Exploring for winter camp site, south shore of Columbia — Patrick Gass: November 21, 1805
High winds and rough waves kept the expedition from beginning their planned return journey, which they hoped to start as soon as conditions allowed so they could establish winter quarters before the season grew worse. A local native had a sea-otter robe of exceptionally fine fur that the commanding officers wanted. The owner refused two blankets and demanded blue beads, which the party lacked except for those on the interpreter's wife's belt. They traded the belt for the robe. More natives visited camp that evening, and the night was wet and unpleasant.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION _ 179
the natives left us. The wind blew so violent to-day, and the
waves ran so high, that we could not set out on our return,
which is our intention to do as soon as the weather and water
will permit. The season being so far advanced, we wish to
establish our winter quarters as soon as possible. One of the
natives here had a robe of sea-otter skins, of the finest fur I
ever saw; which the Commanding Officers wanted very much,
and offered two blankets for it, which the owner refused, and
said he would not take five. He wanted beads of a blue
colour, of which we had none but some that were on a belt
belonging to our interpreter’s squaw; so they gave him the
belt for the skins. In the evening more of the natives came
to our camp, and the night was very wet and disagreeable.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The natives left us. The wind blew so violently today, and the waves ran so high, that we could not set out on our return, which we intend to do as soon as the weather and water will permit. The season being so far advanced, we wish to establish our winter quarters as soon as possible. One of the natives here had a robe of sea-otter skins, of the finest fur I ever saw, which the Commanding Officers wanted very much, and offered two blankets for it. The owner refused, and said he would not take five. He wanted beads of a blue color, of which we had none except some that were on a belt belonging to our interpreter's wife; so they gave him the belt for the skins. In the evening more of the natives came to our camp, and the night was very wet and disagreeable.
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