Columbia River tidewater, approaching estuary — John Ordway: November 3, 1805
The party began the day camped near marshland where hunters shot waterfowl and a large deer, while several Native visitors stayed overnight with two canoes. Setting out around 9 a.m. through heavy fog, they passed sand islands and stopped at midday at the mouth of a wide, shallow, sandy river the officers named Quick Sand River. They sighted a round mountain believed to be Lieutenant Hood's. After traveling 13 miles down the mile-wide river, they camped on a large prairie island teeming with swans, geese, brants, and ducks, joined again by Indians.
on a marshey green below the Camp one of our hunters Shot
Several flying. Several Savages Stayed with us last night they
have 2 canoes with them, we perceive the tide rise and fall a little
at this place, one of the hunters went out a Short distance to
hunt, and killed a large Deer, about 9 oClock we set out and pro-
ceeded on the fog So thick that we could not See across the
River. passd Several Sand Islands about noon we halted to
dine at the mouth of a River which is filled with quick Sand and is
wide and Shallow our officers name this River Quick Sand
River2 on the Lard Side, here we perceive the tide water, we Saw
the round mountain some distance a head which we expect is the
same we saw Some time past, our officers think that it is the
Same which was discovred by Lieu* Hood and is called Hood
Mountain.3 the after part of the day pleasant the River is
better than a mile wide in general, towards evening we met sev-
eral Indians in canoes they Signed to us that their was Some white
people and vessells &C passed Several bottoms covred with
cotten and oak pine &C. the Country not so Mountaineous as
above, we came 13 miles this day and Camped on a verry large
Island4 which is mostly prarie and large ponds. which is full
of Swan Geese brants and ducks &C. Several Indians camped
with us. at Sunset we got a small canoe and carried in the pond
Several Swan geese and brants killed by the party to day and this
evening.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
On a marshy green below the camp, one of our hunters shot several birds in flight. Several Indians stayed with us last night; they have two canoes with them. We notice the tide rises and falls a little at this place. One of the hunters went out a short distance to hunt and killed a large deer.
About 9 o'clock we set out and proceeded on, the fog so thick that we could not see across the river. We passed several sand islands. About noon we halted to dine at the mouth of a river which is filled with quicksand and is wide and shallow. Our officers named this river Quick Sand River, on the larboard side. Here we notice the tide water. We saw the round mountain some distance ahead, which we expect is the same one we saw some time past. Our officers think it is the same one that was discovered by Lieutenant Hood and is called Hood Mountain.
The latter part of the day was pleasant. The river is generally better than a mile wide. Towards evening we met several Indians in canoes. They signed to us that there were some white people and vessels, etc. We passed several bottoms covered with cottonwood, oak, pine, etc. The country is not so mountainous as above. We came 13 miles this day and camped on a very large island, which is mostly prairie and large ponds, full of swan, geese, brants, and ducks, etc. Several Indians camped with us. At sunset we got a small canoe and carried into the pond several swan, geese, and brants killed by the party today and this evening.
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