Clark: March 17, 1806
Catel and his family departed, while Delashelwilt and his women lingered near the fort, attempting unsuccessfully to tempt the men from their pledge of celibacy. The canoes were readied for departure, with the captains eager to leave before April due to unpredictable weather needed for calm passage to the Cathlamahs. Drouillard returned with two canoes from the Cathlamahs, having traded Captain Lewis's laced uniform coat and tobacco for one. Still short one canoe, since the Clatsops refused to sell, the party considered taking one as compensation for six elk the Clatsops had stolen.
Monday March 17th 1806 Catel and his family left us this morning. Old
Delashelwill and his women still remain, they have formed a Camp near the
fort and Seam determined to lay Close Sege to us, but I believe
notwithstanding every effort of their wining graces, the men have
preserved their constancy to the vow of celibacy which they made on this
Occasion to Capt L. and my self. we have had our Canoes prepared for our
departure, and Shall Set out as Soon as the weather will permit. the
weather is So precarious that we fear by waiting untill the first of April
that we might be detained Several days longer before we could get from
this to the Cath-lah-mahs, as it must be Calm or we cannot accomplish that
part of the rout in our Canoes. Drewyer returned late this evening from
the Cath-lah-mahs with our Indian Canoe which Sergt. Pryor had left Some
days since, and also a Canoe, which he had purchased from those people.
for this canoe he gave Captn. Lewis’s uniform laced coat and nearly half a
Carrot of to-bacco. it Seams that nothing except this Coat would induce
them to dispose of a Canoe which in their mode of traffic is an article of
the greatest value except a wife, with whome it is nearly equal, and is
generally given in exchange to the father for his Daughter. I think that
the United States are injustice indebted to Captn Lewis another uniform
Coat for that of which he has disposed of on this ocasion, it was but
little worn.
We yet want another Canoe as the Clatsops will not Sell us one, a
proposition has been made by one of our interpt and Several of the party
to take one in lieu of 6 Elk which they Stole from us this winter &c.
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Monday March 17th 1806. Catel and his family left us this morning. Old Delashelwill and his women still remain; they have formed a camp near the fort and seem determined to lay close siege to us, but I believe that, notwithstanding every effort of their winning graces, the men have preserved their constancy to the vow of celibacy which they made on this occasion to Capt L. (Capt. Lewis) and myself. We have had our canoes prepared for our departure, and shall set out as soon as the weather will permit. The weather is so precarious that we fear, by waiting until the first of April, that we might be detained several days longer before we could get from this to the Cath-lah-mahs, as it must be calm or we cannot accomplish that part of the route in our canoes. Drewyer returned late this evening from the Cath-lah-mahs with our Indian canoe, which Sergt. Pryor had left some days since, and also a canoe which he had purchased from those people. For this canoe he gave Captn. Lewis's (Capt. Lewis's) uniform laced coat and nearly half a carrot of tobacco. It seems that nothing except this coat would induce them to dispose of a canoe, which in their mode of traffic is an article of the greatest value except a wife, with whom it is nearly equal, and is generally given in exchange to the father for his daughter. I think that the United States are in justice indebted to Captn Lewis (Capt. Lewis) another uniform coat for that of which he has disposed on this occasion; it was but little worn.
We yet want another canoe, as the Clatsops will not sell us one. A proposition has been made by one of our interpreters and several of the party to take one in lieu of 6 elk which they stole from us this winter, etc.
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