We Must Come Down From Our
Heights, And Leave Our Straight Paths, For The Byways And Low
Places Of Life,
If we would learn truths by strong contrasts;
and in hovels, in forecastles, and among our own outcasts in
foreign
Lands, see what has been wrought upon our fellow-creatures
by accident, hardship, or vice.
Two days brought us to San Pedro, and two days more (to our
no small joy) gave us our last view of that place, which was
universally called the hell of California, and seemed designed,
in every way, for the wear and tear of sailors. Not even the last
view could bring out one feeling of regret. No thanks, thought I,
as we left the sandy shores in the distance, for the hours I have
walked over your stones, barefooted, with hides on my head; - for
the burdens I have carried up your steep, muddy hill; for the
duckings in your surf; and for the long days and longer nights
passed on your desolate hill, watching piles of hides, hearing
the sharp bark of your eternal coati, and the dismal hooting of
your owls.
As I bade good-by to each successive place, I felt as though one
link after another were struck from the chain of my servitude.
Having kept close in shore, for the land-breeze, we passed the
mission of San Juan Campestráno the same night, and saw distinctly,
by the bright moonlight, the hill which I had gone down by a pair of
halyards in search of a few paltry hides. "Forsan et haec olim,"
thought I, and took my last look of that place too. And on the
next morning we were under the high point of San Diego. The flood
tide took us swiftly in, and we came-to, opposite our hide-house,
and prepared to get everything in trim for a long stay. This was
our last port. Here we were to discharge everything from the ship,
clean her out, smoke her, take in our hides, wood, water, etc.,
and set sail for Boston. While all this was doing, we were to
lie still in one place, and the port was a safe one, and there
was no fear of south-easters. Accordingly, having picked out
a good berth, in the stream, with a good smooth beach opposite,
for a landing-place and within two cables' length of our hide-house,
we moored ship, unbent all the sails, sent down the top-gallant
yards and all the studding-sail booms, and housed the top-gallant
masts. The boats were then hove out, and all the sails, spare spars,
the stores, the rigging not rove, and, in fact, everything which
was not in daily use, sent ashore, and stowed away in the house.
Then went all our hides and horns, and we left hardly anything
in the ship but her ballast, and this we made preparation to
heave out, the next day. At night, after we had knocked off,
and were sitting round in the forecastle, smoking and talking
and taking sailor's pleasure, we congratulated ourselves upon
being in that situation in which we had wished ourselves every
time we had come into San Diego.
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