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December 14, 1805
William Clark
all our last Supply of Elk has Spoiled in the repeeted rains which has been fallen ever Since our
arrival at this place, and for a long time before, Scerce one man in camp can bost of being one
day dry Since we landed at this point, the Sick getting better, my man York Sick with Cholick
& gripeing.
December 16, 1805
William Clark
The winds violent Trees falling in every derection, whorl winds, with gusts of rain Hail &
Thunder, this kind of weather lasted all day, Certainly one of the worst days that ever was! ...
Several men complaining of hurting themselves carry[ing] meat, &c.
December 25, 1805
William Clark
at day light this morning we we[re] awoke by the discharge of the fire arm[s] of all our party &
a Selute, Shouts and a Song which the whole party joined in under our windows, after which
they retired to their rooms were chearfull all the morning. after brackfast we divided our
Tobacco which amounted to 12 carrots one half of which we gave to the men of the party who
used tobacco, and to those who doe not use it we make a present of a handkerchief. ...all the
party Snugly fixed in their huts. I recved a pres[e]nt of Capt. L. of a fleece hosrie [hosiery]
Shirt Draws and Socks, a pr. Mockersons of Whitehouse a Small Indian basket of Gutherich,
two Dozen white weazils tails of the Indian woman, & some black root of the Indians before
their departure. The day proved Showerey wet and disagreeable.
we would have Spent this day the nativity of Christ in feasting, had we any thing either to raise
our Sperits or even gratify our appetites, our Diner concisted of pore Elk, so much Spoiled that
we eate it thro' mear necessity, Some Spoiled pounded fish and a fiew roots.
December 29, 1805
William Clark
The Chin-nook womin are lude and carry on sport publickly the Clotsop and others appear
deffident, and reserved.
I gave the Cheif a razor, and himself and party left us after begging us for maney articles none
of which they recevied as we Could not Spare the articles they were most in want of. Peter
Crusat Sick with a violent Cold,
The flees are So noumerous and hard to get rid of; that the Indians have different houses which
they resort to occasionally, not withstanding all their precautions, they never Step into our
house without leaveing Sworms of those tormenting insects; and they torment us in such a
manner as to deprive us of half the nights Sleep frequently.
December 30, 1805
William Clark
The fort was completed this evening and at sun set we let The Indians know that, our custom
will be to shut the gates at sun set, at which time they must all go out of the fort.
(Second draft)
our fortification is completed this evening and at Sun set we let the nativs know that our Custom
will be in future, to Shut the gates at Sun Set at which time all Indians must go out of the fort
and not return into it untill next morning after Sunrise at which times the gates will be opened,
... this day proved to be the fairest and best which we have had since our arrival at thjis place,
only three Showers dureing this whole day,
January 1, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
This morning I was awoke at an early hour by the discharge of a volley of small arms, which
were fired by our party in front of our quarters to usher in the new year; this was the only mark
of rispect which we had it in our power to pay this celebrated day. our repast of this day tho'
better than that of Christmass, consisted principally in the anticipation of the 1st day of January
1807, when in the bosom of our friends we hope to participate in the mirth and hilarity of the
day, and when with the zest given by the recollection of the present, we shall completely, both
mentally and corporally, enjoy the repast which the hand of civilization has prepared for us. at
present we were content with eating our boiled Elk and wappe-toe, and solacing our thirst with
our only beverage pure water.
[Orderly Book; Lewis]
The Commanding Officers require and charge the Garrison to treat the natives in a friendly
manner; nor will they be permitted at any time, to abuse, assault or strike them; unless such
abuse assault or stroke be first given by the natives. nevertheless it shall be right for any
individual, in a peaceable manner, to refuse admittance to, or put out of his room, any native
who may become troublesome to him;
January 1, 1806
William Clark
... we wer Saluted from the party without, wishing us a "hapy new Year" a Shout and
discharge of their arms. ... The work of our houses and fort being now complete, we Ishued an
order in which we pointed out the rules & regulations for the government of the Party in respect
to the Indians ...
our fortification being now complete we issue an order for the more exact and uniform dicipline
and government of the garrison.
January 2, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
we are infested with swarms of flees already in our new habitations; the presumption is
therefore strong that we shall not devest ourselves of this intolerably troublesome vermin during
our residence here.
January 2, 1806
William Clark
The flees are verry troublesom, our huts have alreadey Sworms of those disagreeable insects in
them, and I fear we Shall not get rid of them dureing our delay at this place.
January 3, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
our party from necessaty having been obliged to subsist some lenth of time on dogs have now
become extreemly fond of their flesh; it is worthy of remark that while we lived principally on
flesh of this anamal we were much more healthy strong and more fleshey than we had been
since we left the Buffaloe country. for my own part I have become so perfectly reconciled to the
dog that I think it an agreeable food and would prefer it vastly to lean Venison or Elk.
January 3, 1806
William Clark
as for my own part I have not become reconsiled to the taste of this animal as yet.
January 4, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
they appear to be a mild inoffensive people but will pilfer if they have an opportunity to do so
where they conceive themselves not liable to detection. they are great higlers in trade and if they
conceive you anxious to purchase will be a whole day bargaining for a handfull of roots; this I
should have thought proceeded from their want of knowledge of the comparitive value of
articles of merchandize and the fear of being cheated, did I not find that they invariably refuse
the price first offered them and afterwards very frequently accept a smaller quantity of the same
article; in order to satisfy myself on this subject I once offered a Chinnook my watch two
knives and a considerable quantity of beads for a small inferior sea Otter's skin which I did not
much want, he immediately conceived it of great value, and refused to barter except I would
double the quantity of beads; the next day with a great deal of importunity on his part I received
the skin in exchange for a few strans of the same beads he had refused the day before. I
therefore believe this trait in their character proceeds from an avaricious all grasping disposition.
in this rispect they differ from all Indians I ever became acquainted with, for their dispositions
invariably lead them to give whatever they are possessed off no matter how usefull or valuable,
for a bauble which pleases their fancy, without consulting it's usefullness or value. nothing
interesting occurred today, or more so, than our wappetoe being all exhausted.
January 8, 1806
William Clark
... proceeded to the top of the mountain next to the [former?] which is much the highest part
and that part faceing the sea is open, from this point I beheld the grandest and most pleasing
prospects which my eyes ever surveyed, in my frount a boundless Ocean; ... a most romantic
appearance.
(Whale) ... found only the Skelleton of this Monster on the Sand ... this Skeleton (of the Whale
Capt. Clark) measured 105 feet.
(The natives ) ... they possessed large quantities of this blubber and oil were so prenurious that
they disposed of it with great reluctiance and in small quantities only; insomuch that my utmost
exertion aided by the party with the Imall Stock of merchindize I had taken with me were not
able to precure more blubber than about 300 lb. and a fiew gallons of oil; Small as this stock is I
prise it highly; and thank providence for directing the whale to us; and think him much more
kind to us than he was to jonah, having Sent this Monster to be Swallowed by us in Sted of
Swallowing of us as jonah's did.
January 9, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
The persons who usually visit the entrance of this river for the purpose of traffic or hunting I
believe are either English or Americans; the Indians inform us that they speak the same language
with ourselves, and give us proofs of their varacity by repeating many words of English, as
musquit, powder, shot, [k]nife, file, damned rascal, sun of a bitch &c.
... the cause of the alarm which was found to be a premeditated plan of the pretended friend of
McNeal to ass[ass]anate [him] for his Blanket and what fiew articles he had about him, which
was found out by a Chinnook woman who allarmed the men of the village who were with me in
time to prevent the horred act.
January 12, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
Drewyer ... I scarcely know how we should subsist were it not for the exertions of this
excellent hunter.
... we have determined to adapt a different system with our present stock of seven Elk; this is to
jirk it & issue to them in small quantities
January 12, 1806
William Clark
(Drewyer) ... I scercely know how we Should Subsist, I beleive but badly if it was not for the
exertions of this excellent hunter; maney others also exert themselves, but not being accquainted
with the best method of finding and killing the elk and no other wild animals is to be found in
this quarter, they are unsucksessfull in their exertions.
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