Lewis: January 5, 1806
Willard and Wiser returned at 5 P.M., reporting they had finally established a salt-making camp about 15 miles southwest along the coast, near friendly Killamuck families. They brought back a sample of excellent salt and some whale blubber gifted by the Indians from a whale that had perished on the shore. Lewis found the cooked blubber palatable, comparing it to beaver or dog meat. The salt makers Fields, Bratton, and Gibson were producing up to a gallon daily. Colter returned empty-handed from hunting. Captain Clark decided to depart the next morning with two canoes and 12 men to find the whale and trade for blubber.
Sunday January 5th 1806. At 5 P.M. Willard and Wiser returned, they had
not been lost as we apprehended. they informed us that it was not untill
the fifth day after leaving the Fort that they could find a convenient
place for making salt; that they had at length established themselves on
the coast about 15 Miles S. W. from this, near the lodge of some Killamuck
families; that the Indians were very friendly and had given them a
considerable quantity of the blubber of a whale which perished on the
coast some distance S. E. of them; part of this blubber they brought with
them, it was white & not unlike the fat of Poark, tho the texture was
more spongey and somewhat coarser. I had a part of it cooked and found it
very pallitable and tender, it resembled the beaver or the dog in flavour.
it may appear somewhat extraordinary tho it is a fact that the flesh of
the beaver and dog possess a very great affinity in point of flavour.
These lads also informed us that J. Fields, Bratton and Gibson (the Salt
makers) had with their assistance erected a comfortable camp killed an Elk
and several deer and secured a good stock of meat; they commenced the
making of salt and found that they could obtain from 3 quarts to a gallon
a day; they brought with them a specemine of the salt of about a gallon,
we found it excellent, fine, strong, & white; this was a great treat
to myself and most of the party, having not had any since the 20th ultmo.;
I say most of the party, for my friend Capt. Clark declares it to be a
mear matter of indifference with him whether he uses it or not; for myself
I must confess I felt a considerable inconvenience from the want of it;
the want of bread I consider as trivial provided, I get fat meat, for as
to the species of meat I am not very particular, the flesh of the dog the
horse and the wolf, having from habit become equally formiliar with any
other, and I have learned to think that if the chord be sufficiently
strong, which binds the soul and boddy together, it dose not so much
matter about the materials which compose it. Colter also returned this
evening unsuccessfull from the chase, having been absent since the 1st
Inst.Capt. Clark determined this evening to set out early tomorrow
with two canoes and 12 men in quest of the whale, or at all events to
purchase from the Indians a parcel of the blubber, for this purpose he
prepared a small assortment of merchandize to take with him.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday January 5th 1806. At 5 P.M. Willard and Wiser returned; they had not been lost as we feared. They informed us that it was not until the fifth day after leaving the Fort that they could find a convenient place for making salt; that they had at length established themselves on the coast about 15 miles S.W. from here, near the lodge of some Killamuck families; that the Indians were very friendly and had given them a considerable quantity of the blubber of a whale which had died on the coast some distance S.E. of them. Part of this blubber they brought with them; it was white and not unlike the fat of pork, though the texture was more spongy and somewhat coarser. I had part of it cooked and found it very palatable and tender; it resembled the beaver or the dog in flavor. It may appear somewhat extraordinary, though it is a fact, that the flesh of the beaver and dog possess a very great affinity in point of flavor.
These lads also informed us that J. Fields, Bratton, and Gibson (the salt makers) had, with their assistance, erected a comfortable camp, killed an elk and several deer, and secured a good stock of meat. They commenced the making of salt and found that they could obtain from 3 quarts to a gallon a day; they brought with them a specimen of the salt of about a gallon. We found it excellent, fine, strong, and white. This was a great treat to myself and most of the party, having not had any since the 20th ultimo. I say most of the party, for my friend Capt. Clark declares it to be a mere matter of indifference with him whether he uses it or not. For myself, I must confess I felt a considerable inconvenience from the want of it. The want of bread I consider as trivial, provided I get fat meat; for as to the species of meat I am not very particular, the flesh of the dog, the horse, and the wolf having, from habit, become equally familiar with any other; and I have learned to think that if the cord be sufficiently strong which binds the soul and body together, it does not so much matter about the materials which compose it.
Colter also returned this evening unsuccessful from the chase, having been absent since the 1st instant. Capt. Clark determined this evening to set out early tomorrow with two canoes and 12 men in quest of the whale, or at all events to purchase from the Indians a parcel of the blubber. For this purpose he prepared a small assortment of merchandise to take with him.
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