Clark’s party to see beached whale at Tillamook Head — Patrick Gass: January 7, 1806
Captain Clark and 14 men arrived at the salt-makers' camp en route to a beached whale further down the coast. Local Indians had already obtained good whale meat, which the party tasted. After a fair day on the 8th spent at camp, Clark returned around noon on the 9th, having traveled about 17 miles. The whale's skeleton measured 105 feet long with a 12-foot head; natives had stripped the meat for trade. The area belongs to the Callemax nation, considered ferocious—one nearly killed a soldier for his blanket before a Chinook woman intervened. Light rain fell overnight.
Clarke with 14 men came to the salt-makers camp, in their
way to the place where the large fish had been driven on
shore, some distance beyond this camp. The Indians about
our fort had procured a considerable quantity of the meat,
which we found very good. The 8th was a fine day and I
remained at camp. The 9th was also fair and pleasant; and
about noon Captain Clarke and his party returned here; the
distance being about 17 miles. They found the skeleton of a
whale which measured 105 feet in length and the head 12.
The natives had taken all the meat off its bones, by scalding
and other means, for the purpose of trade. The Indians, who
live up there are of another nation, and call themselves the
Callemax nation. They are a ferocious nation: one of them
was going to kill one of our men, for his blanket; but was
prevented by a squaw of the Chinook nation, who lives among
them, and who raised an alarm. There is a small river comes
into the sea at that place. Captain Clarke and his party re-
mained at the camp all night, during which some rain fell.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Clark (Clarke) with 14 men came to the salt-makers' camp, on their way to the place where the large fish had been driven on shore, some distance beyond this camp. The Indians around our fort had obtained a considerable quantity of the meat, which we found very good. The 8th was a fine day and I remained at camp. The 9th was also fair and pleasant; and about noon Captain Clark and his party returned here, the distance being about 17 miles. They found the skeleton of a whale which measured 105 feet in length, and the head 12 feet.
The natives had taken all the meat off its bones by scalding and other means, for the purpose of trade. The Indians who live up there are of another nation, and call themselves the Callemax nation. They are a ferocious nation: one of them was going to kill one of our men for his blanket, but was prevented by a Chinook woman who lives among them and who raised an alarm. There is a small river that flows into the sea at that place. Captain Clark and his party remained at the camp all night, during which some rain fell.
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