On this day in Lewis & Clark history...
The Captains treat Bratton's back with a liniment of camphor, alcohol, soap made from olive oil and sodium hydroxide, and laudanum (opium and alcohol). The Captains describe several species of birds, and the smokers run out of tobacco.
From the journals...
Friday March 7th 1806.
The wind was so high that Comowol did not leave us untill late this evening.
Bratton is much wose today, he complains of a violent pain in the small of his back and is unablen consequence to set up.
Netul Landing at Fort Clatsop
Friday March 7th 1806.
there are four speceis of larus or gull on this coast and river, 1st a small speceis about the size of a pigeon; white except some black spots about the head and a little brown on the but of the wings
Immature bonaparte's gull, Larus philadelphia
Friday March 7th 1806.
2nd a speceis somewhat larger of a light brown colour with a whitish or mealy coloured back.
Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens
Friday March 7th 1806.
3rd the large grey gull, or white larus with a greyish brown back and a light grey belley and breast, about the size of a well grown pullet or reather larger.
the wings are remarkably long in proportion to the size of the body and it's under chap towards the extremity is more gibbous and protuberant than in either of the other speceis.
Immature western gull, Larus occidentalis
Friday March 7th 1806.
the large grey gull is found on the river as high as the entrance of the Kooskooske and in common with other speceis on the coast; the others appear to be confined to tidewater
Western gull, Larus occidentalis
Friday March 7th 1806.
4th a white gull about the size of the second with a remarkable beak;
adjoining the head and at the base of the uper Chap there is an elivated orning of the same substance with the beak which forms the nostrils;
it is some what in this form.
Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
Friday March 7th 1806.
The cormorant is a large black duck which feeds on fish; I perceive no difference between it and those found in the Potomac and other rivers on the Atlantic Coast.
tho' I do not recollect seeing those on the atlantic so high up the rivers as those are found here.
we first met with them on the Kooskooske at the entrance of Chopunnish river.
they increased in quantity as we decended, and formed much the greatest portion of the waterfowl which we saw on the Columbia untill we reached tidewater where they also abound but do not bear a similar proportion to the other fowls found in this quarter.—
Black cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Friday March 7th 1806.
There are two speceis of loons.
1st the Speckled loon found on every part of the rivers of this country.
they are the same size colours and form with those of the Atlantic coast.
Arctic loon, Gavia arctica
Friday March 7th 1806.
There are two species of loons.
the second speceis we first met with at the great falls of the Columbia and from thence down.
this bird is not more than half the size of the speckled loon, it's neck is long, slender and white in front.
the Colour of the body and back of the neck and head are of a dun or ash colour, the breast and belley are white.
the beak is like that of the speckled loon and like them it cannot fly but flutters along on the top of the warter or dives for security when pursued.—
Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis
