170 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
the same bold rocky coast, they bad looked for with so much 
anxiety, and greeted with so muck enthusiasm. But how dif¬ 
ferent the feelings now! what a change ! They were then accom¬ 
panied by a brother or a friend, with high hopes and vigorous 
constitutions, looking forward with brilliant anticipations. But 
now the brother and friend are sleeping quietly at the base of 
yonder snow-capped mountain, and they are bearing the sad in¬ 
telligence to the bereaved parents, brothers, and sisters. Instead 
of the vigorous constitutions, they are obliged to cling to the rig- 
ing for support, while they gaze for the last time upon the scene. 
With many it is the last time they are to view such a scene ; their 
eyes are about to close upon the earth forever, to sleep beneath 
the bosom of the ocean. Many have not only sacrificed health, 
but are destitute of means, and are now reeling about the ship, 
endeavoring to earn their passage by their labor. Our ship 
seemed a hospital; three-fourths of all the passengers were 
invalids, some of them helpless. We drifted away before the 
wind, the mountains gradually disappearing from the horizon ; 
one had lingered long, but as we descended from the crest of a 
mountain wave, we bid it also, a last farewell. We spent the 
afternoon in adjusting our baggage, and the night in sleep ; the 
morning dawned brightly—we were still under a full press of 
canvas, with a fair wind. All on board had taken passage 
under the impression that the accommodations were superior, 
for which they had paid extra. We consequently felt that we 
were well provided for, and fairly embarked on our voyage 
home. As usual the first day at sea, but little attention was 
paid to the cook, the passengers remaining cozily ensconced in 
their berths. 
The 30 th was ushered in with a fine breeze, and we were 
standing on our course. At noon we found the table supplied 
with hard bread (sea-biscuit) and salt beef, dainties that our 
stomachs did not relish; the same table was kept standing for 
supper. Captain Smith was interrogated in reference to his 
supply of provisions, for which we had paid him extra; he re¬ 
plied that he was abundantly supplied with the above, which, 
if we chose, we could have served up every day during the 
voyage ; when too late, we learned that the delicacies for the 
sick, with which he had by public notice proclaimed his ship 
