Clark: February 24, 1806
At Fort Clatsop, the sick continue recovering. Hunters Shannon and Labiche return empty-handed, reporting that elk—the party's main food source—have moved deeper into the mountains, troubling news for subsistence. Clark devotes most of the entry to detailed natural history descriptions of regional wildlife, including raccoons and several squirrel species (large gray, small brown, small gray, and ground squirrels), noting their appearance, habits, and uses by Native peoples. In the evening, Clatsop chief Comowooll arrives with 14 family members and Drouillard, bringing a sea otter skin, hats, sturgeon, and small fish to trade.
Monday February 24th 1806 Our Sick are Still on the recovery. Shannon and
Labiche returned in the forenoon, they had killed no Elk, and reported
that they believe the Elk have returned from their former haunts and gorn
further back in the mountains to a considerable distance from this place.
this is very unwelcom information, for poore and inferior as the flesh of
this animale is, it is our principal dependance for Subsistance.
The Rackoon is found in the woody Country on the Coast in considerable
quantities. the nativs take a fiew of them in Snars, and deadfalls; tho
appear not to value their Skins much, and but Seldom prepare them for
robes. The large Grey Squirel appear to be a native of a narrow tract of
Country on the upper Side of the mountains below the Great falls of
Columbia which is pritty well covered in maney parts with a Species of
white oak. this animal is much larger than the Gray Squirel of our
Country, it resembles it much in form and colour. it is as large as the
Fox Squirel of the South Atlantic States. the tail is reather larger than
the whole of the body and head, the hair of which is long and tho inserted
on all Sides reispect the horozontal one. the eyes are black, whiskers
black and long. the back, Sides, head, tale and outer parts of the legs
are of a blue lead colour grey. the breast, belly, and inner parts of the
legs are of a pure white. the hair is Short as that of the Fox Squirel but
is much finer and intermixed with a propotion of fur. the nativs make
great use of those Skins in forming their robes. this Squirel Subsists
principally on the acorn and filburts, which last also grow abundantly in
the Oak Country-. The Small brown Squirel is a butifull little animal
about the size of the red Squirel of the E. States or Something larger
than the ground Squirel of the U States. the tail is as long as the body
and neck formed Somewhat Hat. the eyes black, whiskers long and black but
not abundant. the back, Sides, head, neck and outer parts of the legs are
of a redish dark brown. the throat, breast, belly and inner parts of the
legs are of a pale brick red. the tail is a mixture of black and fox
coloured red in which the black prodomonates in the middle, and the other
on the edges and extremity. the hair of the body is about 1/2 inch long
and So fine and soft that it has the appearance of fur. the hair of the
tail is coarser and double as long. this animal Subsists principally on
the Seeds of various Species of pine and are always found in the piney
Country. they are common to the tract of woody country on this coast. they
lodge in Clefts of rocks, holes in the Ground, old Stumps of trees and the
hollow trunks of falling timber; in this respect resemble the rat always
haveing their habitation in or near the earth. The Small Grey Squirel
Common to every part of the Rocky Mountains which is timbered, differ from
the dark brown squirel just discribed only in its colour.
it’s back, neck, Sides, head, tail and outer Sides of the legs are of
brown lead coloured Grey; the tail has a Slight touch of the fox colour
near the extremity of some of the hairs. the throat, belly, breast, and
inner part of the legs are of the Colour of tanners ooze and have a narrow
Stripe of black commencing behing each Sholder and extending
longitudinally for about 3 inches between the Colours of the Side &
belly. their habits are also the Same with the dark brown Squirel of this
neighbourhood, and like them are extreamly nimble and active. The Ground
Squirel is found in various parts of the Countrey as well the Praries as
wood lands, and is one of the fiew animals which we have Seen in every
part of our voy-age. it differs not at all from those of the U, States.
The Barking Squirel and handsom Ground Squirel of the Plains on the East
Side of the Rocky Mountains are not found in the plains of the Columbia.
This evening we were visited by Comowooll the Clatsop Chief and 14 men
women and Children of his nation. Drewyer came a pasinger in their Canoe,
and brought with him two dogs. the Chief and his party had brought for
Sale a Sea otter Skin, Some hats, Sturgeon and a Species of fish which now
begins to run and are taken in Great quantities in the Columbia River
about 40 miles above us by means of Skiming or scooping nets. See likeness
on the other Side of this leaf or page. Capt Lewis gave an old Coat and
Vest for a Sea otter Skin, we purchased Several hads of the Indian
manufactry and distributed them among the party. we also purchased a fiew
of the Small fish which we found deliciously fine.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Monday, February 24th, 1806. Our sick are still recovering. Shannon and Labiche returned in the forenoon. They had killed no elk, and reported that they believe the elk have returned from their former haunts and gone further back into the mountains, a considerable distance from this place. This is very unwelcome information, for poor and inferior as the flesh of this animal is, it is our principal dependence for subsistence.
The raccoon is found in considerable quantities in the wooded country along the coast. The natives take a few of them in snares and deadfalls, but they do not appear to value the skins much, and seldom prepare them for robes. The large gray squirrel appears to be native to a narrow tract of country on the upper side of the mountains below the Great Falls of the Columbia, which is fairly well covered in many parts with a species of white oak. This animal is much larger than the gray squirrel of our country, though it resembles it closely in form and color. It is as large as the fox squirrel of the South Atlantic states. Its tail is rather larger than the whole of its body and head; the hair on the tail is long and, though inserted on all sides, lies in a horizontal plane. The eyes are black, and the whiskers black and long. The back, sides, head, tail, and outer parts of the legs are of a blue-lead-colored gray. The breast, belly, and inner parts of the legs are pure white. The hair is as short as that of the fox squirrel, but is much finer and intermixed with a proportion of fur. The natives make great use of these skins in making their robes. This squirrel subsists principally on the acorn and filbert, the latter of which also grows abundantly in the oak country.
The small brown squirrel is a beautiful little animal, about the size of the red squirrel of the eastern states, or somewhat larger than the ground squirrel of the United States. The tail is as long as the body and neck, and is formed somewhat flat. The eyes are black, and the whiskers long and black but not abundant. The back, sides, head, neck, and outer parts of the legs are of a reddish dark brown. The throat, breast, belly, and inner parts of the legs are of a pale brick red. The tail is a mixture of black and fox-colored red, in which the black predominates in the middle and the other on the edges and extremity. The hair of the body is about half an inch long and so fine and soft that it has the appearance of fur. The hair of the tail is coarser and twice as long. This animal subsists principally on the seeds of various species of pine and is always found in piney country. They are common to the tract of wooded country on this coast. They lodge in clefts of rocks, holes in the ground, old stumps of trees, and the hollow trunks of fallen timber; in this respect they resemble the rat, always having their habitation in or near the earth.
The small gray squirrel, common to every timbered part of the Rocky Mountains, differs from the dark brown squirrel just described only in its color. Its back, neck, sides, head, tail, and outer sides of the legs are of a brown lead-colored gray; the tail has a slight touch of fox color near the tips of some of the hairs. The throat, belly, breast, and inner part of the legs are the color of tanner's ooze, and have a narrow stripe of black beginning behind each shoulder and extending lengthwise for about three inches between the colors of the side and belly. Their habits are also the same as those of the dark brown squirrel of this neighborhood, and like them they are extremely nimble and active.
The ground squirrel is found in various parts of the country, in both the prairies and the woodlands, and is one of the few animals we have seen in every part of our voyage. It differs not at all from those of the United States. The barking squirrel and handsome ground squirrel of the plains on the east side of the Rocky Mountains are not found in the plains of the Columbia.
This evening we were visited by Comowooll, the Clatsop chief, and 14 men, women, and children of his nation. Drewyer came as a passenger in their canoe, and brought with him two dogs. The chief and his party had brought for sale a sea otter skin, some hats, sturgeon, and a species of fish which now begins to run and is taken in great quantities in the Columbia River about 40 miles above us by means of skimming or scooping nets. See likeness on the other side of this leaf or page. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) gave an old coat and vest for a sea otter skin. We purchased several hats of the Indian manufacture and distributed them among the party. We also purchased a few of the small fish, which we found deliciously fine.
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