Clark: January 17, 1806
Chief Comowool and seven Clatsops visited Fort Clatsop, bringing roots and berries to trade, though their prices were too high for most exchanges. Comowool gifted some roots and berries, receiving an awl and thread in return. A visitor wore three fine sea otter skins but would only accept blue beads—called 'Chief beads'—which the party lacked in sufficient quantity. Colter returned from hunting with a deer, a welcome rarity, while Drouillard departed on an extended elk-hunting and beaver-trapping trip. Clark also recorded detailed observations of local Indian cooking implements, baskets, and bear grass weaving.
Sunday 17th January 1806 This morning we were visited by Comowool and 7 of
the Clatsops our nearest neighbours, who left us again in the evening.
They brought with them Some roots and beries for Sale, of which however
they disposed of very fiew as they asked for them Such prices as our Stock
in trade would not licence us in giveing. The Chief Comowool gave us Some
roots and berries, for which we gave him in return a mockerson awl and
Some thread; the latter he wished for the purpose of makeing a Skiming
Net. one of the party was dressed in three verry elegant Sea otter Skins
which we much wanted; for these we offered him maney articles but he would
not dispose of them for aney other Consideration but Blue beeds, of those
we had only Six fathoms left, which being 4 less than his price for each
Skin he would not exchange nor would a Knife or any other equivolent in
beeds of aney other Colour answer his purpose; these Coarse blue beeds are
their favourite merchandize and are Called by them Tia com ma shuck or
Chief beeds, the best Wampom is not as much esteemed by them as the most
indifferent beeds. Sent Colter out to hunt he Shortly after returned with
a Deer, Venison is a rarity with us we have had none for Some weeks.
Drewyer Set out on a hunting expedition one man went with him. he intends
to hunt the Elk and trap the beaver.
The Culianary articles of the Indians in our neighbourhood Consists of
wooden bowls or troughs, Baskets, Shell and wooden Spoons and wooden
Scures or Spits, their wooden Bowles and troughs are of different forms
and Sizes, and most generally dug out of Solid piecies; they are either
round, Square or in the form of a canoe; those are extreemly well executed
and maney of them neetly covered, the larger vessels with handholes to
them; in these vessels they boil their fish or flesh by means of hot
Stones which they immerce in the water with the articles to be boiled.
They also render the Oil of the fish, or other animals in the Same manner.
Their baskets are formed of Cedar bark and bargrass So closely interwoven
withe hands or fingers that they are watertight without the aid of gum or
rozin; Some of those are highly ornimented with the Straps of bargrass
which they dye of Several Colours and interweave in a great variety of
figures; this Serves a double purpose of holding the Water or wareing on
their heads; and are of different Capacities, from that of a Smallest Cup
to five or Six gallons, they are generally of a Conic form or reather the
Segment of a Cone of which the Smaller end forms the base or bottom of the
basket. these they make verry expediciously and dispose of for a mear
trifle. it is for the Construction of those baskets that Bargrass becoms
an article of traffic among the nativs of the Columbia. this grass grows
only on their mountains near the Snowey region; the blade is about 3/8 of
an inch wide and 2 feet long Smothe plient & Strong; the young blades
which are white from not being exposed to the Sun or air, are those which
are most Commonly employ’d, particularly in their neatest work. Their
wooden Spoons are not remarkable nor abundant, they are large & the
bowls broad. their meat is roasted with a Sharp Scure, one end of which is
incerted in the meat while the other is Set erect in the ground. The Spit
for roasting fish has its upper extremity Split, and between its limbs the
Center of the fish is incerted with its head downwards, and the tale and
the extremities of the Scure Secured with a String, the Side of the fish,
which was in the first instance Split in the back, are expanded by means
of Small Splinters of wood which extend Crosswise the fish. a Small mat of
rushes or flags is the usual plate, or Dish on which their fish, flesh,
roots & berries are Served. they make a number of Bags and Baskets not
water tight of Cedar bark Silk Grass, rushes, flags, and common Gorse
Sedge-. in those they Secure their dried fish, roots berries &.-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday, 17th January 1806. This morning we were visited by Comowool and 7 of the Clatsops, our nearest neighbors, who left us again in the evening. They brought with them some roots and berries for sale, of which however they disposed of very few, as they asked for them such prices as our stock in trade would not allow us to give. The Chief Comowool gave us some roots and berries, for which we gave him in return a moccasin awl and some thread; the latter he wished for the purpose of making a skimming net. One of the party was dressed in three very elegant sea otter skins which we much wanted; for these we offered him many articles, but he would not dispose of them for any other consideration but blue beads. Of those we had only six fathoms left, which being 4 less than his price for each skin, he would not exchange, nor would a knife or any other equivalent in beads of any other color answer his purpose. These coarse blue beads are their favorite merchandise and are called by them Tia com ma shuck, or Chief Beads; the best wampum is not as much esteemed by them as the most indifferent beads. Sent Colter out to hunt; he shortly after returned with a deer. Venison is a rarity with us; we have had none for some weeks. Drewyer (Drouillard) set out on a hunting expedition; one man went with him. He intends to hunt the elk and trap the beaver.
The culinary articles of the Indians in our neighborhood consist of wooden bowls or troughs, baskets, shell and wooden spoons, and wooden skewers or spits. Their wooden bowls and troughs are of different forms and sizes, and most generally dug out of solid pieces; they are either round, square, or in the form of a canoe. These are extremely well executed, and many of them neatly covered, the larger vessels with handholes in them. In these vessels they boil their fish or flesh by means of hot stones which they immerse in the water with the articles to be boiled. They also render the oil of the fish, or other animals, in the same manner. Their baskets are formed of cedar bark and bear grass so closely interwoven with the hands or fingers that they are watertight without the aid of gum or rosin. Some of these are highly ornamented with the straps of bear grass, which they dye of several colors and interweave in a great variety of figures. This serves a double purpose of holding water or wearing on their heads, and they are of different capacities, from that of the smallest cup to five or six gallons. They are generally of a conic form, or rather the segment of a cone, of which the smaller end forms the base or bottom of the basket. These they make very expeditiously and dispose of for a mere trifle. It is for the construction of these baskets that bear grass becomes an article of traffic among the natives of the Columbia. This grass grows only on their mountains near the snowy region; the blade is about 3/8 of an inch wide and 2 feet long, smooth, pliant, and strong. The young blades, which are white from not being exposed to the sun or air, are those which are most commonly employed, particularly in their neatest work. Their wooden spoons are not remarkable nor abundant; they are large and the bowls broad. Their meat is roasted with a sharp skewer, one end of which is inserted in the meat while the other is set erect in the ground. The spit for roasting fish has its upper extremity split, and between its limbs the center of the fish is inserted with its head downwards, and the tail and the extremities of the skewer secured with a string. The sides of the fish, which were in the first instance split in the back, are expanded by means of small splinters of wood which extend crosswise the fish. A small mat of rushes or flags is the usual plate or dish on which their fish, flesh, roots, and berries are served. They make a number of bags and baskets, not watertight, of cedar bark, silk grass, rushes, flags, and common coarse sedge. In these they secure their dried fish, roots, berries, etc.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
