Lewis: July 1, 1805

Monday July 1st 1805. This morning I set Frazier and Whitehouse to sewing
the leather on the sides of the sections of the boat; Shields and J.
Fields to collect and split light wood and prepare a pit to make tar. Gas
I set at work to make the way strips out of some willow limbs which tho
indifferent were the best which could be obtained. Drewyer and myself
completed the opperation of rendering the tallow; we obtained about 100
lbs. by evening the skins were all attatched to their sections and I
returned them again to the water. all matters were now in readiness to
commence the opperation of puting the parts of the boat together in the
morning. the way strips are not yet ready but will be done in time as I
have obtained the necessary timber. the difficulty in obtaining the
necessary materials has retarded my operations in forming this boat
extreemly tedious and troublesome; and as it was a novel peice of
machinism to all who were employed my constant attention was necessary to
every part of the work; this together with the duties of cheif cook has
kept me pretty well employed. at 3 P.M. Capt. Clark arrived with the party
all very much fortiegued. he brought with him all the baggage except what
he had deposited yesterday at the six mile stake, for which the party were
too much fortiegued to return this evening. we gave them a dram and
suffered them to rest from their labours this evening. I directed Bratton
to assist in making the tar tomorrow, and scelected several others to
assist in puting the boat together. the day has been warm and the
Musquetoes troublesome of course the bear were about our camp all last
night, we have therefore determined to beat up their quarters tomorrow,
and kill them or drive them from their haunts about this place.