Canoe Camp on Clearwater River — Patrick Gass: October 1, 1805
With all men back on their feet but most still weak, the expedition adopted the Indian technique of burning out canoes to spare the crew heavy labor. Because the hunters were not bringing in enough game, two men were dispatched to a nearby Indian village to buy provisions, and as a precaution against unfamiliar native food disagreeing with the men, one of the horses was slaughtered. Work continued through the following days. A white frost appeared on the morning of October 4th, followed by fair weather, and that evening the two men returned with ample supplies.
152 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
All the men are now able to work; but the greater number
are very weak. To save them from hard labour, we have
adopted the Indian method of burning out the canoes.
IW ednesday 2nd. Two men were sent to the Indian village
to purchase some provisions, as our hunters do not kill
enough for us to subsist on. And least the Indian provisions
should not agree with us, we killed one of our horses.
On the third, the men were employed as usual; on the
morning of the fourth there was a white frost, after it a fine
day. In the evening our two men returned, with a good sup-
ply of such provisions as the natives have.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
All the men are now able to work, but most are very weak. To save them from hard labor, we have adopted the Indian method of burning out the canoes.
Wednesday 2nd. Two men were sent to the Indian village to purchase some provisions, since our hunters do not kill enough for us to live on. And in case the Indian provisions should not agree with us, we killed one of our horses.
On the third, the men were employed as usual. On the morning of the fourth there was a white frost, followed by a fine day. In the evening our two men returned, with a good supply of such provisions as the natives have.
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