They saved these to wear on the way home.
Five soldiers were sent down to the ocean beach to make salt.
Each had a big kettle.
They filled the kettles with ocean water.
They burned a fire under the kettles day and night.
In time, the water all boiled away.
A crust of salt was left on the inside of the kettles.
The soldiers gathered this salt into wooden kegs.
It took seven weeks to make enough salt for their journey home.
Captain Lewis wrote, "This salt was a great treat to many of the party."
He liked salt very much.
Captain Clark wrote that he did not care if he had salt or not.
hand ker chief un der wear wea sel
mer ry wak en wel come
On Christmas Day, 1805, the soldiers got up without making any noise.
They fired their guns all at one time to waken the captains.
Then they sang an old Christmas song.
Then they wished the captains "Merry Christmas."
They gave each other presents.
Captain Clark wrote that he had twelve weasel tails, some underwear,
some moccasins, and an Indian blanket for his Christmas presents.
He gave a handkerchief or some little present to each man.
There was no snow and no ice, but there was much rain.
The soldiers had to stay in their log fort all day.
They had only poor elk, poor roots, and some bad dried salmon for
dinner.
But they were cheerful.
They danced and sang into the night.
On New Year's Day, they fired their guns to welcome in the New Year.
They had more to eat than on Christmas Day.
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