Lewis: January 3, 1806

Friday January 3d 1806. At 11 A.M. we were visited by our near neighbours,
Chief or Tia, Como-wool; alias Conia and six Clatsops. they brought for
sale some roots buries and three dogs also a small quantity of fresh
blubber. this blubber they informed us they had obtained from their
neighbours the Callamucksz who inhabit the coast to the S. E. near whose
vilage a whale had recently perished. this blubber the Indians eat and
esteeme it excellent food. our party from necessaty having been obliged to
subsist some lenth of time on dogs have now become extreemly fond of their
flesh; it is worthy of remark that while we lived principally on the flesh
of this anamal we were much more healthy strong and more fleshey than we
had been since we left the Buffaloe country. for my own part I have become
so perfectly reconciled to the dog that I think it an agreeable food and
would prefer it vastly to lean Venison or Elk. a small Crow, the blue
crested Corvus and the smaller corvus with a white brest, the little brown
ren, a large brown sparrow, the bald Eagle and the beatifull Buzzard of
the columbia still continue with us.Sent Sergt. Gass and George
Shannon to the saltmakers who are somewhere on the coast to the S. W. of
us, to enquire after Willard and Wiser who have not yet returned. Reubin
Fields Collins and Pots the hunters who set out on the 26th Ulto. returned
this evening after dark. they reported that they had been about 15 Miles
up the river at the head of the bay just below us and had hunted the
country from thence down on the East side of the river, even to a
considerable distance from it and had proved unsuccessful) having killed
one deer and a few fowls, barely as much as subsisted them. this reminded
us of the necessity of taking time by the forelock, and keep out several
parties while we have yet a little meat beforehand.I gave the Chief
Comowooll a pare of sattin breechies with which he appeared much pleased.