Come Down!" Said They, As Soon As They
Saw Us; And We Went Down, And Found A Large, High Forecastle,
Well
lighted; and a crew of twelve or fourteen men, eating out of their
kids and pans, and drinking their
Tea, and talking and laughing,
all as independent and easy as so many "wood-sawyer's clerks."
This looked like comfort and enjoyment, compared with the dark
little forecastle, and scanty, discontented crew of the brig.
It was Saturday night; they had got through with their work for the
week; and being snugly moored, had nothing to do until Monday, again.
After two years' hard service, they had seen the worst, and all,
of California; - had got their cargo nearly stowed, and expected to
sail in a week or two, for Boston. We spent an hour or more with
them, talking over California matters, until the word was passed -
"Pilgrims, away!" and we went back with our captain. They were
a hardy, but intelligent crew; a little roughened, and their clothes
patched and old, from California wear; all able seamen, and between
the ages of twenty and thirty-five. They inquired about our vessel,
the usage, etc., and were not a little surprised at the story of
the flogging. They said there were often difficulties in vessels
on the coast, and sometimes knock-downs and fightings, but they
had never heard before of a regular seizing-up and flogging.
"Spread-eagles" were a new kind of bird in California.
Sunday, they said, was always given in San Diego, both at the
hide-houses and on board the vessels, a large number usually
going up to the town, on liberty.
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