Tuesday (Wednesday) January 8th. 1806.
Our meat is begining to become scarse; sent Drewyer and
Collins to hunt this morning, the guard duty being hard on
the men who now remain in the fort I have for their relief
since the departure of Cap
t. Clark made the Cooks mount
guard. Serg
t. Gass and Shannon have not yet returned, nor
can I immajen what is the cause of their detention. In consequence
of the clouds this evening I lost my P.M. observation
for Equal Altitudes, and from the same cause have not been
able to take a single observation since we have been at this
place. nothing extraordinary happened today.
The Clatsops Chinnooks and others inhabiting the coast and
country in this neighbourhood, are excessively fond of smoking
tobacco. in the act of smoking they appear to swallow it as
they draw it from the pipe, and for many draughts together
you will not perceive the smoke which they take from the
pipe; in the same manner also they inhale it in their lungs
untill they become surcharged with this vapour when they
puff it out to a great distance through their nost[r]ils and
mouth; I have no doubt the smoke of the tobacco in this
manner becomes much more intoxicating and that they do
possess themselves of all it's virtues in their fullest extent;
they freequently give us sounding proofs of it's creating a dismorallity
of order in the abdomen, nor are those light matters
thought indelicate in either sex, but all take the liberty of obeying
the dictates of nature without reserve. these people do
not appear to know the uce of sperituous liquors, they never
having once asked us for it; I presume therefore that the
traders who visit them have never indulged them with the uce
of it; from what ever cause this may proceede, it is a very
fortunate occurrence, as well for the natives themselves, as for
the quiet and safety of thos whites who visit them.
