[Clark:]
Sunday [Friday] 17th. January 1806
This morning we were visited by Comowool and 7 of the
Clatsops our nearest neighbours, who left us again in the
evening. They brought with them Some roots and beries for
Sale, of which however they disposed of very fiew as they
asked for them Such prices as our Stock in trade would not
licence us in giveing. The chief Comowool gave us some
roots and berries, for which we gave him in return a Mockerson
awl and some thread; the latter he wished for the purpose
of makeing a Skiming net. one of the party was dressed in
three verry elegant Sea otter Skins which we much wanted;
for these we offered him maney articles but he would not dispose
of them for aney other Consideration but Blue beeds,
of those we had only Six fathoms left, which being 4 less than
his price for each Skin he would not exchange nor would a
Knife or any other equivalent in beeds of aney other Colour
answer his purpose, these Coarse blue beeds are their favourite
Merchandize and are Called by them Tia com ma shuck or chief
beeds, the best Wampom is not as much esteemed by them
as the most indifferent beeds. Sent Colter out to hunt he
Shortly after returned with a Deer, Venison is a rarity with us
we have had none for Some weeks. Drewyer Set out on a
hunting expedition one man went with him. he intends to
hunt the Elk and trap the beaver.
The Culianary articles of the Indians in our neighbourhood
consists of wooden bowls or troughs, Baskets, Shell and wooden
Spoons and wooden Scures or Spits, their wooden Bowles and
troughs are of different forms and Sizes, and most generally
dug out of Solid piecies; they are either round, Square or in
the form of a canoe; those are extreemly well executed and
maney of them neetly covered, the larger vessels with hand-holes
to them; in these vessels they boil their fish or flesh by
means of hot Stones which they immerce in the water with the
articles to be boiled. They also render the Oil of the fish, or
other animals in the same manner. Their baskets are formed
of Cedar bark and bargrass So closely interwoven withe hands
or fingers that they are watertight without the aid of gum or
rozin; Some of those are highly ornimented with the Strans
of bargrass which they dye of Several Colours and interweave
in a great variety of figures; this Serves a double purpose of
holding the Water or wareing on their heads; and are of different
capacities, from that of a Smallest cup to five or Six
gallons, they are generally of a Conic form or reather the
Segment of a Cone of which the Smaller end forms the base or
bottom of the basket. these they make verry expediciously
and dispose of for a mear trifle. it is for the construction of
those baskets that Bargrass becoms an article of traffic among
the nativs of the Columbia. this grass grows only on their
mountains near the Snowey region; the blade is about 3/8 of an
inch wide and 2 feet long Smothe plient and strong; the young
blades which are white from not being exposed to the Sun or
air, are those which are most Commonly employ'd, particularly
in their neatest work. Their wooden Spoons are not remarkable
nor abundant, they are large & the bowls broad. their
meat is roasted with a Sharp Scure, one end of which is incerted
in the meat while' the other is Set erect in the ground. The
Spit for roasting fish has its upper extremity Split, and between
its limbs the Center of the fish is incerted with its head downwards,
and the tale and the extremities of the Scure Secured
with a String, the Side[s] of the fish. which was in the first
instance Split in the back, are expanded by means of Small
Splinters of wood which extend Crosswise the fish, a Small
mat of rushes or flags is the usual plate, or Dish on which
their fish, flesh, roots & berries are served, they make a
number of Bags and Baskets not water tight of Cedar bark
Silk Grass, rushes, flags, and common corse Sedge, in those
they Secure their dried fish, roots berries &c.
