Day-by-Day / January 30, 1806

January 30, 1806

Chinookan lifeways

At Fort Clatsop near the Pacific Ocean, Lewis says that nothing worthy of notice happens this day. He then describes Chinookan lifeways including, dress, hats, and double-edge knives.

Hats and Knives

by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

Nothing Transpires

Nothing transpired today worthy of notice. we are agreeable disappointed in our fuel which is altogether green pine. we had supposed that it burn but illy, but we have found that by spliting it that it burns very well.
Meriwether Lewis

Chinookan Dress

they never wear leggins or mockersons which the mildness of this climate I presume has rendered in a great measure unnecessary; and their being obliged to be frequently in the water also renders those articles of dress inconvenient.
—Meriwether Lewis

Woven Conic Hats

The dress of the Clatsops and others in this neighbourhood differs but little from the discribed of the skillutes; they wear a hat of a conic figure without a brim confined on the head by means of a stri[n]g which passes under the chin . . . . these hats are made of the bark of cedar and beargrass wrought with the fingers so closely that it casts the rain most effectually . . . . on these hats they work various figures of different colours . . . . these figures are faint representations of whales the canoes and the harpoonneers striking them.
—Meriwether Lewis

Clatsop Double-edge Knife

The form of knife which seems to be prefered by these people is a double edged and double pointed daggar; the handle being in the middle . . . . these knives they carry with them habitually and most usually in the hand, somtimes exposed but most usually particularly when in company with strangers, under their robes with this knife they cut and lense their fish make their arrows &c.
—Meriwether Lewis

 

Weather Diary

aspect of the weather at sun symbol rise Wind at sun symbol rise Weather at 4 OC. P.M. Wind at 4 OC. P.M.
snow after snow N. cloudy after snow W

the weather by no means as could as it has been snow feell about one inch deep
—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 of the abbreviations.

 

Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail

The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Plan a trip related to January 30, 1806:

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Notes

Notes
1 Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.
2 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of the month” column and spelled out some of the abbreviations.

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.