PREFACEThisbookisarecordofapleasuretrip。Ifitwerearecordofasolemnscientificexpedition,itwouldhaveaboutitthatgravity,thatprofundity,andthatimpressiveincomprehensibilitywhicharesopropertoworksofthatkind,andwithalsoattractive。Yetnotwithstandingitisonlyarecordofapicnic,ithasapurpose,whichistosuggesttothereaderhowhewouldbelikelytoseeEuropeandtheEastifhelookedatthemwithhisowneyesinsteadoftheeyesofthosewhotraveledinthosecountriesbeforehim。Imakesmallpretenseofshowinganyonehowheoughttolookatobjectsofinterestbeyondthesea——otherbooksdothat,andtherefore,evenifIwerecompetenttodoit,thereisnoneed。
Ioffernoapologiesforanydeparturesfromtheusualstyleoftravelwritingthatmaybechargedagainstme——forIthinkIhaveseenwithimpartialeyes,andIamsureIhavewrittenatleasthonestly,whetherwiselyornot。
InthisvolumeIhaveusedportionsofletterswhichIwrotefortheDailyAltaCalifornia,ofSanFrancisco,theproprietorsofthatjournalhavingwaivedtheirrightsandgivenmethenecessarypermission。
IhavealsoinsertedportionsofseveralletterswrittenfortheNewYorkTribuneandtheNewYorkHerald。
THEAUTHOR
SANFRANCISCO,1869
Chapter1
FormonthsthegreatpleasureexcursiontoEuropeandtheHolyLandwaschattedaboutinthenewspaperseverywhereinAmericaanddiscussedatcountlessfiresides。Itwasanoveltyinthewayofexcursions——itslikehadnotbeenthoughtofbefore——anditcompelledthatinterestwhichattractivenoveltiesalwayscommand。Itwastobeapicniconagiganticscale。Theparticipantsinit,insteadoffreightinganungainlysteamferryboatwithyouthandbeautyandpiesanddoughnuts,andpaddlingupsomeobscurecreektodisembarkuponagrassylawnandwearthemselvesoutwithalongsummerday'slaboriousfrolickingundertheimpressionthatitwasfun,weretosailawayinagreatsteamshipwithflagsflyingandcannonpealing,andtakearoyalholidaybeyondthebroadoceaninmanyastrangeclimeandinmanyalandrenownedinhistory!TheyweretosailformonthsoverthebreezyAtlanticandthesunnyMediterranean;
theyweretoscamperaboutthedecksbyday,fillingtheshipwithshoutsandlaughter,orreadnovelsandpoetryintheshadeofthesmokestacks,orwatchforthejellyfishandthenautilusovertheside,andtheshark,thewhale,andotherstrangemonstersofthedeep;andatnighttheyweretodanceintheopenair,ontheupperdeck,inthemidstofaballroomthatstretchedfromhorizontohorizon,andwasdomedbythebendingheavensandlightedbynomeanerlampsthanthestarsandthemagnificentmoon—dance,andpromenade,andsmoke,andsing,andmakelove,andsearchtheskiesforconstellationsthatneverassociatewiththe"BigDipper"theyweresotiredof;andtheyweretoseetheshipsoftwentynavies——thecustomsandcostumesoftwentycuriouspeoples——thegreatcitiesofhalfaworld——theyweretohobnobwithnobilityandholdfriendlyconversewithkingsandprinces,grandmoguls,andtheanointedlordsofmightyempires!Itwasabraveconception;itwastheoffspringofamostingeniousbrain。Itwaswelladvertised,butithardlyneededit:theboldoriginality,theextraordinarycharacter,theseductivenature,andthevastnessoftheenterpriseprovokedcommenteverywhereandadvertiseditineveryhouseholdintheland。Whocouldreadtheprogramoftheexcursionwithoutlongingtomakeoneoftheparty?Iwillinsertithere。Itisalmostasgoodasamap。Asatextforthisbook,nothingcouldbebetter:BROOKLYN,February1st,1867Theundersignedwillmakeanexcursionasaboveduringthecomingseason,andbegstosubmittoyouthefollowingprogram:Afirst—classsteamer,tobeunderhisowncommand,andcapableofaccommodatingatleastonehundredandfiftycabinpassengers,willbeselected,inwhichwillbetakenaselectcompany,numberingnotmorethanthree—fourthsoftheship'scapacity。Thereisgoodreasontobelievethatthiscompanycanbeeasilymadeupinthisimmediatevicinity,ofmutualfriendsandacquaintances。Thesteamerwillbeprovidedwitheverynecessarycomfort,includinglibraryandmusicalinstruments。Anexperiencedphysicianwillbeonboard。LeavingNewYorkaboutJune1st,amiddleandpleasantroutewillbetakenacrosstheAtlantic,andpassingthroughthegroupofAzores,St。Michaelwillbereachedinabouttendays。Adayortwowillbespenthere,enjoyingthefruitandwildsceneryoftheseislands,andthevoyagecontinued,andGibraltarreachedinthreeorfourdays。Adayortwowillbespenthereinlookingoverthewonderfulsubterraneousfortifications,permissiontovisitthesegalleriesbeingreadilyobtained。FromGibraltar,runningalongthecoastsofSpainandFrance,Marseilleswillbereachedinthreedays。Hereampletimewillbegivennotonlytolookoverthecity,whichwasfoundedsixhundredyearsbeforetheChristianera,anditsartificialport,thefinestofthekindintheMediterranean,buttovisitParisduringtheGreatExhibition;andthebeautifulcityofLyons,lyingintermediate,fromtheheightsofwhich,onaclearday,MontBlancandtheAlpscanbedistinctlyseen。PassengerswhomaywishtoextendthetimeatPariscandoso,and,passingdownthroughSwitzerland,rejointhesteameratGenoa。FromMarseillestoGenoaisarunofonenight。Theexcursionistswillhaveanopportunitytolookoverthis,themagnificentcityofpalaces,"
andvisitthebirthplaceofColumbus,twelvemilesoff,overabeautifulroadbuiltbyNapoleonI。Fromthispoint,excursionsmaybemadetoMilan,LakesComoandMaggiore,ortoMilan,Verona(famousforitsextraordinaryfortifications),Padua,andVenice。Or,ifpassengersdesiretovisitParma(famousforCorreggio'sfrescoes)andBologna,theycanbyrailgoontoFlorence,andrejointhesteameratLeghorn,thusspendingaboutthreeweeksamidthecitiesmostfamousforartinItaly。FromGenoatheruntoLeghornwillbemadealongthecoastinonenight,andtimeappropriatedtothispointinwhichtovisitFlorence,itspalacesandgalleries;Pisa,itscathedraland"LeaningTower,"andLuccaanditsbaths,andRomanamphitheater;Florence,themostremote,beingdistantbyrailaboutsixtymiles。FromLeghorntoNaples(callingatCivitaVecchiatolandanywhomayprefertogotoRomefromthatpoint),thedistancewillbemadeinaboutthirty—sixhours;theroutewilllayalongthecoastofItaly,closebyCaprera,Elba,andCorsica。ArrangementshavebeenmadetotakeonboardatLeghornapilotforCaprera,and,ifpracticable,acallwillbemadetheretovisitthehomeofGaribaldi。Rome[byrail],Herculaneum,Pompeii,Vesuvius,Vergil'stomb,andpossiblytheruinsofPaestumcanbevisited,aswellasthebeautifulsurroundingsofNaplesanditscharmingbay。ThenextpointofinterestwillbePalermo,themostbeautifulcityofSicily,whichwillbereachedinonenightfromNaples。Adaywillbespenthere,andleavingintheevening,thecoursewillbetakentowardsAthens。SkirtingalongthenorthcoastofSicily,passingthroughthegroupofAeolianIsles,insightofStromboliandVulcania,bothactivevolcanoes,throughtheStraitsofMessina,with"Scylla"ontheonehandand"Charybdis"ontheother,alongtheeastcoastofSicily,andinsightofMountEtna,alongthesouthcoastofItaly,thewestandsouthcoastofGreece,insightofancientCrete,upAthensGulf,andintothePiraeus,Athenswillbereachedintwoandahalforthreedays。Aftertarryinghereawhile,theBayofSalamiswillbecrossed,andadaygiventoCorinth,whencethevoyagewillbecontinuedtoConstantinople,passingonthewaythroughtheGrecianArchipelago,theDardanelles,theSeaofMarmora,andthemouthoftheGoldenHorn,andarrivinginaboutforty—eighthoursfromAthens。AfterleavingConstantinople,thewaywillbetakenoutthroughthebeautifulBosphorus,acrosstheBlackSeatoSebastopolandBalaklava,arunofabouttwenty—fourhours。Hereitisproposedtoremaintwodays,visitingtheharbors,fortifications,andbattlefieldsoftheCrimea;thencebackthroughtheBosphorus,touchingatConstantinopletotakeinanywhomayhavepreferredtoremainthere;downthroughtheSeaofMarmoraandtheDardanelles,alongthecoastsofancientTroyandLydiainAsia,toSmyrna,whichwillbereachedintwoortwoandahalfdaysfromConstantinople。
AsufficientstaywillbemadeheretogiveopportunityofvisitingEphesus,fiftymilesdistantbyrail。FromSmyrnatowardstheHolyLandthecoursewilllaythroughtheGrecianArchipelago,closebytheIsleofPatmos,alongthecoastofAsia,ancientPamphylia,andtheIsleofCyprus。Beirutwillbereachedinthreedays。AtBeiruttimewillbegiventovisitDamascus;afterwhichthesteamerwillproceedtoJoppa。FromJoppa,Jerusalem,theRiverJordan,theSeaofTiberias,Nazareth,Bethany,Bethlehem,andotherpointsofinterestintheHolyLandcanbevisited,andherethosewhomayhavepreferredtomakethejourneyfromBeirutthroughthecountry,passingthroughDamascus,Galilee,Capernaum,Samaria,andbytheRiverJordanandSeaofTiberias,canrejointhesteamer。LeavingJoppa,thenextpointofinteresttovisitwillbeAlexandria,whichwillbereachedintwenty—fourhours。TheruinsofCaesar'sPalace,Pompey'sPillar,Cleopatra'sNeedle,theCatacombs,andruinsofancientAlexandriawillbefoundworththevisit。ThejourneytoCairo,onehundredandthirtymilesbyrail,canbemadeinafewhours,andfromwhichcanbevisitedthesiteofancientMemphis,Joseph'sGranaries,andthePyramids。FromAlexandriatheroutewillbetakenhomeward,callingatMalta,Cagliari(inSardinia),andPalma(inMajorca),allmagnificentharbors,withcharmingscenery,andaboundinginfruits。Adayortwowillbespentateachplace,andleavingParmaintheevening,ValenciainSpainwillbereachedthenextmorning。Afewdayswillbespentinthis,thefinestcityofSpain。FromValencia,thehomewardcoursewillbecontinued,skirtingalongthecoastofSpain。Alicant,Carthagena,Palos,andMalagawillbepassedbutamileortwodistant,andGibraltarreachedinabouttwenty—fourhours。Astayofonedaywillbemadehere,andthevoyagecontinuedtoMadeira,whichwillbereachedinaboutthreedays。CaptainMarryattwrites:"IdonotknowaspotontheglobewhichsomuchastonishesanddelightsuponfirstarrivalasMadeira。"Astayofoneortwodayswillbemadehere,which,iftimepermits,maybeextended,andpassingonthroughtheislands,andprobablyinsightofthePeakofTeneriffe,asoutherntrackwillbetaken,andtheAtlanticcrossedwithinthelatitudesofthenortheasttradewinds,wheremildandpleasantweather,andasmoothsea,canalwaysbeexpected。AcallwillbemadeatBermuda,whichliesdirectlyinthisroutehomeward,andwillbereachedinabouttendaysfromMadeira,andafterspendingashorttimewithourfriendstheBermudians,thefinaldeparturewillbemadeforhome,whichwillbereachedinaboutthreedays。Already,applicationshavebeenreceivedfrompartiesinEuropewishingtojointheExcursionthere。Theshipwillatalltimesbeahome,wheretheexcursionists,ifsick,willbesurroundedbykindfriends,andhaveallpossiblecomfortandsympathy。Shouldcontagioussicknessexistinanyoftheportsnamedintheprogram,suchportswillbepassed,andothersofinterestsubstituted。Thepriceofpassageisfixedat$1,250,currency,foreachadultpassenger。Choiceofroomsandofseatsatthetablesapportionedintheorderinwhichpassagesareengaged;andnopassageconsideredengageduntiltenpercentofthepassagemoneyisdepositedwiththetreasurer。Passengerscanremainonboardofthesteamer,atallports,iftheydesire,withoutadditionalexpense,andallboatingattheexpenseoftheship。Allpassagesmustbepaidforwhentaken,inorderthatthemostperfectarrangementsbemadeforstartingattheappointedtime。Applicationsforpassagemustbeapprovedbythecommitteebeforeticketsareissued,andcanbemadetotheundersigned。Articlesofinterestorcuriosity,procuredbythepassengersduringthevoyage,maybebroughthomeinthesteamerfreeofcharge。Fivedollarsperday,ingold,itisbelieved,willbeafaircalculationtomakeforalltravelingexpensesonshoreandatthevariouspointswherepassengersmaywishtoleavethesteamerfordaysatatime。Thetripcanbeextended,andtheroutechanged,byunanimousvoteofthepassengers。CHAS。C。DUNCAN,117WALLSTREET,NEWYORK
R。R。G******,TreasurerCommitteeonApplicationsJ。T。H*****,ESQ。R。R。G*****,ESQ。C。C。DuncanCommitteeonSelectingSteamerCAPT。W。W。S****,SurveyorforBoardofUnderwritersC。W。C******,ConsultingEngineerforU。S。andCanadaJ。T。H*****,Esq。
C。C。DUNCANP。S。——Theverybeautifulandsubstantialside—wheelsteamshipQuakerCityhasbeencharteredfortheoccasion,andwillleaveNewYorkJune8th。Lettershavebeenissuedbythegovernmentcommendingthepartytocourtesiesabroad。Whatwastherelackingaboutthatprogramtomakeitperfectlyirresistible?
Nothingthatanyfinitemindcoulddiscover。Paris,England,Scotland,Switzerland,Italy——Garibaldi!TheGrecianArchipelago!Vesuvius!Constantinople!
Smyrna!TheHolyLand!Egyptand"ourfriendstheBermudians"!PeopleinEuropedesiringtojointheexcursion——contagioussicknesstobeavoided——boatingattheexpenseoftheship——physicianonboard——thecircuitoftheglobetobemadeifthepassengersunanimouslydesiredit——thecompanytoberigidlyselectedbyapitiless"CommitteeonApplications"——thevesseltobeasrigidlyselectedbyaspitilessa"CommitteeonSelectingSteamer。"
Humannaturecouldnotwithstandthesebewilderingtemptations。Ihurriedtothetreasurer'sofficeanddepositedmytenpercent。Irejoicedtoknowthatafewvacantstateroomswerestillleft。Ididavoidacriticalpersonalexaminationintomycharacterbythatbowellesscommittee,butIreferredtoallthepeopleofhighstandingIcouldthinkofinthecommunitywhowouldbeleastlikelytoknowanythingaboutme。
ShortlyasupplementaryprogramwasissuedwhichsetforththatthePlymouthCollectionofHymnswouldbeusedonboardtheship。I
thenpaidthebalanceofmypassagemoney。
Iwasprovidedwithareceiptanddulyandofficiallyacceptedasanexcursionist。Therewashappinessinthatbutitwastamecomparedtothenoveltyofbeing"select。"
Thissupplementaryprogramalsoinstructedtheexcursioniststoprovidethemselveswithlightmusicalinstrumentsforamusementintheship,withsaddlesforSyriantravel,greenspectaclesandumbrellas,veilsforEgypt,andsubstantialclothingtouseinroughpilgrimizingintheHolyLand。
Furthermore,itwassuggestedthatalthoughtheship'slibrarywouldaffordafairamountofreadingmatter,itwouldstillbewellifeachpassengerwouldprovidehimselfwithafewguidebooks,aBible,andsomestandardworksoftravel。Alistwasappended,whichconsistedchieflyofbooksrelatingtotheHolyLand,sincetheHolyLandwaspartoftheexcursionandseemedtobeitsmainfeature。
ReverendHenryWardBeecherwastohaveaccompaniedtheexpedition,buturgentdutiesobligedhimtogiveuptheidea。Therewereotherpassengerswhocouldhavebeensparedbetterandwouldhavebeensparedmorewillingly。
LieutenantGeneralShermanwastohavebeenofthepartyalso,buttheIndianwarcompelledhispresenceontheplains。Apopularactresshadenteredhernameontheship'sbooks,butsomethinginterferedandshecouldn'tgo。The"DrummerBoyofthePotomac"deserted,andlo,wehadneveracelebrityleft!
However,weweretohavea"batteryofguns"fromtheNavyDepartment(asperadvertisement)tobeusedinansweringroyalsalutes;andthedocumentfamishedbytheSecretaryoftheNavy,whichwastomake"GeneralShermanandparty"welcomeguestsinthecourtsandcampsoftheoldworld,wasstilllefttous,thoughbothdocumentandbattery,Ithink,wereshornofsomewhatoftheiroriginalaugustproportions。However,hadnotwetheseductiveprogramstill,withitsParis,itsConstantinople,Smyrna,Jerusalem,Jericho,and"ourfriendstheBermudians"?Whatdidwecare?
Chapter2
Occasionally,duringthefollowingmonth,Idroppedinat117WallStreettoinquirehowtherepairingandrefumishingofthevesselwascomingon,howadditionstothepassengerlistwereaveraging,howmanypeoplethecommitteeweredecreeingnot"select"everydayandbanishinginsorrowandtribulation。Iwasgladtoknowthatweweretohavealittleprintingpressonboardandissueadailynewspaperofourown。Iwasgladtolearnthatourpiano,ourparlororgan,andourmelodeonweretobethebestinstrumentsofthekindthatcouldbehadinthemarket。Iwasproudtoobservethatamongourexcursionistswerethreeministersofthegospel,eightdoctors,sixteenoreighteenladies,severalmilitaryandnavalchieftainswithsoundingtitles,anamplecropof"Professors"ofvariouskinds,andagentlemanwhohad"COMMISSIONEROFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICATO
EUROPE,ASIA,ANDAFRICA"thunderingafterhisnameinoneawfulblast!
Ihadcarefullypreparedmyselftotakeratherabackseatinthatshipbecauseoftheuncommonlyselectmaterialthatwouldalonebepermittedtopassthroughthecamel'seyeofthatcommitteeoncredentials;Ihadschooledmyselftoexpectanimposingarrayofmilitaryandnavalheroesandtohavetosetthatbackseatstillfurtherbackinconsequenceofitmaybe;butIstatefranklythatIwasallunpreparedforthiscrusher。
Ifellunderthattitularavalancheatornandblightedthing。Isaidthatifthatpotentatemustgooverinourship,why,Isupposedhemust——butthattomythinking,whentheUnitedStatesconsidereditnecessarytosendadignitaryofthattonnageacrosstheocean,itwouldbeinbettertaste,andsafer,totakehimapartandcarthimoverinsectionsinseveralships。
Ah,ifIhadonlyknownthenthathewasonlyacommonmortal,andthathismissionhadnothingmoreoverpoweringaboutitthanthecollectingofseedsanduncommonyamsandextraordinarycabbagesandpeculiarbullfrogsforthatpoor,useless,innocent,mildewedoldfossiltheSmithsonianInstitute,Iwouldhavefeltsomuchrelieved。
DuringthatmemorablemonthIbaskedinthehappinessofbeingforonceinmylifedriftingwiththetideofagreatpopularmovement。EverybodywasgoingtoEurope——I,too,wasgoingtoEurope。EverybodywasgoingtothefamousParisExposition——I,too,wasgoingtotheParisExposition。
ThesteamshiplineswerecarryingAmericansoutofthevariousportsofthecountryattherateoffourorfivethousandaweekintheaggregate。
IfImetadozenindividualsduringthatmonthwhowerenotgoingtoEuropeshortly,Ihavenodistinctremembranceofitnow。IwalkedaboutthecityagooddealwithayoungMr。Blucher,whowasbookedfortheexcursion。
Hewasconfiding,good—natured,unsophisticated,companionable;buthewasnotamantosettheriveronfire。HehadthemostextraordinarynotionsaboutthisEuropeanexodusandcameatlasttoconsiderthewholenationaspackingupforemigrationtoFrance。WesteppedintoastoreonBroadwayoneday,whereheboughtahandkerchief,andwhenthemancouldnotmakechange,Mr。B。said:
"Nevermind,I'llhandittoyouinParis。"
"ButIamnotgoingtoParis。"
"Howis——whatdidIunderstandyoutosay?"
"IsaidIamnotgoingtoParis。"
"NotgoingtoParis!Notg——well,then,whereinthenationareyougoingto?"
"Nowhereatall。"
"Notanywherewhatsoever?Notanyplaceonearthbutthis?"
"Notanyplaceatallbutjustthis——stayhereallsummer。"
Mycomradetookhispurchaseandwalkedoutofthestorewithoutaword——walkedoutwithaninjuredlookuponhiscountenance。Upthestreetapiecehebrokesilenceandsaidimpressively:"Itwasalie——thatismyopinionofit!"
Inthefullnessoftimetheshipwasreadytoreceiveherpassengers。
Iwasintroducedtotheyounggentlemanwhowastobemyroommate,andfoundhimtobeintelligent,cheerfulofspirit,unselfish,fullofgenerousimpulses,patient,considerate,andwonderfullygood—natured。NotanypassengerthatsailedintheQuakerCitywillwithholdhisendorsementofwhatIhavejustsaid。Weselectedastateroomforwardofthewheel,onthestarboardside,"belowdecks。"Itbadtwoberthsinit,adismaldeadlight,asinkwithawashbowlinit,andalong,sumptuouslycushionedlocker,whichwastodoserviceasasofa——partly——andpartlyasahidingplaceforourthings。Notwithstandingallthisfurniture,therewasstillroomtoturnaroundin,butnottoswingacatin,atleastwithentiresecuritytothecat。However,theroomwaslarge,foraship'sstateroom,andwasineverywaysatisfactory。
ThevesselwasappointedtosailonacertainSaturdayearlyinJune。
AlittleafternoononthatdistinguishedSaturdayIreachedtheshipandwentonboard。Allwasbustleandconfusion。[Ihaveseenthatremarkbeforesomewhere。]Thepierwascrowdedwithcarriagesandmen;passengerswerearrivingandhurryingonboard;thevessel'sdeckswereencumberedwithtrunksandvalises;groupsofexcursionists,arrayedinunattractivetravelingcostumes,weremopingaboutinadrizzlingrainandlookingasdroopyandwoebegoneassomanymoltingchickens。Thegallantflagwasup,butitwasunderthespell,too,andhunglimpanddisheartenedbythemast。Altogether,itwasthebluest,bluestspectacle!Itwasapleasureexcursion——therewasnogainsayingthat,becausetheprogramsaidso——itwassonominatedinthebond——butitsurelyhadn'tthegeneralaspectofone。
Finally,abovethebanging,andrumbling,andshouting,andhissingofsteamrangtheorderto"castoff!"——asuddenrushtothegangways——ascamperingashoreofvisitors—arevolutionofthewheels,andwewereoff—thepicnicwasbegun!Twoverymildcheerswentupfromthedrippingcrowdonthepier;weansweredthemgentlyfromtheslipperydecks;theflagmadeanefforttowave,andfailed;the"batteryofguns"spakenot——theammunitionwasout。
Westeameddowntothefootoftheharborandcametoanchor。Itwasstillraining。Andnotonlyraining,butstorming。"Outside"wecouldsee,ourselves,thattherewasatremendousseaon。Wemustliestill,inthecalmharbor,tillthestormshouldabate。Ourpassengershailedfromfifteenstates;onlyafewofthemhadeverbeentoseabefore;manifestlyitwouldnotdotopitthemagainstafull—blowntempestuntiltheyhadgottheirsealegson。TowardeveningthetwosteamtugsthathadaccompanieduswitharollickingchampagnepartyofyoungNewYorkersonboardwhowishedtobidfarewelltooneofournumberindueandancientformdeparted,andwewerealoneonthedeep。Ondeepfivefathoms,andanchoredfasttothebottom。Andoutinthesolemnrainatthat。Thiswaspleasuringwithavengeance。
Itwasanappropriatereliefwhenthegongsoundedforprayermeeting。
ThefirstSaturdaynightofanyotherpleasureexcursionmighthavebeendevotedtowhistanddancing;butIsubmitittotheunprejudicedmindifitwouldhavebeeningoodtasteforustoengageinsuchfrivolities,consideringwhatwehadgonethroughandtheframeofmindwewerein。
Wewouldhaveshoneatawake,butnotatanythingmorefestive。
However,thereisalwaysacheeringinfluenceaboutthesea;andinmyberththatnight,rockedbythemeasuredswellofthewavesandlulledbythemurmurofthedistantsurf,Isoonpassedtranquillyoutofallconsciousnessofthedrearyexperiencesofthedayanddamagingpremonitionsofthefuture。
Chapter3
AlldaySundayatanchor。Thestormhadgonedownagreatdeal,buttheseahadnot。Itwasstillpilingitsfrothyhillshighinair"outside,"
aswecouldplainlyseewiththeglasses。WecouldnotproperlybeginapleasureexcursiononSunday;wecouldnotofferuntriedstomachstosopitilessaseaasthat。WemustliestilltillMonday。Andwedid。Butwehadrepetitionsofchurchandprayermeetings;andso,ofcourse,wewerejustaseligiblysituatedaswecouldhavebeenanywhere。
IwasupearlythatSabbathmorningandwasearlytobreakfast。Ifeltaperfectlynaturaldesiretohaveagood,long,unprejudicedlookatthepassengersatatimewhentheyshouldbefreefromself—consciousness——whichisatbreakfast,whensuchamomentoccursinthelivesofhumanbeingsatall。
Iwasgreatlysurprisedtoseesomanyelderlypeople——Imightalmostsay,somanyvenerablepeople。Aglanceatthelonglinesofheadswasapttomakeonethinkitwasallgray。Butitwasnot。Therewasatolerablyfairsprinklingofyoungfolks,andanotherfairsprinklingofgentlemenandladieswhowerenoncommittalastoage,beingneitheractuallyoldorabsolutelyyoung。
Thenextmorningweweighedanchorandwenttosea。Itwasagreathappinesstogetawayafterthisdragging,dispiritingdelay。Ithoughtthereneverwassuchgladnessintheairbefore,suchbrightnessinthesun,suchbeautyinthesea。Iwassatisfiedwiththepicnicthenandwithallitsbelongings。
AUmymaliciousinstinctsweredeadwithinme;andasAmericafadedoutofsight,Ithinkaspiritofcharityroseupintheirplacethatwasasboundless,forthetimebeing,asthebroadoceanthatwasheavingitsbillowsaboutus。Iwishedtoexpressmyfeelings——Iwishedtoliftupmyvoiceandsing;butIdidnotknowanythingtosing,andsoIwasobligedtogiveuptheidea。Itwasnolosstotheship,though,perhaps。
Itwasbreezyandpleasant,buttheseawasstillveryrough。Onecouldnotpromenadewithoutriskinghisneck;atonemomentthebowspritwastakingadeadlyaimatthesuninmidheaven,andatthenextitwastryingtoharpoonasharkinthebottomoftheocean。Whataweirdsensationitistofeelthestemofashipsinkingswiftlyfromunderyouandseethebowclimbinghighawayamongtheclouds!One'ssafestcoursethatdaywastoclasparailingandhangon;walkingwastooprecariousapastime。
BysomehappyfortuneIwasnotseasick。Thatwasathingtobeproudof。Ihadnotalwaysescapedbefore。Ifthereisonethingintheworldthatwillmakeamanpeculiarlyandinsufferablyself—conceited,itistohavehisstomachbehaveitself,thefirstdayitsea,whennearlyallhiscomradesareseasick。Soonavenerablefossil,shawledtothechinandbandagedlikeamummy,appearedatthedooroftheafterdeckhouse,andthenextlurchoftheshipshothimintomyarms。Isaid:
"Good—morning,Sir。Itisafineday。"
Heputhishandonhisstomachandsaid,"Oh,my!"andthenstaggeredawayandfelloverthecoopofaskylight。
Presentlyanotheroldgentlemanwasprojectedfromthesamedoorwithgreatviolence。Isaid:
"Calmyourself,sir——thereisnohurry。Itisafineday,Sir。"
He,also,puthishandonhisstomachandsaid"Oh,my!"andreeledaway。
Inalittlewhileanotherveteranwasdischargedabruptlyfromthesamedoor,clawingattheairforasavingsupportIsaid:
"Goodmorning,Sir。Itisafinedayforpleasuring。Youwereabouttosay——"
"Oh,my!"
Ithoughtso。Ianticipatedhim,anyhow。Istayedthereandwasbombardedwitholdgentlemenforanhour,perhaps;andallIgotoutofanyofthemwas"Oh,my!"
Iwentawaytheninathoughtfulmood。Isaid,thisisagoodpleasureexcursion。Ilikeit。Thepassengersarenotgarrulous,butstilltheyaresociable。Ilikethoseoldpeople,butsomehowtheyallseemtohavethe"Oh,my"ratherbad。
Iknewwhatwasthematterwiththem。Theywereseasick。AndIwasgladofit。Weallliketoseepeopleseasickwhenwearenot,ourselves。Playingwhistbythecabinlampswhenitisstormingoutsideispleasant;walkingthequarterdeckinthemoonlightispleasant;smokinginthebreezyforetopispleasantwhenoneisnotafraidtogoupthere;buttheseareallfeebleandcommonplacecomparedwiththejoyofseeingpeoplesufferingthemiseriesofseasickness。
Ipickedupagooddealofinformationduringtheafternoon。AtonetimeIwasclimbingupthequarterdeckwhenthevessel'sstemwasinthesky;Iwassmokingacigarandfeelingpassablycomfortable。Somebodyejaculated:
"Come,now,thatwon'tanswer。Readthesignupthere——NO
SMOKINGABAFTTHEWHEEL!"
ItwasCaptainDuncan,chiefoftheexpedition。Iwentforward,ofcourse。
Isawalongspyglasslyingonadeskinoneoftheupper—deckstateroomsbackofthepilothouseandreachedafterit——therewasashipinthedistance。
"Ah,ah——handsoff!Comeoutofthat!"
Icameoutofthat。Isaidtoadecksweep——butinalowvoice:
"Whoisthatovergrownpiratewiththewhiskersandthediscordantvoice?"
"It'sCaptainBursley——executiveofficer——sailingmaster。"
Iloiteredaboutawhile,andthen,forwantofsomethingbettertodo,felltocarvingarailingwithmyknife。Somebodysaid,inaninsinuating,admonitoryvoice:
"Now,say——myfriend——don'tyouknowanybetterthantobewhittlingtheshipalltopiecesthatway?Yououghttoknowbetterthanthat。"
Iwentbackandfoundthedecksweep。
"Whoisthatsmooth—faced,animatedoutrageyonderinthefineclothes?"
"That'sCaptainL****,theowneroftheship——he'soneofthemainbosses。"
InthecourseoftimeIbroughtuponthestarboardsideofthepilot—houseandfoundasextantlyingonabench。Now,Isaid,they"takethesun"
throughthisthing;IshouldthinkImightseethatvesselthroughit。
Ihadhardlygotittomyeyewhensomeonetouchedmeontheshoulderandsaiddeprecatingly:
"I'llhavetogetyoutogivethattome,Sir。Ifthere'sanythingyou'dliketoknowabouttakingthesun,I'dassoontellyouasnot——butIdon'tliketotrustanybodywiththatinstrument。Ifyouwantanyfiguringdone——Aye,aye,sir!"
Hewasgonetoansweracallfromtheotherside。Isoughtthedecksweep。
"Whoisthatspider—leggedgorillayonderwiththesanctimoniouscountenance?"
"It'sCaptainJones,sir——thechiefmate。"
"Well。ThisgoesclearawayaheadofanythingIeverheardofbefore。