Lewis: January 20, 1806
Three Clatsops visited the camp and stayed the day, just to smoke the pipe. The sergeant reported that the six pounds of jerked elk issued per man on January 18th was already gone, meaning the remaining seven elk would only last three more days. The party showed little concern, having grown accustomed to short rations and confident in their hunting skills. The visiting Indians confirmed that pounded fish was traded among local tribes—Clatsops, Chinooks, Cathlamahs, and Skilloots—not whites. Lewis also noted native root foods including thistle, fern, rush, licorice, and a sweet-potato-like root.
Tuesday January 20th 1806. Visited this morning by three Clatsops who
remained with us all day; the object of their visit is mearly to smoke the
pipe. on the morning of the eighteenth we issued 6 lbs. of jirked Elk pr.
man, this evening the Sergt. repoted that it was all exhausted; the six
lbs. have therefore lasted two days and a half only. at this rate our
seven Elk will last us only 3 days longer, yet no one seems much concerned
about the state of the stores; so much for habit. we have latterly so
frequently had our stock of provisions reduced to a minimum and sometimes
taken a small touch of fasting that three days full allowance excites no
concern. In those cases our skill as hunters afford us some consolation,
for if there is any game of any discription in our neighbourhood we can
track it up and kill it. most of the party have become very expert with
the rifle. The Indians who visited us today understood us sufficiently to
inform us that the whites did not barter for the pounded fish; that it was
purchased and consumed by the Clatsops, Chinnooks, Cathlahmah’s and
Skillutes. The native roots which furnish a considerable proportion of the
subsistence of the indians in our neighbourhood are those of a species of
Thistle, fern and rush; the Liquorice, and a small celindric root the top
of which I have not yet seen, this last resembles the sweet pittatoe very
much in it’s flavor and consistency.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday, January 20th, 1806. We were visited this morning by three Clatsops who stayed with us all day; the purpose of their visit was merely to smoke the pipe. On the morning of the eighteenth we issued 6 pounds of jerked elk per man, and this evening the Sergeant reported that it was all gone; the six pounds therefore lasted only two and a half days. At this rate our seven elk will last us only 3 days longer, yet no one seems much concerned about the state of the stores; so much for habit. We have lately had our stock of provisions reduced to a minimum so frequently, and sometimes taken a small touch of fasting, that three days' full allowance excites no concern. In these cases our skill as hunters affords us some consolation, for if there is any game of any description in our neighborhood we can track it down and kill it. Most of the party have become very expert with the rifle.
The Indians who visited us today understood us well enough to inform us that the whites did not trade for the pounded fish; that it was purchased and consumed by the Clatsops, Chinnooks, Cathlahmahs, and Skillutes. The native roots which furnish a considerable proportion of the food of the Indians in our neighborhood are those of a species of thistle, fern, and rush; the licorice, and a small cylindrical root the top of which I have not yet seen. This last resembles the sweet potato very much in its flavor and consistency.
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