Clark: December 10, 1805
On a cold, rainy Tuesday near the Pacific coast, Clark walked the beach collecting shells and observed local Indians searching for fish left by the tide, learning that this band partly subsisted on stranded fish like sturgeon. He impressed his hosts by shooting two brant and a duck with his small rifle. He tried to trade red beads for roots and a sea otter skin, but the Indians preferred blue or white beads, so he bartered fish hooks instead. Accompanied partway by Cus-ka-lah, he returned through heavy rain to camp, where Lewis and the men were felling trees to build huts. Four men were sick with colds.
December 10th 1805 Tusday A Cloudey rainy morning those people was Some
what astonished, at three Shot I made with my little riffle to day, a
gangu of Brant Set in the little river, I Killd. 2 of them as they Set,
and on my return Saw a Duck which I took the head off of, the men plunged
into the water like Spaniards Dogs after those fowls, after eateing a
brackfast which was Similar to my Suppar, I attempted to purchase Some
fiew roots which I offered red beeds for, they would give Scercely any
thing for Beeds of that Colour, I then offered Small fish hooks which they
were fond of and gave me Some roots for them, I then Set out on my return
by the Same road I had went out accompd. by my young Chief by name
Cus-ca-lar who Crossed me over the 3 Creek, and returned I proceeded on to
my Camp thro a heavy Cold rain, Saw no gameat the Sea Cost near
those Indins I found various kinds of Shells, a kind of Bay opsd. those
people with a high pt. about 4 miles below, out from which at Some dists I
Saw large rocks, as the day was Cloudy I could not See distinctlyfound
Capt Lewis with all hands felling trees, to build with, rained nearly all
day, in my absence they men had bt. in the 6 Elk which was Killed Some
days past 4 men complaining of being unwell from various causes
—
Tuesday 10th December 1805 a Cloudy rainey morning verry early I rose and
walked on the Shore of the Sea coast and picked up Several Curious Shells.
I Saw Indians walking up and down the beech which I did not at first
understand the Cause of, one man came to where I was and told me that he
was in Serch of fish which is frequently thrown up on Shore and left by
the tide, and told me the “Sturgion was verry good” and that the water
when it retired left fish which they eate this was Conclusive evedance to
me that this Small band depended in Some Measure for their winters
Subsistance on the fish which is thrown on Shore and left by the tide-
after amuseing my Self for about an hour on the edge of the rageing Seas I
returned to the houses, one of the Indians pointed to a flock of Brant
Sitting in the creek at Short distance below and requested me to Shute
one, I walked down with my Small rifle and killed two at about 40 yds
distance, on my return to the houses two Small ducks Set at about 30 Steps
from me the Indians pointed at the ducks they were near together, I Shot
at the ducks and accidently Shot the head of one off, this Duck and brant
was Carried to the house and every man Came around examined the Duck
looked at the gun the Size of the ball which was 100 to the pound and Said
in their own language Clouch Musket, wake, com ma-tax Musket which is, a
good Musket do not under Stand this kind of Musket &c. I entered the
Same house I Slept in, they imediately Set before me their best roots,
fish and Surup-, I attempted to purchase a Small Sea otter Skin for read
beeds which I had in my pockets, they would not trade for those beeds not
priseing any other Colour than Blue or White, I purchased a little of the
berry bread and a fiew of their roots for which I gave Small fish hooks,
which they appeared fond ofI then Set out on my return by the Same
rout I had Come out accompanied by Cus-ka lah and his brother as far as
the 3d Creek, for the purpose of Setting me across, from which place they
returned, and I proceeded on through a heavy rain to the Camp at our
intended fort, Saw a bears track & the tracks of 2 Elk in the thick
woodsfound Capt Lewis with all the men out Cutting down trees for
our huts &c. in my absence the Men brought in the Six Elk which was
killed Several days ago-. 4 men Complaining of violent Coalds. three
Indians in a Canoe Came up from the Clat Sop Village yesterday and
returned to day. The Sea Coast is about 7 miles distant Nearly West about
5 miles of the distance through a thick wood with reveens hills and Swamps
the land, rich black moald 2 miles in a open wavering Sandy prarie, ridge
runing parrelal to the river, Covered with Green Grass.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
December 10th 1805, Tuesday. A cloudy, rainy morning. The people were somewhat astonished at three shots I made with my little rifle today. A gang of brant settled in the little river, and I killed 2 of them as they sat, and on my return I saw a duck which I took the head off of. The men plunged into the water like Spaniards' dogs after those fowls. After eating a breakfast which was similar to my supper, I attempted to purchase a few roots, which I offered red beads for. They would give scarcely anything for beads of that color. I then offered small fish hooks, which they were fond of, and gave me some roots for them. I then set out on my return by the same road I had gone out, accompanied by my young chief by name Cus-ca-lar (Cuscalar), who crossed me over the 3rd creek and returned. I proceeded on to my camp through a heavy cold rain. Saw no game. At the sea coast near those Indians I found various kinds of shells. There is a kind of bay opposite those people with a high point about 4 miles below, out from which at some distance I saw large rocks. As the day was cloudy I could not see distinctly. Found Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) with all hands felling trees to build with. It rained nearly all day. In my absence the men had brought in the 6 elk which were killed some days past. 4 men complaining of being unwell from various causes.
Tuesday 10th December 1805. A cloudy, rainy morning. Very early I rose and walked on the shore of the sea coast and picked up several curious shells. I saw Indians walking up and down the beach, which I did not at first understand the cause of. One man came to where I was and told me that he was in search of fish, which is frequently thrown up on shore and left by the tide. He told me the "sturgeon was very good" and that the water, when it retired, left fish which they eat. This was conclusive evidence to me that this small band depended in some measure for their winter's subsistence on the fish which is thrown on shore and left by the tide. After amusing myself for about an hour on the edge of the raging seas, I returned to the houses. One of the Indians pointed to a flock of brant sitting in the creek a short distance below and requested me to shoot one. I walked down with my small rifle and killed two at about 40 yards distance. On my return to the houses, two small ducks sat at about 30 steps from me. The Indians pointed at the ducks; they were near together. I shot at the ducks and accidentally shot the head of one off. This duck and brant were carried to the house, and every man came around, examined the duck, looked at the gun, and the size of the ball, which was 100 to the pound, and said in their own language "Clouch Musket, wake, com ma-tax Musket," which is, "a good musket; do not understand this kind of musket," etc. I entered the same house I slept in. They immediately set before me their best roots, fish, and syrup. I attempted to purchase a small sea otter skin for red beads which I had in my pockets. They would not trade for those beads, not prizing any other color than blue or white. I purchased a little of the berry bread and a few of their roots, for which I gave small fish hooks, which they appeared fond of. I then set out on my return by the same route I had come out, accompanied by Cus-ka lah (Cuskalah) and his brother as far as the 3rd creek, for the purpose of setting me across, from which place they returned. I proceeded on through a heavy rain to the camp at our intended fort. Saw a bear's track and the tracks of 2 elk in the thick woods. Found Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) with all the men out cutting down trees for our huts, etc. In my absence the men brought in the six elk which were killed several days ago. 4 men complaining of violent colds. Three Indians in a canoe came up from the Clatsop village yesterday and returned today. The sea coast is about 7 miles distant, nearly west; about 5 miles of the distance through a thick wood with ravines, hills, and swamps, the land rich black mold; 2 miles in an open, waving sandy prairie ridge running parallel to the river, covered with green grass.
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