Clark: March 6, 1806
At Fort Clatsop, fishing and hunting parties departed as planned. Around 11 a.m., Chief Comowool visited with two of his sons, bringing well-cured anchovies that were warmly welcomed; the captains gave the boys a twisted wire and a pair of old gloves, noting Comowool was the friendliest local Indian they had met. Hall was recovering from a leg injury caused by a falling log, and Bratten remained weak with back pain, the convalescents slowed by poor diet. Clark also recorded detailed notes on regional birds, including herons, fishing hawks, kingfishers, four gull species, and cormorants.
Thursday March 6th 1806 This morning, the fishing and hunting party’s Set
out agreeably to their instructions given them last evening. At 11 a.m. we
were visited by Commowoll and two boys Sons of his. he presented us with
Some Anchovies which had been well Cured in their manner, we found them
excellent. they were very acceptable perticularly at this moment. we gave
the old mans Sones a twisted wire to ware about his neck, and I gave him a
par of old glovs which he was much pleased with. this we have found much
the most friendly and decent Indian that we have met with in this
neighbourhood.
Hall had his foot and ankle much injured yesterday by the fall of a log
which he had on his Sholder; the bones are fortunately not broken, I
expect he will be able to walk again Shortly. Bratten is now weaker than
any of the convalessants, and complains verry much of his back, all of
them recovering Slowly in consequence of the want of proper diet, which we
have it not in our power to precure.
The large Blue and brown Herons or crains as they are usialy called in the
U States are found below tide water. they are the Same of those of the U,
States. The Fishing Hawk with the Crown of the head white, and back of a
milkey white, and the blue crested or king fisher are found on every part
of the Columbia and its water Along which we passed and are the Same with
those of the U, States. the fishing hawk is not abundant, particularly in
the mountains. There are 4 Species of the larus or gull on this coast and
river. 1st a Small Species the Size of a Pegion; white except some black
spots about the head and the little bone on the but of the wing. 2d a
Species Somewhat larger of a light brown colour, with a mealy coloured
back. 3rd the large Grey Gull, or white larus with a greyish brown back,
and light grey belly and breast, about the Size of a well grown pullet,
the wings are remarkably long in perpotion to the Size of the body and
it’s under chap towards the extremity is gibbous and protuberant than in
either of the other Species. a White Gull about the Size of the Second
with a remarkable beak; adjoining the head and on the base of the upper
Chap there is an elivated orning of the Same Substance with the beak which
forms the nostriels at A; it is Somewhat in this form. the feet are webed
and the legs and feet of a yellow colour. the form of the wings body &c
are much that of the 2d Species this bird was Seen on Haleys bay.
The large Grey Gull is found on the Columbian waters as high as the
enterence of the Koos koos ke and in common with the other Species on the
coast; the others appear confined to the tidewater, and the 4th Species
not So common as either of the others. The Comorant is a large black duck
which feeds on fish; I proceive no difference between it & these found
in the rivers of the Atlantic Coasts. we met with as high up the river as
the enterance of the Chopunnish into the Kooskooske river. they increased
in numbers as we decended, and formed much the Greatest portion of
waterfowls which we saw on the Columbia untill we reached tidewater, where
they also abound but do not bear a Similar proportion to the fowls found
in this quarter. we found this bird fat and tolerably flavoured as we
decended the Columbia.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday March 6th 1806. This morning, the fishing and hunting parties set out according to the instructions given to them last evening. At 11 a.m. we were visited by Commowoll and two of his sons. He presented us with some anchovies that had been well cured in their manner, and we found them excellent. They were very welcome, particularly at this moment. We gave the old man's sons a twisted wire to wear around the neck, and I gave him a pair of old gloves, which pleased him very much. This man has been by far the most friendly and decent Indian we have met in this neighborhood.
Hall had his foot and ankle badly injured yesterday by the fall of a log which he had been carrying on his shoulder; fortunately the bones are not broken, and I expect he will be able to walk again shortly. Bratten is now weaker than any of the convalescents, and complains very much of his back. All of them are recovering slowly because of the lack of proper diet, which we are not able to provide.
The large blue and brown herons, or cranes as they are usually called in the United States, are found below tidewater. They are the same as those of the United States. The fishing hawk, with the crown of its head white and its back a milky white, and the blue-crested kingfisher, are found on every part of the Columbia and its waters along which we traveled, and they are the same as those of the United States. The fishing hawk is not abundant, particularly in the mountains. There are four species of the larus, or gull, on this coast and river. 1st, a small species the size of a pigeon; white except for some black spots about the head and the little bone at the butt of the wing. 2nd, a species somewhat larger, of a light brown color, with a mealy-colored back. 3rd, the large gray gull, or white larus, with a grayish-brown back and light gray belly and breast, about the size of a well-grown pullet; the wings are remarkably long in proportion to the size of the body, and the under part of its bill toward the tip is more gibbous and protuberant than in any of the other species. 4th, a white gull about the size of the second, with a remarkable beak; adjoining the head and on the base of the upper bill there is a raised ridge of the same substance as the beak, which forms the nostrils at A; it is somewhat in this form. The feet are webbed, and the legs and feet are yellow. The form of the wings, body, etc. is much like that of the 2nd species. This bird was seen on Haleys bay.
The large gray gull is found on the Columbian waters as high up as the entrance of the Koos koos ke (Kooskooske), and, in common with the other species, on the coast; the others appear confined to the tidewater, and the 4th species is not as common as the others. The cormorant is a large black duck that feeds on fish; I perceive no difference between it and those found in the rivers of the Atlantic coast. We met with this bird as high up the river as the entrance of the Chopunnish into the Kooskooske River. They increased in numbers as we descended, and formed by far the greatest portion of the waterfowl we saw on the Columbia until we reached tidewater, where they also abound, but do not make up a similar proportion of the fowls found in this region. We found this bird fat and tolerably flavored as we descended the Columbia.
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