Clark: December 24, 1805

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

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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