Clark: January 18, 1806

Monday 18th January 1806 Two of the Clatsops that were here yesterday
returned to day for a Dog they had left; they remained with us a fiew
hours and departed. no further accounts worthey of relation took place.
the men are much engaged dressing Skins in order to Cloath themselves and
prepare for the homeward journey.

The Clatsops Chinnooks &c. construct their Houses of timber
altogether. they are from 14 to 20 feet wide, and from 20 to 60 feet in
length, and accomodate one or more families Sometimes three or four
families reside in the Same room. this house is also devided by petitions
of Boards, but this happens only in the largest houses, as the rooms are
always large Compared with the number of inhabitents. those houses are
Constructed in the following manner; two or more posts of Split timber
agreeably to the number of devisions or partitions are first provided,
these are Sunk in the ground at one end and raised pirpindicular to the
hight of 12 or 14 feet, the top of them are hollowed So as to recive the
end of a round beem of timber which reaches from one to the other or the
entire length of the house; and forming the ridge pole; two other Sets of
posts and poles are then placed at proper distancies on either Side of the
first, formed in a Similar manner and parrelal to it; those last rise to
the intended hight of the eves, which is usially about 5 feet,Smaller
Sticks of timber is then previded and are placed by pears in the form of
rafters, resting on, and reaching from the lower to the upper horizontial
beam, to both of which they are atached at either end with the Cedar bark;
two or 3 ranges of Small poles are then placed Horizontially on these
rafters on each Side of the roof & are Secured likewise with Cedar
bark. the ends, Sides, and partitions are then formed, with one range of
wide boards of about 2 inches thick, which are Sunk in the ground a Small
distance at their lower ends & Stands erect with their upper ends
lapping on the out Side of the eve poles and end rafters to which they are
Secured by a outer pole lyeing parrelal with the eve pole and rafters
being Secured to them by Cords of Cedar bark which pass through wholes
made in the bods at Certain distances for that purpose; the rough roof is
then Covered with a double range of thin boards, and an aperture of 2 by 3
feet left in the Center of the roof to admit the Smoke to pass. These
houses are commonly Sunk to the debth of 4 or 5 feet in which Case the eve
of the house comes nearly to the Surface of the earth. in the Center of
each room a Space of from 6 by 8 feet is Sunk about 12 inches lower than
the Hoar haveing its Sides Secured by four thick boards or Squar pieces of
timber, in this Space they make their fire, their fuel being generally dry
pine Split Small which they perform with a peice of an Elks horn Sharpened
at one end drove into the wood with a Stone. mats are Spred around the
fire on all Sides, on these they Sit in the day and frequently Sleep at
night. on the inner Side of the house on two Sides and Sometimes on three,
there is a range of upright pieces about 4 feet removed from the wall;
these are also Sunk in the ground at their lower end, and Secured at top
to the rafters, from those, other pieces are extended horozontially to the
wall and are Secured in the usial manner with bark to the upright pieces
which Support the eve pole. on these Short horizontial peics of which
there are Sometimes two ranges one above the other, boards are laid, which
either form their beads, or Shelves on which to put their goods and
Chattles, of almost every discription. their uncured fish is hung on
Sticks in the Smoke of their fires as is also the flesh of the Elk when
they happen to be fortunate enough to precure it which is but Seldom