Page:California Historical Society Quarterly vol 22.djvu/249

 be interesting: The Capt. takes his speaking trumpet and sings out, "Where are you bound?" "California," we reply; "What's your latitude?" "21.15;" "What's your longitude?" "40.07." Then we ask him "Where are you bound?" "New York." "What's your latitude and longitude?" Then he tells us any news he may think interesting to us; among the rest he says, "I have got three CaHfornians aboard, sick of the voyage, going home." "We'll take 'em back if they'll come aboard." "Won't do it," says they. "Had enough of it," Then they commenced throwing Oranges aboard and for a few minutes there was a perfect shower of them. A few more jokes passed, we told them to report us in New York all well, gave them 6 cheers which they returned, and we parted each on his course. You have no idea what an excitement and sensation the cry of "Sail ho! " creates on board a vessel. The idea that perhaps she is homeward bound and will speak us and convey in- telligence of our welfare to friends at home keeps all hands on the tiptoe of expectation until she is out of sight and all ends in disappointment and we keep a bright lookout for the next one. Well in a few days we shall probably be in the land of Oranges and Pineapples, Lemons and Figs, and we anticipate a grand treat there after being at sea so long. We shall see some of those Spanish and Portuguese Senoritas about whom we read so much in the novels. Why I am almost a Spanish don already, only hear me sputter Span- ish: Buenos dias, Senor, hace Caliente, mucho hambre, usted denos alguna cos a a comer. That will do I think; it is sufficient to prove my ability to grad- uate as a Spanish Don. Only think of it, Don Dougal. It don't sound quite right though does it? Well, to return to the vessel, I wish you could be aboard for a few days just to see how we live and how the poor devils man- age. I have given you a good idea of how we live in the cabin, but you should see the groups or messes scattered all over the vessel eating their grub, some squatted on the deck, "a la Turk" with tinpans of molasses and mush, and tincups of Coffee, as happy as lords some of them, others growling because another mess has got more molasses on their mush, and all sorts of jokes and skylarking going on, and then after supper to hear our concerts and see our Cotillions and breakdowns on the deck, I tell you it is rich. We have some funny and queer characters aboard, and after supper of an evening if we don't feel like dancing or skylarking we gather in little knots about deck and spin yarns and peal after peal of laughter attests the good humor and enjoyment of all hands. Our first mate is a queer character, an old Whaleman from Nantucket, and we cluster round him of an evening and listen to his wonderful adventures and hairbreadth escapes, and the old man being a great talker likes nothing better than to spin yams by the hour, and like the "old Veteran" to fight his battles over again. The Capt. and myself build some famous castles in the air, while sitting on the quarter deck with our pipes in mouth; we lay out our fine farms and country seats in great style.