Clark: March 27, 1806

Thursday March 27th 1806. a rainey disagreeable night rained the greater
part of the night we Set out this morning verry early and proceeded on to
two houses of the Skil-lute Indians on the South Side here we found our
hunters who had Seperated from us last evening. the wind rose and the rain
became very hard Soon after we landed here we were very friendly receved
by the natives who gave all our party as much fish as they Could eate,
they also gave us Wappato and pashaquaw roots to eate prepared in their
own way. also a Species of Small white tuberous roots about 2 inches in
length and as thick as a mans finger, these are eaten raw, or crips,
milkey and agreeably flavoured; the nativs insisted on our remaining all
day with them and hunt the Elk and deer which they informed us was very
abundant in this neighbourhood. but as the weather would not permit our
drying our Canoes in order to pitch them, we declined their friendly
invertation, and resumed our voyage at 12 oClock. The principal village of
the Skil-lutes is Situated on the lower Side of the Cow-e-lis kee river a
fiew miles from it’s enterance into the Columbia. those people are Said to
be noumerous, in their dress, habits, manners and Language they differ but
little from the Clatsops, Chinnooks &c. they have latterly been at war
with the Chinnooks, but peace is Said to be now restored between them, but
their inter Course is not yet restored. no Chinnook Come above the
Warkiacums, nor do the Skillutes visit the Mouth of the Columbia. The
Clatsops, Cath lahmahs & War kia coms are the Carriers between those
nations being in alliance with both-. The Cow e lis kee river is 150 yards
wide, is deep and from Indian information navigable a very considerable
distance for canoes. it discharges itself into the Columbia about 3 miles
above a remarkable knob which is high and rocky and Situated on the North
Side of the Columbia, and Seperated from the Northern hills of the river
by a Wide bottom of Several Miles, to which it united. I Suspect that this
river Waters the Country lying west of a range of Mountains which passes
the Columbia between the Great falls and rapids, and North of the Same
nearly to the low country which Commences on the N W. Coast about Latitude
4° ____ North. above the Skil lutes on this river another nation by the
name of the Hul-loo-et-tell reside who are Said also to be numerous. at
the distance of 2 miles above the village at which we brackfast we passed
the enterance of this river; we Saw Several fishing camps of the Skillutes
on both Sides of the Columbia, and also on both Sides of this river. we
were attended all the evening by parties of the nativs in their Canoes who
visited us for the purpose of tradeing their fish and roots; we purchased
as maney as we wished on very moderate terms; they Seamed perfectly
Satisfied with the exchange and behaved themselves in a very orderly
manner. late in the evening we passed the place we Camped the 5th of Novr.
and Encamped about 4 miles above at the Commencement of the Columbian
Vally on the Stard. Side below Deer Island. we had Scercily landed before
we were visited by a large Canoe with 8 men; from them we obtained a dried
fruit which resembled the raspberry and which I beleave is the fruit of
the large leafed thorn frequently mentioned. it is reather ascide tho
pleasently flavored. Saw Cotton wood, Sweet Willow, white oake, ash and
the broad leafed ash the Growth which resembles the bark &c. these
form the groth of the bottom lands, whilst the Hills are almost
exclusively Covered with the various Species of fir heretofore discribed.
the black alder appears on Maney parts of the hills Sides as on the
bottoms. before we Set out from the 2 houses where we brackfast we Sent on
two Canoes with the best hunters, with orders to pro ceed as fast as they
Could to Deer island and there to hunt and wait our arrival. we wish to
halt at that place and repare 2 of our Canoes if possible. the Indians
that visited us this evining remained but a Short time, they passed over
to an Island and encamped. the night as well as the day proved Cold wet
and excessively disagreeable. we Came 20 miles in the Course of this day.