Clark: January 5, 1806

Sunday 5th of January 1806 At 5 p.m.Willard and Wiser returned, they had
not been lost as we expected. they informd us that it was not untill the
5th day after leaveing the fort, that they Could find a Convenient place
for makeing Salt; that they had at length established themselves on the
Sea Coast about 15 miles S. W. from this, near the houses of Some Clat Sop
& Kil a mox families; that the Indians were very friendly and had
given them a considerable quantity of the blubber of the whale which
perished on the Coast Some distance S. E. of them, it was white and not
unlike the fat of Pork, tho the texture was more Spungey and Somewhat
Coarser. we had part of it Cooked and found it very pallitable and tender,
it resembles the beaver in flavour. those men also informed us that the
Salt makers with their assistance had erected a Comfortable Camp, had
killed an Elk and Several Deer and Secured a good Stock of Meat; they
Commenced the makeing of Salt and found that they Could make from 3 quarts
to a gallon a day; they brought with them a Specimen of the Salt, of about
a gallon, we found it excellent white & fine, but not So Strong as the
rock Salt or that made in Kentucky or the Western parts of the U, Statesthis
Salt was a great treat to most of the party, haveing not had any Since the
20th ulto. as to my Self I care but little whether I have any with my meat
or not; provided the meat fat, haveing from habit become entirely cearless
about my diat, and I have learned to think that if the Cord be
Sufficiently Strong which binds the Soul and boddy together, it does not
So much matter about the materials which Compose it.

Colter returned this evening unsecksessfull from the Chase, haveing been
absent since the 1st inst.

I determine to Set out early tomorrow with two canoes & 12 men in
quest of the whale, or at all events to purchase from the indians a parcel
of the blubber, for this purpose I made up a Small assortment of
merchindize, and directed the men to hold themselves in readiness &c.