University of Virginia Library

November 11th Monday 1805.

a hard rain all the last night we again get wet the rain
continue[s] at intervales all day. Wind verry high from S W
and blew a storm all day sent out Jo. Fields & Collins to
hunt, at 12 oClock at a time the wind was verry high and
waves trimendeous, five Indians came down in a canoe loaded
with fish of salmon spes. called Red Charr, we purchased of
those Indians 13 of these fish, for which we gave fishing hooks
& some trifling things. We had seen those Indians at a village
behind some marshey Islands a few days ago, they are
on their way to trade those fish with white people which they
make signs live below round a point, those people are badly
clad, one is dressd in an old Salors Jawket & Trouses, the

others Elk skin robes. we are truly unfortunate to be compelled
to be 4 days nearly In the same place at a time that our
day[s] are precious to us, The wind shifted to [blank space
in MS.] the Indians left us and crossed the river which is
about 5 miles wide through the highest sees I ever saw a small
vestle ride, Their canoe is small, maney times they were out
of sight before the[y] were 2 miles off certain it is they are
the best canoe navigators I ever saw. The tide was 3 hours
later to day than yesterday and rose much higher, the trees
we camped on was all on flote for above 2 hours from 3 untill
5 oClock PM, the great quantites of rain which has fallen
losens the stones on the side of the hill & the small ones fall
on us, our situation is truly a disagreeable one our canoes in
one place at the mercy of the waves our baggage in another
and our selves & party scattered on drift trees of emence size,
& are on what dry land they can find in the crevices of the
rocks & hill sides