Clark: March 28, 1806

Friday March 28th 1806 This morning we Set out verry early and at 9 A.M.
arived at an old Indian Village on the N E side of Deer island where we
found our hunters had halted and left one man with the Canoes at their
Camp, they arrived last evening at this place, and Six of them turned out
very early to hunt, at 10 A.M. they all returned to camp haveing killed
Seven Deer, those were all of the Common fallow Deer with a long tail. I
measured the tail of one of these bucks which was upwards of 17 inches
long; they are very poor, tho they are better than the black tail Species
of the Sea coast. those are two very distinct Species of Deer. the Indians
call this large Island E-lal-lar, or Deer Island, which is a very
appropriate name. the hunters informed us that they had Seen upwards of a
hundred Deer this morning on this island. the interior of this Island is a
prarie & ponds, with a heavy growth of Cotton wood, ash & willow
near the river. we have Seen more water fowl on this island than we have
previously Seen Since we left Fort Clatsop, Consisting of Geese, Ducks,
large Swan & Sand Hill crains. I saw a fiew of the Canvis back duck as
I believe. at 1/2 after 10 A.M. it became fair and we had the Canoes which
wanted repareing hauled out and with the assistance of fires which we had
kindled for the purpose dryed them Sufficiently to receve the pitch which
was imedeately put on them; at 3 in the evening we had them Compleated and
lanced and reloaded. we should have Set out but some of the party whome we
had permitid to hunt Since we arrived heve not yet returned. we determined
to remain here this evening and dry our bedding &c. the weather being
fair. Since we landed here we were visited by a large Canoe with ten
nativs of the Quathlahpohtle nation who are numerous and reside about
fourteen Miles above us on the N E. Side of the Columbia above the
Enterance of a Small river which the Indians call Chfih-w&h-na-hi-ooks.
we saw a great number of Snakes on this island; they were about the Size
and much the form of the garter snake of the U. S. the back and Sides are
black with a narrow Stripe of light yellow along the Center of the back,
with small red spots on each Side they have ____ scuta on the abdomin
& ____ on the tail and are not poisonous. The men who had been Sent
after the deer returned with four only, the other 4 haveing been eaten
entirely by the Voulturs except the Skin. The men we had been permitted to
hunt this evening killed 3 deer 4 Eagles & a Duck. the deer are
remarkably pore. Some rain in the after part of the day. we only made 5
miles to day-.