Kathlamet Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Medal for Wal-lal-le; Wackiacum Men Trail the Party

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:58 +0000

Wednesday March 26th 1806. The wind blew so hard this morning that we
delayed untill 8 A.M. we gave a medal of small size to a man by the name
of Wal-lal’-le, a principal man among the Cathlahmahs, he appeared very
thankfull for the honour conferred on him and presented us a large
sturgeon. we continued our rout up the river to an old village on the
Stard. side where we halted for dinner. we met on the way the principal
Cheif of the Cathlahmahs, Sah-hah-woh-cap, who had been up the river on a
trading voyage. he gave us some Wappetoe and fish; we also purchased some
of the latter. soon after we halted for dinner the two Wackiacums who have
been pursuing us since yesterday morning with two dogs for sale, arrived.
they wish tobacco in exchange for their dogs which we are not disposed to
give as our stock is now reduced to a very few carrots. our men who have
been accustomed to the use of this article Tobaco and to whom we are now
obliged to deny the uce of this article appear to suffer much for the want
of it. they substitute the bark of the wild crab which they chew; it is
very bitter, and they assure me they find it a good substitute for
tobacco. the smokers substitute the inner bark of the red willow and the
sacacommis. here our hunters joined us having killed three Eagles and a
large goose. I had now an oportunity of comparing the bald with the grey
Eagle; I found that the greay Eagle was about 1/4 larger, it’s legs and
feet were dark while those of the bald Eagle wer of a fine orrange yellow;
the iris of the eye is also of a dark yellowish brown while that of the
other is of a bright silvery colour with a slight admixture of yellow.
after dinner we proceeded on and passed an Elegant and extensive bottom on
the South side and an island near it’s upper point which we call Fanny’s
Island and bottom. the greater part of the bottom is a high dry prarie.
near the river towards the upper point we saw a fine grove of whiteoak
trees; we saw some deer and Elk at a distance in the prarie, but did not
delay for the purpose of hunting them. we continued our rout after dinner
untill late in the evening and encamped on the next island above fanny’s
Island. we found it difficult to obtain as much wood as answered our
purposes. the hunters who had proceeded on before us after dinner did not
join us this evening. some Indians visited us after dark, but did not
remain long. agreeably to our estimate as we decended the river, we came
16 m. 23rd, 16 m. the 24th, 15 the 25th, and 18 m. the 26th, tho I now
think that our estimate in decending the river was too short.

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Skillutes Share Feast of Roots, Fish, and Wapato

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:58 +0000

Thursday March 27th 1806. We set out early this morning and were shortly
after joined by some of the Skillutes who came along side in a small canoe
for the purpose of trading roots and fish. at 10 A.M. we arrived at two
houses of this nation on the Stard. side where we halted for breakfast.
here we overtook our hunters, they had killed nothing. the natives
appeared extreemly hospitable, gave us dryed Anchovies, Sturgeon,
wappetoe, quamash, and a speceis of small white tuberous roots about 2
inches in length and as thick as a man’s finger; these are eaten raw, are
crisp, milkey, and agreeably flavored. most of the party were served by
the natives with as much as they could eat; they insisted on our remaining
all day with them and hunting the Elk and deer which they informed us were
very abundant in their neighbourhood. but as the weather would not permit
us to dry our canoes in order to pitch them we declined their friendly
invitation, and resumed our voyage at 12 OCk. the principal village of
these Skillutes reside on the lower side of the Cow-e-lis’-kee river a few
miles from it’s entrance into the columbia. these people are said to be
numer-ous. in their dress, habits, manners and language they differ but
little from the Clatsops Chinnooks &c. they have latterly been at war
with Chinnooks but peace is said now to be restored between them, but
their intercourse is not yet resumed. no Chinnooks come above the marshey
islands nor do the Skillutes visit the mouth of the Columbia. the
Clatsops, Cathlahmahs and Wackkiacums are the carriers between these
nations being in alliance with both.The Coweliskee is 150 yards
wide, is deep and from indian Information navigable a very considerable
distance for canoes. it discharges itself into the Columbia about three
miles above a remarkable high rocky vole which is situated on the N. side
of the river by which it is washed on the South side and is seperated from
the Nothern hills of the river by a wide bottom of several miles to which
it is united. I suspect that this river waters the country lying West of
the range of mountains which pass the columbia between the great falls and
rapids, and north of the same nearly to the low country which commences on
the N. W. coast about Latitude ____ North. above the Skillutes on this
river another nation by the name of the Hul-loo-et-tell reside, who are
said also to be numerous. at the distance Of 2 m. above the village at
which we breakfasted we passed the entrance of this river; we saw several
fishing camps of the Skillutes on both sides of the Columbia, and were
attended all the evening by parties of the natives in their canoes who
visited us for the purpose of trading their fish and roots; we purchased
as many as we wished on very moderate terms; they seemed perfectly
satisfyed with the exchange and behaved themselves in a very orderly
manner. late in the evening we passed our camp of the 5th of November and
encamped about 41/2 above at the commencement of the bottom land on stard.
below Deer Island. we had scarcely landed before we were visited by a
large canoe with eight men; from them we obtained a dryed fruit which
resembled the raspburry and which I beeive to be the fruit of the large
leafed thorn frequently mentioned. it is reather ascid tho pleasently
flavored. I preserved a specemine of this fruit I fear that it has been
baked in the process of drying and if so the seed will not vegitate. saw
the Cottonwood, sweet willow, oak, ash and the broad leafed ash, the
growth which resembles the beach &c. these form the growth of the
bottom lands while the hills are covered almost exclusively with the
various speceis of fir heretofore discribed. the black Alder appears as
well on some parts of the hills as the bottoms. before we set out from the
Skillute village we sent on Gibson’s canoe and Drewyers with orders to
proceed as fast as they could to Deer island and there to hunt and wait
our arrival. we wish to halt at that place to repair our canoes if
possible. the indians who visited us this evening remained but a short
time, they passed the river to the oposite side and encamped. the night as
well as the day proved cold wet and excessively disagreeable. we came 20
miles today.

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Medal Presented to Cathlamah Leader Wal-lal-le

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:58 +0000

Wednesday March 26th 1806 The wind blew So hard untill 8 A M. that we
detained, we gave a Medal to a Man by the name of Wal-lal-le a principal
man among the Cath lah mahs, he appeared very thankfull for the honor
Confured on him and presented us with a large Sturgion. we Continued our
rout up the river to an old Village on the South Side where we halted for
dinner. we met on the way the principal Chief of the Cathlahmahs,
Sah-hah-wah-cop, who had been up the river on a trading voyage, he gave us
some Wappato and fish, we also purchased Some Wappato Soon after halted
for dinner at an Old Village on the South point opposit the lower pt. of
Fannys Island. The two Warkiacums who had been pursueing us Since yester
day morning with two dogs for Sale, arrived. they wish Tobacco in exchange
for their dogs which we are not disposed to give, as our Stock is now
reduced to 3 carrots. our men who have been acustomed to the use of this
article, and to Whome we are now obliged to deny the use of this article
appear to Suffer Much for the want of it. they Substitute the bark of the
wild Crab which they Chew; it is very bitter and they assure me they find
it a good Substitute for tobacco. the Smokers Substitute the iner bark of
the redwillow and the saccommis.

here our hunters joined us haveing killed 3 Eagles and a large Wild goose.
I had now an oppertunity of Comparing the bald with the grey Eagle; I
found the grey Eagle about 1/4 largest, its legs and feet were dark which
those of the bald eagle were of a fine orrange yellow; the iris of the eye
is also of a dark yellowish brown, while that of the Grey is of a light
Silvery colour with a Slight admixture of yellow. after dinner I walked on
Shore through an eligant bottom on the South Side opposit to Fannys
Island.

This bottom we also Call fannys bottom it is extensive and an open leavel
plain except near the river bank which is high dry rich oak land. I saw
Some deer & Elk at a distance in the Prarie. we continued untill late
in the evening and encamped on a Small Island near the Middle of the river
haveing made 18 Miles. 2 Indians Visited us this evining

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Departure from Fort Clatsop; Cathlahmah Village Reached

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:57 +0000

Monday March 24th 1806. This morning we sent out a party of 15, at light,
for the meat, and concluded to take breakfast before we set out. they soon
returned. we breakfasted and set out at 1/2 after 9 A.M. Saw a white
woodpecker with a red head of the small kind common to the United States;
this bird has but lately returned. they do not remain during the winter.
the country thick and heavily timbered. we saw very few waterfowl today,
not a single swan, white brant nor a small goose is to be seen. a few
Cormorant, duckinmallard, butterbox, and common large geese were only to
be found the tide being out this morning we found some difficulty in
passing through the bay below the Cathlahmah village; this side of the
river is very shallow to the distance of 4 miles from the shore tho there
is a channel sufficient for canoes near S. side. at 1 P.M. we arrived at
the Cathlahmah village where we halted and purchased some wappetoe, a dog
for the sick, and a hat for one of the men. on one of the seal Islands
opposite to the village of these people thy have scaffolded their dead in
canoes elivating them above tidewater mark. these people are very fond of
sculpture in wood of which they exhibit a variety of specemines about
their houses. the broad peices supporting the center of the roof and those
through which the doors are cut, seem to be the peices on which they most
display their taist. I saw some of these which represented human figures
setting and supporting the burthen on their sholders. at half after 3 P.M.
we set out and continued our rout among the seal Islands; not paying much
attention we mistook our rout which an Indian perceiving pursued overtook
us and put us in the wright channel. this Cathlahmah claimed the small
canoe which we had taken from the Clatsops. however he consented very
willingly to take an Elk’s skin for it which I directed should be given
him and he immediately returned. we continued our rout along the South
side of the river and encamped at an old village of 9 houses opposite to
the lower Wackkiacum village. the night was cold tho wood was abundant
after dark two Chinnook men came to us in a small canoe. they remained
with us all night. came 15 miles today.

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Wind and Tide Slow Ascent of the Columbia

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:57 +0000

Tuesday 25th of March 1806 Last night and this morning are cool wend hard
a head and tide going out, after an early brackfast we proceeded on about
4 miles and came too on the South Side to worm and dry our Selves a
little. Soon after we had landed two Indians Came from a War kia cum
village on the opposit Side with 2 dogs and a fiew Wappato to Sell neither
of which we bought. Som Clatsops passed down in a Canoe loaded with fish
and Wappato. as the wind was hard a head and tide against us we Concluded
to delay untill the return of the tide which we expected at 1 oClock, at
which hour we Set out met two Canoes of Clatsops loaded with dried
anchovies and Sturgion which they had taken and purchased above we crossed
over to an Island on which was a Cath lahmah fishing Camp of one Lodge;
here we found 3 man two woman and a couple of boys who must have for Some
time for the purpose of taking Sturgeon which they do by trolling. they
had 10 or 12 very fine Sturgeon which had not been long taken; we wished
to purchase some of their fish but they asked Such extravegent prices that
we declined purchaseing. one of our Party purchased a Sea otter Skin at
this Lodge for which he gave a dressed Elk Skin & a Handkerchief. we
remained at this place about half an hour and then Continued our rout. the
winds in the evening was verry hard, it was with Some dificuelty that we
Could find a Spot proper for an encampment, the Shore being a Swamp for
Several miles back; at length late in the evening opposit to the place we
had encamped on the 6th of Novr. last; we found the enterance of a Small
Creek which offered us a Safe harbour from the Winds and Encamped. the
Ground was low and moist tho we obtained a tolerable encampment. here we
found another party of Cathlahmahs about 10 in number, who had established
a temporary residence for the purpose of fishing and takeing Seal. they
had taken about 12 Sturgeon and Some Seal. they gave us Some of the flesh
of the Seal which I found a great improvement to the poor Elk. here we
found Drewyer and the 2 Fields who had been Seperated from us Since
Morning; they had passed on the North Side of the large Island which was
much nearest. the bottom lands are Covered with a Species of Arspine, the
Growth with a broad leaf which resembles ash except the leaf. the under
brush red willow, broad leafed Willow, Seven bark, Goose berry, Green
bryor, and the larged leaf thorn; the latter is Now in blume, the nativs
inform us that it bears a fruit about an Inch in diamieter which is good
to eate. the red willow and 7 bark begin to put foth their leaves. The
green bryor which I have before mentioned retains leaves all winter. made
15 Miles

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Clatsops Returning from Trade with Skillutes Encountered

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:57 +0000

Tuesday March 25th 1806. The morning being disagreeably cold we remained
and took break-fast. at 7 A.M. we set out and continued our rout along the
South Coast of the river against the wind and a strong current, our
progress was of course but slow. at noon we halted and dined. here some
Clatsops came to us in a canoe loaded with dryed anchovies, which they
call Olthen, Wappetoe and Sturgeon. they informed us that they had been up
on a trading voyage to the Skillutes.I observe that the green bryer
which I have previously mentioned as being common on this river below tide
water retains it’s leaves all winter.the red willow and seven bark
begin to put fourth their leaves.after dinner we passed the river
to a large Island 2 and continued our rout allong the side of the same
about a mile when we arrived at a Cathlahmah fishing cam of one lodge;
here we found 3 men 2 women and a couple of boys, who from appearances had
remained here some time for the purpose of taking sturgeon, which they do
by trolling. they had ten or douzen very fine sturgeon which had not been
long taken. we offered to purchase some of their fish but they asked us
such an extravegant price that we declined purchase. one of the men
purchased a sea Otterskin at this lodge, for which he gave a dressed
Elkskin and an handkercheif. near this lodge we met some Cathlahmahs who
had been up the river on a fishing excurtion. they had a good stock of
fish on board, but did not seem disposed to sell them. we remained at this
place about half an hour and then continued our rout up the Island to it’s
head and passed to the south side. the wind in the evening was very hard.
it was with some difficulty that we could find a spot proper for an
encampment, the shore being a swamp for several miles back; at length late
in the evening opposite to the place we had encamped on the 6th of
November last; we found the entrance of a small creek which afforded us a
safe harbour from the wind and encamped. the ground was low and moist tho
we obtained a tolerable encampment. here we found another party of
Cathlahmahs about 10 in number who had established a temperary residence
for the purpose of fishing and taking seal. they had taken a fine parcel
of sturgeon and some seal. they gave us some of the fleese of the seal
which I found a great improvement to the poor Elk. here we found Drewyer
and the Feildses who had been seperated from us since morning; they had
passed on the North side of the large Island which was much nearer. the
bottom lands are covered with cottonwood, the growth with a broad leaf
which resembles ash except the leaf. the underbrush red willow, broad
leafed willow, sevenbark, goosburry, green bryer & the larged leafed
thorn; the latter is now in bloom; the natives inform us that it bears a
freut about an inch in diameter which is good to eat.

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Comowool Honored with Certificate Amid Persistent Rain

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:56 +0000

Wednesday March 19th 1806. It continued to rain and hail today in such
manner that nothing further could be done to the canoes. a pratry were
sent out early after the Elk which was killed yesterday with which they
returned in the course of a few hours. we gave Comowooll alias Connia, a
cirtificate of his good conduct and the friendly intercourse which he has
maintained with us during our residence at this place; we also gave him a
list of our names.do not. The Killamucks, Clatsops, Chinnooks, Cathlahmahs
and Wac-ki-a-cums resemble each other as well in their persons and dress
as in their habits and manners.their complexion is not remarkable,
being the usual copper brown of most of the tribes of North America. they
are low in statue reather diminutive, and illy shapen; possessing thick
broad flat feet, thick ankles, crooked legs wide mouths thick lips, nose
moderately large, fleshey, wide at the extremity with large nostrils,
black eyes and black coarse hair. their eyes are sometimes of a dark
yellowish brown the puple black. I have observed some high acqualine noses
among them but they are extreemty rare. the nose is generally low between
the eyes.the most remarkable trait in their physiognomy is the
peculiar flatness and width of forehead which they artificially obtain by
compressing the head between two boards while in a state of infancy and
from which it never afterwards perfectly recovers. this is a custom among
all the nations we have met with West of the Rocky mountains. I have
observed the heads of many infants, after this singular bandage had been
dismissed, or about the age of 10 or eleven months, that were not more
than two inches thick about the upper edge of the forehead and reather
thiner still higher. from the top of the head to the extremity of the nose
is one streight line. this is done in order to give a greater width to the
forehead, which they much admire. this process seems to be continued
longer with their female than their mail children, and neither appear to
suffer any pain from the operation. it is from this peculiar form of the
head that the nations East of the Rocky mountains, call all the nations on
this side, except the Aliahtans or snake Indians, by the generic name of
Flat heads. I think myself that the prevalence of this custom is a strong
proof that those nations having originally proceeded from the same stock.
The nations of this neighbourhood or those recapitulated above, wear their
hair loosly flowing on the back and sholders; both men and women divide it
on the center of the crown in front and throw it back behind the ear on
each side. they are fond of combs and use them when they can obtain them;
and even without the aid of the comb keep their hair in better order than
many nations who are in other rispects much more civilized than
themselves.the large or apparently swolen legs particularly
observable in the women are obtained in a great measure by tying a cord
tight around the ankle. their method of squating or resting themselves on
their hams which they seem from habit to prefer to siting, no doubt
contributes much to this deformity of the legs by preventing free
circulation of the blood. the dress of the man consists of a smal robe,
which reaches about as low as the middle of the thye and is attatched with
a string across the breast and is at pleasure turned from side to side as
they may have occasion to disencumber the right or left arm from the robe
entirely, or when they have occasion for both hands, the fixture of the
robe is in front with it’s corners loosly hanging over their arms. they
sometimes wear a hat which has already been discribed. this robe is made
most commonly of the skins of a small animal which I have supposed was the
brown mungo, tho they have also a number, of the skins of the tiger cat,
some of those of the Elk which are used principally on their war
excursions, others of the skins of the deer panther and bear and a blanket
wove with the fingers of the wool of the native sheep. a mat is sometimes
temperarily thrown over the sholders to protect them from rain. they have
no other article of cloathing whatever neither winter nor summer. and
every part except the sholders and back is exposed to view. they are very
fond of the dress of the whites, which they wear in a similar manner when
they can obtain them, except the shoe which I have never seen woarn by any
of them. they call us pah-shish’e-ooks, or cloth men. The dress of the
women consists of a robe, tissue, and sometimes when the weather is
uncommonly cold, a vest. their robe is much smaller than that of the men,
never reaching lower than the waist nor extending in front sufficiently
far to cover the body. it is like that of the men confined across the
breast with a string and hangs loosly over the sholders and back. the most
esteemed and valuable of these robes are made of strips of the skins of
the Sea Otter net together with the bark of the white cedar or silk-grass.
these strips are first twisted and laid parallel with each other a little
distance assunder, and then net or wove together in such manner that the
fur appears equally on both sides, and unites between the strands. it make
a warm and soft covering. other robes are formed in a similar manner of
the skin of the Rackoon, beaver &c. at other times the skin is dressed
in the hair and woarn without any further preperation. in this way one
beaver skin, or two of those of the Raccoon or tiger catt forms the
pattern of the robe. the vest is always formed in the manner first
discribed of their robes and covers the body from the armpits to the
waist, and is confined behind, and destitute of straps over the sholder to
keep it up. when this vest is woarn the breast of the woman is concealed,
but without it which is almost always the case, they are exposed, and from
the habit of remaining loose and unsuspended grow to great length
particularly in aged women in many of whom I have seen the hubby reach as
low as the waist. The garment which occupys the waist, and from thence as
low as nearly to the knee before and the ham, behind, cannot properly be
denominated a petticoat, in the common acceptation of that term; it is a
tissue of white cedar bark, bruised or broken into small shreds, which are
interwoven in the middle by means of several cords of the same materials,
which serve as well for a girdle as to hold in place the shreds of bark
which form the tissue, and which shreds confined in the middle hang with
their ends pendulous from the waist, the whole being of sufficient
thickness when the female stands erect to conceal those parts usually
covered from formiliar view, but when she stoops or places herself in many
other attitudes, this battery of Venus is not altogether impervious to the
inquisitive and penetrating eye of the amorite. This tissue is sometimes
formed of little twisted cords of the silk grass knoted at their ends and
interwoven as discribed of the bark. this kind is more esteemed and last
much longer than those of bark. they also form them of flags and rushes
which are woarn in a similar manner. the women as well as the men
sometimes cover themselves from the rain by a mat woarn over the sholders.
they also cover their heads from the rain sometimes with a common water
cup or basket made of the cedar bark and beargrass. these people seldom
mark their skins by puncturing and introducing a colouring matter. such of
them as do mark themselves in this manner prefer their legs and arms on
which they imprint parallel lines of dots either longitudinally or
circularly. the women more frequently than the men mark themselves in this
manner.

The favorite ornament of both sexes are the common coarse blue and white
beads which the men wear tightly wound arond their wrists and ankles many
times untill they obtain the width of three or more inches. they also wear
them in large rolls loosly arond the neck, or pendulous from the cartelage
of the nose or rims of the ears which are purforated for the purpose. the
women wear them in a similar manner except in the nose which they never
purforate. they are also fond of a species of wampum which is furnished
them by a trader whom they call Swipton. it seems to be the native form of
the shell without any preperation. this shell is of a conic form somewhat
curved, about the size of a raven’s quill at the base, and tapering to a
point which is sufficiently large to permit to hollow through which a
small thred passes; it is from one to 11/2 Inches in length, white,
smooth, hard and thin. these are woarn in the same manner in which the
beads are; and furnish the men with their favorite ornament for the nose.
one of these shells is passed horizontally through the cartilage of the
nose and serves frequently as a kind of ring to prevent the string which
suspends other ornaments at the same part from chafing and freting the
flesh. the men sometimes wear collars of bears claws, and the women and
children the tusks of the Elk variously arranged on their necks arms &c.
both males and females wear braslets on their wrists of copper brass or
Iron in various forms. I think the most disgusting sight I have ever
beheld is these dirty naked wenches. The men of these nations partake of
much more of the domestic drudgery than I had at first supposed. they
collect and prepare all the fuel, make the fires, assist in cleansing and
preparing the fish, and always cook for the strangers who visit them. they
also build their houses, construct their canoes, and make all their wooden
utensils. the peculiar provence of the woman seems to be to collect roots
and manufacture various articles which are prepared of rushes, flags,
cedar bark, bear grass or waytape. the management of the canoe for various
purposes seems to be a duty common to both sexes, as also many other
occupations which with most Indian nations devolves exclusively on the
woman. their feasts which they are very fond are always prepared and
served by the men.

Comowool and the two Cathlahmahs left us this evening. it continued to
rain so constantly today that Sergt. Pryor could not pitch his canoes.

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Lewis Reflects on Winter at Fort Clatsop

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:56 +0000

Thursday March 20th 1806. It continued to rain and blow so violently today
that nothing could be done towards forwarding our departure. we intended
to have Dispatched Drewyer and the two Fieldses to hunt near the bay on
this side of the Cathlahmahs untill we jounded them from hence, but the
rain rendered our departure so uncertain that we declined this measure for
the present. nothing remarkable happened during the day. we have yet
several days provision on hand, which we hope will be sufficient to
subsist us during the time we are compelled by the weather to remain at
this place.

Altho we have not fared sumptuously this winter and spring at Fort
Clatsop, we have lived quite as comfortably as we had any reason to expect
we should; and have accomplished every object which induced our remaining
at this place except that of meeting with the traders who visit the
entrance of this river. our salt will be very sufficient to last us to the
Missouri where we have a stock in store.it would have been very
fortunate for us had some of those traders arrived previous to our
departure from hence, as we should then have had it our power to obtain an
addition to our stock of merchandize which would have made our homeward
bound journey much more comfortable. many of our men are still complaining
of being unwell; Willard and Bratton remain weak, principally I beleive
for the want of proper food. I expect when we get under way we shall be
much more healthy. it has always had that effect on us heretofore. The
guns of Drewyer and Sergt. Pryor were both out of order. the first was
repared with a new lock, the old one having become unfit for uce; the
second had the cock screw broken which was replaced by a duplicate which
had been prepared for the lock at Harpers ferry where she was
manufactured. but for the precaution taken in bringing on those extra
locks, and parts of locks, in addition to the ingenuity of John Shields,
most of our guns would at this moment been untirely unfit for use; but
fortunately for us I have it in my power here to record that they are all
in good order.

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Pirogues Prepared; Departure Imminent Before April Floods

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:55 +0000

Monday March 17th 1806. Catel and his family left us this morning. Old
Delashelwilt and his women still remain they have formed a camp near the
fort and seem to be determined to lay close sege to us but I beleive
notwithstanding every effort of their wining graces, the men have
preserved their constancy to the vow of celibacy which they made on this
occasion to Capt C. and myself. we have had our perogues prepared for our
departer, and shal set out as soon as the weather will permit. the weather
is so precarious that we fear by waiting untill the first of April that we
might be detained several days longer before we could get from this to the
Cathlahmahs as it must be calm or we cannot accomplish that part of our
rout. Drewyer returned late this evening from the Cathlahmahs with our
canoe which Sergt. Pryor had left some days since, and also a canoe which
he had purchased from those people. for this canoe he gave my uniform
laced coat and nearly half a carrot of tobacco. it seems that nothing
excep this coat would induce them to dispose of a canoe which in their
mode of traffic is an article of the greatest value except a wife, with
whom it is equal, and is generally given in exchange to the father for his
daughter. I think the U States are indebted to me another Uniform coat,
for that of which I have disposed on this occasion was but little woarn.we
yet want another canoe, and as the Clatsops will not sell us one at a
price which we can afford to give we will take one from them in lue of the
six Elk which they stole from us in the winter.-

The pellucid jellylike substance, called the sea-nettle is found in great
abundance along the strad where it has been thrown up by the waves and
tide.

There are two speceis of the Fuci or seawreckwhich we also find thrown up
by the waves. the 1st speceis at one extremity consists of a large vesicle
or hollow vessell which would contain from one to two gallons, of a conic
form, the base of which forms the extreem end and is convex and globelar
bearing on it’s center some short broad and irregular fibers. the
substance is about the consistence of the rind of a citron mellon and 3/4
of an inch thick. the rihind is smooth. from the small extremity of the
cone a long, hollow, celindrick, and regularly tapering tube extends to 20
or thirty feet and is then terminated with a number of branches which are
flat 1/2 an inch in width rough particular on the edges where they are
furnished with a number of little ovate vesicles or bags of the size of a
pigeon’s egg. this plant seems to be calculated to float at each extremity
while the little end of the tube from whence the branches proceed, lies
deepest in the water.

The other speceis I have never seen but Capt. Clark who saw it on the
coast towards the Killamucks informed me that it resembled a large
pumpkin, it is solid and it’s specific gravity reather greater than the
water, tho it is sometimes thrown out by the waves. it is of a yellowis
brown colour. the rhind smooth and consistence harder than that of a
pumpkin tho easily cut with a knife. there are some dark brown fibers
reather harder than any other part which pass longitudinally through the
pulp or fleshey substance wich forms the interior of this marine
production.The following is a list of the names of the commanders of
vessels who visit the entrance of the Columbia river in the spring and
autumn fror the purpose of trading with the natives or hunting Elk. these
names are spelt as the Indians pronounce them.

Mr. Haley, their favorite trader visits them in a vessel with three masts,
and continues some time

Youens, visits in a 3 masted vessel- Trader Tallamon do. 3 do. no trader
Callallamet do. 3 do. Trader. has a wooden leg. Swipton do. 3 do. Trader.
Moore do. 4 do. do. Mackey do. 3 do. do. Washington do. 3 do. do. Mesship
do. 3 do. do. Davidson do. 2

no trader hunts Elk Jackson do. 3 masted vessel Trader Bolch do. 3 do. do.
Skelley do. 3 do. do. tho he has been gone some years. he has one eye.

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Drouillard Bled for Side Pain on Eve of Departure

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:55 +0000

Tuesday March 17th 1806 Drewyer was taken last night with a violent pain
in his Side. I bled him. Several of the men are complaining of being
unwell. it is truly unfortunate that they Should be Sick at the moment of
our departure. Derected Sergt. Pryor to prepare the two Indian Canoes
which we had purchased for his mess. they wanted Some knees to Strengthen
them, and Several cracks corked and payed. he compleated them except
paying. the frequent Showers of rain prevented the Canoes drying
Sufficient to pay them even with the assistance of fire.

Commorwool and two Cathlahmahs visited us to day; we Suffered them to
remain all night. this morning we gave Delashelwilt a certificate of his
good deportment &c. and also a list of our names, after which we
dispatched him to his village with his female band. Those list’s of our
Names we have given to Several of the nativs, and also pasted up a Copy in
our room. the Object of these lists we Stated in the preamble of the Same
as follows Viz: “The Object of this list is, that through the medium of
Some civilized person who may See the Same, it may be made known to the
informed world, that the party consisting of the persons whoes names are
hereunto annexed, and who were Sent out by the Government of the United
States in May 1804, to explore the interior of the Continent of North
America, did penetrate the Same by way of the Missouri and Columbia
rivers, to the discharge of the latter into the Pacific Ocian, where they
arrived on the 14th of November 1805, and from whence they departed the
____ day of March 1806 on their return to the United States by the Same
rout they had come out.”

On the back of lists we added a Sketch of the continent of the upper
branches of the Missouri with those of the Columbia, particularly of its
upper N. E. branch or Lewis’s River, on which we also delienated the track
we had Came and that we ment to pursue on our return, when the Same
happened to vary. There Seemes So many chances against our governments
ever obtaining a regular report, through the medium of the Savages, and
the traders of this Coast that we decline makeing any. Our party are too
small to think of leaveing any of them to return to the Unt. States by
Sea, particularly as we Shall be necessarily devided into two or three
parties on our return in order to accomplish the Object we have in View;
and at any rate we Shall reach the U, States in all humain probabillity
much earlier than a man Could who must in the event of his being left here
depend for his passage to the U, State on the traders of the Coast, who
may not return imediately to the U, States. or if they should, might
probably Spend the next Summer in tradeing with the nativs before they
would Set out on their return. This evening Drewyer went in quest of his
traps, and took an otter. Joseph Field killd and Elk.The Indians
repeated to us Eighteen distinct Nations resideing on the S S. E Coast who
Speak the Kil a mox language or understand it. and beyend those Six other
Nations which Speak a different language which they did not comprehend.

The 2d Species of Seawreck which I saw on the coast to the S. S. E. near
the Kil a mox nation. it resembles a large pumpkin, it is Solid and it’s
Specific Gravity reather greater than the water, tho it is Sometimes
thrown out by the waves. it is of a pale yellowish brown colour. the rhind
Smooth and consistency harder than that of the pumpkin, tho easily cut
with a knife. there are Some fibers of a lighter colour and much harder
than any other part which pass Longitudinally through the pulp or fleshey
Substance which forms the interior of this marine production

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