[Clark:]
Saturday 11th. of January 1806
Sent a party early this morning for the Elk which was killed
on the 9th. they returned with it in the evining; This morning
the Sergt. of the guard reported that our Indian Canoe had gone
a Drift, on enquiry we found that those who came in it last
evening had been negligent in Secureing her, and the tide in
corse of the night had taken her off; we Sent a party down to
the bay in Serch of her, they returned unsecksessfull, the
party who went up the river and creek after meat were derected
to look out for her but were equally unsecksessfull; this will
be a verry considerable loss to us if we do not recover her, She
is so light that 4 men can carry her on their Sholders a mile or
more without resting, and will carry four men and from 10 to
12 hundred pounds. The Cathlâmâhs left us this evening on
their way to the Clatsops, to whome they perpose bartering
their Wappato for the blubber & Oil of the whale, which the
latter purchased for Beeds &
c. from the Kilámox; in this Manner
there is a trade continually carried on by the nativs of the
river each tradeing Some articles or other with their neighbours
above and below them, and those articles which are Vended by
the Whites at their enterance of this river, find their way to the
most distant nations inhabiting its waters.
