Lewis: June 21, 1805

Friday June 21st 1805. This morning I employed the greater part of the men
in transporting a part of the bagage over portage creek to the top of the
high plain about three miles in advance on the portage. I also had one
canoe carryed on truck wheles to the same place and put the baggage in it,
in order to make an early start in the morning, as the rout of our portage
is not yet entirely settled, and it would be inconvenient to remain in the
open plain all night at a distance from water, which would probably be the
case if we did not set out early as the latter part of the rout is
destitute of water for about 8 mileshaving determined to go to the
upper part of the portage tomorrow; in order to prepare my boat and
receive and take care of the stores as they were transported, I caused the
Iron frame of the boat and the necessary tools my private baggage and
Instruments to be taken as a part of this load, also the baggage of Joseph
Fields, Sergt. Gass and John sheilds, whom I had scelected to assist me in
constructing the leather boat. Three men were employed today in shaving
the Elk skins which had ben collected for the boat. the ballance of the
party were employed in cuting the meat we had killed yesterday into thin
Retches and drying it, and in bring in the ballance of what had been left
over the river with three men last evening. I readily preceive several
difficulties in preparing the leather boat which are the want of
convenient and proper timber; bark, skins, and above all that of pitch to
pay her seams, a deficiency that I really know not how to surmount unless
it be by means of tallow and pounded charcoal which mixture has answered a
very good purpose on our wooden canoes heretofore. I have seen for the
first time on the Missouri at these falls, a species of fishing ducks with
white wings, brown and white body and the head and part of the neck adjoining
of a brick red, and the beak narrow; which I take to be the same common to
James river, the Potomac and Susquehanna. immence numbers of buffaloe
comeing to water at the river as usual. the men who remained over the
river last night killed several mule deer, and Willard who was with me
killed a young Elk. The wind blew violently all day. The growth of the
neighbourhood what little there is consists of the broad and narrow leafed
cottonwood, box alder, the large or sweet willow, the narrow and broad
leafed willow. the sweet willow has not been common to the Missouri below
this or the entrance of Maria’s river; here attains to the same size and
in appearance much the same as in the Atlantic States. the undergrowth
consists of rosebushes, goosberry and current bushes, honeysuckle small,
and the red wood, the inner bark of which the engages are fond of smoking
mixed with tobacco.