Lewis: March 27, 1806

Thursday March 27th 1806. We set out early this morning and were shortly after joined by some of the Skillutes, who came alongside in a small canoe for the purpose of trading roots and fish. At 10 A.M. we arrived at two houses of this nation on the starboard side, where we halted for breakfast. Here we overtook our hunters; they had killed nothing. The natives appeared extremely hospitable, and gave us dried anchovies, sturgeon, wappetoe, quamash, and a species of small white tuberous roots about 2 inches in length and as thick as a man's finger. These are eaten raw, are crisp, milky, and agreeably flavored. Most of the party were served by the natives with as much as they could eat. They insisted on our remaining all day with them and hunting the elk and deer, which they informed us were very abundant in their neighborhood. But as the weather would not permit us to dry our canoes in order to pitch them, we declined their friendly invitation and resumed our voyage at 12 o'clock.

The principal village of these Skillutes resides on the lower side of the Cow-e-lis'-kee river, a few miles from its entrance into the Columbia. These people are said to be numerous. In their dress, habits, manners, and language they differ but little from the Clatsops, Chinnooks, etc. They have lately been at war with the Chinnooks, but peace is said now to be restored between them, though their trade is not yet resumed. No Chinnooks come above the marshy islands, nor do the Skillutes visit the mouth of the Columbia. The Clatsops, Cathlahmahs, and Wackkiacums are the carriers between these nations, being in alliance with both.

The Coweliskee is 150 yards wide, is deep, and, from Indian information, navigable for canoes for a very considerable distance. It discharges itself into the Columbia about three miles above a remarkable high rocky knoll, which is situated on the north side of the river. The river washes it on the south side, and it is separated from the northern hills of the river by a wide bottom of several miles, to which it is united. I suspect that this river waters the country lying west of the range of mountains that crosses the Columbia between the great falls and the rapids, and north of the same nearly to the low country which begins on the N.W. coast about latitude ____ north. Above the Skillutes on this river another nation by the name of the Hul-loo-et-tell reside, who are also said to be numerous. At the distance of 2 miles above the village at which we breakfasted, we passed the entrance of this river. We saw several fishing camps of the Skillutes on both sides of the Columbia, and were attended all evening by parties of the natives in their canoes, who visited us for the purpose of trading their fish and roots. We purchased as many as we wished on very moderate terms. They seemed perfectly satisfied with the exchange and behaved themselves in a very orderly manner.

Late in the evening we passed our camp of the 5th of November and camped about 4 1/2 miles above it, at the beginning of the bottom land on the starboard side, below Deer Island. We had scarcely landed before we were visited by a large canoe with eight men. From them we obtained a dried fruit which resembled the raspberry, and which I believe to be the fruit of the large-leafed thorn frequently mentioned. It is rather acid, though pleasantly flavored. I preserved a specimen of this fruit. I fear that it has been baked in the process of drying, and if so, the seed will not germinate. I saw the cottonwood, sweet willow, oak, ash, and the broad-leafed ash, the growth which resembles the beech, etc. These make up the growth of the bottom lands, while the hills are covered almost exclusively with the various species of fir heretofore described. The black alder appears on some parts of the hills as well as the bottoms.

Before we set out from the Skillute village, we sent on Gibson's canoe and Drewyer's, with orders to proceed as fast as they could to Deer Island, and there to hunt and wait our arrival. We wish to halt at that place to repair our canoes if possible. The Indians who visited us this evening remained only a short time; they crossed the river to the opposite side and camped. The night, as well as the day, proved cold, wet, and excessively disagreeable. We came 20 miles today.