Clark: March 15, 1806
The hunters returned at 11 a.m. with only four elk, since Labiche—the only one to encounter the herd—had lost his gun's foresight and missed many shots. Retrieval parties brought back four skins but only three carcasses' worth of meat, one having spoiled. Chinook chief Delashelwilt arrived by canoe with his wife and six women offering sex for trade; Clark warned the men against them due to a prior venereal outbreak. A Clatsop man named Catel visited with goods that were not purchased. Bratton remained ill. Clark also described a third brant species, local clams, periwinkles, and a shelled creature.
Saturday March 15th 1806 This morning at 11 oClock the hunters arived,
haveing Killed four Elk only. Labiesh it Seams was the only Hunter who
fell in with the Elk and haveing by some accident lost the foresight of
his gun Shot a great number of times and only killed four. as the Elk were
scattered we Sent two parties for them, they return in the evening with
four Skins, and the flesh of three Elk, that of one of them haveing become
putred from the liver and pluck haveing been carelessly left in the Animal
all night. We were visited this Afternoon in a Canoe 4 feet 2 I. wide by
De-lash-hel-wilt a Chinnook Chief his wife and Six women of his Nation,
which the Old Boud his wife had brought for Market. this was the Same
party which had communicated the venereal to Several of our party in
November last, and of which.they have finally recovered. I therefore gave
the men a particular Charge with respect to them which they promised me to
observe. late this evening we were also visited by Ca-tel a Clatsop man
and his family. he brought a Canoe and a Sea Otter Skin for Sale neither
of which we could purchase of him. the Clatsops which had brought a Canoe
for Sale last evening left us this morning. Bratten is still very weak and
unwell.
There is a third Species of Brant in the neighbourhood of this place which
is about the Size and much the form of the bided brant. they weigh about
81/2 lbs. the wings are not as long nor So pointed as the Common pided
brant. the following is a likeness of its head and beak. a little distance
arround the base of the beak is white and is Suddenly Succeeded by a
narrow line of dark brown. the ballance of the neck, head, back, wings and
tail all except the tips of the feathers are of the blueish brown of the
Common wild goose, the breast and belly are white with an irregular
mixture of black feathers which give that part a pided appearance. from
the legs back underneath the tail, and around the junction of the Same
with the body above, the feathers are white. the tail is composed of 18
feathers; the longest of which are in the center and measure 6 inches with
the barrel of the quill; those on the Side of the tail are Something
Shorter and bend with their extremities inwards towards the center of the
tail. the extremities of these feathers are white. the beak is of a light
flesh colour. the legs and feet which do not differ in Structure from
those of the Goose or brant of the other Species, are of an orrange yellow
Colour. the eye is Small; the iris is of a dark yellowish brown, and puple
black. the note of this brant is much that of the common pided brant from
which in fact they are not to be distinguished at a distance, but they
Certainly are a distinct Species of brant. the flesh of this fowl is as
good as that of the Common pided brant. they do not remain here dureing
the winter in Such numbers as the white brant do, tho they have now
returned in Considerable quantities. we first met with this brant on tide
water.
The Clams of this coast are very Small. the Shells consist of two valves
which open with a hinge, the Shell is Smooth thin and of an oval form or
like that of the Common Muscle and of a Skye blue colour; it is of every
Size under a Inch & 3/4 in length, and hangs in clusters to the moss
of the rocks, the nativs Sometimes eate them.The Periwinkle both of
the river and Ocian are Similar to those found in the Same Situation on
the Atlantic.there is also an Animal which inhabits a Shell
perfectly circular about 3 inches in diameetor, thin and entire on the
marjin, convex and Smooth on the upper Side, plain on the under part and
covered with a number of minute Capillary fibers by means of which it
attaches itself to the Sides of the rocks. the Shell is thin and Consists
of one valve. a Small circular opperture is formed in the Center of the
under Shell the Animal is Soft and boneless &c.-.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, March 15th, 1806. This morning at 11 o'clock the hunters arrived, having killed only four elk. Labiesh, it seems, was the only hunter who fell in with the elk, and having by some accident lost the foresight of his gun, he shot a great number of times and only killed four. As the elk were scattered, we sent two parties for them. They returned in the evening with four skins and the flesh of three elk; that of one of them had become putrid because the liver and pluck had been carelessly left in the animal all night. We were visited this afternoon, in a canoe 4 feet 2 inches wide, by De-lash-hel-wilt, a Chinnook (Chinook) chief, his wife, and six women of his nation whom the old bawd, his wife, had brought for market. This was the same party which had communicated the venereal disease to several of our party last November, and from which they have finally recovered. I therefore gave the men a particular charge with respect to them, which they promised me to observe. Late this evening we were also visited by Ca-tel, a Clatsop man, and his family. He brought a canoe and a sea otter skin for sale, neither of which we could purchase from him. The Clatsops who had brought a canoe for sale last evening left us this morning. Bratten is still very weak and unwell.
There is a third species of brant in the neighborhood of this place which is about the size and much the form of the pied brant. They weigh about 8 1/2 pounds. The wings are not as long nor as pointed as those of the common pied brant. The following is a likeness of its head and beak. A little distance around the base of the beak is white and is suddenly succeeded by a narrow line of dark brown. The balance of the neck, head, back, wings, and tail, all except the tips of the feathers, are of the bluish brown of the common wild goose. The breast and belly are white with an irregular mixture of black feathers, which gives that part a pied appearance. From the legs back underneath the tail, and around the junction of the same with the body above, the feathers are white. The tail is composed of 18 feathers; the longest of which are in the center and measure 6 inches with the barrel of the quill; those on the side of the tail are somewhat shorter and bend with their extremities inwards towards the center of the tail. The extremities of these feathers are white. The beak is of a light flesh color. The legs and feet, which do not differ in structure from those of the goose or brant of the other species, are of an orange-yellow color. The eye is small; the iris is of a dark yellowish brown, and the pupil black. The note of this brant is much like that of the common pied brant, from which in fact they are not to be distinguished at a distance, but they certainly are a distinct species of brant. The flesh of this fowl is as good as that of the common pied brant. They do not remain here during the winter in such numbers as the white brant do, though they have now returned in considerable quantities. We first met with this brant on tidewater.
The clams of this coast are very small. The shells consist of two valves which open with a hinge. The shell is smooth, thin, and of an oval form, or like that of the common mussel, and of a sky-blue color. It is of every size under 1 3/4 inches in length, and hangs in clusters to the moss of the rocks. The natives sometimes eat them. The periwinkles, both of the river and ocean, are similar to those found in the same situation on the Atlantic. There is also an animal which inhabits a shell perfectly circular, about 3 inches in diameter, thin and entire on the margin, convex and smooth on the upper side, plain on the under part and covered with a number of minute capillary fibers by means of which it attaches itself to the sides of the rocks. The shell is thin and consists of one valve. A small circular opening is formed in the center of the under shell. The animal is soft and boneless, etc.
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