Declining Offers

On December 23rd, 1805, William Clark wrote:

Cuscalah the Indian who had treated me So politely when I was at the Clâtsops village, come up in a Canoe with his young brother & 2 Squars he laid before Capt Lewis and my Self each a mat and a parcel of roots - Some time in the evening two files was demanded for the presents of mats and roots, as we had no files to part with, we each returned the present which we had received, which displeased Cuscalah a little, he then offered a woman to each of us which we also declined axcepting of, which displeased the whole party verry much - the female part appeared to be highly disgusted at our refuseing to axcept of their favours. (Clark, from Moulton V.6, 136)

Related pages:

Theft and Threats  |  Rules of Fort Clatsop  |  An Eye for an Eye?
Fear and Distrust of Indians  |  Giving To Receive  |  Declining Offers
Shrewd Dealers  |  Observations of Attitude Toward Trade  |  Slavery  |  Tribal Hospitality