At 5 P. M.
At 5 p. m.
I determine to Set out early tomorrow with two canoes & 12 men in quest of the whale or at all events to purchase from the indians a parcel of the blubber, for this purpose I made up a Small assortment of merchindize, and directed the men to hold themselves in readiness &c.
Sunday 5th Jany. 1806. a wet rainy morning. in the afternoon one of the hunters returned to the Fort had killed nothing except one brant and 2 ducks Shortly after 2 men came from the Salt Camp with about 2 gallons of Salt. they had killed three Elk and one Deer. they informed us that the Savages brought loads of the whail that they had informed us of. Our men bought Som of the meat from them which was good.
Sunday 5th. This was a very wet day. We killed a squirrel and eat it; made a raft to cross the creek; but when it was tried we found it would carry only one person at a time; the man with me was therefore sent over first, who thought he could shove the raft across again; but when he attempted, it only went half-way: so that there was one of us on each side and the raft in the middle. I, however notwithstanding the cold, stript and swam to the raft, brought it over and then crossed on it in safety; when we pursued our journey, and in a short time came to some Indian camps on the sea shore. The rain and wind continued so violent that we agreed to stay at these camps all night.
Sunday Janry 5th A Wet rainey morning. In the afternoon one of our hunters returned to the fort & had only killed a brant & 2 Ducks which he brought with him. Two of our party also returned from where some of our party were making Salt near the Ocean. these Men brought with them about 2 Gallons of excellent Salt, which was made there & mention'd that the party there could make plenty of it. they had killed 3 elk & 2 Deer. They told us that the Indians had brought a vast Quantity of the Whale, which they Informed us of, to their Indian Village; and that the Natives eat the Oil made from the whales flesh, & that they had eat of it & that it was very good.— These Men brought part of the Whale with them, which they got from the Indians