It Was Estimated That The Salt-Makers Could Turn
Out Three Or Four Quarts A Day, And There Was Good
Prospect of an
abundant supply for present needs and for the homeward journey.
An expedition to the seashore was now
Planned, and the journal
goes on to tell how they set out: -
"The appearance of the whale seemed to be a matter of importance to all
the neighboring Indians, and as we might be able to procure some of it
for ourselves, or at least purchase blubber from the Indians, a small parcel
of merchandise was prepared, and a party of the men held in readiness to set
out in the morning. As soon as this resolution was known, Chaboneau and
his wife requested that they might be permitted to accompany us.
The poor woman stated very earnestly that she had travelled a great way
with us to see the great water, yet she had never been down to the coast,
and now that this monstrous fish was also to be seen, it seemed hard
that she should be permitted to see neither the ocean nor the whale.
So reasonable a request could not be denied; they were therefore suffered
to accompany Captain Clark, who, January 6th, after an early breakfast,
set out with twelve men in two canoes."
After a long and tedious trip, the camp of the saltmakers was reached,
and Captain Clark and his men went on to the remains of the whale,
only the skeleton being left by the rapacious and hungry Indians.
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