October 21, 1805; Clark’s entry in his field notes for the day’s events included, “Collins made some excellent beer of the pasheco quarmash bread which was very good.”
Later, when he transcribed the field notes to the final journal entry he wrote, “Collins presented us with some very good beer made of the Pa-shi-co-quar-mash bread, which bread is the remains of what was laid in as stores of provisions at the first flatheads or Cho-pun-nish nation at the head of the Kossoske River which being frequently wet molded and soured."
Clark definitely toned down his response to the beer from “excellent” “very good”. He also added his justification on why the bread could be used that way instead of being eaten as food as originally planned. The Expedition was short of food and scrambled to even find some survival foods not normally considered in civilization as food; dogs for example.
Maybe he was thinking if he showed they would have otherwise been thrown away the beer would be more acceptable to those who would read the journals at some time in the future. Remember, Clark was spending government money to purchase their food, and as we see later with the handling of Lewis’ invoices, some bureaucrat can without any prior notice or approval, change the outcome of things previously agreed upon.
Probably the general public would see this and knowing they had been out of booze for almost 4 months, think nothing of it. At the most they might chuckle at the change from excellent to very good.
Later, when he transcribed the field notes to the final journal entry he wrote, “Collins presented us with some very good beer made of the Pa-shi-co-quar-mash bread, which bread is the remains of what was laid in as stores of provisions at the first flatheads or Cho-pun-nish nation at the head of the Kossoske River which being frequently wet molded and soured."
Clark definitely toned down his response to the beer from “excellent” “very good”. He also added his justification on why the bread could be used that way instead of being eaten as food as originally planned. The Expedition was short of food and scrambled to even find some survival foods not normally considered in civilization as food; dogs for example.
Maybe he was thinking if he showed they would have otherwise been thrown away the beer would be more acceptable to those who would read the journals at some time in the future. Remember, Clark was spending government money to purchase their food, and as we see later with the handling of Lewis’ invoices, some bureaucrat can without any prior notice or approval, change the outcome of things previously agreed upon.
Probably the general public would see this and knowing they had been out of booze for almost 4 months, think nothing of it. At the most they might chuckle at the change from excellent to very good.
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