March 19, 1806 - Discover Lewis & Clark

Contents

Fort Clatsop, Astoria, OR The captains describe Chinookan lifeways detailing their manner of dress, decoration, and how they flatten their foreheads.

Gathering Abalones – Nakoaktok

Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952)

Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Curtis’s “The North American Indian,” 2003.^[1]Edward S. Curtis, The North American Indian (1907-1930) v.10, The Kwakiutl. ([Cambridge: The University Press], 1915), plate no. 342.

Coboway’s Certificate

we gave Comowooll alias Connia [Coboway], a cirtificate of his good conduct and the friendly intercourse which he has maintained with us during our residence at this place; we also gave him a list of our names.—
—Meriwether Lewis

Chinookan Lifeways

The Killamucks [Tillamooks], Clatsops, Chinnooks [Chinooks], Cathlahmahs [Kathlamets] and Wâc’-ki-a-cums [Wahkiakums] resemble each other as well in their persons and dress as in their habits and manners . . . . the most remarkable trait in their physiognomy is the peculiar flatness and width of the forehead which they artificially obtain by compressing the head between two boards while in a state of infancy and from which it never afterwards perfectly recovers.
—Meriwether Lewis

Local Rain Gear

a mat is sometimes temperarily thrown over the sholders to protect them from rain . . . . they also cover their heads from the rain sometimes with a common water cup or basket made of the cedar bark and beargrass.
—Meriwether Lewis

Wampum

They [Chinookan Indians] are also fond of a species of wampum which is furnished them by a trader whom they call Swipton. it seems to be the native form of the shell without any preperation.
—Meriwether Lewis

Blue Beads

The favorite ornament of both sexes are the common coarse blue and white beads which the men wear tightly wound arond their wrists and ankles many times untill they obtain the width of three or more inches. they also wear them in large rolls loosely arond the neck
—Meriwether Lewis

Lewis and Clark’s Grizzly Bear Necklace

Collars of Bear Claws

the men sometimes wear collars of bears claws, and the women and children the tusks of the Elk variously arranged on their necks arms &c. both males and females wear braslets on their wrists of copper brass or Iron in various forms.
—Meriwether Lewis

Weather Diary

Aspect of the weather at Rise Wind at rise Aspect of weather at 4 O’Ck P. M. Wind at 4 OCk. P. M.

rain & hail after clouds, rain, & hail S W. rain after fair, rain & hail S. W.

frequent and suddon changes during the day wind not so hard as usual.
—Meriwether Lewis^[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of the Month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.

Aspect of the weather at Rise	Wind at rise	Aspect of weather at 4 O’Ck P. M.	Wind at 4 OCk. P. M.
rain & hail after clouds, rain, & hail	S W.	rain after fair, rain & hail	S. W.

Fort Clatsop is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site is managed by the Lewis and Clark National and State Historic Parks.

Notes[+]

Notes
↑1	Edward S. Curtis, The North American Indian (1907-1930) v.10, The Kwakiutl. ([Cambridge: The University Press], 1915), plate no. 342.
↑2	To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of the Month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.

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