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The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: Dates December 1, 1805 - December
7, 1805
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark. Dates: December 1, 1805 - December 7, 1805
December
1, 1805
Sunday, December 1, 1805. Again we had a cloudy day,
and the wind so high from the east, that having ventured
in a boat with a view to hunt at some distance, we were
obliged to return. We resumed our occupation of dressing
leather and mending our old clothes, in which we passed
the day. The hunters came in with a report of their
having seen two herds of elk, but they could kill nothing,
and we therefore again fed upon dried fish. At sunset
it began to rain violently, and continued all night,
and
December
2, 1805
Monday, 2d,
the next day. This disagreeable food, pounded fish,
has occasioned so much sickness among the men that it
is now absolutely necessary to vary it. Three hunters
therefore set out, and three more were sent up the Kekemahke
creek in search of fish or birds. Towards evening one
of them returned: he had observed great appearances
of elk, and even seen two herds of them; but it rained
so hard that he could with difficulty get a shot: he
had, however, at last killed one, at the distance of
six miles from the camp, and a canoe was now sent to
bring it. The party from Kekemahke creek were less successful:
they had seen no fish, and all the birds, in consequence
probably of being much hunted by the Indians, were too
shy to be approached.
December
3, 1805
Tuesday, 3.
The wind was from the east, and the morning fair; but,
as if a whole day of fine weather was not permitted,
towards night it began to rain. Even this transient
glimpse of sunshine revived the spirits of the party,
who were still more pleased, when the elk killed yesterday
was brought into camp. This was the first elk we had
killed on the west side of the Rocky mountains, and
condemned as we have been to the dried fish, forms a
most nourishing food. After eating the marrow of the
shank-bones, the squaw chopped them fine, and by boiling,
extracted a pint of grease, superior to the tallow itself
of the animal. A canoe of eight Indians, who were carrying
down wappatoo roots to trade with the Clatsops, stopped
at our camp: we bought a few roots for small fish-hooks,
and they then left us: but accustomed as we are to the
sight, we could not but view with admiration the wonderful
dexterity with which they guide their canoes over the
most boisterous seas; for though the waves were so high,
that before they had gone half a mile the canoe was
several times out of sight, they proceeded with the
greatest calmness and security. Two of the hunters who
set out yesterday had lost their way, and did not return
till this evening: they had seen in their ramble great
signs of elk, and had killed six elk, which they had
butchered and left at a great distance. A party was
sent in the morning,
December
4, 1805
Wednesday,
December 4, to carry the elk to a bay, some distance
below, to which place, if the weather we would all remove
our camp this evening; but the rain which had continued
during the night lasted all next day, and was accompanied
by so high a wind from the southeast and south, that
we dared not risk our canoes on the water. It was high
water at eleven o'clock, when the spring-tide rose two
feet higher than the common flood-tides. We passed the
day around our fires, and as we are so situated that
the smoke will not immediately leave the camp, we are
very much incommoded, and our eyes injured by it. No
news has yet been received from Captain Lewis, and we
begin to have much uneasiness for his safety.
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