CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED, 
INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE 
PANAMA AND NICARAGUA ROUTES. 
Cjjnpt tx jfirat. 
SAIL FROM NEW YORK—OUR PILOT LEAVES US—LAND RECEDES FROM VIEW—SEA¬ 
SICKNESS—A WHALE—ENTER THE GULF ’ STREAM—ENCOUNTER A GALE—ENTER THE 
TROPIC OF CANCER—“LAND, HO !”—CAYCOS AND TURK’S ISLANDS—ST. DOMINGO—CUBA 
—ENTER THE CARIBBEAN SEA—SPORTING—SUNDAY—STANDING IN FOR THE PORT OF 
CHAGRES—BEAUTIFUL SCENE—DROP ANCHOR. 
Dear reader :—If you have visited California, you will find 
nothing in these pages to interest you; if you have not, they 
may serve to kill an idle hour. On the 27th of January, 1849, 
having previously engaged passage, I had my baggage taken on 
board the bark “ Marietta,” lying at Pier No. 4, East River, 
preparatory to sailing for Chagres, en route to California. It 
was 9, A.M. A large concourse of friends and spectators had 
collected on the pier to witness our departure, and after two 
hours of confusion and excitement, we let go our hawser—and, 
as we swung around into the stream, received the last adieus of 
our friends on shore. We were taken in tow by a steam-tug, 
and were soon under way, our bowsprit pointing seaward. , We 
occupied our time, while running down the bay, in writing- 
notes to our friends, our pilot having kindly volunteered to 
deliver them. We passed Forts Hamilton and .Diamond at 1, 
P.M., and at three had made Sandy Hook. Our pilot’s boat, which 
had been laying off, came along side to receive him; we gave 
our last thoughts into his charge, and bade him adieu. 
