Clark: May 25, 1806
Rain fell overnight and into the morning. The sick Nez Perce chief worsened, and an attempted sweat failed because he could not sit up; Clark told the natives only severe sweats might help. The infant child was also unwell, treated again with cream of tartar and an onion poultice. Drouillard, Labiche, Cruzatte, and the Field brothers went hunting; Goodrich bought a few roots at the second village and reported salmon arriving from Lewis's river. Clark recorded extensive observations on local bears, concluding the varied colors represent a single species distinct from the common black bear.
Sunday 25th May 1806 rained moderately the greater part of last night and
this morning untill 6 A.M. The child is not So well to day as yesterday. I
repeeted the Creem of tarter and the onion poltice. I caused a Swet to be
prepared for the Indn. in the Same hole which bratten had been Sweeten in
two days past Drewyer Labiech and Peter crusatt Set out hunting towards
the quarmash grounds if they can cross the Creek which is between this and
that place, which has been the bearrer as yet to our hunters. Jos. & R
Fields crossed the river to hunt on the opposit side. Goodrich went to the
2d village to purchase roots a fiew of which he precured. he informed us
that only 8 persons remained in the Village. the men were either hunting
on Lewis’s river fishing, & the women out digging roots. he saw
Several fresh Salmon which the nativs informed him Came from Lewis’s river
and were fat and fine. one of our men purchased a Bear Skin of the nativs
which was nearly of a Cream Coloured white. this Skin which was the Skin
of an animal of the middle Size of bears together with the defferent Sizes
colours &c. of those which have been killed by our hunters give me a
Stronger evidence of the various Coloured bear of this country being one
Species only, than any I have heretofore had. the poil of these bear were
infinately longer finer & thicker than the black bear their tallons
also longer & more blunt as worn by digging roots. the white redish
brown and bey Coloured bear I saw together on the Missouri; the bey &
Grizly have been Seen and killed together here. for these were the Colours
of those which Collins killed on the 14th inst. in short it is not common
to find two bear here of this Species presisely of the same colour, and if
we were to attempt to distinguish them by their colours and to denomonate
each colour a distinct Species we Should Soon find at least twenty. the
most Strikeing difference between this Species of bear and the Common
black bear are that the former are large and have longer tallens, hair,
and tushes, prey more on other animals, do not lie so long or so closely
in winter quarters, and will not Climb a tree, tho ever so hardly pursued.
the varigated bear I believe to be the Same here with those of the
Missouri but these are not so ferocious as those on the Missouri perhaps
from the Circumstance of their being compeled from the scercity of game in
this quarter to live more on roots and of course not so much in the habit
of Seizing and debowering liveing animals. the bear here is far from being
as passive as the common black bear, they have atacked and fought our
hunters already but not so feircely as those of the Missouri. There are
also some of the Common black bear in this neghbourhood tho no So Common
as the other Species.
we attempted to swet the sick indian but could not Suckceed. he was not
able either to Set up or be Supported in the place prepared for him. I
therefore deturmined to inform the Nativs that nothing but Sefere Swetts
would restore this disabled man, and even that doubtfull in his present
Situation. in the evening Shields & gibson returned haveing killed a
Sandhill Crane only. they Saw a female bear, & 2 Cubs & Several
deer. they Shot the bear and a deer both of which made their escape.
Gibson told me that the Cubs were of different Colours one jut black and
the other of a whiteish Colour-. 4 indians Continue with us, one return to
their village to daey
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday 25th May 1806. It rained moderately for the greater part of last night and this morning until 6 A.M. The child is not as well today as yesterday. I repeated the cream of tartar and the onion poultice. I caused a sweat to be prepared for the Indian in the same hole in which Bratten had been sweated two days ago. Drewyer, Labiech, and Peter Crusatt (Cruzatte) set out hunting towards the quamash grounds, if they can cross the creek which is between here and that place, which has so far been the barrier to our hunters. Jos. & R. Fields crossed the river to hunt on the opposite side. Goodrich went to the 2nd village to purchase roots, a few of which he procured. He informed us that only 8 persons remained in the village. The men were either hunting on Lewis's river or fishing, and the women were out digging roots. He saw several fresh salmon which the natives informed him came from Lewis's river and were fat and fine. One of our men purchased a bear skin from the natives which was nearly a cream-colored white. This skin, which was from an animal of medium size, together with the different sizes, colors, etc. of those which have been killed by our hunters, gives me stronger evidence that the variously colored bears of this country are only one species than any I have had before. The fur of these bears was infinitely longer, finer, and thicker than that of the black bear, and their claws were also longer and more blunt from being worn down by digging roots. I saw white, reddish-brown, and bay-colored bears together on the Missouri; the bay and grizzly have been seen and killed together here, for these were the colors of those which Collins killed on the 14th instant. In short, it is not common to find two bears here of this species precisely of the same color, and if we were to attempt to distinguish them by their colors and to call each color a distinct species, we should soon find at least twenty. The most striking differences between this species of bear and the common black bear are that the former are larger and have longer claws, hair, and tusks, prey more on other animals, do not lie so long or so closely in winter quarters, and will not climb a tree, no matter how hard they are pursued. I believe the variegated bear here is the same as those of the Missouri, but these are not as ferocious as those on the Missouri, perhaps because they are compelled, by the scarcity of game in this quarter, to live more on roots and therefore are not so much in the habit of seizing and devouring living animals. The bear here is far from being as passive as the common black bear; they have attacked and fought our hunters already, but not so fiercely as those of the Missouri. There are also some of the common black bear in this neighborhood, though not so common as the other species.
We attempted to sweat the sick Indian but could not succeed. He was not able either to sit up or be supported in the place prepared for him. I therefore determined to inform the natives that nothing but severe sweats would restore this disabled man, and even that was doubtful in his present situation. In the evening Shields & Gibson returned, having killed only a sandhill crane. They saw a female bear and 2 cubs and several deer. They shot the bear and a deer, both of which made their escape. Gibson told me that the cubs were of different colors, one jet black and the other of a whitish color. 4 Indians continue with us; one returned to their village today.
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