[Clark, first draft:]
Novr. 9th. Saturday 1805.
The tide of last night obliged us to unload all the canoes
one of which sunk before she was unloaded by the high waves
or swells which accompanied the returning tide, The others
we unloaded, and 3 others was filled with water soon after by
the swells or high sees which broke against the shore imediately
where we lay, rained hard all the fore part of the day, the
[tide] which rose untill 2 oClock P M to day brought with it
such emence swells or waves, aded to a hard wind from the
south which loosened the drift trees which is verry thick on
the shore, and tossed them about in such a manner, as to endanger
our canoes very much, with every exertion and the
strictest attention by the party was scercely sufficent to defend
our canoes from being crushed to pieces between those emencly
large trees maney of them 200 feet long and 4 feet through.
The tide of this day rose about [blank space in MS.] feet &
15 Inches higher than yesterday this is owing to the wind
which sets in from the Ocian, we are compelled to move our
camp from the water, as also the loading every man as wet
all the last night and this day as the rain could make them
which contin
d. all day. at 4 oClock the wind shifted about to
the S. W imediately from the Ocian and blew a storm for about
2 hours, raised the tide verry high all wet & cold Labiech
killed 4 Ducks very fat & R. Fields saw Elk sign. not withstanding
the disagreeable time of the party for several days past
they are all chearfull and full of anxiety to see further into the
Ocian, the water is too salt to drink, we use rain water. The
salt water has acted on some of the party already as a Pergitive.
rain continues.
November 9th.. Saturday 1805
The tide of last night did not rise Sufficiently high to come
into our camp, but the Canoes which was exposed to the mercy
of the waves &c. which accompanied the returning tide, they
all filled, and with great attention we Saved them untill the
tide left them dry. wind Hard from the South, and rained
hard all the fore part of the day, at 2 oClock P M the flood
tide came in accompanied with emence waves and heavy winds,
floated the trees and Drift which was on the point on which
we Camped and tosed them about in such a manner as to endanger
the canoes verry much, with every exertion and the
Strictest attention by every individual of the party was scercely
sufficient to Save our Canoes from being crushed by those
monsterous trees maney of them nearly 200 feet long and from
4 to 7 feet through. our camp entirely under water dureing
the hight of the tide, every man as wet as water could make them
all the last night and to day all day as the rain continued all
day, at 4 oClock P M the wind Shifted about to the S. W.
and blew with great violence imediately from the Ocean for
about two hours, notwithstanding the disagreeable Situation
of our party all wet and cold (and one which they have experienced
for Several days past) they are chearfull and anxious
to See further into the Ocian, The water of the river being too
Salt to use we are obliged to make use of rain water. Some
of the party not accustomed to Salt water has made too free a
use of it on them it acts as a pergitive.
At this dismal point we must Spend another night as the
wind & waves are too high to proceed.
