Lewis: January 11, 1806

Sunday January 11th 1806. Sent a party early this morning for the Elk
which was killed on the 9th. they returned with it in the evening; Drewyer
and Collins also returned without having killed anything. this morning the
Sergt. of the guard reported the absence of our Indian Canoe, on enquiry
we found that those who came in it last evening had been negligent in
securing her and the tide in the course of the night had taken her off; we
sent a party down to the bay in surch of her, they returned unsuccessfull,
the party also who went up the river and Creek in quest of the meat were
ordered to lookout for her but were equally unsuccessfull; we ordered a
party to resume their resurches for her early tomorrow; this will be a
very considerable loss to us if we do not recover her; she is so light
that four men can carry her on their sholders a mile or more without
resting; and will carry three men and from 12 to 15 hundred lbs. the
Cuthlahmahs left us this evening on their way to the Catsops, to whom they
purpose bartering their wappetoe for the blubber and oil of the whale,
which the latter purchased for beads &c. from the Killamucks; in this
manner there is a trade continually carryed on by the natives of the river
each trading some article or other with their neighbours above and below
them; and thus articles which are vended by the whites at the entrance of
this river, find their way to the most distant nations enhabiting it’s
waters.