University of Virginia Library

[Clark:]

Sunday March 30th. 1806

We got under way verry early and had not proceeded to
the head of the island before we met with the three men of the
Clan-nar-min-a-mon's who met us yesterday brackfast at the
upper point of the Island we met several of the Clackstar

and Cath-lah-cum-up in two canoes. soon after we were overtaken
by several canoes of different tribes who reside on each
side of the river the three above Tribes and the Clâh-in-na-ta
Cath-lah-nah-qui-up & Cath-lah-com-mah-cup reside on each
side of Wappato inlet and back of Wappato Island which
Island is formed by a small chanel which passes from the
Lower part of Image canoe Island into an inlet which makes
in from the S W. side, and receves the water of a Creek which
heads with the Kilamox River. this wappato Island is about
18 or 20 miles long and in places from 6 to 10 miles wide
high & furtile with ponds on different parts of it in which the
nativs geather wappato. nearly opposit the upper point of
the Isld. behind which we encamped last night, or on the Wappato
Isld. is several camps of the nativs catching sturgion.
about 5 miles still higher up and on the N E. side we halted
for brackfast at the place which we had encamped the 4th of
November last. here we were visited by several canoes of
Indians from two Towns a short distance above on the Wappato
Island, the 1st of those tribes call themselves Clan-nah-quah
and situated about 2 miles above us, the other about a mile
above call themselves Mult-no-mah we purchased of those
visitors a Sturgion and some wappato & quarmarsh roots for
which we gave small fishing hooks. at 10 A. M. we set out
and had not proceeded far before we came to a landing place
where there was several large canoes hauled up, and sitting in
a canoe appearantly waiting our arival with a view to join the
fleet [an] indian who was then alongside of us. this man informed
he was a Shoto and that his nation resided a little
distance from the river. we landed and one of the indians
pointed to the Shoto village which is situated back of [a] Pond
which lies parallel with the river on the NE. side nearly
opposit the Clannahquah village. here we were also joined by
several canoes loaded with the natives from the Island who
continued to accompany us untill about 4 oClock when they
all returned and we proceeded on to the place the Indians
stole my Tomahawk 4th. Nov. last and Encamped in a small
Prarie above a large Pond on N.E and opposit the center of
image canoe Island. Capt. Lewis walked out and saw several
deer. Jo. Field shot at Elk he killed and brought in a
fine duck. Soon after I had got into bead an Indian came
up alone in a small canoe. Those tribes of Indians who inhabit
this vally differ but little in either their dress, manners,
habuts and language from the Clatsops Chinnooks, and others
on the Sea coast. they differ in a fiew words and a little in the
accent. The men are stouter and much better formed than
those of the sea coast, more of their women ware their hair braded
in two tresses and hang over each ear. instead of the tissue
of bark worn by the women below, they ware a kind of leather
breech clout as before described as worn by the womin at the
enterance of Lewis's river. the width of a common pocket
Handkerchief or something smaller and longer. the two
corners of this at one of the narrow ends are confined in front
just above the hips; the other side is then brought between
their legs, compressed into a narrow folding bundle is drawn
tight, and the corners a little spred in front tucked at the ends
over and around the part first confined about the waist. a
small roab which does not reach the waist is their usial and
only garment commonly worn besides this just mentioned.
when the weather is a little worm the roab is thrown aside,
and the latter truss or breachclout constitutes the whole of their
apparreal. this is a much more indesant article than the tissue
of bark, and bearly covers the mons venus, to which it is drawn
so close that the whole Shape is plainly perseived. The
Houses are similar to those already described. they are fond
of sculpture. various figures are carved and painted on the
pieces which support the center of the roof about their dores
and beads. They are well supplied with anchoves sturgion
and Wappato. the latter furnishes the principal article of
traffic with those Tribes which they despose of to the nativs
below in exchange for beeds, cloath and various articles. the
nativs of the sea coast and lower part of this river will dispose
of their most valueable articles to obtain this root. I saw in
several houses of the Cathlahpohtle village large symeters of
Iron from 3 to 4 feet long which hang by the heads of their
beads; the blade of this weapon is thickest in the center tho'
thin even there, all it's edges are sharp and its greatest width
which is about 9 inches from the point, is about 4 inches. the
form is this [ILLUSTRATION] this is a form[id]able
weapon. they
have heavy bludgeons of
wood made in the same form nearly which I prosume they
use for the same purpose before they obtained metal. we
made 22 miles only to day the wind and a strong current
being against us all day with rain. discovered a high mountain
S.E. covered with snow which we call Mt. Jefferson.