Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/439

 Diary of Rev. George Gary — IV 407 Brutus, Capt. Adams ; engaged our passage to Sandwich Islands ; passage $120. I have given my papers and counsels to Bro. Roberts, my successor in this mission. Sunday, 11. Bro. Roberts preaches at 5 o'clock p. m. I am pleased with him. I feel easy in leaving this mission in his hands. Monday, 12. Today we leave the Falls for Portland, down the Willamette, about 12 miles ; we are accompanied by Sister Wilbur and daughter, Gov. Abernethy, wife and children, Judge Thornton and lady, Bro. Roberts and wife. Bros. Roberts and Wilbur are starting about the same time we start for Yam Hill to attend camp-meeting, so while we are leaving or retiring from the work, they are engaging in it. At evening, we find ourselves in the Brutus with our state somewhat arranged. The accommodations, to ap- pearances, on board this ship are altogether superior to what they were on board the Lausanne, the ship in which we sailed from New York. The mosquitoes are a great annoyance in this place (Portland). Tuesday, 13. This morning our moorings are loosened and our anchor hoisted and our sails partly spread; we bid adieu to our friends who have accompanied us so far, and with our river pilot on board, we start down the Willamette River. This is a small and difficult river for to navigate so large a vessel as the Brutus. About noon we cast anchor in the Columbia River. Surely so far we have been very successful, not having touched the bottom at all. It is somewhat common for vessels to be detained for hours, by touching some of the bars so com- mon in the rivers. About 2 o'clock p. m., our captain goes with a boat crew to Fort VanCouver, some three miles above the mouth of the Willamette. It is so late when the captain returns we do not hoist our sails tonight. Wednesday, 14. The wind is up the river; but we drift down the river by the current in company with the