December 26, 1805

"Joseph Fields finish a Table & 2 Seats for us.  we dry our wet articles and have the blankets fleed.  The flees are So troublesom that I have slept but little for past 2 nights and we have regularly to kill them out of our blankets every day for several past - "  Clark

December 27, 1805

"rained last night as usial and the grater part of this day, the men complete Chimneys & bunks to day.  in the evening a Chief and 4 men Come of the Clotsop nation, Chief Co-ma-wool  they  presented us a root* which resembles the licquirish in Size and taste, which they rost like a potato which they Call Cul-ho-mo.  Those roots and berries are timely and extreamly greatfull to our Stomachs, as we have nothing to eate but spoiled Elk meat.    We sent out R. Fields & Colins to hunt."  Clark

 root* - The "pash-a-co" mentioned here is camas. 

December 28, 1805

"Derected Drewyer, Shannon, Labeash, Rueben Field, and Collins to hunt; Jos. Fields, Bratten, Gibson to proceed to the Ocean at some convenient place form a Camp and commence makeing Salt with 5 of the largest kittles, and Willard and Wiser to assist them in Carrying the Kittles to the Sea Coast*.  all the other men to be employed about putting up pickets & makeing the gates of the fort.  my man York verry unwell from a violent coald and strain by carrying meet from the woods and lifting the heavy logs on the works."

Sea Coast*- Joseph Field, Bratton and Gibson established a salt making camp at Seaside, Oregon, which operated under various members of the party until February 21, 1806, producing about four bushels of salt.

December 29, 1805

"The flees are so noumerous in this Countrey and difficult to get cleare of that the Indians have difft. houses & villages to which they remove frequently to get rid of them.  Indeed I scerecely get to sleep half the night Clear of the torments of those flees, with the precaution of haveing my blankets serched and the flees killed every day."

December 30, 1805

"our fortificaiton is completed this evening - and at Sun Set we let the nativs know that our Custom will be in the future, to shut the gates at Sun Set at which time all Indians must go out of the fort and not return into it untill next morning after Sunrise at which time the gates will be opened."

December 31, 1805

"two other canoes arrived, onef from the War ci a cum Village with 3 indians and the other of 3 men and a woman from higher up the river and are of the Skil-lute nation*, those people brought with the som wappato roots, mats made of flags and rushes dreid fish, and a fiew Shaw- na tah-que and dressed Elk skins, I purchased of those people Some Wap pa to two mats and about 3 pipes of their tobacco in a neet little bag made of rushes ... for those articles I gave a large fishing hook and several other small articles, the fishing hooks they were verry fond of..."

Skil-lute nation* - Watlala Indians