Lewis: March 15, 1806

Saturday March 15th 1806. This morning at 11 OCk. the hunters arrived,
having killed four Elk only. Labuish it seems was the only hunter who fell
in with the Elk and having by some accedent lost the fore sight of his gun
shot a great number of times but killed only the number mentioned. as the
elk were scattered we sent two parties for them, they returned in the
evening with four skins and the flesh of three Elk, that of one of them
having become putrid from the liver and pluck having been carelessly left
in the animal all night. we were visited this afternoon by Delashshelwilt
a Chinnook Chief his wife and six women of his nation which the old baud
his wife had brought for market. this was the same party that had
communicated the venerial to so many of our party in November last, and of
which they have finally recovered. I therefore gave the men a particular
charge with rispect to them which they promised me to observe. late this
evening we were also visited by Catel a Clatsop man and his family. he
brought a canoe and a Sea Otter Skin for sale neither of which we
purchased this evening. The Clatsops who had brought a canoe for sale last
evening left us early this morning.- Bratton still sick.

There is a third speceis of brant in the neighbourhood of this place which
is about the size and much the form of the pided brant. they weigh about
81/2 lbs. the wings are not as long nor so pointed as those of the common
pided brant. the following is a likeness of it’s head and beak. a little
distance around the base of the beak is white and is suddonly succeeded by
a narrow line of dark brown. the ballance of the neck, head, back, wings,
and tail all except the tips of the feathers are of the bluish brown of
the common wild goose. the breast and belly are white with an irregular
mixture of black feathers which give that part a pided appearance. from
the legs back underneath the tail, and arond the junction of the same with
the body above, the feathers are white. the tail is composed of 18
feathers; the longest of which are in the center and measure 6 Inches with
the barrel of the quill; those sides of the tail are something shorter and
bend with their extremeties inwards towards the center of the tail. the
extremities of these feathers are white. the beak is of a light flesh
colour. the legs and feet which do not differ in structure from those of
the goose or brant of the other speceis, are of an orrange yellow colour.
the eye is small; the iris is a dark yellowish brown, and pupil black. the
note of this brant is much that of the common pided brant from which in
fact they are not to be distinguished at a distance, but they certainly
are a distinct speis of brant. the flesh of this fowl is as good as that
of the common pided brant. they not remain here during the winter in such
numbers as the white brant do, tho they have now returned in considerable
quantities. first saw them below tide-water.