These Animals, Indeed, Are So Numerous
That They Are Almost A Calamity To The Indians Of This Country.
When They
Have once obtained the mastery of any house it is impossible
to expel them, and the Indians have frequently different
Houses,
to which they resort occasionally when the fleas have rendered their
permanent residence intolerable; yet, in spite of these precautions,
every Indian is constantly attended by multitudes of them,
and no one comes into our house without leaving behind him swarms
of these tormenting insects."
Although the condition of the exploring party was low,
the men did not require very much to put them in good spirits.
The important and happy event of finishing their fort and
the noting of good weather are thus set forth in the journal
under date of December 30: -
"Toward evening the hunters brought in four elk [which Drewyer had
killed], and after a long course of abstinence and miserable diet,
we had a most sumptuous supper of elk's tongues and marrow.
Besides this agreeable repast, the state of the weather was
quite exhilarating. It had rained during the night, but in the morning,
though the high wind continued, we enjoyed the fairest and most
pleasant weather since our arrival; the sun having shone at intervals,
and there being only three showers in the course of the day.
By sunset we had completed the fortification, and now announced
to the Indians that every day at that hour the gates would be closed,
and they must leave the fort and not enter it till sunrise.
The Wahkiacums who remained with us, and who were very forward
in their deportment, complied very reluctantly with this order;
but, being excluded from our houses, formed a camp near us.
. . . . . . . . .
"January 1, 1806. We were awaked at an early hour by the
discharge of a volley of small arms, to salute the new year.
This was the only mode of commemorating the day which our
situation permitted; for, though we had reason to be gayer than we
were at Christmas, our only dainties were boiled elk and wappatoo,
enlivened by draughts of pure water. We were visited by a few Clatsops,
who came by water, bringing roots and berries for sale.
Among this nation we observed a man about twenty-five years old,
of a much lighter complexion than the Indians generally: his face was
even freckled, and his hair long, and of a colour inclining to red.
He was in habits and manners perfectly Indian; but, though he did
not speak a word of English, he seemed to understand more than
the others of his party; and, as we could obtain no account
of his origin, we concluded that one of his parents, at least,
must have been white."
A novel addition to their bill of fare was fresh blubber, or fat,
from a stranded whale. Under date of January 3 the journal says: -
"At eleven o'clock we were visited by our neighbor, the Tia or chief,
Comowool, who is also called Coone, and six Clatsops.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 134 of 201
Words from 72873 to 73380
of 110166
