Clark: November 20, 1805

First Entry

November 20th, Wednesday 1805. Some rain last night. Dispatched 3 men to hunt: Jo. Fields and Cotter to hunt elk, and Labich (Labiche) to kill some brant for our breakfast. The morning cleared up fair and we proceeded on by the same route we went out. At the river we found no Indians. Made a raft, and Ruben Fields (Reuben Fields) crossed and took over a small canoe which lay at the Indian cabin.

This creek is at this time of high tide 300 yards wide, and the marshes for some distance up the creek are covered with water. Not an Indian to be seen near the creek. I proceeded on to camp, and on my way was overtaken by 3 Indians; one gave us sturgeon and wapato roots to eat. I met several parties on the way, all of whom appeared to know me and were distant. Found all well at camp, with many Indians about, one of whom had on a robe made of 2 sea otter skins. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) offered him many things for his skins, among others a blanket and a coat, all of which he refused. We at length purchased it for a belt of blue beads which the squaw had. The tide being out, we walked home on the beach.

Second Entry

Wednesday, November the 20th, 1805. Some rain last night. Dispatched Labiech (Labiche) to kill some fowl for our breakfast; he returned in about 2 hours with 8 large ducks, on which we breakfasted. I proceeded on to the entrance of a creek near a cabin. No person being at this cabin, and 2 canoes lying on the opposite shore from us, I determined to have a raft made and send a man over for a canoe. A small raft was soon made, and Reuben Fields crossed and brought over a canoe.

This creek, which is the outlet of a number of ponds, is at this time (high tide) 300 yards wide. I proceeded on up the beach and was overtaken by three Indians; one of them gave me some dried sturgeon and a few wapato roots. I employed those Indians to take up one of our canoes which had been left by the first party that came down, for which service I gave them each a fishing hook of a large size.

On my way up I met several parties of Chinnooks (Chinooks) which I had not before seen; they were on their return from our camp. All those people appeared to know my determination of keeping every individual of their nation at a proper distance, as they were guarded and reserved in my presence, etc. Found many of the Chinnooks with Capt. Lewis, of whom there were 2 chiefs, Com com mo ly and Chil-lar-la-wil, to whom we gave medals, and to one a flag.

One of the Indians had on a robe made of 2 sea otter skins; the fur of them was more beautiful than any fur I had ever seen. Both Capt. Lewis and myself endeavored to purchase the robe with different articles; at length we procured it for a belt of blue beads which the squaw—wife of our interpreter Shabono (Charbonneau)—wore around her waist. In my absence the hunters had killed several deer and fowl of different kinds.