Day-by-Day / April 8, 1806

April 8, 1806

High winds, poor hunting

At present Shepperds Dell, Oregon, the dugout canoes are hastily unloaded before wind-driven waves fill them with water. In the evening, Lewis takes a nature walk and sees salmonberry blossoms. Late in the night, thief is caught sneaking into camp.

High Wind and Waves

The wind blew so violently this morning that we were obliged to unlode our perogues and canoes, soon after which they filled with water. being compelled to remain during the day at our present station we sent out some hunters in order to add something to our stock of provision; and exposed our dryed meat to the sun and the smoke of small fires.
Meriwether Lewis

Poor Hunting

in the evening the hunters returned having killed a duck only; they saw two bear and some of the blacktailed jumping or fallow deer, such as are found about Fort Clatsop; this kind of deer are scarce in this neighbourhood, the common longtailed fallow deer being most abundant.
—Meriwether Lewis

 

Salmonberry

I took a walk today of three miles down the river, in the course of which I had an opportunity to correct an error which I have heretofore made with rispect to the shrub I have hithertoo called the large leafed thorn.
—Meriwether Lewis

Late Night Thief

late at night the centinel detected an old indian man in attempting to creep into camp in order to pilfer; he allarmed the indian very much by presenting his gun at him; he gave the fellow a few stripes with a switch and sent him off.
—Meriwether Lewis

 

Weather Diary

State of weather at sun symbol rise Wind at sun symbol rise State of the weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. River
fair E fair E raised 1 ½ in.

wind commenced at 5 A M and continued to blow most violently all day. air temperate the male flowers of the cottonwood are falling. the goosburry has cast the petals of it’s flowers, and it’s leaves obtained their full size. the Elder which is remarkably large has began to blume. some of it’s flowerets have expanded their corollas. the serviceburries, chokecherries, the growth which resembles the beach, the small birch and grey willow have put fourth their leaves.
—Meriwether Lewis[1]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.

Notes

Notes
1 To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.

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.