Clark: March 17, 1806

Monday March 17th 1806 Catel and his family left us this morning. Old
Delashelwill and his women still remain, they have formed a Camp near the
fort and Seam determined to lay Close Sege to us, but I believe
notwithstanding every effort of their wining graces, the men have
preserved their constancy to the vow of celibacy which they made on this
Occasion to Capt L. and my self. we have had our Canoes prepared for our
departure, and Shall Set out as Soon as the weather will permit. the
weather is So precarious that we fear by waiting untill the first of April
that we might be detained Several days longer before we could get from
this to the Cath-lah-mahs, as it must be Calm or we cannot accomplish that
part of the rout in our Canoes. Drewyer returned late this evening from
the Cath-lah-mahs with our Indian Canoe which Sergt. Pryor had left Some
days since, and also a Canoe, which he had purchased from those people.
for this canoe he gave Captn. Lewis’s uniform laced coat and nearly half a
Carrot of to-bacco. it Seams that nothing except this Coat would induce
them to dispose of a Canoe which in their mode of traffic is an article of
the greatest value except a wife, with whome it is nearly equal, and is
generally given in exchange to the father for his Daughter. I think that
the United States are injustice indebted to Captn Lewis another uniform
Coat for that of which he has disposed of on this ocasion, it was but
little worn.

We yet want another Canoe as the Clatsops will not Sell us one, a
proposition has been made by one of our interpt and Several of the party
to take one in lieu of 6 Elk which they Stole from us this winter &c.