Clark: January 20, 1806
Three Clatsop visitors spent the day at the fort, mainly to smoke with the party. The sergeant reported that the six pounds of jerked meat issued per man on January 18 was already gone, lasting only two and a half days, meaning the seven elk on hand would last just three more days. Despite dwindling provisions, no one was alarmed, given the men's growing skill as hunters. The Indians explained that white traders did not buy pounded fish, which was instead consumed by local tribes. Clark also noted native root foods including thistle, fern, rush, licorice, and a sweet-potato-like root.
Wednesday 20th January 1806 Visited this morning by three Clapsots who
remained with us all day; the object of their visit is mearly to Smoke the
pipe. on the morning of the 18 inst. we issued 6 wt. of jurked meat pr.
man, this evening the Serjt. reports that is all exhosted; the 6 w. have
therefore lasted 2 days and a half only. at this rate our Seven Elk will
only last us 3 days longer, yet no one appears much concerned about the
State of the Stores; So much for habet. we have latterly so frequently had
our Stock of provisions reduced to a minimum and Sometimes taken a Small
tuck of fasting that 3 days full allowance exites no concern. In those
Cases our Skill as hunters affords us Some Consolation, for if there is
any game of any discription in our neighbourhood we can track it up and
kill it. most of the party have become very expert with the rifle. The
Indians who visit us to day understood us Sufficiently to inform us that
the white who visit them did not barter for the pounded fish; that it was
purchased and Consumed by the Clatsops, Chin nooks, Cath lah mahs and Skil
lutes, and Kil a moxs.
The native roots which furnish a considerable proportion of the
Subsistance of the indians in our neighbourhoodd are those of a Species of
Thistle, fern, and rush; the Licquorice, and a Small celindric root the
top of which I have not yet Seen, this last resembles the Sweet potato
verry much in its flavour and Consistency.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday, 20th January 1806. We were visited this morning by three Clatsops who remained with us all day; the object of their visit is merely to smoke the pipe. On the morning of the 18th instant, we issued 6 lbs. of jerked meat per man. This evening the Sergeant reports that it is all exhausted; the 6 lbs. have therefore lasted only 2 days and a half. At this rate, our seven elk will only last us 3 days longer, yet no one appears much concerned about the state of the stores; so much for habit. We have lately so frequently had our stock of provisions reduced to a minimum, and sometimes endured a small spell of fasting, that 3 days' full allowance excites no concern. In these cases, our skill as hunters affords us some consolation, for if there is any game of any description in our neighborhood, we can track it up and kill it. Most of the party have become very expert with the rifle. The Indians who visited us today understood us sufficiently to inform us that the whites who visit them did not barter for the pounded fish; that it was purchased and consumed by the Clatsops, Chinooks, Cathlamahs, Skilloots, and Killamucks.
The native roots which furnish a considerable proportion of the subsistence of the Indians in our neighborhood are those of a species of thistle, fern, and rush; the licorice, and a small cylindric root, the top of which I have not yet seen. This last resembles the sweet potato very much in its flavor and consistency.
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