University of Virginia Library

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


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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.