The Alexander McFarlan journal recorded on board the California Packet (built 1849; ship, 3m) (SAFR 17627, HDC 210) describes the author's journey from Machiasport, Maine to San Francisco, California aboard the CALIFORNIA PACKET (built 1849; ship: 3m) from December 1849 to August 1850.

Biography: Born July 23, 1828, Alexander McFarlan was 22 years old when he boarded the CALIFORNIA PACKET (built 1849; ship, 3m) at Machiasport, Maine on December 28, 1849 to California. Piloted by Captain George Kimball, with 80 passengers on board, the ship sailed for California. En route the ship stopped in Boston, Rio de Janeiro, and Valparaiso. Mr. McFarlan wrote of weather, location, food, other vessels encountered, bed bugs, passenger debates, participating in the on-board infantry which had regular drills, washing and mending, playing the fiddle to entertain crew and passengers, the time spent reading and writing, rounding Cape Horn, nearing the "promised land", and how the San Francisco Bay and port appeared at first site the day of arrival, the last entry of the journal on August 24, 1850.

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