Clark: February 18, 1806
At Fort Clatsop, two parties were sent out: Sergeant Ordway's group toward the salt works and Sergeant Gass's group to retrieve eight elk killed across the Netul River. High waves forced Ordway to turn back. Collins and Windsor returned with a single lean deer. A Clatsop and seven Chinooks visited and traded a sea otter skin and two woven hats before departing; afterward, an axe was discovered missing. Whitehouse acquired a robe made from three tiger cat skins, which Clark described in detail, noting the animal's appearance, fur, and use by local natives.
Tuesday February 18th 1806 This morning we dispatched a party to the Salt
works with Sergt. Ordway. and a Second party with Sergt. Gass after the
Eight Elk killed over the Netul. in the evening Sergt. Ordway returned and
reported that the waves ran So high in the Bay that he could not pass to
the enterance of a Creek which we had directed him to assend with the
Canoe. Collins & Windsir returned this evening with one Deer which
they had Killed. the deer are pore and their flesh by no means as good as
that of the Elk which is also poore but appears to be getting better than
Some weeks past. in the forenoon we were visited by a Clatsop & Seven
Chinnooks from whome I purchased a Sea otter’s Skin and two hats made of
way tape and Silk grass and white cedar bark. they remained untill late in
the evening and departed for their village. those people are not readily
obstructed by waves in their Canoes. Since their departure we have
discovered that they have Stole an ax.Whitehouse brought me a roab
which he purchased of the Indians formed of three Skins of the Tiger Cat,
this Cat differs from any which I have ever Seen. it is found on the
borders of the plains and the woody Country lying along the Pacific Ocian.
this animale is about the Size or reather larger than the wild Cat of our
Countrey and is much the Same in form, agility and ferosity. the colour of
the back, neck and Sides, is a redish brown irrigular varigated with Small
Spots of dark brown the tail is about two inches long nearly white except
the extremity which is black; it termonates abruptly as if it had been cut
off. the belly is white with Small black spots. butifully varigated. the
legs are of the Same Colour with the Sides and back marked with transvers
stripes of black the ears are black on the outer Side Covered with fine
black hair, Short except at the upper point which is furnished with a
pencil of verry fine Streight black hair, 3/4 of an inch in length, the
fur of this animale is long and fine. much more So than the wild Cat of
the U States but less so than the Louserva of the N West. the nativs of
this Country make great use of the skins of this Cat, to form the robes
which they wear; three whole Skins is the complement usually employed, and
Sometimes four in each roab. Those Cats are not marked alike maney of them
have but fiew Spots of a darker Colour, particularly on the Back.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday, February 18th, 1806. This morning we sent out a party to the salt works with Sergt. Ordway, and a second party with Sergt. Gass to retrieve the eight elk killed across the Netul. In the evening Sergt. Ordway returned and reported that the waves ran so high in the bay that he could not pass to the entrance of a creek which we had directed him to ascend with the canoe. Collins and Windsor (Windsir) returned this evening with one deer which they had killed. The deer are poor, and their flesh is by no means as good as that of the elk, which is also poor but appears to be getting better than some weeks past.
In the forenoon we were visited by a Clatsop and seven Chinooks (Chinnooks), from whom I purchased a sea otter's skin and two hats made of waytape and silk grass and white cedar bark. They remained until late in the evening and then departed for their village. These people are not easily stopped by waves in their canoes. Since their departure, we have discovered that they stole an ax.
Whitehouse brought me a robe which he had purchased from the Indians, made from three skins of the tiger cat. This cat differs from any I have ever seen. It is found on the borders of the plains and the wooded country lying along the Pacific Ocean. This animal is about the size, or rather larger, than the wild cat of our country, and is much the same in form, agility, and ferocity. The color of the back, neck, and sides is a reddish brown, irregularly variegated with small spots of dark brown. The tail is about two inches long, nearly white except for the tip, which is black; it ends abruptly, as if it had been cut off. The belly is white with small black spots, beautifully variegated. The legs are the same color as the sides and back, marked with transverse stripes of black. The ears are black on the outer side, covered with fine black hair, short except at the upper point, which has a tuft of very fine, straight black hair, 3/4 of an inch in length. The fur of this animal is long and fine—much more so than the wild cat of the United States, but less so than the loup-cervier (Louserva) of the Northwest. The natives of this country make great use of the skins of this cat to form the robes they wear; three whole skins is the usual number employed, and sometimes four in each robe. These cats are not all marked alike; many of them have only a few spots of a darker color, particularly on the back.
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