The Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California Part 31

The first grand desideratum is, to secure comfort on the pa.s.sage, by the most efficient and economical means, thereby, as far as possible insuring the arrival of the company at their destination in good health and condition.

To insure the most perfect health and comfort attainable on so long a voyage, a vessel should not be fitted up as our European pa.s.senger s.h.i.+ps are, with bunks for the pa.s.sengers to sleep in, but the berth deck should be free from bulkheads fore and aft. This arrangement would give plenty of room for the company to swing their hammocks or cots, which could be stowed on deck in pleasant weather, leaving the berth deck free from enc.u.mbrance, for the company to amuse themselves with conversation or exercise. Such an arrangement would secure a more perfect ventilation (a very important consideration) than bunks could possibly admit of, as bunks unavoidably harbor filth and vermin, besides leaving very little room for the exercise so absolutely necessary in preventing the diseases incident to a protracted voyage. Before the company proceeds on the voyage, each member should subscribe to a code of regulations, and officers be appointed to carry them into effect. This arrangement should be made in order to obviate the vexation and annoyance which inevitably occur wherever a large number of persons are promiscuously on s.h.i.+pboard. A simple system, such as regularity of meals and cleansing the interior of the s.h.i.+p, similar to the Navy regulations in that particular, are indispensible and will contribute much to the pleasure, comfort, health, and good fellows.h.i.+p of all on board.

The company should be composed of _practical persons_-- Agriculturists, Mechanics, and Artisans, as _nearly equal in pecuniary condition and intelligence_ as circ.u.mstances will admit, and it would be very important for the most useful and necessary arts to be well represented. By such an organization, the company would be very efficient; for by taking on board cloth, leather, iron, lumber, brick, &c. their clothing, shoes, iron and wood work of a brick house might be made on board. And would employ the various mechanics connected with those arts, would tend to relieve the monotony of the ocean, and PRACTICALLY _ill.u.s.trate the benefits and many advantages_ of a true _a.s.sociation_ of interests.

The agricultural implements of the most approved method, together with the choicest varieties of young fruit trees and garden seeds, should be provided. Instead of the usual ballast for the vessel, brick and lime, if necessary, could be taken for that purpose, which might be used by the company or disposed of to great advantage at San Francisco. The vessel might be profitably employed in transporting pa.s.sengers to and from the Isthmus, with great profit to the company, of which the officers and s.h.i.+p's company should be members. A _skillful surgeon_ should belong to the a.s.sociation. Every member of the company should contribute all the useful books he could, as a library on s.h.i.+p-board would be a constant source of amus.e.m.e.nt and instruction.

Persons about embarking on so long a voyage should be very particular and have their provisions carefully put up. The United States service rations will be found to be very economical. The following is the weekly allowance per man:--

Sunday 14 oz. bread, 11/4 lb. beef, 1/2 lb. flour.

Monday 14 oz. bread, 1 lb. pork, 1/2 pint beans.

Tuesday 14 oz. bread, 2 oz. cheese, 1 lb. beef.

Wednesday 14 oz. bread, 1 lb. pork, 1/2 pint of rice.

Thursday 14 oz. bread, 11/4 lbs. beef, 1/2 lb. flour.

Friday 14 oz. bread, 4 oz. cheese, 2 oz. b.u.t.ter, 1/2 pint rice, 1/2 pint mola.s.ses, 1/2 pint vinegar.

Sat.u.r.day 14 oz, bread, 1 lb. pork, 1/2 pint beans, 1/2 lb. raisins.

The spirit ration is omitted.

This is sufficient for the hardest-working seaman. The flour should be kiln dried; any baker can do it. It is only necessary to evaporate all the moisture, and pack it in air-tight casks. Pine-apple cheese is the best and should be put up in water-tight boxes, saturated in alcohol. Sour crout, pickles, &c. are excellent anti-s...o...b..tics, and should be eaten freely. Be careful and lay in a good store of "salt water soap."

N. B. The flour should be packed in casks that have contained distilled spirits.

A vessel bound for California by the way of Cape Horn by touching at Rio Janeiro, Brazil and Callao, in Peru, would divide the voyage into three periods, increasing its interest without much addition to its length of time. Rio Janeiro has one of the most magnificent harbors on the globe, far surpa.s.sing in natural grandeur the bay of Naples. The approach to the stupendous mountain coast is inexpressibly grand. The entrance to the capacious roadstead is through a narrow strait of great depth of water un.o.bstructed by rock or shoal, flanked on the North by the huge fortress of Santa Cruz; on the South the "Sugar Loaf" rock proudly rears its lofty cone near one thousand feet above the surface of the deep. The entire bay is nearly surrounded by numerous mountain peaks of every conceivable form.

Leaving Rio we prepare to encounter the terrors of the "Horn," having overcome its Westerly gales and "head-beat seas" debouching on the vast Pacific, we career onward before the "trades" to Callao, the port of Lima and capital of the Peruvian Republic. Here the refreshments peculiar to the Tropics are plenty and of excellent quality. We ride at anchor over the ancient City of Callao, (destroyed and sunk by an earthquake 1746,) in sight of the lofty Andes, the mighty cones of Pichnia and Cotopaxi blazing their volcanic fires far above the region of eternal snow, their ice- frosted summits glittering in the sun, forming a dazzling contrast with the clear deep azure of the tropical skies.

Waving adieu to Callao, our canvas spread to woo the "trades," we sweep onward to Alta-California, and entering the "Golden Gate" of the Cornucopia of the Pacific, drop our anchor in the bay of San Francisco.