Clark: January 26, 1806

Tuesday 26th of January 1806 We order Collins to return early in the
morning and join the Salt makers, and gave him Some Small articles of
merchendize to purchase Some provisions from the indians in the event of
their Still being unfortunate in the chase.

The or deep purple berry is in form much like the huckleberry and
termonate bluntly with a kind of Cap or cover at the end like that fruit;
they are attached Seperately to the Sides of the boughes of the shrub by a
very Short Stem ganging under neath the Same, and are frequently placed
verry near each other on the Same bough it is a full bearer; the berry is
easily gathered as it Seperates from the bough, readily, while the leaf is
Strongly affixed. the Shrub which produces this fruit rises to the hight
of 6 or 8 feet Sometimes grows on high lands but most frequently in Swampy
or marshey grounds; it is an ever green. the Stem or trunk is from 3 to 10
inches in circumferance irrigularly and much branched, Seldom more than
one Stem proceeding from the Same root, tho they are frequently associated
very thickly. the bark is Somewhat rough and of a redish brown Colour. the
wood is very firm and hard. the leaves are alternate declining and attachd
by a Short fotstalk to the two horozontal Sides of the bough’s; the form
is a long oval, reather more accute towards its apex that at the point of
insertion; it’s Sides partially folding upwards; or Channeled, it is also
thick Smothe and glossy, the upper Surfice of a fine deep green, while the
under disk is of a pale or whiteish green. this Shrub retains its verdure
verry perfectly dureing the winter and is a butifull Shrub-. the nativs
either eate those berries ripe imediately from the bushes, or dried in the
Sun or by means of the Swetting kiln; verry frequently they pound them and
bake them in large loaves 10 or 15 pounds weight; this bread keeps verry
well dureing one Season and retains the moist jouicies of the frute much
better than any other method of preperation. The bread is broken and
Stured in Coald water untill it be Sufficiently thick and then eaten, in
this way the nativ’s most generally use it-.-.