Clark: January 23, 1806

Saturday 23rd of January 1806 This morning dispatched Howard & Werner
to the Camp of the Salt makers for a Supply of Salt. the men of the
garrison are Still busily employed in dressing Elk Skins for cloathing,
they fine great dificuelty for the want of branes; we have not Soap to
Supply the deficiency, nor can we precure ashes to make the lye; none of
the pine which we use for fuel afford any ashes; extrawdinary as it may
seem, the green wood is cosumed without leaveing the risideum of a
particle of ashes.-

The root of the rush used by the nativs is a Solid bulb about one inch in
length and usially as thick as a mans thumb, of an ovel form depressed on
two or more Sides, covered with a thin black rine. the pulp is white
brittle and easily masticated either raw or rosted, the latter is the way
it is most commonly prepared for use. this root is reather insippid in
point of flavour, it grows in the Greatest abundance along the Sea coast
in the wet Sandy grounds and is most used by the Kil a mox and those
inhabiting the Sea coast. each root Sends up its Stalk which is annual,
the root being perennial. the bulb is atached to the bottom of the Stem by
a firm Small and Strong radicle which is mearly the prolongation of the
Stem which is hollow and jointed and is rather larger than the largest
quill. it rises to the hight of 3 or 4 feet, not branching no does it
either bear flower or Seed that I could discover tho I am far from denying
that it does So Sometimes, and perhaps every year, but I have not been
able to discover it, the Stem is rough like the Sand rush, and it’s much
like it when green, at each joint it puts out from 20 to 30 radiate &
horizontal leaves which Surrounds the Stem. above each joint about half an
inch the Stem is Shethed like the Sand rush.

The instruments used by the nativs in digging their roots is a Strong
Stick of three feet and a half long Sharpened at the lower end and its
upper inserted into a part of an Elks or buck’s horn which Serves as a
handle; Standing transvirsely in the Stickor it is in this form as
thus A is the lower part which is a little hooked B is the upper part or
handle of Horn.