Great Falls Portage — Patrick Gass: July 9, 1805

forenoon we loaded our canoes, and put the Experiment into
the water. She rides very light but leaks some. In the after-
noon a storm of wind, with some rain came on from the north
west, and we had again to unload some of our canoes, the
waves ran so high. After the storm we had a fine evening.
The tallow and coal were found not to answer the purpose;
for as soon as dry, it cracked and scaled off, and the water
came through the skins. Therefore for want of tar or pitch
we had, after all our labour, to haul our new boat on shore,
and leave it at this place.