Clark: March 29, 1806
The expedition set out very early in cold, sharp wind off the snowy eastern mountains, breakfasting at the head of Deer Island. The rising river forced them to paddle out from shore around drift and fallen trees. They met Clannarminamon and Quathlahpahtal Indians, who guided them to the proper channel northeast of the island, and Clark recorded several tribes living on Wappato Inlet and the Chahwahnahiooks River. At a 14-house Quathlahpahtal village, they traded deerskins for 12 dogs, bought wappato roots and a sea otter robe, and gifted a small medal to the chief. They camped on a grassy portage spot near a wappato pond, learning how native women harvest the roots with their feet. Willard and Bratton are recovering. They made 15 miles.
Saturday March 29th 1806 we Set out very early this morning and proceeded
to the head of deer island and took brackfast. the morning was very cold
wind Sharp and keen off the rainge of Mountains to the East Covered with
snow. the river is now riseing very fast and retards our progress very
much as we are compelled to keep out at Some distance in the Curent to
clear the bushes, and fallin trees and drift logs makeing out from the
Shore. dureing the time we were at Brackfast a Canoe with three Indians of
the Clan-nar-min-na-mon Nation came down, one of those men was dressed in
a Salors jacket & hat & the other two had a blanket each, those
people differ but little either in their dress manners & Language from
the Clatsops & Chinnooks they reside on Wappato Inlet which is on the
S W. side about 12 miles above our encampment of the last night and is
about 2 miles from the lower point, four other Tribes also reside on the
inlet and Since which passes on the South W. Side of the Island, the first
tribe from the lower point is the Clannarminamon, on the Island, the
Clackster Nation on the main S. W. Shore. the next Cath-lah-cum-up,
Clhh-in-na-ta, Cath-lah-nah-qui-ah and at Some distance further up is a
tribe called Cath-lah-com-mah-up Those tribes all occupie Single Villages.
we proceeded on to the lower point of the Said island accompanied by the 3
Indians, & were met by 2 canoes of nativs of the quath-lah-pah-tal who
informed us that the chanel to the N E of the Island was the proper one.
we prosued their advice and Crossed into the mouth of the
Chahwah-na-hi-ooks River which is about 200 yards wide and a great portion
of water into the columbia at this time it being high. The indians inform
us that this river is crouded with rapids after Some distance up it.
Several tribes of the Hul-lu-et-tell Nation reside on this river. at 3
oClock P.M. we arived at the Quath lah pah tie Village of 14 Houses on
main Shore to the N E. Side of a large island. those people in their
habits manners Customs and language differ but little from those of the
Clatsops and others below. here we exchanged our deer Skins killed
yesterday for dogs, and purchased others to the Number of 12 for
provisions for the party, as the deer flesh is too poore for the Men to
Subsist on and work as hard as is necessary. I also purchased a Sea Otter
robe. we purchased wappatoe and Some pashaquar roots. gave a Medal of the
Small Size to the principal Chief, and at 5 oClock reembarked and
proceeded up on the N E. of an Island to an inlet about 1 mile above the
village and encamped on a butifull grassy plat, where the nativs make a
portage of their Canoes and Wappato roots to and from a large pond at a
Short dis-tance. in this pond the nativs inform us they Collect great
quantities of pappato, which the womin collect by getting into the water,
Sometimes to their necks holding by a Small canoe and with their feet
loosen the wappato or bulb of the root from the bottom from the Fibers,
and it imedeately rises to the top of the water, they Collect & throw
them into the Canoe, those deep roots are the largest and best roots.
Great numbers of the whistling Swan, Gees and Ducks in the Ponds. Soon
after we landed 3 of the nativs came up with Wappato to Sell a part of
which we purchased. they Continued but a Short time. our men are recoverey
fast. Willard quit well & Bratten much Stronger. we made 15 miles to
day only.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday March 29th 1806. We set out very early this morning and proceeded to the head of Deer Island, where we took breakfast. The morning was very cold, with a sharp and keen wind blowing off the range of mountains to the east, which were covered with snow. The river is now rising very fast and is retarding our progress considerably, as we are compelled to keep out at some distance in the current to clear the bushes, fallen trees, and drift logs extending out from the shore.
While we were at breakfast, a canoe with three Indians of the Clan-nar-min-na-mon Nation came down. One of these men was dressed in a sailor's jacket and hat, and the other two each had a blanket. These people differ but little, either in their dress, manners, or language, from the Clatsops and Chinnooks. They reside on Wappato Inlet, which is on the southwest side about 12 miles above our encampment of last night, and is about 2 miles from the lower point. Four other tribes also reside on the inlet and the channel that passes on the southwest side of the island. The first tribe from the lower point is the Clannarminamon, on the island; the Clackster Nation on the main southwest shore; next the Cath-lah-cum-up, Clhh-in-na-ta, and Cath-lah-nah-qui-ah; and at some distance further up is a tribe called Cath-lah-com-mah-up. These tribes all occupy single villages.
We proceeded on to the lower point of the said island, accompanied by the three Indians, and were met by two canoes of natives of the Quath-lah-pah-tal, who informed us that the channel to the northeast of the island was the proper one. We followed their advice and crossed into the mouth of the Chahwah-na-hi-ooks River, which is about 200 yards wide and discharges a great portion of water into the Columbia at this time, it being high. The Indians inform us that this river is crowded with rapids after some distance up it. Several tribes of the Hul-lu-et-tell Nation reside on this river.
At 3 o'clock p.m. we arrived at the Quath-lah-pah-tle village of 14 houses, on the main shore to the northeast side of a large island. These people, in their habits, manners, customs, and language, differ but little from those of the Clatsops and others below. Here we exchanged our deer skins killed yesterday for dogs, and purchased others to the number of 12 as provisions for the party, as the deer flesh is too poor for the men to subsist on while working as hard as is necessary. I also purchased a sea otter robe. We purchased wappatoe and some pashaquar roots. We gave a medal of the small size to the principal chief, and at 5 o'clock reembarked and proceeded up on the northeast side of an island to an inlet about 1 mile above the village, and camped on a beautiful grassy spot, where the natives make a portage of their canoes and wappato roots to and from a large pond a short distance away.
In this pond, the natives inform us, they collect great quantities of wappato. The women collect them by getting into the water, sometimes up to their necks, holding onto a small canoe, and with their feet loosening the wappato (or bulb of the root) from the fibers at the bottom. It immediately rises to the top of the water, and they collect and throw them into the canoe. These deep roots are the largest and best roots. There are great numbers of whistling swans, geese, and ducks in the ponds. Soon after we landed, three of the natives came up with wappato to sell, part of which we purchased. They stayed only a short time. Our men are recovering fast. Willard is quite well, and Bratten is much stronger. We made only 15 miles today.
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