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November 15, 1805
Friday, 15. It continued
raining all night, but in the morning the weather became calm
and fair: we therefore began to prepare for setting out, but
before we were ready a high wind sprang up from the southeast,
and obliged us to remain. The sun shone until one o'clock, and
we were thus enabled to dry our bedding and examine our baggage.
The rain, which has continued for the last ten days without
an interval of more than two hours, has completely wet all our
merchandise, and spoiled some of our fish, destroyed the robes,
and rotted nearly one half of our few remaining articles of
clothing, particularly the leather dresses. About three o'clock
the wind fell, and we instantly loaded the canoes, and left
the miserable spot to which we have been confined the last six
days. On turning the point we came to the sand beach, through
which runs a small stream from the hills; at the mouth of which
is an ancient village of thirty-six houses; which has at present
no inhabitants except fleas. Here we met Shannon, who had been
sent back to meet us by Captain Lewis. The day Shannon left
us in the canoe, he and Willard proceeded on till they met a
party of twenty Indians, who never having heard of us, did not
know where they came from: they however behaved with so much
civility, and seemed so anxious that the men should go with
them towards the sea, that their suspicions were excited, and
they declined going on: the Indians, however, would not leave
them, and the men being confirmed in their suspicions, and fearful
if they went into the woods to sleep they would be cut to pieces
in the night, thought it best to pass the night in the midst
of the Indians: they therefore made a fire, and after talking
with them to a late hour, laid down with their rifles under
their heads. As they awoke this morning they found that the
Indians had stolen and concealed their guns: having demanded
them in vain, Shannon seized a club, and was about assaulting
one of the Indians whom he suspected as a thief, when another
Indian began to load a fowling piece with an intention of shooting
him. He therefore stopped and explained by signs, that if they
did not give up the guns, a large party would come down the
river before the sun rose to such a height, and put every one
of them to death. Fortunately, Captain Lewis and his party appeared
at this time, and the terrified Indians immediately brought
the guns, and five of them came on with Shannon. To these men
we declared, that if ever any of their nation stole any thing
from us he should be instantly shot. They reside to the north
of this place, and speak a language different from that of the
people higher up the river. It was now apparent that the sea
was at all times too rough for us to proceed further down the
bay by water: we therefore landed, and having chosen the best
spot we could select, made our camp of boards from the old village.
We were now situated comfortably, and being visited by four
Wahkiacums with wappatoo roots, were enabled to make an agreeable
addition to our food.
November
16, 1805
Saturday 16. The morning
was clear and beautiful. We therefore, put out all our baggage
to dry, and sent several of the party to hunt. Our camp is in
full view of the ocean, on the bay laid down by Vancouver, which
we distinguish by the name of Haley's bay, from a trader who
visits the Indians here, and is a great favorite among them.
The meridian altitude of this day gave 46° 19' 11' 7/10 as the
latitude of our camp. The wind was strong from the southwest,
and the waves very high, yet the Indians were passing up and
down the bay in canoes, and several of them encamped near us.
We smoked with them, but after our recent experience of their
thievish disposition, treated them with caution. Though so much
exposed to the bad weather, none of the party have suffered,
except one, who has a violent cold, in consequence of sleeping
for several nights in wet leather. The hunters brought in two
deer, a crane, some geese and ducks, and several brant, three
of which were white, except a black part of the wing, and much
larger than the gray brant, which is itself a size beyond the
duck.
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