Clark: December 24, 1805
Heavy rain fell intermittently overnight and steadily through the day at the corps' new winter quarters. The men worked at carrying puncheons and finishing the roofs of the huts, with most moving into them by evening. Cuscalah, a young Clatsop chief, arrived by canoe with his brother and two women, presenting mats and roots to Lewis and Clark. When he requested two files in return, the captains declined and gave back the gifts, then refused his offer of women, displeasing the visitors. The stored meat had spoiled, leaving only pounded fish.
December 24th Tuesday-5 Some hard rain at different times last night, and
moderately this morning without intermition all hands employed in Carrying
Punchens & finishing Covering the huts, and the greater part of the
men move into them a hard rain in the evening.
Cuscalar the young Clot Sop Chief Came with a young brother and 2 young
Squar, they gave or laid before Capt Lewis and my Self a mat and each a
large Parsel of roots, Some time after he demanded 2 files for his Present
we returned the present as we had no files to Speare which displeased them
a little they then offered a woman to each which we also declined axcpting
which also displeased them. Jo Fields finish for Capt Lewis and my Self
each a wide Slab hued to write on, I gave a handkerchief &c
—
Tuesday 24th December 1805 hard rain at Different times last night and all
this day without intermition. men all employd in finishing their huts and
moveing into them.
Cuscalah the Indian who had treated me So politely when I was at the
Clatsops village, come up in a Canoe with his young brother & 2 Squars
he laid before Capt Lewis and my Self each a mat and a parcel of roots
Some time in the evening two files was demanded for the presents of mats
and roots, as we had no files to part with, we each returned the present
which we had received, which displeased Cuscalah a little. he then offered
a woman to each of us which we also declined axcepting of, which
displeased the whole party verry muchthe female part appeared to be
highly disgusted at our refuseing to axcept of their favours &c.
our Store of Meat entirely Spoiled, we are obliged to make use of it as we
have nothing else except a little pounded fish, the remains of what we
purchased near the great falls of the Columbia, and which we have ever
found to be a convenient resort, and a portable method of curing fish
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
December 24th Tuesday-5 Some hard rain at different times last night, and moderately this morning without interruption. All hands employed in carrying puncheons and finishing covering the huts, and the greater part of the men moved into them. A hard rain in the evening.
Cuscalar (Cuscalah), the young Clatsop chief, came with a young brother and 2 young squaws. They gave or laid before Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and myself a mat and each a large parcel of roots. Some time after, he demanded 2 files for his present. We returned the present, as we had no files to spare, which displeased them a little. They then offered a woman to each, which we also declined accepting, which also displeased them. Jo Fields (Joe Fields) finished for Capt Lewis and myself each a wide slab hewn to write on. I gave a handkerchief, etc.
Tuesday 24th December 1805. Hard rain at different times last night and all this day without interruption. The men were all employed in finishing their huts and moving into them.
Cuscalah, the Indian who had treated me so politely when I was at the Clatsop village, came up in a canoe with his young brother and 2 squaws. He laid before Capt Lewis and myself each a mat and a parcel of roots. Some time in the evening, two files were demanded for the presents of mats and roots. As we had no files to part with, we each returned the present which we had received, which displeased Cuscalah a little. He then offered a woman to each of us, which we also declined accepting, which displeased the whole party very much. The female part appeared to be highly disgusted at our refusing to accept of their favors, etc.
Our store of meat is entirely spoiled. We are obliged to make use of it, as we have nothing else except a little pounded fish, the remains of what we purchased near the great falls of the Columbia, and which we have ever found to be a convenient resort and a portable method of curing fish.
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