Clark: January 5, 1806
Willard and Wiser returned to Fort Clatsop at 5 p.m., reporting they had established a salt-making camp about 15 miles southwest on the sea coast near friendly Clatsop and Tillamook families. They brought a gallon of fine white salt and blubber from a whale that had washed ashore, which the party found palatable. The salt makers were producing 3 quarts to a gallon daily and had stockpiled elk and deer meat. Colter returned unsuccessful from hunting. Clark resolved to set out the next morning with two canoes and 12 men to find the whale and trade for blubber.
Sunday 5th of January 1806 At 5 p.m.Willard and Wiser returned, they had
not been lost as we expected. they informd us that it was not untill the
5th day after leaveing the fort, that they Could find a Convenient place
for makeing Salt; that they had at length established themselves on the
Sea Coast about 15 miles S. W. from this, near the houses of Some Clat Sop
& Kil a mox families; that the Indians were very friendly and had
given them a considerable quantity of the blubber of the whale which
perished on the Coast Some distance S. E. of them, it was white and not
unlike the fat of Pork, tho the texture was more Spungey and Somewhat
Coarser. we had part of it Cooked and found it very pallitable and tender,
it resembles the beaver in flavour. those men also informed us that the
Salt makers with their assistance had erected a Comfortable Camp, had
killed an Elk and Several Deer and Secured a good Stock of Meat; they
Commenced the makeing of Salt and found that they Could make from 3 quarts
to a gallon a day; they brought with them a Specimen of the Salt, of about
a gallon, we found it excellent white & fine, but not So Strong as the
rock Salt or that made in Kentucky or the Western parts of the U, Statesthis
Salt was a great treat to most of the party, haveing not had any Since the
20th ulto. as to my Self I care but little whether I have any with my meat
or not; provided the meat fat, haveing from habit become entirely cearless
about my diat, and I have learned to think that if the Cord be
Sufficiently Strong which binds the Soul and boddy together, it does not
So much matter about the materials which Compose it.
Colter returned this evening unsecksessfull from the Chase, haveing been
absent since the 1st inst.
I determine to Set out early tomorrow with two canoes & 12 men in
quest of the whale, or at all events to purchase from the indians a parcel
of the blubber, for this purpose I made up a Small assortment of
merchindize, and directed the men to hold themselves in readiness &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday, 5th of January 1806. At 5 p.m. Willard and Wiser returned; they had not been lost as we expected. They informed us that it was not until the 5th day after leaving the fort that they could find a convenient place for making salt; that they had at length established themselves on the seacoast about 15 miles SW from this, near the houses of some Clatsop and Killamox (Tillamook) families; that the Indians were very friendly and had given them a considerable quantity of the blubber of the whale which perished on the coast some distance SE of them. It was white and not unlike the fat of pork, though the texture was more spongy and somewhat coarser. We had part of it cooked and found it very palatable and tender; it resembles the beaver in flavor. Those men also informed us that the salt makers, with their assistance, had erected a comfortable camp, had killed an elk and several deer, and secured a good stock of meat. They commenced the making of salt and found that they could make from 3 quarts to a gallon a day. They brought with them a specimen of the salt, of about a gallon. We found it excellent, white and fine, but not so strong as the rock salt, or that made in Kentucky or the western parts of the U. States. This salt was a great treat to most of the party, having not had any since the 20th of last month. As to myself, I care but little whether I have any with my meat or not, provided the meat is fat, having from habit become entirely careless about my diet; and I have learned to think that if the cord be sufficiently strong which binds the soul and body together, it does not so much matter about the materials which compose it.
Colter returned this evening unsuccessful from the chase, having been absent since the 1st of this month.
I determined to set out early tomorrow with two canoes and 12 men in quest of the whale, or at all events to purchase from the Indians a parcel of the blubber. For this purpose I made up a small assortment of merchandise, and directed the men to hold themselves in readiness, etc.
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