Clark: February 18, 1806

Tuesday February 18th 1806 This morning we dispatched a party to the Salt
works with Sergt. Ordway. and a Second party with Sergt. Gass after the
Eight Elk killed over the Netul. in the evening Sergt. Ordway returned and
reported that the waves ran So high in the Bay that he could not pass to
the enterance of a Creek which we had directed him to assend with the
Canoe. Collins & Windsir returned this evening with one Deer which
they had Killed. the deer are pore and their flesh by no means as good as
that of the Elk which is also poore but appears to be getting better than
Some weeks past. in the forenoon we were visited by a Clatsop & Seven
Chinnooks from whome I purchased a Sea otter’s Skin and two hats made of
way tape and Silk grass and white cedar bark. they remained untill late in
the evening and departed for their village. those people are not readily
obstructed by waves in their Canoes. Since their departure we have
discovered that they have Stole an ax.Whitehouse brought me a roab
which he purchased of the Indians formed of three Skins of the Tiger Cat,
this Cat differs from any which I have ever Seen. it is found on the
borders of the plains and the woody Country lying along the Pacific Ocian.
this animale is about the Size or reather larger than the wild Cat of our
Countrey and is much the Same in form, agility and ferosity. the colour of
the back, neck and Sides, is a redish brown irrigular varigated with Small
Spots of dark brown the tail is about two inches long nearly white except
the extremity which is black; it termonates abruptly as if it had been cut
off. the belly is white with Small black spots. butifully varigated. the
legs are of the Same Colour with the Sides and back marked with transvers
stripes of black the ears are black on the outer Side Covered with fine
black hair, Short except at the upper point which is furnished with a
pencil of verry fine Streight black hair, 3/4 of an inch in length, the
fur of this animale is long and fine. much more So than the wild Cat of
the U States but less so than the Louserva of the N West. the nativs of
this Country make great use of the skins of this Cat, to form the robes
which they wear; three whole Skins is the complement usually employed, and
Sometimes four in each roab. Those Cats are not marked alike maney of them
have but fiew Spots of a darker Colour, particularly on the Back.