Preparing for the Expedition

List of 'Indian presents' purchased by Meriwether Lewis

What They Brought With Them
Twelve tons of equipment and supplies, some of which included:

• A chronometer — the most expensive single item purchased, this timepiece was used to find a location's longitude in order to make accurate maps
  
• Gifts and trade items to use with the Native Americans — beads, red dye, tobacco, knives, etc.; they also carried "peace medals" to give to the chiefs of the tribes — these medals showed a portrait of Thomas Jefferson on one side, and two hands joined in friendship on the other
  
• One hundred quill pens and envelopes of powdered ink (which just needed to be mixed with water) in order to write in journals throughout the trip
  
• Dried food items (most food would have to be found and/or hunted for by the men along the way)
  
• Sheets of oiled linen — linen that had been treated so as to be water resistant; this fabric was useful in making tents and sails and for keeping items as dry as possible
  
• Individuals carried their own items of clothing, along with knapsacks that contained such items as fire-starting kits and eating utensils

What They Couldn't Bring

• Matches — instead, they brought "30 steels for striking or making fire"
  
• Insect repellant — did not exist
  
• Man-made fabrics
  
• Modern medicines

How They Traveled

• Canoes, dugouts, "pirogues" (small boats)
  
• On horseback
  
• On foot

Where They Took Shelter

• They built their own forts for the winter
  
• Tents, tepees

What They Wore

• Moccasins — By the end of the winter the Corps spent at Fort Clatsop, they had made 338 pairs of moccasins, enough for about 10 pairs per person.
  
• Fabric clothing was gradually replaced with Native American clothing, as the fabric items wore out