University of Virginia Library

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


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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 contind. 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.