26 AT SEA. 



succeeded ; but for the present everyone was in good health 

 and spirits. Many friendships had been contracted on board, 

 and some were sorry to think that in a few days they would 

 have to part, each one on his own w^ay, perhaps never tO' 

 meet again. 



We passed the time in playing chess, draughts, dominoes, 

 cards and other games, while others were reading, writing, or 

 seated in rocking chairs for hours, and on the w^hole very good 

 harmony existed amongst the passengers, officers and sailors^ 

 during the voyage. 



On Sundays, we had concerts, and sometimes comedy. 

 The performers were passengers and sailors, some of whom 

 were really good players, and time passed agreeably and 

 quickly. 



On that day, dinner w^as more selected, and good wines, 

 including champagne, were liberally given. During all our 

 voyage, there was no death. Excepting sea-sickness, and 

 that only for a short time, the health of all remained excellent 

 all the time, a good proof of the excellent treatment bestowed 

 upon us. In fact, all our officers were not only first-class 

 mariners, but very cordial with all, and we liked them very 

 much. For my part, like the boy that I was, I made friends 

 with all, and I had a great time of it. From the Captain and 

 other officers, I learned a great deal about the places that 

 we passed, all the nautical terms used on board, etc. With 

 their assistance, I pointed on a map, which I possess still, our 

 track day by day, and now after forty-two years, it is a real 

 treat for me to look over this map and peruse the route made 

 then. With the sailors, I learned to climb on the masts, the 

 names of the masts, yards, sails, cords, etc. I caught many 

 birds and fishes, and enjoyed it more and more every day ; but 

 it is time to go on with my narrative. 



On the 13th, we met with large quantities of floating varec 

 and also some trunks of trees, proceeding probably from the 

 Sacramento river, or its tributary streams. Many sailing 

 ships going in the same direction as ours were in sight. 



On the 14th, ten different vessels, French, English,. 

 American, Spanish, and Dutch, were in view. We could see 

 the coast of San Francisco. Life was very active. Pelicans, 

 porpoises, and other hsh were plentiful. The first we had not 

 seen before ; but we often met shoals of the second, both in 

 the Atlantic and Pacific. It is one of the most interesting 

 sights of the sea. 



The porpoise is a Mammalia of the order Cetacea,, 



