Their own guns were rusty flint-locks, loaded with poor powder and gravel. Their bows were beautiful and true, but were not strong enough for killing elk. They were not nearly so strong as the bows of the Otoes and the Sioux, decided Peter; not nearly so strong as his own Mandan bow.
The Indians from all around visited the fort. The Chinooks, under Chief Com-com-ly, who had only one eye ("Same as me," chuckled Cruzatte), lived on the north side of the bay; on this south side lived the Clatsops, under Chief Co-bo-way. Nearer the sea lived the Tilla-mooks. Up the Columbia River lived Cath-*lam-ets. These all looked much alike, being small, ugly, and flat-footed and crooked-legged from squatting so much in their canoes and by their fires.
They were well acquainted with white men. One squaw had the name "J. Bowman" tattooed on her arm. The captain spent much time talking with them, and learned of the ships and the white traders who had been in here.
"Tyee (chief) Haley; so many mast (and Chief Com-com-ly held up three fingers); stay long."
And
"Callalamet; wood leg; trader."
And
"Tyee Davidson; three mast; hunt elk."
And so forth, all of which the captains, particularly Captain Lewis, carefully wrote down.
The visitors brought provisions and goods to trade:
