Clark: February 20, 1806
At Fort Clatsop, Collins hunted unsuccessfully but returned with cranberries for the sick. Gibson is recovering, while Bratten, McNeal, and Willard remain ill with coughs, fevers, and other complaints. Tfih-cum, a Chinook chief never before met, visited with 25 men; the captains fed them, shared smoke, and gave the chief a small medal before sending them away at sunset, per their policy of not letting large native parties stay overnight. Clark reflects on maintaining vigilance against potential treachery. He also notes that mule deer and elk resemble those seen elsewhere.
Thursday February 20th 1806. Permited Collins to hunt this morning he
returned in the evening unsucksessfull as to the chase, but brought with
him Some Cramberries for the Sick. Gibson is on the recovery fast; Bratten
has an obstinate Cough and pain in his back and Still appears to be
getting weaker. H. McNeal from his inattention to his disorder has become
worse. Willard has a high fever and complains of the pain in his head and
want of appetite.
The forenoon we were visited by Tfih-cum a principal chief of the
Chinnooks and 25 men of his nation. we had never Seen this Chief before he
is a good looking man of about 50 years of age reather larger in Statue
than most of his nation; as he came on a friendly visit we gave himself
and party something to eate and plyed them plenty fully with Smoke. we
gave this chief a small Medal with which he Seamed much pleased. in the
evening at Sunset we desired them to depart as is our custom and Close our
gates. we never Suffer parties of Such numbers to remain within the Fort
all night; for not withstanding their apparent friendly disposition, their
great averis and hope of plunder might induce them to be treacherous. at
all events we are determined always to be on our guard, as much as the
nature of our Situation will permit us, and never place our selves at the
mercy of any Savages. we well know, that the treachery of the Aborigenes
of America and the too great confidence of our country men in their
friendship and fadility has caused the distruction of maney hundreds of
us. so long has our men been accustomed to a friendly intercourse with the
nativs, that we find it dificult to impress on their minds the necessity
of always being on their Guard with respect to them. this confidence on
our part we know to be the effect of a serious of a friendly and
unintorupted intercourse. but the well Known treachery of the natives by
no means entitle them to Such confidence, and we must check it’s groth in
our own minds as well as those of our men, by recollecting our selves, and
repeating to our men, that our preservation depends on our never loseing
Sight of this trate in their character, and being always prepared to meet
it in whatever Shape it may present itself
The Mule Deer are the Same with those of the Plains of the Missouri So
frequently mentioned. we met with them under the rocky mountains in the
neighbourhood of the Chopunnish Nation on the Koskooske river, but have
not Seen them Since nor do we know whether they exist in the interiors of
the great Plains of Columbia, or on the lower border near the mountains
which pass the river about the great falls. The Elk is the Same with that
found in much the greater portion of North America, they are common to
every part of this Country, as well the timbered lands as the plains. but
are much more abundant in the former than the latter
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday, February 20th, 1806. I permitted Collins to hunt this morning. He returned in the evening unsuccessful as to the chase, but brought with him some cranberries for the sick. Gibson is recovering fast; Bratten has an obstinate cough and pain in his back and still appears to be getting weaker. H. McNeal, from his inattention to his disorder, has become worse. Willard has a high fever and complains of pain in his head and lack of appetite.
In the forenoon we were visited by Tahcum (Tfih-cum), a principal chief of the Chinnooks, and 25 men of his nation. We had never seen this chief before. He is a good-looking man of about 50 years of age, rather larger in stature than most of his nation. As he came on a friendly visit, we gave him and his party something to eat and plied them plentifully with smoke. We gave this chief a small medal, with which he seemed much pleased. In the evening at sunset we asked them to depart, as is our custom, and closed our gates. We never allow parties of such numbers to remain within the Fort all night; for notwithstanding their apparent friendly disposition, their great greed and hope of plunder might induce them to be treacherous. At all events, we are determined always to be on our guard, as much as the nature of our situation will permit, and never to place ourselves at the mercy of any savages. We well know that the treachery of the Aborigines of America and the too great confidence of our countrymen in their friendship and fidelity has caused the destruction of many hundreds of us. Our men have been so long accustomed to friendly intercourse with the natives that we find it difficult to impress on their minds the necessity of always being on their guard with respect to them. This confidence on our part we know to be the effect of a series of friendly and uninterrupted dealings. But the well-known treachery of the natives by no means entitles them to such confidence, and we must check its growth in our own minds as well as those of our men, by reminding ourselves and repeating to our men that our preservation depends on our never losing sight of this trait in their character, and being always prepared to meet it in whatever shape it may present itself.
The Mule Deer are the same as those of the Plains of the Missouri so frequently mentioned. We met with them under the Rocky Mountains in the neighborhood of the Chopunnish Nation on the Koskooske river, but have not seen them since, nor do we know whether they exist in the interior of the great Plains of Columbia, or on the lower border near the mountains which the river passes through about the great falls. The Elk is the same as that found in much the greater portion of North America. They are common to every part of this country, both the timbered lands and the plains, but are much more abundant in the former than the latter.
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