Lewis: March 7, 1806
High winds kept the visiting Chief Comowol at Fort Clatsop until late evening. Hunters Labiche and Drouillard returned at sunset with only one elk, reporting scattered male elk about five miles up the Netul River. Private Bratton's condition worsened, with severe lower back pain leaving him unable to sit up; Lewis provided a flannel shirt, applied a flannel bandage, and treated him with a homemade volatile liniment of spirits of wine, camphor, castile soap, and laudanum, bringing some relief. Lewis also recorded detailed observations of regional birds, including herons, fishing hawks, kingfishers, four gull species, cormorants, and two loon species.
Friday March 7th 1806. The wind was so high that Comowol did not leave us
untill late this evening. Labuish and Drewyer returned at sunset having
killed one Elk only. they report that there are some scattering male Elk
in the neighbourhood of the place they killed this one or about 5 miles up
the Netul on this side.Bratton is much wose today, he complains of
a violent pain in the small of his back and is unable in consequence to
set up. we gave him one of our flanel shirts, applyed a bandage of flannel
to the part and bathed and rubed it well with some vollatile linniment
which I prepared with sperits of wine, camphor, castile soap and a little
laudinum. he felt himself better in the evening.the large blue and
brown herons, or Crams as they are usually called in the U States are
found on this river below tidewater. they are the same with those of the U
States. the fishing hawk with the crown of the head White and back of a
mealy white, and the blue crested or King fisher are found on every part
of the Columbia and it’s waters and are the same with those of the U
States. the fishing hawk is not abundant particularly in the mountains.
there are four speceis of larus or gull on this coast and river, 1st a
small speceis about the size of a pigeon; white except some black spots
about the head and a little brown on the but of the wings, 2nd a speceis
somewhat larger of a light brown colour with a whitish or mealy coloured
back. 3rd the large grey gull, or white larus with a greyish brown back
and a light grey belley and breast, about the size of a well grown pullet
or reather larger. the wings are remarkably long in proportion to the size
of the body and it’s under chap towards the extremity is more gibbous and
protuberant than in either of the other speceis. 4th a white gull about
the size of the second with a remarkable beak; adjoining the head and at
the base of the uper Chap there is an elivated orning of the same
substance with the beak which forms the nostrils; it is some what in this
forma the feet are webbed and the legs and feet of a yellow colour. the
form of the wings body &c are much that of the second species. the
large grey gull is found on the river as high as the entrance of the
Kooskooske and in common with the other speceis on the coast; the others
appear to be confined to tidewater; and the fourth speceis not so common
as either of the others. the cormorant is a large black duck which feeds
on fish; I perceive no difference between it and those found in the
Potomac and other rivers on the Atlantic Coast. tho I do not recollect
seeing those on the atlantic so high up the rivers as those are found
here. we first met with them on the Kooskooske at the entrance of
Chopunnish river. they increased in quantity as we decended, and formed
much the greatest portion of the waterfowl which we saw on the Columbia
untill we reached tidewater where they also abound but do not bear a
similar proportion to the other fowls found in this quarter.
There are two speceis of loons. 1st the Speckled loon found on every part
of the rivers of this country. they are the same size colours and form
with those of the Atlantic coast. the second speceis we first met with at
the great falls of the Columbia and from thence down. this bird is not
more than half the size of the speckled loon, it’s neck is long, slender
and white in front. the Colour of the body and back of the neck and head
are of a dun or ash colour, the breast and belley are white. the beak is
like that of the speckled loon and like them it cannot fly but flutters
along on the top of the warter or dives for security when pursued.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Friday, March 7th, 1806. The wind was so high that Comowol did not leave us until late this evening. Labuish and Drewyer (Drouillard) returned at sunset, having killed only one elk. They report that there are some scattered male elk in the neighborhood of the place where they killed this one, about 5 miles up the Netul on this side. Bratton is much worse today; he complains of a violent pain in the small of his back and, as a result, is unable to sit up. We gave him one of our flannel shirts, applied a bandage of flannel to the part, and bathed and rubbed it well with some volatile liniment, which I prepared with spirits of wine, camphor, castile soap, and a little laudanum. He felt himself better in the evening.
The large blue and brown herons, or cranes as they are usually called in the U.S., are found on this river below tidewater. They are the same as those of the U.S. The fishing hawk, with the crown of the head white and back of a mealy white, and the blue-crested or kingfisher are found on every part of the Columbia and its waters and are the same as those of the U.S. The fishing hawk is not abundant, particularly in the mountains.
There are four species of larus, or gull, on this coast and river. 1st, a small species about the size of a pigeon; white except for some black spots about the head and a little brown on the butt of the wings. 2nd, a species somewhat larger, of a light brown color with a whitish or mealy-colored back. 3rd, the large gray gull, or white larus, with a grayish-brown back and a light gray belly and breast, about the size of a well-grown pullet or rather larger. The wings are remarkably long in proportion to the size of the body, and its under chap toward the extremity is more gibbous and protuberant than in either of the other species. 4th, a white gull about the size of the second, with a remarkable beak; adjoining the head and at the base of the upper chap there is an elevated awning of the same substance as the beak, which forms the nostrils; it is somewhat in this form. The feet are webbed and the legs and feet are of a yellow color. The form of the wings, body, etc., is much that of the second species. The large gray gull is found on the river as high as the entrance of the Kooskooske and, in common with the other species, on the coast; the others appear to be confined to tidewater, and the fourth species is not so common as either of the others.
The cormorant is a large black duck which feeds on fish; I perceive no difference between it and those found in the Potomac and other rivers on the Atlantic coast, though I do not recollect seeing those on the Atlantic so high up the rivers as those are found here. We first met with them on the Kooskooske at the entrance of the Chopunnish River. They increased in quantity as we descended, and formed much the greatest portion of the waterfowl that we saw on the Columbia until we reached tidewater, where they also abound but do not bear a similar proportion to the other fowls found in this quarter.
There are two species of loons. 1st, the speckled loon, found on every part of the rivers of this country. They are the same in size, colors, and form as those of the Atlantic coast. The second species we first met with at the Great Falls of the Columbia and from there down. This bird is not more than half the size of the speckled loon; its neck is long, slender, and white in front. The color of the body and back of the neck and head are of a dun or ash color; the breast and belly are white. The beak is like that of the speckled loon, and like them it cannot fly but flutters along on the top of the water or dives for security when pursued.
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