Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/441

 Diary of Rev. George Gary — IV 409 without a pilot. We float on till one o'clock p. m. and the wind against us rising high we cast anchor. In a little while our pilot arrives. But as the wind is high, we lie at anchor the remainder of the day. Thursday, 22. In good season, our anchor is hoisted and we are drifting slowly down stream. We proceed slowly on our way until two o'clock p. m., then cast anchor again. There is a very strong wind these days up the river; and as we are where the tide affects the current quite considerably, we can drift only on the ebb tide. So our progress is very slow. We are at anchor for the re- mainder of this day near Pillar Rock, a place well known in this majestic river. We perhaps have come today four miles, a small part of our voyage say of twenty thousand miles ; yet every little helps. Friday, 23. Today, as yesterday, but very little pro- gress; say four miles. Surely our journey or voyage whichever it is called, begins slowly, very slowly indeed. We fare very well at our table ; plenty of Columbia River salmon. Saturday, 24. We make, I suppose this day, about one mile advance. This is the day of small progress. Sunday, 25. We are now at the head of Tongue Point channel and our pilot has charge of the vessel ; this holy day is spent in warping, sailing, &c across this difficult channel. Monday, 26. An early start ; but soon the ship touches the ground. We are dependent upon the state of the tide in order to get along. Our vessel draws about thirteen feet of water; we pass places where at low water there is only nine feet of water. I suppose the captain and sailors spent the greater part of this night in getting our ship into deep water. Tuesday, 27. We find ourselves near Fort George (Astoria) this morning. I suppose two miles below where we were yesterday morning. We take in a little freight; are visited by Bros. Ray-