Lewis: March 25, 1806
On a cold morning, the expedition breakfasted before setting out at 7 A.M., traveling slowly up the south side of the river against wind and current. At midday they encountered Clatsops returning from a trading voyage with the Skillutes, carrying dried anchovies, wapato, and sturgeon. Crossing to a large island, they visited a Cathlahmah fishing camp but found sturgeon prices too high, though one man traded for a sea otter skin. After struggling to find dry ground, they camped near a creek alongside another Cathlahmah party, who shared seal meat. Lewis noted local plants beginning to leaf out.
Tuesday March 25th 1806. The morning being disagreeably cold we remained
and took break-fast. at 7 A.M. we set out and continued our rout along the
South Coast of the river against the wind and a strong current, our
progress was of course but slow. at noon we halted and dined. here some
Clatsops came to us in a canoe loaded with dryed anchovies, which they
call Olthen, Wappetoe and Sturgeon. they informed us that they had been up
on a trading voyage to the Skillutes.I observe that the green bryer
which I have previously mentioned as being common on this river below tide
water retains it’s leaves all winter.the red willow and seven bark
begin to put fourth their leaves.after dinner we passed the river
to a large Island 2 and continued our rout allong the side of the same
about a mile when we arrived at a Cathlahmah fishing cam of one lodge;
here we found 3 men 2 women and a couple of boys, who from appearances had
remained here some time for the purpose of taking sturgeon, which they do
by trolling. they had ten or douzen very fine sturgeon which had not been
long taken. we offered to purchase some of their fish but they asked us
such an extravegant price that we declined purchase. one of the men
purchased a sea Otterskin at this lodge, for which he gave a dressed
Elkskin and an handkercheif. near this lodge we met some Cathlahmahs who
had been up the river on a fishing excurtion. they had a good stock of
fish on board, but did not seem disposed to sell them. we remained at this
place about half an hour and then continued our rout up the Island to it’s
head and passed to the south side. the wind in the evening was very hard.
it was with some difficulty that we could find a spot proper for an
encampment, the shore being a swamp for several miles back; at length late
in the evening opposite to the place we had encamped on the 6th of
November last; we found the entrance of a small creek which afforded us a
safe harbour from the wind and encamped. the ground was low and moist tho
we obtained a tolerable encampment. here we found another party of
Cathlahmahs about 10 in number who had established a temperary residence
for the purpose of fishing and taking seal. they had taken a fine parcel
of sturgeon and some seal. they gave us some of the fleese of the seal
which I found a great improvement to the poor Elk. here we found Drewyer
and the Feildses who had been seperated from us since morning; they had
passed on the North side of the large Island which was much nearer. the
bottom lands are covered with cottonwood, the growth with a broad leaf
which resembles ash except the leaf. the underbrush red willow, broad
leafed willow, sevenbark, goosburry, green bryer & the larged leafed
thorn; the latter is now in bloom; the natives inform us that it bears a
freut about an inch in diameter which is good to eat.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday, March 25th, 1806. The morning being disagreeably cold, we stayed and ate breakfast. At 7 A.M. we set out and continued our route along the south coast of the river against the wind and a strong current; our progress was of course quite slow. At noon we stopped and dined. Here some Clatsops came to us in a canoe loaded with dried anchovies, which they call Olthen, along with Wappetoe and sturgeon. They informed us that they had been up on a trading voyage to the Skillutes. I observe that the green briar, which I have previously mentioned as being common on this river below tidewater, keeps its leaves all winter. The red willow and seven-bark are beginning to put forth their leaves.
After dinner we crossed the river to a large island and continued our route along the side of it for about a mile, when we arrived at a Cathlahmah fishing camp of one lodge. Here we found three men, two women, and a couple of boys, who from appearances had remained here some time for the purpose of taking sturgeon, which they do by trolling. They had ten or a dozen very fine sturgeon that had not long been caught. We offered to purchase some of their fish, but they asked us such an extravagant price that we declined to buy. One of our men purchased a sea otter skin at this lodge, for which he gave a dressed elk skin and a handkerchief. Near this lodge we met some Cathlahmahs who had been up the river on a fishing excursion. They had a good stock of fish on board, but did not seem inclined to sell them.
We remained at this place about half an hour and then continued our route up the island to its head and crossed to the south side. The wind in the evening was very hard. It was with some difficulty that we could find a spot proper for a campsite, the shore being a swamp for several miles back. At length, late in the evening, opposite the place where we had camped on the 6th of November last, we found the entrance of a small creek which afforded us a safe harbor from the wind, and we camped. The ground was low and moist, though we made a tolerable camp. Here we found another party of Cathlahmahs, about 10 in number, who had established a temporary residence for the purpose of fishing and taking seal. They had taken a fine parcel of sturgeon and some seals. They gave us some of the fleece of the seal, which I found a great improvement to the poor elk. Here we found Drewyer and the Fields brothers, who had been separated from us since morning; they had passed on the north side of the large island, which was much nearer.
The bottomlands are covered with cottonwood, the growth having a broad leaf that resembles ash except for the leaf. The underbrush is red willow, broad-leafed willow, seven-bark, gooseberry, green briar, and the large-leafed thorn; the latter is now in bloom. The natives inform us that it bears a fruit about an inch in diameter that is good to eat.
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