[Clark, first draft:]
December 5th.. Thursday 1805.
Som hard showers of rain last night, this morn cloudy and
drisley rain, in the bay above the showers appear harder.
High water to day at 12 oClock this tide is 2 Ins. higher than
that of yesterday all our stores again wet by the hard showers
of last night Capt. Lewis's long delay below has been the cause
of no little uneasiness on my part for him, a 1000 conjectures
has crouded into my mind respecting his probable situation &
safty. rained hard. Capt Lewis returned haveing found a
good situation and Elk sufficent to winter on, his party killed
6 Elk & 5 Deer in their absence in serch of a situation and
game Rain continued all the after pt of the day accompanied
with hard wind from the S W. which prevented our moveing
from this Camp.
Thursday 5th. of December 1805
Some hard Showers of rain last night, this morning cloudy
and drisley at Some little distance above the isthmus the rain
is much harder. high water to day at 12. this tide is 2 inches
higher than that of yesterday, all our Stores and bedding are
again wet by the hard rain of last night. Cap
t. Lewis's long
delay below, has been the Sorce of no little uneas[i]ness on
my part of his probable Situation and Safty, the repeeted
rains
[17]
and hard winds which blows from the S.W. renders it
impossible for me to move with loaded Canoes along an unknown
coast we are all wet and disagreeable, the party much
better of indispositions. Cap
t. Lewis returned with 3 men in
the Canoe and informs me that he thinks that a Sufficient
number of Elk may be pr[o]cured convenient to a Situation
on a Small river which falls into a Small bay a Short distance
below, that his party had Killed 6 Elk & 5 Deer in his rout,
two men of his party left behind to secure the Elk.
this was verry Satisfactory information to all the party. we
accordingly deturmined to proceed on to the Situation which
Capt. Lewis had Viewed as Soon as the wind and weather should
permit and Comence building huts &c.
