Later in the day Clark presented a medal to Tow-wale, a leader of another tribe, and, he says: "we gave the squar a coat of Blue Cloth for the belt of Blue Beads we gave for the sea otter skins purchased of an Indian." Thus he redeemed the belt of Sacajawea, but does not intimate that he returned it to her—we would like to think that he did. The date was November 20—much wind, rains, but not cold. This same date Clark continues: "Several Indians and squars came this evening I believe for the purpose of gratifying the passions of our men. Those people appear to view sensuality as a necessary evil, and do not abhore this as a crime in the unmarried females, the young women sport openly with our men—many of the women are hansom."—I saw the name of J. Bowmon marked or picked on a young squars left arm." November 30th shows that they had been having terrible suffering from rain—clothes given out—no game—only dried fish and little of it to eat—up and down the river they searched for some place to fix a winter camp—they were all hungry and nearly crazed with lack of shelter and their clothes were so worn and rotten with constant wet that they were nearly naked. Clark makes mention of: "The squar gave me a piece of bread made of floor which she had reserved for her child and carefully kept until this time, which has unfortunately got wet and a little sour. This bread I eat with great satisfaction, it being the only mouthful I had tasted for several months past." Now another addition to the growing debt to Sacajawea! If it were not so serious, it would be laughable to think of Clark taking bread from a baby! Even when a 'little sour'—but an Indian babe's comfort was of little concern—or did the thoughtful mother have a little more flour hid away ?—she was always ready for any emergency! More from the journal of Clark: "My hunters returned without anything—a disagreeable situation—men all employed mending their leather clothes—the sea immediately in front roars like —rolling thunder—I can't say Pacific." December 2nd—Jo Fields came home with marrow bone of an elk—killed six miles distant—first Elk we have killed this side of the rocky mounts."—I feel very unwell—have completely lost my appetite for dried pounded fish—O how disagreeable my situation—The Squar broke the two shank bones of the Elk after the marrow was taken out, boiled them and extracted a pint of grease."—December 5th, "Captain Lewis returned, having found a place and Elk sufficient to winter on." From this date on to the first of January, they were occupied in building their Fort Clatsop —50 feet square–three huts on one side—4 on the other all inside the stockade—suffer from the constant rain and fleas, but find some elk and recover from their long hunger. Again we find reference to the 'squaw' in Lewis entry for January 6th, '06—and Clark says: "I determine to set out after an early brakfast with 2 canoes and 12 men in quest of the whale." To this Lewis writes on next day: "Charbono and his Indian woman were also of the party; the Indian woman was very importune to be permitted to go–she observed that she had travelled a long way with us to see the great waters, and now that monstrous fish was also to be seen, she thought it very hard she could not be permitted to go and see either." And so, the "squar" was taken along to see the whale and the 'ocion.' After perilous traveling over high cliffs and through swamps they reached the place where the whale had been washed ashore—he measured it at 105 feet in length—but they had little luck to obtain any of the oil and blubber from the Kill-a-Mox natives— 300 pounds of blubber and a few gallons of oil— but prize it highly—says providence is more kind to them than to Jonah. On February 26th Clark writes: "We have three days' provision only in store and that of most inferior dried Elk a little tainted—what a prospect for a good living at Fort Clatsop !" March 5th Lewis says :—"we have only two days provision on hand and that nearly spoiled." Several of their men sick from lack of proper food. Much, in fact, nearly all, of their journal entries since building Ft Clatsop, is devoted to description of the various large and small animals, fish, birds, trees and shrubs and fruit berries and the like—no mention of the 'squar' since taking her to see the whale nearly two months ago. Want of game, they now discuss the abandoning of the fort and trying to find subsistence along way, back up the river. Down to one day's food and suffering from terrific winds and rain, they were unable to get off until the 23rd March after presenting to Chief Comowool the fort and all the furniture. March 24—'came 15 miles today'—'purchased wappato —like potato and a dog for our sick men; Willard and Bratton very weak!" Daily they paddle along—past islands and each day a different band of natives from whom the trade for wappato, fish and roots on which they manage to live—on the 29th, they come in view of Mt Hood—covered with snow—as they proceed up the river they meet natives on all sides, mostly of different clans and different dialects– coming down stream, they report scarcity of both game and fish—salmon not due to come for another month—news of which alarms the Captains. They had left their horses on the way down with the Chopunnish tribe—now feared that they might have left in the meantime, and if so, it would leave the entire expedition stranded in a barren country —it was fearful to contemplate. April 2nd—'we came to a resolution to remain at our present encampment—until we obtain as much dryed meat as would be necessary for our voyage as far as the Chopunnish.'—"I think by using economy and—a supply of roots and dogs– which we may procure from the natives on Lewis' river will be sufficient to last us to the Chopunnish where we shall meet with our horses." April 17th— they had been just a year from the Mandan village —Lewis says:—"The wind blew so hard—we were obliged to unload our perouges and canoes, after which they filled with water." On the 12th they succeeded with great toil and much loss and other difficulties, in 'roping' their perogues and canoes around the rapids—(the cascades) the dog now constitutes a considerable part of our subsistence —with most of the party—a favorite food." The 16th, we find reference to Sacajawea once again. Lewis' records: "About 8 A. M. Captain Clark passed the river with the two interpreters, the Indian woman and nine men in order to trade with the natives for their horses." This was at the Dalles !—Clark's two days here were very disappointing—many Indians and many horses, but too high priced; only Chabono got one–he traded a fine mare, hurman (Ermine), Elks teeth, a belt and some other trinkets of no great value."

previous page	home	next page