Clark: February 1, 1806
At Fort Clatsop, two parties set out: four men with Joseph Field, and Sergeant Gass with five men heading up the Netul River to search for elk killed earlier but lost in the snow. Clark devoted most of the entry to detailed observations of the canoes used by lower Columbia and coastal natives, describing five distinct forms, their construction from cedar or fir using only chisels made from old files, their carved ornamental figures, paddles, and handling. The party also inspected their ammunition, finding 35 of 36 lead canisters of powder still dry thanks to Lewis's sealing method.
Saturday February 1st 1806 This morning a party of four men Set out with
Jo. Field; and Sergt. Gass with a party of five men again Set out up the
Netul river in Serch of the Elk which had been killed Some days since, and
which Could not be found in Consequence of the Snow.
The Canoes of the nativs inhabitting the lower part of the Columbia River
from the Long narrows down make their canoes remarkably neat light and
well addapted for rideing high waves. I have Seen the nativs near the
Coast rideing waves in these Canoes in Safty and appearantly without
Concern when I Should it impossible for any vessel of the Same Size to
have lived or kept above water a minute. they are built of Arborvitia or
white Cedar generally, but Sometimes of fir. they are cut out of a solid
Stick of timber, the gunnals at the upper edge fold over outwards and are
about 5/8 of an inch thick and 4 or 5 broad, and Stand out nearly
Horizontially forming a kind of rim to the Canoe to prevent the water
beating into it. they are all furnished with more or less Cross bars
agreeably to thier sizes of the Canoe, those bars are round Sticks about 1
inch and 1/2 diameter which are atached to the iner Side of the canoes a
little below the rim on either Side with throngs of Cedar bark which is
incerted through holes and made fast to the ends of the Stick, which is
made Smaller than the other part of the Stick to prevent the cord Slipping
off these cross bears Serve to Strengthen the canoe, and by which they
lift and manage her on land. when the nativs land they invariably take
their Canoes on Shore unless they are heavily ladined, and then even, if
they remain all night, they discharge their loads and take the Canoe on
Shore.
Some of the large Canoes are upwards of 50 feet long and will Carry from 8
to 12 thousand lbs. or from 20 to 30 persons, and Some of them
particularly on the Sea Coast are waxed painted and ornimented with
curious images on bow and Stern; those images sometimes rise to the hight
of five feet; the pedestile on which these images are fixed, are Sometimes
cut out of the Solid Stick with the Canoe, and the image is formed of
Seperate pieces of timber firmly united with tenants and mortices without
the appearance of a Single Spike or nail of any kind. when the nativs are
engaged in navigateing their Canoes, one Sets in the Stern and Stears with
a paddle the others Set by pars and paddle over their gunnals next them,
they all kneel in the bottom of the Canoe and Set on their feet. their
paddles are of an uniform shape which this is an imitation those paddles
are made verry thin and the middle of the blade is thick and hollowed out
Suddenly, and made thin on the Sides, the center forming a kind of ridge.
the handle occupies about 1/8 of the length of the paddle which is usually
4 to 41/2 feet in length. I have observed five forms of Canoes only in use
among the nativs below the Grand Cataract of this river. they areas
follows. this is the Smallest Size about 15 feet long, 12 and Calculated
for one two men mearly to cross creeks, take over Short portages to
navagate the ponds and Still water, and is mostly in use amongst the
Clatsops and Chinnooks. this is the next Smallest and from 16 to 20 feet
long and calculated for two or 3 persons and are most common among the
Wau-ki-a-cums and Cath-lah-mahs among the marshey Islands, near their
villages. A the bow; B the Stern; those are from 20 to 40 feet in length
and from 21/2 to 31/2 feet in the beam and about 2 feet deep; this Canoe
is common to all the nations below the grand Rapids it here made deeper
and Shorter in pertotion than the Canoe realy is, the bow sprit from C. to
D. is brought to a Sharp edge tapering gradually from the Sides. This is
the most common form of the Canoes in use among the indians from the
Chil-luck-kit-te quaw inclusive to the ocian and is commonly from about 30
to 35 feet long, and will carry from 10 to 12 persons. 4 men are competent
to carry them a considerable distance Say a mile without resting. A is the
end the nativs use as the bow, but which on first Sight I took to be the
Stern c. d. is a comb cut of the solid wood with the Canoe, and projects
from the Center of the end of the Canoe being about 1 inch thick, it’s
Sides parallel and edge at c, d, Sharp it is from 9 to 11 inches in debth
and extends from the under part of the bow sprit at A to the bottom at,
d,. the Stern B is nearly rounding and gradually assending. 1, 2, 3,
represents the rim of the gunnals about 4 inches wide, reather ascending
as they recede from the Canoe. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, are the holes through which
the String pass to fasten the round pieces which pass Crosswise the Canoe
to Strengthen & lift her. This form of a canoe we did not meet with
untill we reached tide water or below the Great Rapids. from thence down
it is common to all the nations but more particularly the Kil a mox and
others of the Coast. these are the largest Canoes, I measured one at the
Kilamox villag S S W of us which was ____ feet long ____ feet wide and
____ feet deep, and they are most Commonly about that Size. B is the how,
and Comb. C, the stern and Comb. Their images are representations of a
great variety of grotesque figures, any of which might be Safely worshiped
without commiting a breach of the Commandments.
They have but fiew axes among them, and the only tool usially employd in
forming the Canoe, carveing &c is a chissel formed of an old file
about an inch or 11/2 inchs broad, this chissel has Sometimes a large
block of wood for a handle; they grasp the chissel just below the block
with the right hand holding the top of the block, and Strikes backwards
against the wood with the edge of the Chissel. a person would Suppose that
forming a large Canoe with an enstriment like this was the work of Several
years; but those people make them in a fiew weeks. They prize their Canoes
very highly; we have been anxious to obtain Some of them, for our journy
up the river but have not been able to obtain one as yet from the nativs
in this neighbourhood.
To day we opened and examined all our Ammunition, which has been Secured
in leaden Canistirs. we found twenty Sevin of the best Rifle powder, 4 of
Common rifle, 3 of Glaize and one of Musquet powder in good order,
perfectly as dry as when first put in the Canisters, altho the whole of it
from various accidince have been for hours under the water. these
Cannisters Contain 4 pounds of powder each and 8 of Lead. had it not been
for that happy expedient which Capt Lewis devised of Securing the powder
by means of the Lead, we Should have found great dificuelty in keeping dry
powder untill this time-; those Cannisters which had been accidently
brused and cracked, one which was carelessly Stoped, and a fifth which had
been penetrated with a nail; were wet and damaged; those we gave to the
men to Dry; however exclusive of those 5 we have an abundant Stock to last
us back; and we always take Care to put a purpotion of it in each canoe,
to the end that Should one Canoe or more be lost we Should Still not be
entirely bereft of ammunition, which is now our only hope for Subsistance
and defences in the rout of 4,000 miles through a Country exclusively
inhabited by Indians-many bands of which are Savage in every Sense of the
word-.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, February 1st, 1806. This morning a party of four men set out with Jo. Field; and Sergt. Gass with a party of five men again set out up the Netul River in search of the elk which had been killed some days ago, and which could not be found because of the snow.
The canoes of the natives inhabiting the lower part of the Columbia River from the Long Narrows down are remarkably neat, light, and well adapted for riding high waves. I have seen the natives near the coast riding waves in these canoes in safety and apparently without concern, when I should think it impossible for any vessel of the same size to have stayed afloat or kept above water for a minute. They are built of arborvitae or white cedar generally, but sometimes of fir. They are cut out of a solid stick of timber. The gunwales at the upper edge fold over outwards and are about 5/8 of an inch thick and 4 or 5 inches broad, and stand out nearly horizontally, forming a kind of rim to the canoe to prevent the water from beating into it. They are all furnished with more or fewer crossbars according to the size of the canoe. Those bars are round sticks about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, which are attached to the inner side of the canoes a little below the rim on either side with thongs of cedar bark, which are inserted through holes and made fast to the ends of the stick. The end of the stick is made smaller than the rest to prevent the cord from slipping off. These crossbars serve to strengthen the canoe, and by them the natives lift and manage her on land. When the natives land, they invariably take their canoes on shore unless they are heavily laden, and even then, if they remain all night, they unload and take the canoe on shore.
Some of the large canoes are upwards of 50 feet long and will carry from 8,000 to 12,000 pounds, or from 20 to 30 persons. Some of them, particularly on the seacoast, are waxed, painted, and ornamented with curious images on bow and stern. Those images sometimes rise to the height of five feet. The pedestal on which these images are fixed is sometimes cut out of the same solid stick as the canoe, and the image is formed of separate pieces of timber firmly united with tenons and mortises without the appearance of a single spike or nail of any kind. When the natives are engaged in navigating their canoes, one sits in the stern and steers with a paddle, while the others sit by pairs and paddle over their gunwales next to them. They all kneel in the bottom of the canoe and sit on their feet. Their paddles are of a uniform shape, of which this is an imitation. Those paddles are made very thin, and the middle of the blade is thick and hollowed out suddenly, and made thin on the sides, with the center forming a kind of ridge. The handle occupies about 1/8 of the length of the paddle, which is usually 4 to 4 1/2 feet long. I have observed only five forms of canoes in use among the natives below the Grand Cataract of this river. They are as follows. This is the smallest size, about 15 feet long, calculated for one or two men merely to cross creeks, carry over short portages, and navigate the ponds and still water, and is mostly in use among the Clatsops and Chinnooks. This is the next smallest, from 16 to 20 feet long, calculated for two or three persons, and is most common among the Wau-ki-a-cums and Cath-lah-mahs among the marshy islands near their villages. A is the bow; B is the stern. Those are from 20 to 40 feet in length, from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet in the beam, and about 2 feet deep. This canoe is common to all the nations below the Grand Rapids. It is here drawn deeper and shorter in proportion than the canoe really is. The bowsprit from C to D is brought to a sharp edge, tapering gradually from the sides. This is the most common form of the canoes in use among the Indians from the Chil-luck-kit-te-quaw inclusive to the ocean, and is commonly from about 30 to 35 feet long and will carry from 10 to 12 persons. Four men are able to carry them a considerable distance, say a mile, without resting. A is the end the natives use as the bow, but which at first sight I took to be the stern. C, D is a comb cut from the solid wood with the canoe, and projects from the center of the end of the canoe, being about 1 inch thick, with its sides parallel and edge at C, D sharp. It is from 9 to 11 inches in depth and extends from the under part of the bowsprit at A to the bottom at D. The stern B is nearly rounded and gradually ascending. 1, 2, 3 represent the rim of the gunwales, about 4 inches wide, rather ascending as they recede from the canoe. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 are the holes through which the string passes to fasten the round pieces that pass crosswise in the canoe to strengthen and lift her. We did not meet with this form of canoe until we reached tidewater, or below the Great Rapids. From there down it is common to all the nations, but particularly the Kil-a-mox and others of the coast. These are the largest canoes. I measured one at the Kilamox village south-southwest of us which was ____ feet long, ____ feet wide, and ____ feet deep, and they are most commonly about that size. B is the bow and comb; C is the stern and comb. Their images are representations of a great variety of grotesque figures, any of which might be safely worshiped without committing a breach of the Commandments.
They have but few axes among them, and the only tool usually employed in forming the canoe, carving, etc. is a chisel formed of an old file about an inch or 1 1/2 inches broad. This chisel sometimes has a large block of wood for a handle. They grasp the chisel just below the block with the right hand, holding the top of the block, and strike backwards against the wood with the edge of the chisel. A person would suppose that forming a large canoe with an instrument like this was the work of several years, but these people make them in a few weeks. They prize their canoes very highly. We have been anxious to obtain some of them for our journey up the river, but have not been able to obtain one as yet from the natives in this neighborhood.
Today we opened and examined all our ammunition, which has been secured in leaden canisters. We found twenty-seven of the best rifle powder, 4 of common rifle, 3 of glaze, and one of musket powder in good order, perfectly as dry as when first put in the canisters, although the whole of it, from various accidents, had been under the water for hours. These canisters contain 4 pounds of powder each and 8 of lead. Had it not been for that happy expedient which Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) devised of securing the powder by means of the lead, we should have found great difficulty in keeping dry powder until this time. Those canisters which had been accidentally bruised and cracked, one which was carelessly stopped, and a fifth which had been penetrated with a nail, were wet and damaged. These we gave to the men to dry. However, exclusive of those 5, we have an abundant stock to last us back; and we always take care to put a portion of it in each canoe, so that should one canoe or more be lost, we should still not be entirely bereft of ammunition, which is now our only hope for subsistence and defense in the route of 4,000 miles through a country exclusively inhabited by Indians—many bands of which are savage in every sense of the word.
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