

Clark excepts Commowoll's gifts with grace and they help flesh out the larder for a bit.  Hopefully, the hunting expedition will have some luck.  Clark spends a good deal of time describing the various sea birds native to the area.

Match 5th Wednesday, 1806

[Lewis] This morning we were visited by two parties of Clatsops.    they brought some fish a hat and some skins for sale most of which we purchased. they returned to their village in the evening.    late in the evening the hunters returned from the kil-haw-â-nack-kle River which discharges itself into the head of the bay. They had neither killed nor seen any Elk.    they informed us that the Elk had all gone off to the mountains a considerable distance from us.    this is unwelcome information and reather allarming we have only 2 days provision on hand, and that nearly spoiled.    we made up a small assortment of articles to trade with the Indians and directed Sergt. Pryor to set out early in the morning in a canoe with 2 men, to ascend the Columbia to the resort of the Indian fishermen and purchase some fish; we also directed two parties of hunters to renew the Chase tomorrow early.    the one up the Netul and the other towards Point Adams.    if we find that the Elk have left us, we have determined to ascend the river slowly and indeavour to procure subsistence on the way, consuming the Month of March in the woody country.    earlyer than April we conceive it a folly to attempt the open plains where we know there is no fuel except a few small dry shrubs.    we shall not leave our quarters at fort Clatsop untill the first of April, as we intended unless the want of subsistance compels us to that measure. The common snipe of the marshes and the small sand snipe are the same of those common to the Atlantic Coast tho' the former are by no means as abundant here.  the prarrow  of the woody country is also similar to ours but not abundant.    those of the plains of Columbia are the same with those of the Missouri, tho' they are by no means so abundant. I have not seen the little singing lark or the large brown Curloo  so common to the plains of the Mi