Lewis: March 25, 1806

Tuesday March 25th 1806. The morning being disagreeably cold we remained
and took break-fast. at 7 A.M. we set out and continued our rout along the
South Coast of the river against the wind and a strong current, our
progress was of course but slow. at noon we halted and dined. here some
Clatsops came to us in a canoe loaded with dryed anchovies, which they
call Olthen, Wappetoe and Sturgeon. they informed us that they had been up
on a trading voyage to the Skillutes.I observe that the green bryer
which I have previously mentioned as being common on this river below tide
water retains it’s leaves all winter.the red willow and seven bark
begin to put fourth their leaves.after dinner we passed the river
to a large Island 2 and continued our rout allong the side of the same
about a mile when we arrived at a Cathlahmah fishing cam of one lodge;
here we found 3 men 2 women and a couple of boys, who from appearances had
remained here some time for the purpose of taking sturgeon, which they do
by trolling. they had ten or douzen very fine sturgeon which had not been
long taken. we offered to purchase some of their fish but they asked us
such an extravegant price that we declined purchase. one of the men
purchased a sea Otterskin at this lodge, for which he gave a dressed
Elkskin and an handkercheif. near this lodge we met some Cathlahmahs who
had been up the river on a fishing excurtion. they had a good stock of
fish on board, but did not seem disposed to sell them. we remained at this
place about half an hour and then continued our rout up the Island to it’s
head and passed to the south side. the wind in the evening was very hard.
it was with some difficulty that we could find a spot proper for an
encampment, the shore being a swamp for several miles back; at length late
in the evening opposite to the place we had encamped on the 6th of
November last; we found the entrance of a small creek which afforded us a
safe harbour from the wind and encamped. the ground was low and moist tho
we obtained a tolerable encampment. here we found another party of
Cathlahmahs about 10 in number who had established a temperary residence
for the purpose of fishing and taking seal. they had taken a fine parcel
of sturgeon and some seal. they gave us some of the fleese of the seal
which I found a great improvement to the poor Elk. here we found Drewyer
and the Feildses who had been seperated from us since morning; they had
passed on the North side of the large Island which was much nearer. the
bottom lands are covered with cottonwood, the growth with a broad leaf
which resembles ash except the leaf. the underbrush red willow, broad
leafed willow, sevenbark, goosburry, green bryer & the larged leafed
thorn; the latter is now in bloom; the natives inform us that it bears a
freut about an inch in diameter which is good to eat.