ON AMERICAN SOIL 171 



we had quite a lively time on board. Though the sun- 

 rise was simply magnificent, the wind blew severely. The 

 high coast of California appeared to he hut twelve miles 

 away, while the Farallones cliffs were now almost as far 

 distant, when looking from our backboard-quarter. 

 Though maneuvering the sails carefully, we had little 

 control of our ship and hy about eight o'clock found our- 

 selves again (to the dismay of every one), close to the 

 largest of the Farallon Islands. Just when our troubles 

 were at their height there appeared a San Francisco 

 coasting pilot-boat on the scene, which sent a man on 

 hoard, who immediately ordered the changing of sails. 

 Unfortunately there is a vast difference between the Ger- 

 man mode of rigging and the American way, in conse- 

 quence of which an American mariner seldom finds him- 

 self at home on a German sailing-vessel. In our particu- 

 lar case the pilot's aid cost us a main yard and endan- 

 gered the lives of several men of our crew. After ridding 

 ourselves of this undesirable help, we had the visit of an- 

 other coasting-pilot. We also sighted a strange bark and 

 a brigg, both coasting Eastward. 



At four ]>. m. Sea and wind grew calmer. Toward 

 eleven o'clock we reached the Cape "de los Reyes"; after- 

 wards we coursed in short tacks near the coast. Our sails 

 were in poor condition, some of the yards being too short, 

 others as crooked as fiddle-sticks, which proved a great 

 hindrance in stemming the tide near ' k de los Reyes 

 Point." The air is unusually bright and agreeable. The 

 coast pilot-boat which reached us this morning has made 

 the trip from Boston around Cape Horn in one hundred 

 and four days; its name is "Emily." Since the hitter's 

 arrival we have had two other pilots offer their assist- 

 ance. The aforementioned bark and brigg are approach- 

 ing us rapidly, though yet beyond recognition. 



Wednesday, the fourteenth of January, 1852, at nine 

 a. m. The wind turned N. E. last night, enabling us 

 thereby to sail along the coast; but when we approached 

 the "Golden Gate" about ten o'clock, ready to enter the 

 long-sought Bay, an East-Northeast storm broke out 



