FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO HONOLULU. 343 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO SINGAPORE, EAST INDIES, 



On the 25th of October I received orders to join the brig 

 u Oregon ;" this vessel was purchased by Captain Wilkes 

 after the loss of the " Peacock " for the sum of 9,000 dollars. 

 She was built in Baltimore, is of 170 tons burthen, was origi- 

 nally named " Thomas Perkins," came out to the Sandwich 

 Islands with an assorted cargo, and when purchased was lying 

 at Astoria taking in a quantity of salmon. In a day or two 

 after having been purchased, she was stripped, and her masts 

 lifted and made several feet shorter, after which she pro- 

 ceeded up to Vancouver, where she underwent some further 

 alterations and repairs. After these changes were made, 

 Captain Hudson repaired on board and took command, and on 

 the 21st of September, she got under- way, in company with 

 the " Porpoise," and dropped down to Fort George, (Astoria,) 

 where she laid until the 12th of October, when she sailed" for 

 San Francisco. Captain Hudson then gave up the command, 

 and repaired to the " Vincennes," and Lieutenant Overton 

 Carr was ordered in his stead. 



October 31st. At 3.30 P. M. we got under-way in com- 

 pany with the " Vincennes" and the " Porpoise," and pro- 

 ceeded to sea. The wind being a-head, we were compelled to 

 beat, which afforded us a fine opportunity of seeing the Bay. 

 In one of the stretches we stood on until our jib-boom almost 

 touched the cliff on which the Precidio is situated. This was 



