Columbia River tidewater, approaching estuary — John Ordway: November 4, 1805
The expedition continued down the tidal Columbia River in good weather, setting out around 7 a.m. after a hunter killed a deer on their island camp. They passed several large wooded and prairie islands and stopped at a large new village of about 35 cabins on the south bank, where they traded for dogs and potato-like roots. While dining, visiting Indians stole Captain Clark's pipe tomahawk. Later they met Indians in a canoe with a carved figurehead, one speaking some English. They sighted Mount Rainier, saw sea otters, and camped after dark having traveled 28 miles.
feet at this place one of the hunters killed a Deer on said Island,
about 7 oClock we set out and proceeded on passed Several
1 The party had reached tidewater on the river. From this point it is a
great tidal stream varying in width from a mile to ten or twelve miles as the
ocean is approached.
2 Modern Sandy River, Multnomah County, Ore.
3 Mt. Hood was now some distance in the rear of the party. It was dis-
covered in 1792 by Lieutenant Broughton, of Vancouver’s expedition, who
named it in honor of the English admiral.
* Which they named Diamond Island; it is modern Government Island, a
few miles above Vancouver, Wash.
308 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Nov. 5
large Islands partly covred with cotten timber & partly prarie.
proceeded on about 8 miles came to a large new village on the Lard
side consisting of about 35 Cabbens and have 50 fine canoes they
have considerable of cloaths of different kinds among them, wool
hats &C. we bought several dogs, and some excelent roots
nearly like potatoes1 these Savages killed and brought in Sev-
eral Deer to day. we then went on a Short distance farther &
halted to dine on the Stard Side two canoe loads of Savages fol-
lowed us and Stole Cap1 Clarks pipe tommahawk which he had
been Smoaking with them, we could not find it with them, they
had several muskets on board of their canoes, we then proceeded
on passed Islands the most of the way on the Lard Side and tim-
bred bottoms on each side. Some oak mostly cotton timber
the pine continues back from the River, we passed Several large
villages on each side the natives verry numerous the country
appears good the Soil rich, towards evening we met several
Indians in a handsom canoe which had an Immage on the bow.
one of the Indians could talk & Speak Some words [of] English
Such as curseing and blackguard they had a Sturgeon on board
and have five muskets on board, we discovred a high round
mountain Some distance back from the River on the Stard Side
which is called mount rainy.2 Saw a number of sea otter in the
River, we Came 28 miles this day and Camped after dark on the
Stard Side the geese and brants verry thick.3
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Feet at this place. One of the hunters killed a deer on said island. About 7 o'clock we set out and proceeded on, passed several large islands partly covered with cottonwood timber and partly prairie. Proceeded on about 8 miles, came to a large new village on the larboard side consisting of about 35 cabins, and they have 50 fine canoes. They have a considerable amount of clothes of different kinds among them, wool hats, etc. We bought several dogs, and some excellent roots nearly like potatoes. These natives killed and brought in several deer today.
We then went on a short distance farther and halted to dine on the starboard side. Two canoe loads of natives followed us and stole Capt Clark's (Capt. Clark's) pipe tomahawk, which he had been smoking with them. We could not find it with them. They had several muskets on board their canoes. We then proceeded on, passed islands most of the way on the larboard side, and timbered bottoms on each side. Some oak, mostly cottonwood timber. The pine continues back from the river. We passed several large villages on each side. The natives are very numerous. The country appears good, the soil rich.
Towards evening we met several Indians in a handsome canoe which had an image on the bow. One of the Indians could talk and speak some words of English, such as cursing and blackguard. They had a sturgeon on board and have five muskets on board. We discovered a high round mountain some distance back from the river on the starboard side, which is called Mount Rainy (Mount Rainier). Saw a number of sea otter in the river. We came 28 miles this day and camped after dark on the starboard side. The geese and brants are very thick.
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