Clark: November 8, 1805
On a cloudy, rainy Friday, the party changed clothes and set out at 9 a.m., traveling close to the starboard shore beneath steep hills. Three Indians overtook them in a canoe and sold four salmon for fishhooks and red cloth. After dining at an old village in a shallow bay, where Reuben Fields shot a goose and two canvasback ducks, they pushed on with the tide but were stopped by high swells. They camped on a cramped point with salty river water, soaked and miserable; Reuben Fields, Wiser, McNeal, and Sacagawea grew seasick.
Novr. 8th Friday 1805 a cloudy morning Some rain and wind we Changed our
Clothes and Set out at 9 oClock proceeded on Close under the Stard. Side
R. Fields Killed a goose & 2 Canvis back Ducks in this bay after
Dinner we took the advantage of the returning tide & proceeded on to
the 2d point, at which place we found the Swells too high to proceed we
landed and drew our canoes up So as to let the tide leave them. The three
Indians after Selling us 4 fish for which we gave Seven Small fishing
hooks, and a piece of red Cloth. Some fine rain at intervales all this
day. the Swells Continued high all the evening & we are Compelled to
form an Encampment on a Point Scercely room Sufficent for us all to lie
Clear of the tide water. hills high & with a Steep assent, river wide
& at this place too Salt to be used for Drink. we are all wet and
disagreeable, as we have been Continually for Severl. days past, we are at
a loss & cannot find out if any Settlement is near the mouth of this
river.
The Swells were So high and the Canoes roled in Such a manner as to cause
Several to be verry Sick. Reuben fields, Wiser McNeal & the Squar wer
of the number
—
November 8th Friday 1805 A Cloudy morning Some rain, we did not Set out
untill 9 oClock, haveing Changed our Clothingproceeded on Close
under the Stard. Side, the hills high with Steep assent, Shore boald and
rockey Several low Islands in a Deep bend or Bay to the Lard Side, river
about 5 or 7 miles wide. three Indians in a Canoe overtook us, with Salmon
to Sell, passed 2 old villages on the Stard. Side and at 3 miles entered a
nitch of about 6 miles wide and 5 miles deep with Several Creeks makeing
into the Stard Hills, this nitch we found verry Shallow water and Call it
the Shallow nitch we came too at the remains of an old village at the
bottom of this nitch and dined, here we Saw great numbers of fowl, Sent
out 2 men and they killed a Goose and two Canves back Ducks here we found
great numbers of Hees which we treated with the greatest caution and
distance; after Diner the Indians left us and we took the advantage of a
returning tide and proceeded on to the Second point on the Std. here we
found the Swells or waves So high that we thought it imprudent to proceed;
we landed unloaded and drew up our Canoes. Some rain all day at
intervales; we are all wet and disagreeable, as we have been for Several
days past, and our present Situation a verry disagreeable one in as much;
as we have not leavel land Sufficient for an encampment and for our
baggage to lie Cleare of the tide, the High hills jutting in So Close and
Steep that we cannot retreat back, and the water of the river too Salt to
be used, added to this the waves are increasing to Such a hight that we
cannot move from this place, in this Situation we are compelled to form
our Camp between the hite of the Ebb and flood tides, and rase our baggage
on logsWe are not certain as yet if the whites people who trade
with those people or from whome they precure ther goods are Stationary at
the mouth, or visit this quarter at Stated times for the purpose of
trafick &c. I believe the latter to be the most probable conjuctureThe
Seas roled and tossed the Canoes in Such a manner this evening that
Several of our party were Sea Sick.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
November 8th, Friday 1805. A cloudy morning with some rain and wind. We changed our clothes and set out at 9 o'clock, proceeding close under the Starboard side. R. Fields killed a goose and 2 canvasback ducks in this bay. After dinner we took advantage of the returning tide and proceeded on to the 2nd point, at which place we found the swells too high to continue. We landed and drew our canoes up so as to let the tide leave them. The three Indians ended up selling us 4 fish, for which we gave seven small fishing hooks and a piece of red cloth. Some fine rain at intervals all this day. The swells continued high all the evening, and we were compelled to form an encampment on a point scarcely with room enough for us all to lie clear of the tide water. The hills are high and with a steep ascent, the river wide and at this place too salty to be used for drinking. We are all wet and uncomfortable, as we have been continually for several days past. We are at a loss and cannot find out if any settlement is near the mouth of this river.
The swells were so high and the canoes rolled in such a manner as to cause several to be very sick. Reuben Fields, Wiser, McNeal, and the squaw were among that number.
November 8th, Friday 1805. A cloudy morning with some rain. We did not set out until 9 o'clock, having changed our clothing. We proceeded on close under the Starboard side. The hills are high with a steep ascent, the shore bold and rocky, with several low islands in a deep bend or bay to the Larboard side. The river is about 5 or 7 miles wide. Three Indians in a canoe overtook us with salmon to sell. We passed 2 old villages on the Starboard side, and at 3 miles entered a niche about 6 miles wide and 5 miles deep, with several creeks making into the Starboard hills. This niche we found had very shallow water, and we call it Shallow Niche. We came to at the remains of an old village at the bottom of this niche and dined. Here we saw great numbers of fowl. We sent out 2 men and they killed a goose and two canvasback ducks. Here we found great numbers of fleas, which we treated with the greatest caution and distance. After dinner the Indians left us, and we took advantage of a returning tide and proceeded on to the second point on the Starboard. Here we found the swells or waves so high that we thought it imprudent to proceed. We landed, unloaded, and drew up our canoes. Some rain all day at intervals. We are all wet and uncomfortable, as we have been for several days past, and our present situation is a very disagreeable one, inasmuch as we do not have level land sufficient for an encampment and for our baggage to lie clear of the tide. The high hills jut in so close and steep that we cannot retreat back, and the water of the river is too salty to be used. Added to this, the waves are increasing to such a height that we cannot move from this place. In this situation we are compelled to form our camp between the height of the ebb and flood tides, and raise our baggage on logs. We are not certain as yet whether the white people who trade with these people, or from whom they procure their goods, are stationary at the mouth, or visit this quarter at stated times for the purpose of traffic, etc. I believe the latter to be the most probable conjecture. The seas rolled and tossed the canoes in such a manner this evening that several of our party were seasick.
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