receved 2 Small Brooks on the East, extencive marshes at this place of
Encampment We propose to build & pass the winter, The situation is in
the Center of as we conceve a hunting Countrey--This day is fair except
about 12 oClock at which time Some rain and a hard wind imedeately
after we passed the point from the N. E which Continued for a about 2
hours and Cleared up. no meat
[Clark, December 7, 1805]
Saturday 7th of December 1805
Some rain from 10 to 12 last night, this morning fair, have every thing
put on board the Canoes and Set out to the place Capt Lewis had viewed
and thought well Situated for winter quarters--we proceeded on against
the tide to a point about ____ miles here we met Sergt Pryor and his
party returning to the Camp we had left without any meat, the waves
verry verry high, as much as our Canoes Could bear rendered it
impossible to land for the party, we proceeded on around the point into
the bay and landed to take brackfast on 2 Deer which had been killed &
hung up, one of which we found the other had been taken off by some
wild animal probably Panthors or the Wildcat of this Countrey here all
the party of Serjt Pryors joined us except my man york, who had Stoped
to rite his load and missed his way, Sergt Pryor informed us that he
had found the Elk, which was much further from the bay than he
expected, that they missed the way for one day and a half, & when he
found the Elk they were mostly Spoiled, and they only brought the Skins
of 4 of the Elk after brackfast I delayed about half an hour before
York Came up, and then proceeded around this Bay which I have taken the
liberty of calling Meriwethers Bay the Cristian name of Capt. Lewis who
no doubt was the 1st white man who ever Surveyed this Bay, we assended
a river which falls in on the South Side of this Bay 3 miles to the
first point of high land on the West Side, the place Capt. Lewis had
viewed and formed in a thick groth of pine about 200 yards from the
river, this situation is on a rise about 30 feet higher than the high
tides leavel and thickly Covered with lofty pine. this is certainly the
most eligable Situation for our purposes of any in its neighbourhood.
Meriwethers Bay is about 4 miles across deep & receves 2 rivers the Kil
how-d-nah-kle and the Ne tul and Several Small Creeks--we had a hard
wind from the N. E. and Some rain about 12 oClock to day which lasted 2
hours and Cleared away. From the Point above Meriwethers Bay
to Point Adams is West
to point Disapointment is N. 75° W
[Clark, December 8, 1805]
December 8th Sunday 1805
a Cloudy morning, I took 5 men and Set out to the Sea to find the
nearest place & make a way, to prevent our men getting lost and find a
place to make Salt, Steered S 62° W at 2 miles passed the head of a Brook
running to the right, the lands good roleing much falling timber, lofty
Pine of the Spruce kind, & Some fur, passed over a high hill & to a
Creek which we kept down 11/2 miles and left it to our right, Saw fish
in this Creek & Elk & Bear tracks on it, passed over a ridge to a low
marshey bottom which we Crossed thro water & thick brush for 1/2 a mile
to the Comencement of a Prarie which wavers, Covered with grass &
Sackay Commis, at 1/2 Crossed a marsh 200 yds wide, boggey and arrived
at a Creek which runs to the right. Saw a gange of Elk on the opposit
Side below, rafted the Creek, with much dificulty & followed the Elk
thro, emence bogs, & over 4 Small Knobs in the bogs about 4 miles to
the South & Killed an Elk, and formed a Camp, Covered our Selves with
the Elk Skins. the left of us Bogs & a lake or pond those bogs Shake,
much Cramberry growing amongst the moss. Some rain this evening we made
a harty Supper of the Elk & hung up the balsa
[Clark, December 8, 1805]
Sunday December 8th 1805 Fort Clatsop
We haveing fixed on this Situation as the one best Calculated for our
Winter quarters I deturmin'd to go as direct a Course as I could to the
Sea Coast which we Could here roar and appeared to be at no great
distance from us, my principal object is to look out a place to make
Salt, blaze the road or rout that they men out hunting might find the
direction to the fort if they Should get lost in cloudy weather-and See
the probibillity of game in that direction, for the Support of the Men,
we Shall Send to make Salt, I took with me five men and Set out on a
Course S 60 W proceeded on a dividing ridge through lofty piney land
much falling timber. passed the heads of 2 brooks one of them had wide
bottoms which was over flown & we waded to our knees crossed 2 Slashes
and arrived at a Creek in a open ridgey prarie covered with Sackacomma
this Creek we were obliged to raft, which is about 60 yards over and
runs in a direction to Point adams, we discovered a large gange of Elk
in the open lands, and we prosued them through verry bad Slashes and
Small ponds about 3 miles, Killed one and camped on a Spot Scercely
large enough to lie Clear of the Water. it is almost incredeable to
assurt the bogs which those animals Can pass through, I prosue'd this
gang of Elk through bogs which the wate of a man would Shake for 1/2 an
Acre, and maney places I Sunk into the mud and water up to my hips
without finding any bottom on the trale of those Elk. Those bogs are
Covered with a kind of moss among which I observe an ebundance of
Cramberries. in those Slashes Small Knobs are promisquisly Scattered
about which are Steep and thickly Covered with pine Common to the
Countrey & Lorel. we made a Camp of the Elk Skin to keep off the rain
which Continued to fall, the Small Knob on which we Camped did not
afford a Sufficiency of dry wood for our fire, we collected what dry
wood we Could and what Sticks we Could Cut down with the Tomahawks,
which made us a tolerable fire.
[Clark, December 9, 1805]
December 9th Monday 1805
rained all the last night we are all wet, Send 2 men in pursute of the
Elk & with the other 3 I Set out with a view to find the Ocian in our
first direction, which Can be at no great Distance, I crossed 3 Slashes
by wadeing to my knees & was prevented proceeding by the 4th which was
a pond of 200 yds. we. I went around, and was Stoped by a 5th which
apd. to be a rung Stream to the right. I then returned to the raft and
recrossd. & proceeded down the Stream I first Struck about 2 miles &
met 3 Indians, who informed me they lived on the See cost at a Short
distance, I de-termd. to accompany them to their vilg. & we Set out,
crossed the Stream, and 2 of the Indians took the Canoe over the
wavering open rich plains for 1/2 a mile and we Crossed the same stream
which run to the left, we then left the canoe and proceeded to the Same
Stream which runs to the right and empties its Self into the See here I
found their vilg. 4 Lodges on the west bank of this little river which
is here 70 yards wide, Crossed in a Canoe & was invited to a lodge by a
young Chief was treated great Politeness, we had new mats to Set on,
and himself and wife produced for us to eate, fish, Lickorish, & black
roots, on neet Small mats, and Cramberries & Sackacomey berris, in
bowls made of horn, Supe made of a kind of bread made of berries common
to this Countrey which they gave me in a neet wooden trencher, with a
Cockle Shell to eate it with It began to rain and with a tremendious
storm from the S. W. which lasted untill 10 oClock P M--when I was
disposd to go to Sleep 2 neet mats was produced & I lay on them but the
flees were So troublesom that I Slept but little Those people has 2
plays which they are fond of one is with a Been which they pass from
one hand into the other, and the oponent guess on this game the
resquist nubr of the white Beeds which is the principal property--they
other game is with round Pieces of wood much the Shape of the ____
Backgammon which they role thro between 2 pins.
[Clark, December 9, 1805]
Monday 9th December 1805
rained all the last night we are all wet, I directed 2 hunters Drewyer
& Shannon to go in pursute of the Elk, with the other 3 men I
determined to proceed on to the Ocian, & Set out on a Westerley
direction Crossed 3 Slashes and arived at a Creek which I could not
Cross as it was deep and no wood to make a raft, I proceeded down this
Creek a Short distance and found that I was in a fork of the Creek, I
then returned to raft on which we had Crossed the day. crossed and kept
down about one mile and met 3 Indians loaded with fresh Salmon which
they had Giged in the Creek I crossed yesterday in the hills, those
indians made Signs that they had a town on the Seacoast at no great
distance, and envited me to go to their town which envitation I
axcepted and accompand. them, they had a Canoe hid in the Creek which I
had just before rafted which I had not observed, we crossed in this
little Canoe just large enough to carry 3 men an their loads after
Crossing 2 of the Indians took the Canoe on theire Sholders and Carried
it across to the other Creek about 1/4 of a mile, we Crossed the 2d
Creek and proceeded on to the mouth of the Creek which makes a great
bend above the mouth of this Creek or to the S. is 3 houses and about
12 families of the Clat Sop Nation, we cross to those houses, which
were built on the S. exposur of the hill, Sunk into the ground about 4
feet the walls roof & gable ends are of Split pine boards, the dotes
Small with a ladder to decend to the iner part of the house, the fires
are 2 in the middle of the house their beads ar all around raised about
21/2 feet from the bottom flore all covered with mats and under those
beads was Stored their bags baskets and useless mats, those people
treated me with extrodeanary friendship, one man attached himself to me
as Soon as I entered the hut, Spred down new mats for me to Set on,
gave me fish berries rutes &c. on Small neet platteers of rushes to
eate which was repeated, all the Men of the other houses Came and
Smoked with me Those people appeared much neeter in their diat than
Indians are Comonly, and frequently wash theer faces and hands--in the
eveng an old woman presented a bowl made of a light Coloured horn a
kind of Surup made of Dried berries which is common to this Countrey
which the natives Call Shele wele this Surup I though was pleasent,
they Gave me Cockle Shells to eate a kind of Seuip made of bread of the
Shele well berries mixed with roots in which they presented in neet
trenchers made of wood. a flock of Brant lit in the Creek which was 70
yds wide I took up my Small rifle and Shot one which astonished those
people verry much, they plunged into the Creek and brought the brant on
Shorein the evening it began to rain and Continud accompanied with a
Violent wind from the S. W. untill 10 oClock P.M. those people have a
Singular game which they are verry fond of and is performed with
Something about the Size of a large been which they pass from, one hand
into the other with great dexterity dureing which time they Sing, and
ocasionally, hold out their hands for those who Chuse to risque their
property to guess which hand the been is in-; the individual who has
the been is a banker & opposed to all in the room. on this game they
risque their beeds & other parts of their most valuable effects--this
amusement has occupied about 3 hours of this evening, Several of the
lodge in which I am in have lost all the beeds which they had about
them--they have one other game which a man attempted to Show me, I do
not properly understand it, they make use of maney peces about the
Shape and size of Backgammon Pices which they role through between two
pins Stuck up at certain distancies &.--when I was Disposed to go to
Sleep the man who had been most attentive named Cus-ka-lah producd 2
new mats and Spred them near the fire, and derected his wife to go to
his bead which was the Signal for all to retire which they did
emediately. I had not been long on my mats before I was attacked most
violently by the flees and they kept up a close Siege dureing the night
[Clark, December 10, 1805]
December 10th 1805 Tusday
A Cloudey rainy morning those people was Some what astonished, at three
Shot I made with my little riffle to day, a gangu of Brant Set in the
little river, I Killd. 2 of them as they Set, and on my return Saw a
Duck which I took the head off of, the men plunged into the water like
Spaniards Dogs after those fowls, after eateing a brackfast which was
Similar to my Suppar, I attempted to purchase Some fiew roots which I
offered red beeds for, they would give Scercely any thing for Beeds of
that Colour, I then offered Small fish hooks which they were fond of
and gave me Some roots for them, I then Set out on my return by the
Same road I had went out accompd. by my young Chief by name Cus-ca-lar
who Crossed me over the 3 Creek, and returned I proceeded on to my Camp
thro a heavy Cold rain, Saw no game--at the Sea Cost near those Indins
I found various kinds of Shells, a kind of Bay opsd. those people with
a high pt. about 4 miles below, out from which at Some dists I Saw
large rocks, as the day was Cloudy I could not See distinctly--found
Capt Lewis with all hands felling trees, to build with, rained nearly
all day, in my absence they men had bt. in the 6 Elk which was Killed
Some days past 4 men complaining of being unwell from various causes
[Clark, December 10, 1805]
Tuesday 10th December 1805
a Cloudy rainey morning verry early I rose and walked on the Shore of
the Sea coast and picked up Several Curious Shells. I Saw Indians
walking up and down the beech which I did not at first understand the
Cause of, one man came to where I was and told me that he was in Serch
of fish which is frequently thrown up on Shore and left by the tide,
and told me the "Sturgion was verry good" and that the water when it
retired left fish which they eate this was Conclusive evedance to me
that this Small band depended in Some Measure for their winters
Subsistance on the fish which is thrown on Shore and left by the tide-
after amuseing my Self for about an hour on the edge of the rageing
Seas I returned to the houses, one of the Indians pointed to a flock of
Brant Sitting in the creek at Short distance below and requested me to
Shute one, I walked down with my Small rifle and killed two at about 40
yds distance, on my return to the houses two Small ducks Set at about
30 Steps from me the Indians pointed at the ducks they were near
together, I Shot at the ducks and accidently Shot the head of one off,
this Duck and brant was Carried to the house and every man Came around
examined the Duck looked at the gun the Size of the ball which was 100
to the pound and Said in their own language Clouch Musket, wake, com
ma-tax Musket which is, a good Musket do not under Stand this kind of
Musket &c. I entered the Same house I Slept in, they imediately Set
before me their best roots, fish and Surup-, I attempted to purchase a
Small Sea otter Skin for read beeds which I had in my pockets, they
would not trade for those beeds not priseing any other Colour than Blue
or White, I purchased a little of the berry bread and a fiew of their
roots for which I gave Small fish hooks, which they appeared fond of--I
then Set out on my return by the Same rout I had Come out accompanied
by Cus-ka lah and his brother as far as the 3d Creek, for the purpose
of Setting me across, from which place they returned, and I proceeded
on through a heavy rain to the Camp at our intended fort, Saw a bears
track & the tracks of 2 Elk in the thick woods--found Capt Lewis with
all the men out Cutting down trees for our huts &c. in my absence the
Men brought in the Six Elk which was killed Several days ago-. 4 men
Complaining of violent Coalds. three Indians in a Canoe Came up from
the Clat Sop Village yesterday and returned to day. The Sea Coast is
about 7 miles distant Nearly West about 5 miles of the distance through
a thick wood with reveens hills and Swamps the land, rich black moald 2
miles in a open wavering Sandy prarie, ridge runing parrelal to the
river, Covered with Green Grass.
[Clark, December 11, 1805]
December 11th Wednesday
rained all last night moderately, we are all employed putting up the
huts, rained at intervales all day moderately employed in putting up
Cabins for our winter quarters, one man with Turners, one with a
Strained Knee, one Sick with Disentary & Serjt. Pryor unwell from
haveing his Sholder out of place
[Clark, December 11, 1805]
Wednesday 11th December 1805
rained all the last night moderately we are all employed putting up
huts or Cabins for our winters quarters. Sergeant Pryor unwell from a
dislocation of his Sholder, Gibson with the disentary, Jo. Fields with
biles on his legs, & Werner with a Strained Knee. The rained Continued
moderately all day.
[Clark, December 12, 1805]
December 12th Thursday 1805
Some moderate Showers last night and this morning all hands who are
well employed in building Cabins, despatched 2 men to get board timber,
The flees so bad last night that, I made but a broken nights rest we
can't get them out of our robes & Skins, which we are obliged to make
use of for bedding Some rain to day at Intervales--all at work, in the
evening 2 Canoe of Indians Came from the 2 villages of Clotsop below, &
brought Wapitoo roots a black root they call Si-ni-tor and a Small Sea
orter Skin all of which we purchased for a fiew fishing hooks & Some
Snake Indian Tobacco. Those Indians appeare well disposed, I made a
Chief of one & gave him a Small medel, his name is Conyear we treated
those people well--they are tite Deelers, value Blu & white beeds verry
highly, and Sell their roots also highly as they purchase them from the
Indians abov for a high price
[Clark, December 12, 1805]
Thursday 12th December 1805
All hands that are well employ'd in Cutting logs and raising our winter
Cabins, detached two men to Split boards--Some rain at intervales all
last night and to day--The flees were So troublesom last night that I
made but a broken nights rest, we find great dificuelty in getting
those trouble insects out of our robes and blankets--in the evening two
Canoes of Chit Sops Visit us they brought with them Wap pa to, a black
Sweet root they Call Sha-na toe qua, and a Small Sea Otter Skin, all of
which we purchased for a fiew fishing hooks and a Small Sack of Indian
tobacco which was given by the Snake Inds.
Those Indians appear well disposed we gave a Medal to the principal
Chief named Con-ny-au or Com mo-wol and treated those with him with as
much attention as we could--I can readily discover that they are Close
deelers, & Stickle for a verry little, never close a bargin except they
think they have the advantage Value Blue beeds highly, white they also
prise but no other Colour do they Value in the least--the Wap pa to
they Sell high, this root the purchase at a high price from the nativs
above.
[Clark, December 13, 1805]
December 13th Friday 1805 The Indians left us to day after brackfast,
haveing Sold us 2 of the robes of a Small animal for which I intend
makeing a Capot, and Sold Capt Lewis 2 Loucirvia Skins for the Same
purpose. Drewyer & Shannon returned from hunting havg. killed 18 Elk
and butchered all except 2 which they Could not get as night provented
ther finding them & they Spoild.
3 Indians in a Canoe Came and offered us for Sale Sinutor roots, fish &
2 Sea otter Skins for Sale none of which we Could purchase. Some rain
last night and this day at Several times, light Showers. we Continue
building our houses of the Streightest & _____ logs, Sent out 2 men to
Split timber to Covet the Cabins, and I am glad to find the timber
Splits butifully, and of any width
[Clark, December 13, 1805]
Friday 13th December 1805
The Clatsops leave us to day after a brackfast on Elk which they
appeared to be very fond of before they left us they Sold me two robes
of the Skins of a Small animal about the Size of a Cat, and to Captain
Lewis 2 Cat or Loucirva Skins for the purpose of makeing a Coat.
Drewyer & Shannon returned from hunting, haveing killed 18 Elk & left
them boochered in the woods near the right fork of the river about 6
miles above this place--in the evining 3 Indians came in a Canoe, and
offered to us for Sale roots & 2 Sea otter Skins, neither of which we
Could purchase this evening. Some Showers of rain last night, and to
day Several verry hard Showers--we Continue to put up the Streight
butifull balsom pine on our houses-and we are much pleased to find that
the timber Splits most butifully and to the width of 2 feet or more.
[Clark, December 14, 1805]
December 14th Saturday 1805
a cloudy day & rained moderately all day we finish the log works of our
building, the Indians leave us to day after Selling a Small Sea otter
Skin and a roabe, Send 4 men to Stay at the Elk which is out in the
woods &c.
[Clark, December 14, 1805]
Saturday 14th December 1805
The Day Cloudy and rained moderately all day we finish the log work of
our building, the Indians leave us to day after Selling a Small Sea
otter Skin and a roab, dispatch 4 men to the Elk out in the woods with
derections to delay untill the party goes up tomorrow. all employd in
finishing a house to put meat into. all our last Supply of Elk has
Spoiled in the repeeted rains which has been fallen ever Since our
arrival at this place, and for a long time before, Scerce one man in
Camp Can host of being one day dry Since we landed at this point, the
Sick getting better, my man York Sick with Cholick & gripeing
[Clark, December 15, 1805]
December 15th Sunday 1805
I Set out with 16 men in 3 Canoes for the Elk proced up the 1st right
hand fork 4 miles & pack the meat from the woods to the Cano from 4
mile to 3 miles distance all hands pack not one man exempted from this
labour I also pack my Self Some of this meat, and Cook for those out in
packing Some rain in the evening Cloudy all day, the last load of meat
all the party got out of the road or Direction and did not get to the
Canoe untill after night, 5 did not join to night
[Clark, December 15, 1805]
Sunday the 15th December 1805.
I Set out early with 16 men and 3 Canoes for the Elk, proceed up the
River three miles and thence up a large Creek from the right about 3
miles the hite of the tide water drew up the Canoes and all hands went
out in three different parties and brought in to the Canoe each Man a
quarter of Elk, I Sent them out for a Second load and had Some of the
first Cooked against their return, after eateing a harty diner
dispatched the party for a third and last load, about half the men
missed their way and did not get to the Canoes untill after Dark, and
Serjt. Ordway Colter, Colins Whitehouse & McNeal Staid out all night
without fire and in the rain--Cloudy all day Some rain in the evening.
[Clark, December 16, 1805]
December 16th Monday 1805
rained all the last night we Covered our Selves as well as we Could
with Elk Skins, & Set up the greater part of the night, all wet I lay
in the water verry Cold, the 5 men who Stayed out all night joined me
this morning Cold & wet, Ordway Colter Collens, Jo Whitehouse J McNeal,
I had the two Canoes loaded with the 11 Elk which was brought to the
Canoes, despatched 12 men to meet me below with 2 Elk, The rain
Contines, with Tremendious gusts of wind, which is Tremds. I proceeded
on and took in the 2 Elk which was brought to the Creek, & Send back 7
men to Carrey to the Canoe & take down to Camp 3 Elk which was left in
the woods, and I proceeded on to Camp thro the Same Chanel I had assd.
The winds violent Trees falling in every derection, whorl winds, with
gusts of rain Hail & Thunder, this kind of weather lasted all day,
Certainly one of the worst days that ever was! I found 3 Indeans with
Capt Lewis in camp they had brought fish to Sell, we had a house
Covered with Punchen & our meat hung up. Several men Complaining of
hurting themselves Carry meet, &c.
[Clark, December 16, 1805]
Monday 16th December 1805
I as also the party with me experiencd a most dreadfull night rain and
wet without any Couvering, indeed we Set up the greater part of the
Night, when we lay down the water Soon Came under us and obliged us to
rise. the five men who Stayed out all night joind me this morning wet
and Cold, haveing Stayed out without fire or Shelter and the rain
poreing down upon them all night their appearance was truly
distressingthey had left all their loads near the place they Spent the
night--I dispatched 12 men for 2 Elk which was reather below on the
opposit Side of the Creak, with directions to meet me at the 2d bend in
the Creek below, had all the meat which had been brought in yesterday
put into 2 Canoes and proceeded down to the 2d bend where I met the 12
men with the 2 Elk, dispatchd 6 men with one of those who Staid out
last night for the meet left in the woods & the remainder an elk at
Some distance and proceeded on my Self with 3 Canoes to the fort. wind
violent from the S E
trees falling, rain and hail, we with Some risque proceeded on thro the
high waves in the river, a tempestious disagreeable day.
I found 3 indians at our Camp, they brought fish to Sell which were
pore & not fit for use, had the meet house coverd and the meat all hung
up, Several men complain of haveing hurt themselves heavy loads of meat.
[Clark, December 17, 1805]
December 17th Tuesday 1805
rained Some last night and this morning, all hands at work about the
huts Chinking them, The 7 men left to bring in the Elk left in the
woods Come with 2 the 3rd they Could not find, as it was that left by
the party that got lost night before last
The after part of the Day fair & Cool, fore part of the Day rain hailed
& blew hard, The mountain which lies S. E of this is covered with Snow
to day we fleece all the meat and hang it up over a Small Smoke The
trees are hard to Split for Punchens to Cover our houses &c.
[Clark, December 17, 1805]
Tuesday 17th of December 1805
Some rain last night and a continuation of it this morning. all the men
at work about the houses, Some Chinking, Dobbing Cutting out dores &c.
&c. The 7 men left to bring in the Elk arrived and informed that they
Could not find the meat that the party who Stayed out all night had
left--the forepart of this day rained hailed and blew hard, the after
part is fair and Cool--a Mountain which is S. ____° E. about 10 miles
distant has got Snow on its top which is ruged and uneavin
Cause a Small fire & Smoke to be made under the meat which is hung up
in Small peaces. The trees which our men have fallen latterly Split
verry badly into boards. The most of our Stores are wet. our Leather
Lodge has become So rotten that the Smallest thing tares it into holes
and it is now Scrcely Sufficent to keep off the rain off a Spot
Sufficiently large for our bead.
[Clark, December 18, 1805]
December 18th Wednesday 1805
rained and Snowed alturnitely all the last night and the gusts of Snow
and hail continue untill 12 oClock, Cold and a dreadfull day wind hard
and unsettled, we continue at work at our huts, the men being but
thinly dressed, and no Shoes causes us to doe but little--at 12 the
Snow & hail Seased & the after part of the day was Cloudy with Some
rain.
[Clark, December 18, 1805]
Wednesday 18th December 1805
rained and Snowed alternetly all the last night, and Spurts of Snow and
Hail Continued untill 12 oClock, which has chilled the air which is
Cool and disagreeable, the wind hard & unsettled--The men being thinly
Dressed and mockersons without Socks is the reason that but little can
be done at the Houses to day--at 12 the Hail & Snow Seased, and rain
Suckceeded for the latter part of the day
[Lewis, December 18, 1805]
Fort Clatsop, December 18th 1805.
This day one of the men shot a bird of the Corvus genus, which was
feeding on some fragments of meat near the camp. this bird is about the
size of the kingbird or bee martin, and not unlike that bird in form.
the beak is 3/4 of an inch long, wide at the base, of a convex, and
cultrated figure, beset with some small black hairs near it's base. the
chaps are of nearly equal lengths tho the upper exceeds the under one a
little, and has a small nich in the upper chap near the extremity
perceptable only by close examineation. the colour of the beak is
black. the eye is large and prominent, the puple black, and iris of a
dark yellowish brown. the legs and feet are black and imbricated. has
four toes on each foot armed with long sharp tallons; the hinder toe is
nearly as long as the middle toe in front and longer than the two
remaining toes. the tale is composed of twelve fathers the longest of
which are five inches, being six in number placed in the center. the
remaining six are placed 3 on either side and graduly deminish to four
inches which is the shortest and outer feathers. the tail is half the
length of the bird, the whole length from the extremity of the beak to
the extremity of the tale being 10 Inches. the head from it's joining
the nect forward as far as the eyes nearly to the base of the beak and
on each side as low as the center of the eye is black. arround the base
of the beak the throat jaws, neck, brest and belley are of a pale
bluish white. the wings back and tale are of a bluish black with a
small shade of brown. this bird is common to this piny country are also
found in the rockey mountains on the waters of the columbia river or
woody side of those mountains, appear to frequent the highest sumits of
those mountains as far as they are covered with timber. their note is
que, quit-it, que-hoo; and tah, tah, &--there is another bird of
reather larger size which I saw on the woddy parts of the rockey
mountains and on the waters of the Missouri, this bird I could never
kill tho I made several attempts, the predominate colour is a dark blue
the tale is long and they are not crested; I believe them to be of the
corvus genus also. their note is char, char, char-ar, char; the large
blue crested corvus of the Columbia river is also
[Lewis, December 19, 1805]
Discription of the blue Crested corvus bird common to the woody and
western side of the Rockey mountains, and all the woody country from
thence to the Pacific Ocean It's beak is black convex, cultrated, wide
at its base where it is beset with hairs, and is 11 inches from the
opening of the chaps to their extremity, and from the joining of the
head to the extremity of the upper chap 1 1/8 Inches, the upper exceeds
the under chap a little; the nostrils are small round unconnected and
placed near the base of the beak where they lye concealed by the hairs
or hairy feathers which cover the base of the upper chap. the eye
reather large and full but not prominent and of a deep bluefish black,
there being no difference in the colour of the puple and the iris. the
crest is very full the feathers from 1 to 11/2 Inches long and occupye
the whole crown of the head. the head neck, the whole of the body
including the coverts of the wings, the upper disk of the tail and
wings are of a fine gossey bright indigo blue Colour the under disk of
the tail and wings are of a dark brown nearly black. the leg and first
joint of the tye are 41/4 In. long, the legs and feet are black and the
front covered with 6 scales the hinder part smothe, the toes are also
imbrecated, four in number long and armed with long sharp black
tallons. the upper disk of the first four or five feathers of the wing
next to the boddy, are marked with small transverse stripes of black as
are also the upper side of the two center feathers of the tail; the
tail is five inches long & is composed of twelve feathers of equal
length. the tail 1 & 1/2 as long as the boddy. the whole length from
the point of the beak to extremity of the tail 1 Foot 1 Inch; from the
tip of one to the tip of the other wing 1 Foot 51/2 Inches. the Conta.
the size & the whole Contour of this bird resembles very much the blue
jay or jaybird as they are called in the U States. like them also they
seldom rest in one place long but are in constant motion hoping from
spra to spray. what has been said is more immediately applicable to the
male, the colours of the female are somewhat different in her the head
crest neck half the back downwards and the converts of the wings are of
a dark brown, but sometimes there is a little touch of the Indigo on
the short feathers on the head at the base of the upper chap. this bird
feeds on flesh when they can procure it, also on bugs flies and buries.
I do not know whether they distroy little birds but their tallons
indicate their capacity to do so if nature, has directed it. their note
is loud and frequently repeated cha'--a cha'--a' &c.--also twat twat
twat, very quick
[Clark, December 19, 1805]
December 19th Thursday 1805
Some rain with intervales of fair weather last night, The morning Clear
and wind from S W. I despatched Sjt. Pryer with 8 men in 2 Canoes
across the bay for the boads of an Indian house which is abandoned, the
other part of the men continue to doe a little at the huts, the after
part of the day Cloudy with hail & rain, Sgt. Pryer and party returned
with 2 Canoe loads of Boards, two Indians Came & Stayed but a Short time
[Clark, December 19, 1805]
Thursday 19th December 1805
Some rain with intervales of fair weather last night, this morning
Clear & the wind from the S, W. we dispatched Sjt. Pryor with 8 men in
2 Canoes across Meriwethers Bay for the boards of an old Indian house
which is vacant, the residue of the men at work at their huts--the
after part of the Day Cloudy with Hail and rain, Serjt. Pryor & party
returned in the evening with a load of old boards which was found to be
verry indifferent