Clark: January 11, 1806

Saturday 11th of January 1806 Sent a party early this morning for the Elk
which was killed on the 9th they returned with it in the evining; This
morning the Serjt. of the guard reported that our Indian Canoe had gone a
Drift, on enquiry we found that those who Came in it last evening had been
negligent in Secureing her, and the tide in Corse of the night had taken
her off; we Sent a party down to the bay in Serch of her, they returned
unsecksessfull, the party who went up the river and Creek after meat were
derected to look out for her but were equally unsecksessfull; this will be
a verry considerable loss to us if we do not recover her, She is so light
that 4 men Can Carry her on their Sholders a mile or more without resting,
and will Carry four men and from 10 to 12 hundred pounds. The Cath IA mahs
left us this evening on their way to the Clatsops, to whome they perpose
bartering their wappato for the blubber & Oil of the whale, which the
latter purchased for Beeds &c. from the Kil a mox; in this manner
there is a trade Continually Carried on by the nativs of the river each
tradeing Some articles or other with their neighbours above and below
them, and those articles which are Vended by the whites at their enterance
of this river, find their way to the most distant nations inhabiting its
waters.