Clark: January 17, 1806

Sunday 17th January 1806 This morning we were visited by Comowool and 7 of
the Clatsops our nearest neighbours, who left us again in the evening.
They brought with them Some roots and beries for Sale, of which however
they disposed of very fiew as they asked for them Such prices as our Stock
in trade would not licence us in giveing. The Chief Comowool gave us Some
roots and berries, for which we gave him in return a mockerson awl and
Some thread; the latter he wished for the purpose of makeing a Skiming
Net. one of the party was dressed in three verry elegant Sea otter Skins
which we much wanted; for these we offered him maney articles but he would
not dispose of them for aney other Consideration but Blue beeds, of those
we had only Six fathoms left, which being 4 less than his price for each
Skin he would not exchange nor would a Knife or any other equivolent in
beeds of aney other Colour answer his purpose; these Coarse blue beeds are
their favourite merchandize and are Called by them Tia com ma shuck or
Chief beeds, the best Wampom is not as much esteemed by them as the most
indifferent beeds. Sent Colter out to hunt he Shortly after returned with
a Deer, Venison is a rarity with us we have had none for Some weeks.
Drewyer Set out on a hunting expedition one man went with him. he intends
to hunt the Elk and trap the beaver.

The Culianary articles of the Indians in our neighbourhood Consists of
wooden bowls or troughs, Baskets, Shell and wooden Spoons and wooden
Scures or Spits, their wooden Bowles and troughs are of different forms
and Sizes, and most generally dug out of Solid piecies; they are either
round, Square or in the form of a canoe; those are extreemly well executed
and maney of them neetly covered, the larger vessels with handholes to
them; in these vessels they boil their fish or flesh by means of hot
Stones which they immerce in the water with the articles to be boiled.
They also render the Oil of the fish, or other animals in the Same manner.
Their baskets are formed of Cedar bark and bargrass So closely interwoven
withe hands or fingers that they are watertight without the aid of gum or
rozin; Some of those are highly ornimented with the Straps of bargrass
which they dye of Several Colours and interweave in a great variety of
figures; this Serves a double purpose of holding the Water or wareing on
their heads; and are of different Capacities, from that of a Smallest Cup
to five or Six gallons, they are generally of a Conic form or reather the
Segment of a Cone of which the Smaller end forms the base or bottom of the
basket. these they make verry expediciously and dispose of for a mear
trifle. it is for the Construction of those baskets that Bargrass becoms
an article of traffic among the nativs of the Columbia. this grass grows
only on their mountains near the Snowey region; the blade is about 3/8 of
an inch wide and 2 feet long Smothe plient & Strong; the young blades
which are white from not being exposed to the Sun or air, are those which
are most Commonly employ’d, particularly in their neatest work. Their
wooden Spoons are not remarkable nor abundant, they are large & the
bowls broad. their meat is roasted with a Sharp Scure, one end of which is
incerted in the meat while the other is Set erect in the ground. The Spit
for roasting fish has its upper extremity Split, and between its limbs the
Center of the fish is incerted with its head downwards, and the tale and
the extremities of the Scure Secured with a String, the Side of the fish,
which was in the first instance Split in the back, are expanded by means
of Small Splinters of wood which extend Crosswise the fish. a Small mat of
rushes or flags is the usual plate, or Dish on which their fish, flesh,
roots & berries are Served. they make a number of Bags and Baskets not
water tight of Cedar bark Silk Grass, rushes, flags, and common Gorse
Sedge-. in those they Secure their dried fish, roots berries &.-