"To California 



glittering flying fishes here and there, or by- 

 night with every star pictured in its bosom! 



But even of the land only a small portion is 

 free to man, and if he, among other journeys 

 on forbidden paths, ventures among the ice 

 lands and hot lands, or up in the air in balloon 

 bubbles, or on the ocean in ships, or down into 

 it a little way in smothering diving-bells — in 

 all such small adventures man is admonished 

 and often punished in ways which clearly show 

 him that he is in places for which, to use an 

 approved phrase, he was never designed. How- 

 ever, in view of the rapid advancement of our 

 time, no one can tell how far our star may 

 finally be subdued to man's will. At all events 

 I enjoyed this drifting locomotion to some 

 extent. 



The tar-scented community of a ship is a 

 study in itself — a despotism on the small 

 territory of a few drifting planks pinned to- 

 gether. But as our crew consisted only of four 

 sailors, a mate, and the captain, there were no 

 signs of despotism. We all dined at one table, 

 [ 179 I 



