176 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
We have a calm for several days with intense heat; a general 
restlessness is felt, passengers are out of patience ; our ship has 
not sufficient headway to cause her to mind the tiller; she rolls 
about like a log, now plunging, throwing her sails all aback, 
now rising on a sea, the rigging slackens, the spars and yards 
creak, the sails again fill, and everything is again drawn to its 
utmost tension; she again plunges, reers, and rises lengthwise 
of a sea; she careens and is thrown almost upon her u beam- 
ends.” Trunks change sides, tables stand on their heads, barrels 
get up foot-races, much to the annoyance of the passengers, who, 
with shins in hand, enter most vehement protests, throwing in 
an occasional oath by way of emphasis. Jack “yarns” on the 
forecastle, Tom has out a shark-hook; the cook has been mast¬ 
headed by the captain; T-n comes down from the shrouds with 
a “damn my shirt-tail to h—1,” looks at his boots and goes up 
again; Wright exclaims, “ certingly.” Palmly looks from under 
his quaker hat, and swears at the captain; the Dutchman, with 
red whiskers, opens his mouth, which very much resembles a 
cavity in a brick-kiln ; he looks an oath in Dutch, but don’t 
speak. To calm our ruffled passions we were informed that we 
were short of provisions, and were to be put upon allowance. 
On the 28th, the captain gave the order, “ bout ship,” and 
we stood in for the main land, 550 miles distant, lat. 6°, long. 
96°. On the 29th, a fine breeze springs up, we again change 
our course and stand east, in the direction of Panama. 
January 1st, 1850, lat. 6°, long. 9°; heat most oppressive; 
we have hard fare for breakfast, same for dinner and supper. 
Oh, ye knights of “Gotham!” did we not envy you? You, 
who are now cloyed with luxuries and greeted by the smiles of 
friends, but little dream that he who, twelve months ago, was 
your companion, has this moment dined upon sea-bread that has 
become the home of vermin, and beef on about the fourth anni¬ 
versary of its salting, boiled in ocean-water. 
A small bird flies on board in an exhausted condition; it is 
quite tame and eats food from our hands. Our inquiries in 
reference to its home and destination, were in vain; it remained 
on board during the day, and seemed to appreciate our kindness. 
It is rumored that one of our passengers is dying; a shark is 
at this moment passing under the bow of the ship, as if antici- 
