Columbia estuary, storm-bound, vote on winter camp — John Ordway: November 8, 1805
The expedition battled rough, high waves as they rounded a point into what they named Shallow Bay, where the river widened to 5 or 6 miles. They believed they could glimpse the mouth of the Columbia River in the distance. Stopping at old Indian camps to dine, they noted abundant swans and geese, and several party members shot ducks. After meeting Indians in a canoe and trading for fresh fish, heavy waves forced them to land on the starboard shore. The water was turning too brackish to drink at high tide, and the evening brought rain.
the waves high tossed us ab* passed round a point in to a bay
which we Call Shallow bay4 where the River is 5 or 6 miles wide
we can see along distance a head we expect we can see the M°
of the Columbian River, we but it appears a long distance off. we
halted in the Shallow bay at some old Indian Camps to dine the
Swan and geese are verry pleanty in this bay. Some of the party
killed Several ducks &C. we then proceeded on an Indian
Canoe and Several Indians in met us we bought Several fresh
fish from them, the waves roled So high that we were obledged
to land5 on the Same Shore Stard Side and took great pains to
keep the canoes from filling with water, the River water is gitting
so brackish that we cannot drink of it at full tide, the evening
rainy.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The waves were high and tossed us about. We passed around a point into a bay which we call Shallow Bay, where the river is 5 or 6 miles wide. We can see a long distance ahead. We expect we can see the mouth of the Columbian River, but it appears a long distance off. We halted in Shallow Bay at some old Indian camps to dine. The swan and geese are very plenty in this bay. Some of the party killed several ducks, etc.
We then proceeded on. An Indian canoe with several Indians met us, and we bought several fresh fish from them. The waves rolled so high that we were obliged to land on the same shore, starboard side, and took great pains to keep the canoes from filling with water. The river water is getting so brackish that we cannot drink it at full tide. The evening was rainy.
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