Clark: February 22, 1806
Two Clatsop women and two boys visited camp, bringing finely made cedar-bark hats ornamented with bear grass, including two custom-fitted hats previously ordered by Lewis and Clark. The hats were purchased and distributed among the party. Drouillard left with the visitors to their village to obtain dogs. The women reported that small fish, likely herring, were beginning to run, and that Chief Coboway had gone upriver to trade for wappato. Several men remained ill with colds and fevers resembling influenza. Notes were also recorded on antelope, mountain sheep, beaver, and otter.
Saturday February 22nd 1806 We were visited to day by two Clatsops women
and two boys who brought a parcel of excellent hats made of Cedar bark,
and ornemented with bear grass. two of those hats had been made by measure
which Capt Lewis and my Self had given a woman Some time Since, with a
request to make each of us a hat; they fit us very well, and are in the
form we desired them. we purchased the hats and distribeted them among the
party. the woodwork and sculpture of these people as well as those hats
and the water proof baskits evince an ingenuity by no means common among
the Aborigenes of America. in the evining they returned to their village
and Drewyer accompanied them in order to get Some dogs &c. These women
informed us that the Small fish began to run which we suppose to be
herring from their discription. they also informed us that their Chief
Conia Comawool, had gorn up the Columbia to the Vally in order to purchase
Wappatoe, a part of which he entended tradeing with us on his return. our
sick consisting of Gibson, Bratten, Willard McNeal and Baptiest LaPage is
Something better Serjt. Ordway is complaining of a Coald & head ake.
we have not had as many Sick at one time Since we left the Settlements of
the Illinois. the general Complaint appears to be bad colds and fevers,
with a violent pain in the head, and back, something I believe of the
influenza.
The Antelope is found in the great plains of Columbia and are the Same
with those of the Missouri found in every part of that untimbered Country.
they are by no means as plenty on this Side of the Rocky Mountains as on
the other. the nativs here make robes of their Skins dressed withe the
hair on them. when the Salmon begin to decline in the latter end of Summer
and autumn, the nativs leave the river, at least a majority and move out
into the plains at Some distance for the purpose of hunting the Antelope.
they pursue them on hors back and Shute them with their arrows.
The Sheep is found in various parts of the Rocky Mountains, but most
Commonly on those parts which are timbered and Steep. they are also found
in greater abundance on the chain of mountains which forms the
Commencement of the woody country on this Coast and which pass the
Columbia between the great falls and rapids. we have never met with this
animal ourselves but have Seen maney of their Skins in the possession of
the nativs dressed with the wool on them and also Seen and have the
blankets which they manufacture of the wool of this Sheep. from the Skin
the animal appears to be about the Size of the common Sheep; of a white
colour. the wool is fine on most parts of the body, but not so long as
that of the domestic Sheep; the wool is also Curled and thick. on the back
and more particularly on the top of the neck the wool is intermixed with a
Considerable proportion of long Streight hair. there is no wool on a Small
part of the body behind the Sholders on each Side of the brisquit which is
covered with a Short fine hairs as in the domestic Sheep. from the Signs
which the Indians make in discribing this animale they have herect pointed
horns, tho one of our Engages Lapage, assures us that he Saw them in the
Black hills where the Little Missouri river passes them, and that they
were in every respect like our domestic Sheep, and like them the mail had
lunated horns bent backwards and twisted. I should be much pleased at
meeting with this animal. but have had too maney proofs to admit a doubt
of it’s existing and in considerable numbers in the mountains on this
Coast. The Beaver and Common Otter have before been mentioned in treating
of the Occupation of the nativs in hunting, fishing, &c. these do not
differ from those of other parts of the Continent-.-.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, February 22nd, 1806. We were visited today by two Clatsop women and two boys who brought a parcel of excellent hats made of cedar bark and ornamented with bear grass. Two of those hats had been made according to a measurement which Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and myself had given a woman some time since, with a request to make each of us a hat; they fit us very well and are in the form we desired. We purchased the hats and distributed them among the party. The woodwork and sculpture of these people, as well as their hats and waterproof baskets, show an ingenuity by no means common among the Aborigines of America. In the evening they returned to their village, and Drewyer accompanied them in order to get some dogs, etc. These women informed us that the small fish had begun to run, which we suppose to be herring from their description. They also informed us that their Chief, Conia Comawool, had gone up the Columbia to the valley in order to purchase wappatoo, part of which he intended to trade with us on his return. Our sick, consisting of Gibson, Bratten, Willard, McNeal, and Baptiest LaPage (Baptiste LaPage), are something better. Sergt. Ordway is complaining of a cold and headache. We have not had as many sick at one time since we left the settlements of the Illinois. The general complaint appears to be bad colds and fevers, with a violent pain in the head and back—something, I believe, of the influenza.
The Antelope is found in the great plains of the Columbia and is the same as those of the Missouri, found in every part of that untimbered country. They are by no means as plentiful on this side of the Rocky Mountains as on the other. The natives here make robes of their skins, dressed with the hair on them. When the salmon begin to decline in the latter end of summer and autumn, the natives leave the river—at least the majority—and move out into the plains some distance for the purpose of hunting the antelope. They pursue them on horseback and shoot them with their arrows.
The Sheep is found in various parts of the Rocky Mountains, but most commonly on those parts which are timbered and steep. They are also found in greater abundance on the chain of mountains which forms the commencement of the woody country on this coast, and which the Columbia passes between the great falls and rapids. We have never met with this animal ourselves, but have seen many of their skins in the possession of the natives, dressed with the wool on them, and have also seen and have the blankets which they manufacture from the wool of this sheep. From the skin, the animal appears to be about the size of the common sheep, and of a white color. The wool is fine on most parts of the body, but not as long as that of the domestic sheep; the wool is also curled and thick. On the back, and more particularly on the top of the neck, the wool is intermixed with a considerable proportion of long, straight hair. There is no wool on a small part of the body behind the shoulders, on each side of the brisket, which is covered with short, fine hairs as in the domestic sheep. From the signs which the Indians make in describing this animal, they have erect, pointed horns; though one of our engagés, Lapage, assures us that he saw them in the Black Hills, where the Little Missouri river passes through them, and that they were in every respect like our domestic sheep, and, like them, the male had crescent-shaped horns bent backwards and twisted. I should be much pleased at meeting with this animal, but have had too many proofs to admit a doubt of its existing, and in considerable numbers, in the mountains on this coast. The Beaver and Common Otter have been mentioned before in treating of the occupations of the natives in hunting, fishing, etc. These do not differ from those of other parts of the continent.
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