Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 30, 1806
The party set out early on a high, overflowing river, accompanied by several Native Americans in canoes. They passed villages along Wapto Island, roughly 20 miles long and one mile wide, but did not stop. Gass praises the local Native peoples as perhaps the world's finest canoe builders, noting both the beauty and utility of their craft as well as their skill in handling them. The day was beautiful throughout, and in the evening the group made camp on an attractive prairie within sight of a large pond on the river's north side.
set out early accompanied by several of the natives in canoes.
The river is very high, overflowing all its banks. We passed
some villages of the natives on Wapto island, which is about
20 miles long and one broad, but did not halt at any of them.
The natives of this country ought to have the credit of mak-
ing the finest canoes, perhaps in the world, both as to service
and beauty; and are no less expert in working them when
made.* We had a beautiful day throughout, and in the even-
ing encamped on a handsome prairie in sight of a large pond
on the north side of the river.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We set out early, accompanied by several of the natives in canoes. The river is very high, overflowing all its banks. We passed some villages of the natives on Wapto Island, which is about 20 miles long and one mile broad, but did not stop at any of them.
The natives of this country ought to have the credit of making the finest canoes, perhaps in the world, both in usefulness and beauty; and they are no less skilled in handling them once they are made.* We had a beautiful day throughout, and in the evening we camped on a handsome prairie in sight of a large pond on the north side of the river.
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