Clark: March 5, 1806
Two Clatsop parties visited Fort Clatsop to trade fish, a hat, and skins before returning home with the tide. Hunters came back from the Kilhawanackle River empty-handed, reporting that elk had moved off to distant mountains—worrying news with only two days of spoiled provisions left. Clark dispatched Sergeant Pryor up the Columbia to buy fish from Indian fishermen and sent two hunting parties out the next morning. The captains decided to delay leaving Fort Clatsop past April 1 only if hunger forced it, since the open plains lacked fuel.
Wednesday March 5th 1806. This morning we were visited by two parties of
Clatsops they brought Some fish, a hat and Some Skins for Sale most of
which we purchased, they returned to their Village in the evening with the
returning tide. late in the evening the Hunters returned from the
Kil-haw-d nack-kle River which discharges itself into the head of the Bay.
They had neither killed nor Seen any Elk. they informed us that the Elk
had all gorn off to the mountains a considerable distance from us. this is
unwelcom information and reather alarming. we have only two days
provisions on hand and that nearly Spoiled. we made up a Small assortment
of Articles to trade with the Indians, and directed Sergt Natl. Pryor to
Set out early in the morning in a canoe with two men, to assend the
Columbia to the resort of the Indians fishermen and purchase Some fish; we
also derected two parties of hunters to renew the chase tomorrow early.
the one up the Netul, and the other towards point Adams. If we find that
the Elk have left us, we have determined to assend the river slowly and
endeaver to precure Subsistance on the way, Consumeing the month of March
in the woody Country, earlyer than april we conceive it a folly to attempt
the Open plains where we know there is no fuel except a fiew Small dry
Shrubs. we Shall not leave our quarters at Fort Clatsop untill the 1st of
April as we intended, unless the want of Subsistance compels us to that
measure.
The common Snipe of the marshes and the Small sand snipe are the same of
those Common to the atlantic coast tho the former are by no means as
abundant here.
The Sparrow of the woody country is also Similar to ours but not abundant.
those of the plains of Columbia are the Same with those of the Missouri.
tho they are by no means So Abundant. I have not Seen the little Singing
lark or the large brown Curloe So Common to the Plains of the Missouri.
but believe the Curloe is an inhabitent of this Countrey dureing Summer
from Indian information and their attemps to mimick the notes of this
fowl. I have no doubt but what maney Species of birds found here in autumn
and Summer had departed before our arrival.
The Aquatic Birds of this country or such as obtain their Subsistence from
the water, are the large blue and brown heron, fishing Hawk, blue crested
fisher, Gulls of Several Species of the Coast, the large grey Gull of the
Columbia, Comorant, loons of two Species, white and the brown brant, Small
and large Geese, small and large Swans, the Duckinmallard, canvis back
Duck, red headed fishing Duck, black and white duck, little brown Duck,
Black Duck, two Species of Divers, blue winged teal, 14 and Some other
Species of Ducks, two Species of Plevers.
The hunters who were out last informed me that they discovered a very
Considerable fall in the Kit-haw-a-nack-kle River on its main western fork
at which place it falls abt. 100 feet from the Side of a mountain S. E.
about 6 miles from Fort Clatsop and nearly 15 from its enterance into the
bay by the Meanderings of this river a high mountain is Situated S 60° W.
about 18 miles from Fort Clatsop on which there has been Snow Since Nov.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday, March 5th, 1806. This morning we were visited by two parties of Clatsops. They brought some fish, a hat, and some skins for sale, most of which we purchased. They returned to their village in the evening with the returning tide. Late in the evening the hunters returned from the Kil-haw-d nack-kle River, which discharges itself into the head of the bay. They had neither killed nor seen any elk. They informed us that the elk had all gone off to the mountains a considerable distance from us. This is unwelcome information and rather alarming. We have only two days' provisions on hand, and that nearly spoiled. We made up a small assortment of articles to trade with the Indians, and directed Sergt. Natl. Pryor (Sergeant Nathaniel Pryor) to set out early in the morning in a canoe with two men, to ascend the Columbia to the resort of the Indian fishermen and purchase some fish. We also directed two parties of hunters to renew the chase tomorrow early, the one up the Netul, and the other towards Point Adams. If we find that the elk have left us, we have determined to ascend the river slowly and endeavor to procure subsistence on the way, consuming the month of March in the woody country. Earlier than April we conceive it a folly to attempt the open plains, where we know there is no fuel except a few small dry shrubs. We shall not leave our quarters at Fort Clatsop until the 1st of April, as we intended, unless the want of subsistence compels us to that measure.
The common snipe of the marshes and the small sand snipe are the same as those common to the Atlantic coast, though the former are by no means as abundant here.
The sparrow of the woody country is also similar to ours, but not abundant. Those of the plains of Columbia are the same as those of the Missouri, though they are by no means so abundant. I have not seen the little singing lark or the large brown curlew so common to the plains of the Missouri, but I believe the curlew is an inhabitant of this country during summer, from Indian information and their attempts to mimic the notes of this fowl. I have no doubt that many species of birds found here in autumn and summer had departed before our arrival.
The aquatic birds of this country, or such as obtain their subsistence from the water, are the large blue and brown heron, fishing hawk, blue crested fisher, gulls of several species of the coast, the large grey gull of the Columbia, cormorant, loons of two species, white and the brown brant, small and large geese, small and large swans, the duckinmallard, canvasback duck, red-headed fishing duck, black and white duck, little brown duck, black duck, two species of divers, blue-winged teal, 14 and some other species of ducks, two species of plovers.
The hunters who were out last informed me that they discovered a very considerable fall in the Kit-haw-a-nack-kle River on its main western fork, at which place it falls about 100 feet from the side of a mountain S.E. about 6 miles from Fort Clatsop and nearly 15 from its entrance into the bay by the meanderings of this river. A high mountain is situated S 60° W. about 18 miles from Fort Clatsop, on which there has been snow since November.
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