Roots and Berries

Redrawn from Moulton V.6 p. 232

On December 27th, 1805, William Clark described some of the dried plant foods used by the Clatsops:

In the evening Co-mo wool the Chief and 4 men of the Clat Sop nation the[y] presented us a root which resembles the licquirish in Size and taste, which they roste like a potato which they Call Cut ho-mo, also a black root which is cured in a kill like the pash-a-co above; this root has a Sweet taste and the natives are verry fond of it - they Call this root Shaw-na-tâh-que. also a dried berry about the size of a Chery which they Call Shele well all those roots those Indians value highly and give them verry Spearingly. (Clark, from Moulton V.6, 139)

On January 23rd, Clark described the root digging stick used by Clatsops:

The instruments used by the nativs in digging their roots is a Strong Stick of three feet and a half long Sharpened at the lower end and its upper inserted into a part of an Elks or buck's horn which Serves as a handle; Standing transversely in the Stick - or it is in this form as thus A is the lower part which is a little hooked B is the upper part or handle of Horn. (Clark, from Moulton V.6, 231-2)

On March 2nd Clark wrote of the fresh greens of spring eaten by the Clatsops:

The nativs of this neighbourhood eate the root of the Cattail or Cooper's flag. it is pleasantly tasted and appears to be very nutrecious. the inner part of the root which is eaten without any previous preperation is Composed of a number of capellary white flexable Strong fibers among which is a mealy or Starch like Substance which readily disolves in the mouth and Seperates from the fibers which are then rejected. it appears to me that this Substance would make excellent Starch; nothing Can be of a pureer white than it is. (Clark, from Moulton V.6, 370)

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