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Les diagrammas suivants illustrent la mAthode. 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 \ 1 ':j I /•'or so/Ni- lime pas/, my c/n'Ii/rcji ami fri cuds li,i:-c urj^cd nic to (O)jimi! lo papor some rtcolUdiiois of mv life, more especially llial part of il relalii:<^ lo my various sea royaors around llie loorld. ^ll llie advanced ai^e i^f eij^lily years, / realize ihat my mojiory is failii/ii me in a ^rcal measure ; a I llie same lime, I find llial I can recall the scenes of my early yon III and manhood, and many even Is oj' " lono- a<^o ' are much more vivid lo-day than those oj' later dale. As' this is intended only for rKiKXDi.v critics, it needs no apolo<^y for any ivanl of literary merit ; and if, in the Ion y^- J it lure, il ivill aljord any pleasure lo my children, il ivill more than repay the lime 7jhich has been devilled lo it by their loviiii^ father. CHARLES BREWER. Jamaica Plain, 18 S 4. ' * /■• f i -\ ■, i ;7.-, \'<\ < II \Ri Is l;ui K\ I U. a RI'LMIXISCIiNCKS. I Si M\ an< L>t<>i- w.is Daniel I'rcwcr. Ilr left London for l\o\l)m\' ( .Ma>-.) in i^\t2. accompanied by liis wife and (lauL;htcr ; Ijul the forinei" did not li\-e to reaeh ;\ineri( a. Sarah Urewet", the dan^htei", mar- ried |o1mi May, 2d, son oi' jolin May, 1st, ol Kox- biir\' ; and Sarah was the lh>t recorded name of our an(est(^;> in the M.i\ famil\- in New l{nL!,land, Mv father was ^^)ses Urewer. M)- mother was Al)i'J.ail May. They were married iji i 7()S. at Kox- burw My f.ither was a drv-<'oods dealer on Corn- hill, in r>o>t('n. until iSi^. lie died June 17, i>Si3. After his deatl). mv mother earriefl on the Inisiness for several years. She then retired, and j)assed the remainder of her life at the old homestead, <it Jamaica Plain, her nati\-e plate. She died on /Xpril 24, 1S49, a"xd sevent\-nine and a ludt xears. .She was the mother of ti\ e t hildren, — o.ne son and lour tlaugh- ters. 1 .mi the- emiv remaining member ot the tamily (1SS4). I was born in lio^ton, on Cornhill, on Mart:h 27, J1S04. At a \ery earl\ a_L;e I had a slron<^ desire to Kr.MiN'isciNcr.s. 1)1' n sailor, hut, hrinu; an onlv son, my niotlu-r stronj^ly nhicctrd. and sent nu- to a \\onian\ .school at KaM Sudhui-y. I rcmaimd tluMo two siinmRM's. DurinL; the way fnllowinL; I att'.'ndcd the Ha>t Siid- lun'v At ,i(lcMii\'. ] had a con^.panioi^ friun rni>ton who atti'n(K'd tin- >aimj Mhottj. and \vc hoarded to- L;rthrr with a farmrr and his wife who took i;ood care ol" ns. The farnuT was \rr\ hind, and would often allow Us to usL' tlic "<ihl horse" when he was ahseiil fi'oni home. The horse was a verv (juiet one, hut somewhat in wars. ( )ne day, while the old farmer had L;onc to Hoston, we thought we wnuhl impi-oxe llie opportunity and ha\e a ride, w.- i^dt the " old hor>e " out. and, without eifhe ..idle or hridle. we mounted him. I ill Imnt and my companion l)ehind. It was rather hard work at fust {^, ^,1 jiim into a trot, hut after awhile we L;'ot him st.uled into a full run. As we had no switch, we hr^an slai)pint; hini with our hands on each side. As that did n't have much efl'.'ct, we ^-ave him one extr.i-hard slap, when he started oil suddenl)' with L;reat speed, and we hoth slippefl off hrhind. As I tell, the horse's iron >hoe struck me dire'ctl)' on ihr side ot' mv face, cutting;' it ojien nearly up to my e\elids, and hreakini; mv jaw- hoiie. I was lett senNfli'>s on the ground, and alone, a.-^ my comjjanion was hi^htened and ran otT to •••et some assist. nice. J laid (»n the ground as if dead I KF.MlNlSfF.NCF.S. 5 ^ 4 for n linn-, but assistance came at last, and I was cairird Iinnie. A dnctor \\m.-> >ciit for, hut. a.s he livL'd sonic inilrs away, it was two liours l)ffoir he reached thr hou>e. My clieek and jawbone were l)ad!\ man'^U (1 ; llie suri;c-on trinmu-d off the small ])k\v> and .-.cwed up thr deep cut in my face. The old farmer madr up hi> mind that I could nol live, and he >cnl a ni.-,>(.'nL;er immediately to IJoston for mv mothrr to conu- to Sudbury. Wh.m the doi tor luard that, he at oncv sent another messenL;er, for- biddim; mv mother to l;<> to Sudbury, as he feared it mi'j,ht Set me er\in;4 and break the stitehes i»pen in m\' face-. 1 wa- obli^-ed to >it uprii^ht in a chair for two or three \\eek>, and there were man\' months before the face was entirely healed. I had every kind attention I (^(Mild wi>h from the old farmer and his wite, and from other friends in our neii^hbor- h(V)d. After leaving Sudbury I attended a jirivate school in lioston for several months; but I was always wish- in'4 for a sta voya-e. One day I asked niy mother to let me ;4«> privateering. — boys of my age were shipped duiing the war as powder-monkeys, th.eir dulie> being to earrv powder fri)m the magazines to the upi)cr detks when required. — but 1 could not ovt mv mother".-^ (on.-ent, >(• I said no more about it at that time. During the latter ) .u t "f the war (^1814), the KIMI\I->( I-\(T.S, I'liliMi Iri^atcs were at one tinio cruiMni; in I^).st()n l>.i\. .nul it was ('.\|H(.Ii(1 thrv would iiitcr tlu' liarlxir, I In- tt!Tial)ilant> were tliL-n workinj^ viTV .iiti\(Iy to rini>li olT I'ort Stron<; ( \(ul<l!("> I>lan(l). Till' I)iiil<iiin ..| th.. .idr- of the fort rcciuiivd a>.>ist- iincc. a!tlioii-Ii it \\a> iumi'Iv fnii-Iu-tl. . I lu' pliMir-x Ii,„,I |„.\-^ urrr (.lYcivd a^ xoluntcri-.s tc woils. 'rhi\ tiirntdoui tVoin tin- >cli()ols aljoiit thrre biiiuliv.l ;it a tinir. and uc-iv manlu-d down State Stict't ill iank> and niiiitary onk r. w iih tlie AiiKiican lla;;- ilyin- and drunis bcalini;. Wo inardird t,, I.,,,)- Wharf, where wt- embarked on board sloo|)> and x hoomrs. and were landed at I'ort Strop,-, on Noddles I.datul (nowLa>t 15oston), where we worked two day>. 'Ihe boy>' work was HK^Mly earryiii- .sods and pins and pickaxes. Alter workin-- two day>. we were taken to Dor. cluster Il.i-hts, where we worked one day, and were tlun diMviisse.!. \\\. niarched back to Hoston ill tlie >anie military orck r ; and the boys enjoyed the laboi-, for the fun attached to it. After remaining- some weeks at home, mv mother sent me to the Wohiin Academy. a> I was so y'.im- she did not eare to have me attend school in JJo.lon. I ua,. the youn-e.st sch.>lar in the acad- emy, but I (udy remaiiird there one year. The youn-er boys were not treated as well a.> the older "M'lars, there bein- a great dilYerence in the quality sc Kr\|IM-( I NCI'S. 7 of the iinn\. Mv niollu r had iiki(I«' ihm- i «iin]»I.iints without anv n<»tict' h.i\iii;^ hicii taken ot them, .mi I decided t«» It.wr. One nioniini; I _l;()1 iij) vciy early, and. without mv m<itlM*r'> kuDwlcdm', ran awav iVnni the >eh()t»l Ix'tore da\li''ht. and endeavored to tlnd \u\ \va\' to I5<»>t<»n. I n.ul not Ixin ioiii^ on the lo.id heloie I diMTOven-d that I had lo>t ni\' way, and I -at d<'\\n lijKiii a ^toue w.ill .iiid heij^aii toe i"y. .Simui a l;!;!!!!- man caine alon^^ and asked n,e what wa> my trouble. I told hi!ii I wantrd to l;i'1 to Uo^ton and did not k:.' V tlie road, lie said he w.i- J4*'i'i.^,' ^" C haiie>- town, and would >how nie the way. I told the Ljen- tl'.man I knew the way home from Charle>town, and would follow him, whi( h I did. alth(»u;4h I was vcrv lired, as he walked so fast ; Ijut 1 I'mally reached home at one o'clock in the afternoon, and mv mother was very .^lad to see me. After reniainin^!.; a short time at home, I attended a private school in Inoton for a tew month>. when mv mc'ther con(duded f ^^-'nd me to the Rew Mr. Kichard>on's school, at 1 [inL;ham. 1 remaineil there over a rear, and was \ery nuith i)lea>ed in e\ery way. There was a limilecl number ol sehoKu>. — about fifteen boardini; scholars and live out^iders. The livinL; was i;ood throuj^hout. As a geneial thinir. we liad a fine set of scholars; .uiioni; others were Samuel G. Howe, James Davis, Jo.-iah T. 8 Ki Mi.\i>(i.\t i-:s. Marshall, (icoi-'i. Iktirv. ami William llari'v (llncc brutlu'is), ami lulwaid X. 1 Inwr. Ijiotlur of Saimirl ( i. Iloui- ('and who \va> aitn ward^ iliowiud al mm), all mI wlioiii uiic r.d^toii hcvs. ImiiIi (air trai'luT and hi> wilf wtic al\\a\> vor\- kind and pleasant with iIr- siholars, and I kl't tlu- scliooj afUr a war and a hall wril ph a>rd. 1 was then '..unti-en yrar> old wIkii anan-cincnts W'-Tc nuuK' hy my iiiMthiT tor u\c to inter the >tore ul Mi^>iN. C'noim i^ Thv lias Sialic; hut, as .the position was tlu-n filh-d hy a ymnii;- man uiio had thrn; monlh> Inii;^.'!- to si-rvt- l.c-lorc' his lime e\- jiiird, I had an ('ppMrtunily for three months' more sehoolin^. I enteri'd the pii\ale >. h.ool of* the then ( elel^rated teacher. Mr. W'al-h, author of " Walsh's Arithmetic," whii-h wa> hi-hly prized in iho>e tlays. A I the end ol" m\- term, 1 entered the siore of Messrs. Cie<.rne «.\: 'I homa^ Searle as an apprentice. After a service ot thri'c yeai>. 1 conLluded to continue in the store until I was t\\ent\-one year.s old, as I should then be my own mi>ier, and could 'j^n to sea as a sailor, — for I >till liad the same de>ire for a >ea life. ( )ne day, mv mother, without my knowled<;e, calkd on several ol her old friends to consult with them a[)out 111) L^oing- to sea. Amon<^- those whose adxice she sou-lit were Capt. John l^ratt, Capt. Holland, and Ca[)t. Benjamin Rich, three old retired iiier- Kr.MiNisrF.scrs. a ■ ^ ( linnN. 'i-K li nf whom li.wl !)• in r\ siilor in lii- yniitli. and nftcrw.ir.U !m(1 Ihtii .■n;4.i_^r(l in -hipping hii^i- iic^s linm IiM««lMn Imi" in.inv yiMT-. '1 htir .»<1\ ici- to my niutlu r was. ih ii. il I \va- -<• an\i<MH tn Ix'comc a sfiinian \vli«ii I wa^ tvvi'nly-(»n( . >Ii«' liad Ix-ttcf l^ivu liiT ( (in>-rnl for nif l<» i^owIkii I w a> x-vcntci'ii, ,,, iliii p. ilii;.- ' I iui!.',ht hnuii)'- an (itVicir l)y the liiiic I ua> iwcntN-onr. 'llvir aflvicc proved i^ootl, for I was >.-iond otVK rr oi tli^ -liip " I'aia-^on "' wlun I was /ai///v-of/,\ and first oltiiL-r of tlic >:inic ship when I was /:r< ///v-/:^'(). Al\w n((i\in.Li; tlir ad\iir of tlu- thrcr old ^-a- raptains. nw ni.>lh' i- * on->cntrd. altlioii^b i\lu' tantly. t(. ha\f nif look foi- a \'oya^L^<'. wliirii 1 did. Several of mv n;otl\n"> lady fii.ivU. on Irarnini; that I was rcalU' '•oiiiL; to sea as a ( oinmon sailoi. fnilfa\(>i"ed, l)y all ihr niran- in thcii- |)owri-. to prevent it. I lu-y told my niother thai she " wonld ni'Ver sei- me a^aiu alive." My moth.T replird, "He that doeth all lhin'_;< \\«'ll will have the same luavenly i)rotection iip( m the ori.-an a^ np( 'ii tin- lanch I had alwavs had a di-likr for the eonntin_L:,-rooiii. luit the ]>riiM ipal icison lor m\ de-^irc- to l;o to >ea was thai I mi:^ht have an oj iportunity to vi-it all parts of the world. whi>h I ( oald not do otherwise. llaNini;- now ni\ niolh'i"'' ( oi^>riil. I looked ahoiit tlir wharves tor a vessel, and I also a]»i>licd totriends, t(. help mr. hinaliv. thron-h tiie a-sistanie ol Mr. lO KIMINMFCFNCKS. II c'tirv I cc I ol^aiiud :i \)vv[h as a ''rcrn liaiul on board the hri'"' "■ Palnu'r,"' bound to Calcutta. Mv waLics were A fm] with iiai >//(n:< a n'ontli. aud. perfectly' >ati; (•oninicneKl iiu Ma liic. an( m:in\- aniitlie 'j:\cl' n hand, knew notliiii! ul he b.ardshij) in stcr • t^ ir me lie Pal nier was o\\ IN Ir. I leru\- I <'c w i> sunerea^''( ned bv the Lee fannlv ); Mr. Robert C Maeka\', captain's clerk. The bri;^' was connnanded by Capt. Hall. 1 here was one other bovl)cside s nivsc If. whose name was La^jham. At 'iUo reciuest of our [)arents, we were put under the charL;e of Mr. Henry Lee. The sailors used to ha\-e an allowance of a L;ki>>s of Liro''" ex'erv dav. just before dinner, and an extra glass for Saturday niL',ht, with which to toast sweet- liearts and wi\e.> ; we two boys receiyed from Mr. Lee, in lieu of the ''roLT, a bottle of ijood molasses eyery week*. W iKMi ''"('Uvj; on ( leek m my m iddle wafch at nii :ht, I most alwa\s earried my bottle of molasses an( shii* biscuit to eat durinij- the wa tch. I always krpt my l)ottle of molasses under the lower berth, Ulil wou Id oft eii use some when the watch was o\er Ul le t lark ni-'ht durm''- m »■ watch on ( leek, I took some of the mo]as>es directU- from the Ijottle b\ tijj- pinu; it and swaliowinL; a little at a time; but some- thing seemed to [)reyent it from tlowiuL; freely. i i;i:miniscknci:s. 1 1 sliook it several tiivics hd'ovv it would run, wlicn to nn- surpri"^'- out (aim: a ^/r<^/ ii/oiisr. willi but little hair u;)oii hiivi ; lu' wa> anytliin,-- but an a,u;rccaljlc s'-^lit to look upon. I iniUKdi itcly i)Ut tin; mouse b:M k into llu' liotOc with tlic rcMVuiiuin-- n;okiSM'-, and c'ork.'!l bini uj) ti-ht, so that \v un^ht tloah and llu n threw it ovcrboaid. No doubl it was piekc'd up by -onie pa--.in,-- Ix-at (lew duriiv^ a cahn, who (.'X- pcetcd to find leLtrrs for loxcd ones ai hoiiK'. and wdio were |)r.)bably di-apiM)inled eiiou-h to see only the remains of a .'/,<?^/ ///e/zw. It was a loni;' time betore I eould relish any molasses after that expe- rience. 1 h id had quite enoUL;h of that ([ualily, and coneluded for the future 1 would take it pior and unadnlliratid. or i;o without. We left Boston with a L;o()d crew, with one excep- tion, and that was a Scotchman, who ^ave us a -ood deal of trouble. The hr.-t day out from Tx-.^ton tiie Seotclmian ordered me to brini;- up the food from the furecastle; bein-' a -reen hand, this was my duty to p. 1 form, and I was perlectly aware of it. As 1 wa> o-uin- ur) the ladder with a '• kid " or - tub'" in my hands from the forecastle, he -ave me, as I stood upon the step, a hea\y blow in my back and a kick, and told me to - hurry up." This act was so sudden and unexpe'-ted that I jumped from the two lower steps of the ladder down into the forecastle and clinched him ar^umd his neck. Just thcii four of the 12 KMMINl.-CKNCIS. crew canu' to inv assistance, but not before I had i>ot one or two j^ood blows at him. I Ic was a very lar'>e a,n(l poworful fi'llow, and would no doubt have hurt me seriously had it m-t have been tor the timely as>ist.uue of the three Boston boys. Our forecastle was below the deck (forward ), which is a verv old cu>tom. There has been a ureat im- j)rovement for the comfort of .»ailors since those days. All ioreca-lles are now built on the upper deck. in>tead ot below, thereby Lrivini:; more li-dit and Iresher air. It is, or was. an old regulation, that when the first evenino- watch went below they should be allowed till " one bell. " or half-hour, in wh.ich to " spin yarns " or talk, then all nui.->t go to sleejj. We Ijovs o'ener- ally improved the op})ortuniry ; but that did not always suit the Scotchman. One of the men had been telling a story which had been ix'peated over and u\-er again i)crhaps fifty times; tlie Scotchman did ne»t like it, and would often go on deck to get out of the way; but he iiad made himself so disagreeable tliat the sailors would oftc'-, repeat it on i)urpose to annoy him. On our arrival at Calcutta, he took the th>t opjjortunity to run away, leaving some con>iderable amount of wages due him. We were all very glad when he left us. When off ]\Iadaga.-,car, our brig was struck by i KI'MINISCENCES. u li"lil!iin''-. which caused the c()i)i)cr aroiuul the inaiu- mast, and al^() near the mainlop, and near the ))Mnii)>, t<» imh and run down upon the punip.^ and nia>N hke niolas^i s. Tlie suli)hur<>u> odor war. very strong- and :.ulToc atini;- in the cal)Iii .nid main hold. Wc fcaa-ed at In >t there mi-lit he lire in the hoKh so we l)roke out aiound the ma>ts. '1 here was a box >towed a'L;ain>t the maimnast, and, althonL;h the hox and ^ome of the car_L;o v ere mu«ii (h>c-oh»re(h there was n(> ;.;reat (himai;e ch)ne. On opi'iunu, tin- box it was fi)und to contain hooks for the American Mission at Calcutta. When the lightnini;- struck our vessel I was lean- ing, ai^ainst an iron riolt attached to one of the spai's, and I was struck down upon the deck senseless, where I lay struL;_L;IinL;- until some of the crew rai>ed me, up, and the shock passed oik Se\eral of the crew were close by me when the vessel was struck, but I wa,-^ the onlv one who iclt the shock. There was a slight wind durin;^- tiie day, and squally. When off the island of Madagascar ships are very often liable to experience heavy gales and stormv weather. The climate of the iskuul i^ gener- ally [ileasant in the north, but somewhat cool in the south during the winter months. We arrived safely at Calcutta, and anchored at first in the river, an.d afterwards near the banks of the river, and I then had m\' first view of a foreign 4 14 KFsMINISfl.NCKS. country. It was \cr}' liol in (/alciilta, and while dis- i*liari;in!^- cargo 1 was >ti-ickcn down widi a sunstroke. They inu"nedialel\- carried nie l)e]ow, and sent for a doetor, who L;ave nie some medicine, and I was all riL;ht aL;aiii iii a couple of da\>>. Mr. liemv Lee and Mr. Mackay took up theii- re>idence on shore. We laid at the nioorinL;s lue nionth.s, and atter- \vard> two months at anehin^ in the rix'er, makini^ our >tay at Calcutta se\en month>. 'I'lieie was con- siderable sickness amoni;' the crew durini;- that time, but no deaths. I was in rather poor health for five niontli-s Irom attacks ot" d3-entery, but was ne\er unable to do some duty. During the seven months we were at Calcutta, Mr. Lee loaded several Nesstl.^ for Loiuion and the United .States, after which he loaded tlie " Palmer " with a icturned cargo of luvlia good^ for Boston. Our voyage to Calcutta and baek was about sixteen months. The " Pcdmer " was a new xe.^sel, arKl was Ijuill in Medhucl in iSjcr and ]M-o\-ed to l)e a fine vessel in every re^jK'Ct. There were five of the Lee familv interested as ownei-s. She wa,> named the " Palmer" out ot" compliment to John Palmer, an l']nglish mer- cliant in Calcutta. I have no doubt niv friends thou''ht that this voyage of sixteen months would satisfy me, and that I would be glad to stay at home; but they were ^ KI.MIN'ISC r.XCI'S, IS 1 ciuitL- iiii>tak<n. After spcndini;- a couple of months at Jamaica Plain, \i>ilin^- my mother and >i>tei>. I \va^ ([uite ready for sea aL;ain ; >o, when die " Palmer was readv for another voya;;e. 1 a,u,:uM >hi[)pe(l on hoard ol her, and telt (piite proud when 1 learned that m\' waives were to he raised from //:v to ei^iit dollars a month., My friend l.apham al-o shipi)ed oti board th,e " Pnlmer "" for his sec<^nd V()yai;x\ which made it \cv\ jileasant (or me, as we were sueh ;j;ood frienfls, and durini;- our loni; voyaL;e of sixteen months we had heen \-ery hajtpy toi^ether. 'J"hi> second vovai^e in the " Palmer" wa- cjuite a short one, lastiri^- only five months, as we oidy went to Li\er[)ool and from there returm;d to l)o^ton. The fust officer o\ th.e " I'ahr.er " was frc^m Cai)e Cod, and he proved to he a very disngrecablc man in many wa\s. 1 le -.howetl a marked difference \n his treatment toward ytanvj,' Lapham and m_\sclf. I soon beL;an to notite that he gave me all the dirtv and disagreeable novk to do. arul would send me aU'ft in l)ad and squally weather. Lapham, on llu- contrary, was \-er\' kindl}' treated, the ea.>ie.>t am.l ck'anest jobs being al\\a)s gi\en him ; arid I noticed that he was never sent aloft if I wa^ round. 1 could not for some time undei'staud \\ii\- tiieie should be so much tliffermce'. and ik.at I sliould ha\e such hard usage, as 1 had alway> tr'"ed to per- form mv duty, and had ne\er had a complaint made i6 KIMIMSCF.NCF,!?. l.)y citlnv Mr. I, (.■(•. C'npt. II. ill. or an\' of tlu' passon- li;cTs ; hilt after a \\\u\c I Icarnv'd tlu' rca>()n, which \\a> that tlu'ir was a /tfi/v in tliv case. It >cfms that the fir^t olTiccr had hccn cnL:,aL;r(l t<> I.aphani's x/.vAv h)i" the la>t two wars; so I support.- it was f|iiitc' natural thai hr >hoiil;l make it pleasant for tiu' hrotlii)'. Ihit I think he mi^lu haw (lonu that \\ith(Uit making;" it so iincomfortahiL' for nic. I.apham's parents were \'ery nire and respectable ]K()ple, lixinL; in Cluirle^towai. When i.aphani and mvseli parted, 1)V eac h L^oinij; on difterent N'ova^'es, the owners ot the " rainier " otlered me a i)osition as second ollicer, hut 1 ch'd not feel nu'selt' compe- tent, and I al>o thought nn^ell too vuuiil; for >o re>p(Misible a posiiicai. so 1 declined. La{)ham shipped on board a \'es.sel bound to Calcutta. Tlic .^hip loaded at Calcutta for the United .States, but ne\-cr reac h.ed home, as she took fn-e in the nn'ddle of the Atlantic (^cean and burned up entirely. The captain, with his wife and family and part of the crew, went toward .South America (haxiiiL;- taken to their boat-, in mid-ocean), while the i"ir>t ot'hcer, with the balance of the c ivw, went towards .South v\irica. l)C)th boats airi\ed safeh' at the end of their unfortunate \'ova'''es, and all would hax'e been \wll if the oihcer had followed the ca;>tain to .Scaith .America, but. on laiulinLj, at South Africa, .several of the crew took die .African lexer and died. iMv dear '?« s* KEMINISCENCKS. 17 " 5 friend and shipni.itc, Lapliani, was amon^^ tlic num- ber, lie was a ^Jiwdi \ns^ to hi> parents anrl to all who knew him, and I .^hall always cheri-h his nieni- urv, althouL-h it is now s/.v/v-ZZ/rcr years sinee we shipped toL;-ethei- on boanl the " I'ahner." The officiT of the >hip which was bm-ned was the same one who h.ul treated me >o badly on board the " ralmer." I arrix'ed home from the I.uist Indies in L;;ood lie;ilth, and felt th;it I was well repaid with what I liad gained in experience. After remaining- on shore for a few weeks, I Ix'gan to be restless again for the sea, and so looked around for another ship. I Jiad always liad a tlesire to vl^it the northwest coast of Ameri( a and the Sandwich Islands. I iiad been partieiil uly interested in the latter place since reading " Cook's X'oyages " when a boy. 1 learned that the ship " Paragon " was going to tlie Sandwich Inlands and to China, so I niatle appli- cation at once, and was shipped on board as an ordi- nary seaman at eight d-ollars a morith. The owner ot" the ship was Mr. josiah Mar.shall, of Boston, and she w^as commanded by Cai)t. Wuliam Cole. We left Boston e.p. h\'b. 23. 1823, for Honolulu. Oahu. We had two ])assengers, Thomas Crocker, l'!scj., L nited vStates consul for the Hawaiian Islands, and Robert Pdwell, consul's clerk. Our Uv>\ officer was John Bowman, and our second was Jolm Dominis, who i is KI.MIMSCF.XCKS. acted in tlic (l(iiil)lc' ca|incity as sail-makc-r and second officiT. W'c had a fair jiasNai^e around Cajx- Horn. !'(■[( ire \vc Kft P)(»l('n, it liad Ix'cn directed hy the ownrr of the sliip lliat we should stop at the i>land 1)1 Jnaii l'\ rnandr/ ( l\t»l)insnn Crusoe's i>land) and fill all the ea>k> with fi\>h watt-r. as we only took with u> from Iloston a supplv tor a hundred days. There being no good harbors otT the inland, tlie ship had to la\' otT and on lor a dav or two, in order to iict tlu' water off fmin the >hore. The boat was sent on .shore under the direction of Mr. Doniinis, with a crew of se\cn men, of which I was one. We made one trip to thic shore, and towed the casks of water to the sides of the ship, where they were hoisted on l)oard, A second boat was then sent off, and this time our two passengers accompanied us. They thought they would like to try their hands at shooting a wild bullock and fishing, so, at their request, we left them on the i>land while we re- lurried to the ship with a second ratt ot' water casks. When aliout tour or five iidles I'rom the shore, it came on to blow a gale, and we shipped a sea whicli almost capsi/ed the boat (it was a whale c>r surf boat), and it was hlied with water almost up to the thwarts. We were at an ec[ual distance from die shore and the shi|), — alnnit live miles from each, — and were in a dangerous condition t"or a while. I lost my oar during the mcuc ; and we had to bail out r5 I I 4, -* -3% 1^ in.MiNisrr.N'CES. 19 the boat with our hats, boots, and >hocs. iMiially. after >oim' hours of puHiuL;-. we L^ot alonL;>icle of the shij), l>\ whieh linic the wiiul had deerea^nl to a moderate -ale. The eaptain thnuL;ht. as thr ship was so far fpnn the >h<-av, it would not be prudent to <j^i) tor the two j)a>>LnL;ers until the next day. During- the ni-lu tlu- ;-;-ale increased, and we were (iriltrd ol'f a loni; 'distance, and it w a^ eleven days before we were able to reL^.un i'ur position. In the mean time the two passeui^ers had an t)i)portu- nitv to realize somewlKit the feehni^s of Robinson Crusoe and his man I^'riday. As >oon as practi- cable we went to their re>cue. As we neared the .shore, we saw them running down the liill as speecUly as possible; and as soon as they jumped into the boat, they commenced with ravenous ai)pe- tites to devour some raw salt beef and ship-bread, l)emt; a portion of some provisions which we were takin-- on sliore for some Spaniards (five in num- ber) who had been left there by a scaling party the year previous, luit who had failed to call lor them according to contract. We learned from the passengers that it had rained hard every day and night during the ten days of their enforced detention on the island, consequently they had no oi^ijortunity for hunting or fishing. They took up their residence with the five Span- iards, — who were themselves short of pro\ isions, — 20 RKMINMSCFNCES. in a niis(.ial)K- hut, (.onMHiiitinly wtTc unable to en- tiTlain tluir uiuxpri ♦ -1 i;iic>t> very luxuriously. /\s soon .as \\(.' w j tlu- >hii). our passi-nt^cis inuncdiatrU' (li\(,>Uit themselves of iheir ( lothinir and Ioml; beards, which were infe.-sted with vctniin, which was the only ;•(//;/<• they <»btainecl. DuriuL;- the lu>t lu'-ht of the jj^ale, tlu' ship ob- taitied ail the water whiih wa> needed for the \<»va!j;e to llonolulu, aiul with .dl our pro\ i>ions on board, we took leave of the inland of Juan I*\rnande/., and altc r a Ioul;- and tedious vova<"C of one hundred and ei^L;hty-one days we arrived >afely at Monolulu. The trade-winds were verv liijht until alter we crossed the equator, after which we had a fresh breeze until we reached the Sandwich Islands. We made Hawaii (t!ie i>Iand) over one hundred niiles off, when we saw the toij <,f Mauna-Kea covered with snow; the luM\i;ht c-f Mauna-Kea i> 13.950 feet, and that of Uakakalaon Maui 10.217 ^^^^- After re- mainini; in tlie harbor of H(jnolulu for some weeks, the '• Paragon " made a crui>e around the i>lands for the purpose of obtaining .sandal-wc-od ; but we were not successful. The .^urf set on >hore verv heaxilv. so that the ship was o])liged to slip her anchor and chain and return to Honolulu. Sometimes the surf on the north side of Oalui will break in seventeen fathoms of water, and the vessels are obliged to put to sea. _.t5 RF.MIN'ISCF.NCF.S. 21 \Vc carried out en llu- • Tara^^on " the hamos for two M.-h(»<>ncr.. whi< li were built .uul l.umchecl fV..m Marini% %x1>arf at Hmiu.IuIu. One <.!" iIkiu ua. nanx-d the '* Wabhiii-tou." \olunti-.Ms \ure re- quired as a crew In iriii--- ah.-ut in n.ik h ..f >aiulal- \M^>.l Tlie schooner " WaslHn;^t..n '" was chartered lur that purpi>>c. and I was one of live volunteer.-.. On our hr^t nij^ht uL in the Oalui Channel, we had two men knocked cverboard by the main b.u.ni ; one wa- a white man and the ether a Kanaka. The white man was ilrowned. but the Kanaka ^uc- cecded in gettini; on boanl a-ain. We were un^uc- ces-shd in (»btainin«r sandal-wood, on account of the hcavv surf, and were obli-ed to return to Honolulu arouLd the souti west side oi the inland. Sub>e- qucntly we made several trips in searJi of >andal- vood around the i>lands, stoj-i^in-; at IVail River and other j^laces. Auer that the ship made a trip Vy Waimea, and there lost her anehor. consecjuently \vc were obliged In return to Honolulu. The an- chor was never recovered. The - Tara-on "' laid in the harbi.r of Hono-lulu live months altogether, re- reiving sandal-wood from small vessels; while the '• Wad^ini-ton '" was recei\ing cargo for the " Para- gon." which came m very slowly. While we were at Honolulu, news was received of liic death of Queen Kapiolani, wife of King Kame- hair.cha U.; she died at Laliaina on the island of 1 23 Kl MINISCr.NCI.S. Miuii. At the rcqucNl of llu' kini;. the " I\umi;()ii " was chartrrccl lor the I'uiu ral. I lu-ie was a iKct ol twelve ve>sels, larj^e and small, and .ill lilled with j)asseiiy;ers. 'I'lu' kiiii;. with all hi> (mVici-i^, t()L;"ether with all the Imeii^ii e(>n>uls, was on hoard the " l'ani!4(»n." ( )n the arri\.il of ihe llet t at L.ihaiiia, niinute-''uns were fired, arul it was continued all the dav. 'I here wi ri' nearly I 2,oco natives ai the land- \\y^ .it I.ahaina to witne>s the funer.d ; and they ex- pressed their deep i;rief, and sympathy for the kin<jj, by a loud wailini; and wrini^inL; ot hands. The next day tlu' lleet returned to Honolulu. Kamehameha was the second king, and Ka[)iolani was his favorite wife. 'ihe " Paraiion " now bein*'; readv for sea, wc left Honolulu for China with a full car* 'O of saiidal-wood. We arrived satelv at Whampoe, where we had to sta\' about two and a half months, waitinir for a cari;() of teas. While 1\ in;^' in the river, the captain liad the ship's ri^^ini; stripped entirelv off, and that, with other repairs, tooU uj) the time of sitme of her la) days. Alter much delay, the ship was fmally loaded and lelt Canton for Boston, where she arrived safely and discharged her cari^o in good condition ; antl that ended n^y experience at >ea as a green hand. After remaining at home for a few weeks, the " Paragon " was chartered for a >.eet)nd voyage, and 1 was })ronioted to the pcvsition of second officer. ,W KIMINrsCKNCF.S. 23 1 (.1 Ih cV 10 ;i, I. f \V*<' well' to '^n fir^l to Chailotoii, S. ( "., thriicc to I ,iv( r|)ool, aiu! n turn w ith a c ai;L;;o of cot ion. 'I' he ( liartur ua*' a \(i"v « iiiioiis one, the ouik rs L;i\iii;^ llif captain the n^c of the \c>sfl />'<v on condition tlial h'; WMN to luwiy co|)|>(r the wssi-l at his own c\|)cns(r, a^nd pay all c.\|)cnscs of the* crew, pro\is- ions. etc., of th<' voyage, and to deliver the vessel in as L;(»<'d order in <verv wa\' a-^ sju' was w lien he took her tioni lio-ton, - ■ the ( aptain to ha\(' all the freight money. riie >hi|) lost money, hut tin- cap- tain made a very L;ood thini^' out of the hari; lin. \\ hill \\i' arrived ofY Charleston bar, tb.c .ship <;i'ounded ; hut ue soon ohtalued help from the .shore. We loaded with cotton, and hauled ottinto the river ready for sea; hut thf luxt da\' it was di>co\Trecl th.it the ship was leaking some, and, after remainint^ in the ri\er a couple ofdavs, we found the leak was inirea^ini;', and the crew refust'd to go in the .ship ; however, after some pir.suasion, the captain \)W- \ailr(l on tlirm, jMoiiiisjiiM that it" she leaked hadlyhe would put hat k into some port. We then lelt Charleston in comj)any with three or four other shijj.s hound t(t IJverpool. We had fair wi'.irls antl good weather for a few days and the K-ak increased hut \erv little, hut when we were ten davs out it gained upon u.s .■^() rapifllv that tin* crew had to keep puuiping l)oth day and night, and not only the crew, but the olllcers were (thliged to assist. I -'4 HF.MINISCENCES, WIuM-i in the Irisli Channi'l we hail a very severe gale, which brought us on a lee shore under close reefs and in a dangerous position. We had dritted \er\- near the shore (within a niile), when the gale abated ver}' suddenly, then a heav\- rain sfjuall from liie shore and vi^rv strong winds on the Welch coast. We had drifted, at one time, very near the rocks off Baltinu)i\; Harbor, and we were on the eve of run- ning the w'ssel on shore to save our lives, but we fortunately escaped. It seemed afterwards almost miraculous. When we were close into the rocky sliore, it Ix'cauK^ sudderdy calm, then a gale sprung u}) from the Irish C(K\>t, and drove one of the three ships that were in com])any with us on the Welch coast, where she was entirely wrecked and about all the crew were drowned. Of the four shi})s which left Charleston in com- pany only two arrived safely at Liverpool. One shi}) put hack when in a])()Ut the middle of the /\ll:\ntic ( )cean and returned to tlie United States. We left Charleston in December and aiTived at Liv- er[)ool in January, it was a very hard winter. When we were near the Irish coast, the mainsail got adrift anil all hands were sent alot't to secure it. I was among the numl)er, and as I was on the weather vard-ai'm, and the ship beiiv-' vcrv crank, I lost my hold of the sail aiul fell l)arkward>, striking my head on the mi/zen-st.i) (\\hich reallv sa\ed my i REMINISCENCES. 25 1 life), and came down on to the deck into the lee scup- ])ers upon my left side, where I lay senseless for some time. The ship was so craiik that there was more than a foot of water in the scuppers. It was a very dark ni^lu, and the captain, who was on the weath(.'r side of the deck, knew nothini^- of my fall uiTitil sofne of the men aloft cried out that I had fallen o\-erboard. As soon as the men came down from aloft, the captain called for a lantern, and it was tlun discovered that I had fallen on board. I was taken up and carried into the cabin, and upon examination the next morniuL; it was found that there were no bones broken, but my left leg was badly bruised, and afterward it withered to that extent that the leer was tive inches smaller around ' than usual, and it crippled me for life. My fall was about fifty-five feet from the main-yard, about forty feet to the mi/./en-stay, and thence fifteen feet to the lee scuppers. The sliip harl a, full load of cotton in bales not onlv in the hold but in the cabin and on deck, which was the cause of her being so crank. Two tiers of cotton had been under water most of the time. We put the ship in dock, where she was calked and coppered and })ut in good order. We had a very rough passage home, arriving in the month of March, 1S23. Notwithstanding the various hardsiiij)s and acci- h ! 26 KK.MIMSCiXCES, I ! dents I had nut with, .1 continued to enjoy a sea life, and wlien the " ParaL:jon " \va> atrain cliartcrcd for a \oyane arouiul Cai)e H<»rn to the Sandwich Ishtnds, I was all readv and eaLfer to iro a^ain. Mr. Doniinis ar.d nuself uxre enp;ac;ed for the voyage as first and second officers. \Vc went on board and had been at work a few days getting ready for sea, wlicn, to our sur|)rise. we were told that tlie voyage was chaniied, and that instead of joiner to the Sand- wich Islands we were to load with a caYijo of ice for the West Indies. Thi.^ was in the month of Jul)', and, aside from its being an unhealthy season, neither Mr. Dominis nor mvself wi>hed to ixo to the West Indies. We told Mr. Marshall (the owner) that when we agreed to go it was with the under- standing that we were to make the vovaf^-e to the Sandwich Islands, and consequently we should re- sign our positions, which we did. Mr. Marshall was very anijrv, and said he would never emj^lov us again. We had been three years in his employ, and he had nc\er had cause for complaint. Mr. Marshall and Mr. j. C.Jones, of IJoston, frited out a brill- owned by them>elves for the Sandwich Islands. Mr. Jones was aciing captain, and, although Mr. Marshall liad said he would not employ either Mr. Dominis or myself again, the former was en- j>"a!jetl as saiHii'' master. Mr. Dominis uriied Mr. Marshall verv hard to take nie a.-? second cjflicer, but KliMINISCKNCKS. 27 he persistently refused. I was very sorry to lose the opi")()rtunity of goini; again with my old frii'nd and shipmate; however, I did not have long to regret it, for th.e verv next dav I niet an old friend of mine (Capt. liabeock), who had also been in the employ of I\lr. Marshall for many years. Capt. Ikihc-oek liad made man.y voyages to tl le northwest coas t of America, but had then kit ( f f going to sea on account of his age. He was in INlr. Ah-ir^hall's office on the day when the conversation took place relative to my going in the brig as second officer, and he felt that I had not been treated fairly. I told him how sorry I was to lose my berth on so good a ship, and he replied, " Why don't you go with Capt. Thomas Meek, of Marblehead ? He is iroino- in the brii Chinchilla,' to Honolulu. was not acquainted with Capt. Meek, but Capt. Babcock offered to introduce me; so the next morning he called at my mother s house wi ith a 1 lorse and chaise, and we started for Ih-ookline, where Ca[)t. Ikiljcock lived, but on the way we met Capt. Meek, and they had some conversatiini relatixe to my ability as a seaman. The recommendation of Capt. Babcock proved satisfactory, for, on the following day, Cai)t. Meek called at my mother's house and notified me that 1 was appointed first officer of the brig "Chi chilla." I was very much gratified at my promotio n, 1 realized that the old adage, " a patient waiter is anc no loser, had been verified in my case. 28 KKMINISCKNCES. ■ . I The " Chincliilla" was loading in Now York, and Capt. McL'k wished nic to go on at once anrl take chariie. a.s he was desirous of -'oing to his home at Marblehead for a few days. After nxeiving instruc- tions about loading the vessel and getting read\' for sea, I went imniediateiy to New York. After spending a few da\s with hi.^ fanul}-, Capt. Meek arrived in New York, and on the 25t]i of De- cember we set sail for the Sandwich Islands, 1 little tliought then of the dee}) intere>t 1 should ha\e in those islands in the future. The " Chinchilla"" was one of the fastest vessels of her class, and was owned by the Messrs. I)e Wolf, of Rhode I.-land. Altl"H)Ugh she was deeply loaded, we had a i/ood run olT the coast of sexen hundred and fifty n"iiles in the first three days. On the third day out. we made che unpleasant discovery that the steward had brought on board witli iiim the small- pox. \Vc immediately built him a house on deck by using the ship's two boats and an old heavy canvas coverinif, and made him as ci^mfortable as we could under the cireumstiuiccs. A s no one vcjlunteere d to a>r>i>t me, I attended to him myself alone for twenty day>, when he died of confluent small-pox of the worst kind. After he died, the cook helped me to launch the corpse overboard ; and that was the only assistance I had. I sew-ed him uj) in can\as myself; he took the disease from bu}ing second- KF.MINrSCENCES. 29 hand clothing in New York. I had been vaccinated wlien a child, and had seen a oood deal of the dis- ease in \arious parts of the world. \\\- had to cleanse the two boats by fillini;- them with water several times, then scrubbintv, and smokinir them and giving them two coats of paint. Our captain was very cautious lest he might carry the disease to the Sandwich Islands. Although We had ruugh weather, and were twjnty- five'days off Cape Horn, we arrived safely at H(ino- lulu after a passage of one hundred and iifty days; while the missionary packet, which left New >' rk fourteen days before we did, was nine nn)nths reach- ing the Sandwich Islands. She was only forty tons' register, while the ''Chinchilla" was one hundred and thirty tons. The missionary packet was obliged to go to the F'alklaiid Islands to recruit, and that delayed her somewhat. We sold a part of our cargo at Honolulu, and filled up with salt and an a>sortetl cargo, and sailed for Sitka on the northwest coast, where we sold all our caro;o to the u'overnor of the Russian settlement, receiving as i)ayment furs, seal, beaver, and sea-otter skins, and then returned to Ht)nolulu. We then cruised around the islands during a part of the winter, collecting sandal-wood, with which, and our cargo of seal-skins, we sailed for China and there sold it. In China we {)urchased a cariio suitable for Honolulu and Sitka, selling a 30 KF-MINISCENCKS. part to the Russian govtM-nnicnt and tlic l)alance to merchants in Sitka. We reeeixt-tl payment, for vari- ou.s kiiul.^ (»t fiM's, >ueli as sea-otters, bea\'ei>, etc., by draft on St. IVterslnn-iL;'. We made three voyages in the ' Cliiiudnlhi " during tlie x'ears 1S26, iSjy, and 1828, to China, IlonoUiUi, and Sitka, I'emaining aljout two niontlis in eacli of the liarliors, tratling with tiie natives and inhabitants i>f Kamsehatka and rau]ow>ky. I had now been three year.-, with C'.ipt. Meek as his hrst officer, and it was with much reirret that I told him I was anxious to make a visit home to see my d(.'ar nn(jther once more, as she was getting okl and feeble, but if my life was spared, I hoped to return airain to Honolulu. Cajjt. Me.'k liad always treated me with the kind- ness of a father, and when I told hini I must go liome he aj^peared very^sad to have me leave him. I had but little means with which to j)ay wv pas- sage home in a whale ship. Capt. Meek went, without my knowledge, and obtained for me a free cabin i)a>>age to New Ik'dford ; and he also fur- nished me with a good outfit ol j)rivate stores at his own expense. It was a sad parting for both of us when the shi}J sailed. A tew years after I left him, Capt. iMeek was taken sick at Honolulu, and he concluded to return to his home at Marblehead. Vov two or three years REMINFSCF.N'CES. 31 Mr. James Hunncwc]] and myself supplied him with some of the necessaries C)( life. One day we went to his liome to make him a \'isit. When we arriv'ed at the house, liis wife told us that her hu>hand had been stricken with palsy that very morning, and that it would be no satisfaction to us to see him, as he would not recognize us and could not s])eak ; so we were' obi iL;-ed to return to H()>ton without having- seen him. The next day I was called to New York on business, and waj5 absent one week, and on my return I learned that my dear old captain was dead and buried. Capt. Meek had four brothers, all of whom were living when I was in the " Ciiinchilla "' ; they were all ship-masters of good standing among merchants, and some of them had made several voyages to the northwest coast, trading among the Indians. While I was with Capt. Meek, he told me a story, which I think worth relating. In the year 18 16 he was in command of a ship which had been trading upon the northwest coast, and while on the way to China he called at Behr- ing's Jiiy. He found there upon the island a Rus- sian officer with a bodv of men who were catching seal for the Russian government. 'l'he\- had about ninety thousand seal-skins stored upon the island. The Russian oificer made an offer to Capt. Meek, that if he would take him with his seal-skins on board his shij) and make a quick run down to China that I! 32 KKMIMSCF.NCKS, he would L!,I\L' him (Capt. Muck) one lialf the seal- skins. That miL;ht ha\e Ix-eu a teni|)tin;^ otter to some, l.)ut Capt. Meek did not hesitate a moment in his ri'plv to the proposition, and said. " ( )1(1 Meek is a />()f>r man, hut ho will die //(>//i's/." N(»thiiiL;' more was heai'd trom the Russian, and Ca()t! Meek sailed for China. He had (piite a num- her of furs on board his own shi[), which he had ob- tained from Alaska and the northwest coast. War with Kn;j,iand (1816) was not then known in the Kast Indies, but Capt. Meek found it out. He was chased by an l{ni;li-<h frit;ate int*^ the port of Canton. He escaped by runnini;- between two islands which were verv shallow, and the friiiate dare not follow him, conscfiuentlv he irot safe into Can- ton River. After leavinq; the " Chinchilla " in Honolulu, I went home to Boston, where I remained with my mother for several months. I was convinced that tlie lonirer I went to sea the more I enjoyed a sailor's life, so, in October, 1829. I shipped on board the brig " Ivan- hoe," owned by Bryant <K' Sturt^es, of Boston. 1 he " Ivanhoe" was bound to Cliina direct. Capt. .Snow was comniander, Mr, Rufus I'erkins, supercargo, and I was first officer. In those days there were no stevedores, and I was oljjiged to be in the shi})'s hold all the time, attendinii; to the stowin"; of cariro. Mr. Win. Sturges was on the wharf as we were ri:miniscenci:s. 33 about to sail, and said t o mc, I 1 lopc you will no! lca\L' Iho .shi]) durin-;- the voya< iK'VcT left a ship in a foreign port." O cxperled to he about ei<'hteen months. \\ ;e." I replied, " f uv vovaiie was e arrucc 1 out safelv, and dischan-ed t)ur carLiC) m Lrooc 1 ord er at Whampoa. We then left Canton for Manilla, took in a eargo of rice and returned to \\1 lere we Cantcn. At Whampoa we took on board a full cargo, and returned to Honolulu, where, after an- choring a few days, we {proceeded to Mazatlan and up the Gulf of Mexico on a trading- vova<'-e. cargo was mostly sold on the coast of Mexico. Oui iM-om Mazatlan we ret urned to Honolulu and back to China once more. We left there with a vei valuable cargo, which was all dischar"-ed in y od order. It was valued at S2oS,ooo. W Canton with a third caroo for Honolul e a^ain left u and Mexico. We sold a portion of our cargo at Honolulu, where W'c remained two or three weeks. Our ship was anchored in the harbor, and about ready for sea, when one Sunday afternoon cur captain came on board after dinner and ordered the second officer to take some empty water casks on shore and have them filled with water for the vessel. I verv iwlitely hinted to the captain tliat it was against the laws of the Hawaiian government to carry on any work or labor on Sunday; that the natives were not even allowed to smoke or cook any meals on Sunday I 34 KI.MlMbtliNLl S. i '! advised tlu' cajilain to |)()slj)oinj our work until the ni.'xt day; but the captain did not pay any attention iu niv ad\'iee, so the .set oiul otTieerand the nun went on shore and heL;Mn filHu!;- tlicir casks. — they bein;^ iirnorant of the k)ws. 'I'Ik' second otTu er returned to the ship, and reported that the crew liad been arrested and were conhned In the fort. Tlie cai)tain flew in a L;real passion, and ordered me to ha\e our four guns loaded with <;rai)eshot. and have them j)laced all on one side of the ship toward the fort, rcniarkinii that " he would blow the town down." I said to him that I feared he would get liimself into trouble, as v.ell as the crew. At that lie turned sud- denly around and struck me a iieavy blow. I did not strike him back, but I clinched him and gav ; liim a good shaking, backing him up again.st tlic ship's railing, where 1 held him until he said, " Let me go, Mr, Brewer." I took my hands off from him, and said, '' do, and ne\er again lay your hands on me." He ordered me to my state-room, and as I was o'oinLi' down the cabin staii^s he attcmi)ted to kick me on the head. I then >ai(l to him, •• I never will sail with }c)U again," and in the afternoon I went on shore to see iMr. Perkins, our supercargo. I told him I would never sail with such a !"nan again, that he had never treated either the second officer or me with civility during the whole voyage. .Mr. Perkins said he did not blame me for leaving him, and only Rr.Mi\iscnNci:s. 35 wished he could get rid of the captain, as he was very disagreeable to him. Mr. iV-rkins and the owners of the " Ivanhoe " had alway.s treated me well during tin- two and a half years I had been in that vessel. I went back in the aftcrn<^on and jjacked up all my clothing and effects, and went to the hotel, where 1 took up mv roidenee for a while. Our supercargo had taken on board the " Ivan- lioe " some Ix3xes of })lants. Among t)thers was a night-bhjoming cereus, which, ai)parently, hud died, and Mr. I'erkins told me to throw it overboard, which he -uppo^ed I had done; but, thinking 1 ^aw some signs of lite in it, I placed it in the after-hold, and nursed it with great care, and in about three weeks it revived and proved to be a very liandsome flower. When we arrived at IIon(jhilu it was taken on shore, and was a great curio.sity to the inhabitants. One evening the supercargo had a large com- pany of ladies -and gentlemen to see it. The flower was in full bloom. That was 1S31. When I was at Honolulu in 1879, 1 found the plant no longer a curiosity, for the walls in many parts of tlie town were covered with it. One evening, at the hotel, I sat at (he supper- table with several gentlemen with whom I ua> ac- quainted, among whom was Mr. \Vm. French, one of the fir>t mercliants in Honolulu. Mr. French ' I 36 HKMINrSCFSCFS. i|i asked nil' if I would lake con.maiul of tlic schooiuT "Victoria" for a tradiiiij; vovai;o on the roast of California and Mexico. I >aid, " Ves," and ai'eepted liis (^Ter at once. Idie M'hooner was wry small ; she was huill at Kaiatea (one of the South Sea Islands) of taniano-wood. I went trading for furs of various kinils. sea-otter, seal-skins, hides, etc., on the upper c-oa.sl of yMaska and California. Alter a short lime we hatl the schooner loaded with the above cariro, and touched on our way at San I''rancisco and Monterey, and thence to Honolulu, where we arrived safely with our cariro in irood order. While in Monterey I learned from Mr. Spencc (t)ur af;ent) that there was a lot of old broken brass guns belon^ini; to the governor of Monterey which were for sale. These guns had been destroyed l)y Mexican privateers previous to Southern California being free. I offered to buy the broken guns, and, taking Mr. Spencc wiih me as interpreter to the ji^ONcrnor's house, a bargain was there made in his })resence on my account. I engaged a teamster to drag the guns down to my \'es^el. The next morning another ship hove in sight, and lier captain, hearing of the sale of the guns, went im- nu'dialely to the governc^r and offered him nearly double the rate for which he ha(l agreed to sell them to me, antl, although I had made a lair ant. honest . KKMIMSCKNCKS. 37 ])ur('h.'isc f)f tlu." hiokrii |l(iiiis, wlu'ii tlic L^ovcrnor found In- could i^ct a hill,}- olTi r, he amuillfd my barj^aiii and sold tlu-ni to the oi her captain, whose name I will not mention. The " X'ictoria" was my first nal (ommand of a vessel. I had sailed several vessels as temporary captain, in short trips only, while makin;^ search lur sandal-wootl around the islands. I was very !L;lad to leave the " Ivanhoe" for tlie " Victoria," and, althou'j-h she was vcrv small, I re- alized that I was my own master, and I was sailing; for pleasant owners, conse((uently was very hap])\'. IMr. iM-ench also owned the schooner " Unit v." and alter my return in the " V^ictnria "' he offered me the command of her. We were to tio on a tradim> and sealing voyage to Ma/atlan and elsewhere. After leaving Honolulu we touched at Santa I]ar- bara, and took on board enough water to last a vear. We then })roceeded to tlie inland of (iuadalupe, on the coast ol Mexico, and landed water for a sealinti iraiiiiwho had been leit there. There was no water on the island, and it was uninhabited. The sealing oang was to remain one vear i^Vi the ishind, accord- ing to contract with the owners, and they would then return to llonolulu b\- some \es>el that would be sent for them. The sealing gang waited some months over the year, but the contractors failed to send for them, and, there being no water (»n the w 38 KF.MIXISCEXCES, Inland, their situation was bccomiiiLij anytliiiig l)ut })leasant, wlicri an EnL;iisli brii;' hove in sight. The Engli^li captain bouglit all the skins of the sealers, and took the men oif with thcni to some port in South America, and they were never heard from again. We left Guadalu[)e for tlie Gulf of California, and d<)wn the Mexican coast, trading, and then sailed for Monolulu direct, March [J, 1S33, we arrived at Honolulu from Cape St. Lucas, where we had taken on board as cargo some hides and horses. On May 22, 1833, I again took command of the " Unity," and left Mon- olulu on a vovasjc to Okhotsk, in Siberia, and arrived there on the 20th of July, after a long and tedious passage of fifty-eight days. It was the hardest and roughest voyage I ever made. She was a good sea-boat, out only of sixty tons' register. June 15, we were obliged to send down our top- sail-yard and topmast, and carried away our bob- stays, which left our foremasts in a bad j)osition, as there was a hea\y sea running, which struck the bowsprit and carried away jibboom and martingale ; secured the foremast by tackles. When j-unning down the Sea of Okhotsk at five o'clock in the morning, a whale broke water close under our keel, and scraped his back against the keel of the vcN^el, shakin*'' her as if she were <'oinL!, over REMINISCENCES. 39 a ridge of rocks. The whale came up under the bows and went off. The mate went forward witli his j)istol to slioot, but I forbade tlie shooting, for one blow of his llukes would have sunk us in a moment. On July S, 1833, lat. 49" ?cV N., and Ion. 203" 21^ W., we were entirely .surrounded by whales from every quarter; they were almost as thick as a forest of trees. On the next day we saw the land. We had en- tered the Sea of Okhot.^k and saw the larue hill of Onckatan. On entering the Sea of Okhotsk we had strong currents and tide rips; saw several seals and very large wliales. July 19, at 4 I'. M., we saw a very large boat com- ing out of the river; and at 6 r. m. thev ^■ot alono-- side of us with the pilot ; at 11 a. m. we anchored abreast of the town of Okhotsk. \Vc saluted the fort, which salute was immcditely answered. I went on shore with our supercargo and called on the governor, who recei\ed us very pleasantly. Our schooner was the second American vessel that had ever entered the Sea of Okhotsk. We informed the governor of our business and the nature of our cargo. There was no one in Okhotsk who under- stood the English language, but I could manage to make myself understood in Russian, havino- oained some knowledge of it during my various voyages to Sitka in the years 1826, 1827, and 1S2S. The gov- Hi 40 KLMIMSCENCHS. ernor's wife was the only one who could speak French, and I could understand a little of that when we were tradini;- with our cari;"o. I also had my iMvnch dictionary on b(jard, and that was of some assistance. The ''overnor came on board with sex'cral of hi> officers, arid on his different visits made larg^e purchases from our carg(j. The other American vessel that had anchored off Okhotsk was named the " Dabol." She w:is there in 1 816. W'e had on board the "Unity" two very troublesome sailors, who had come with us from Honolulu ; one of theni had threatened to take my life the first chance he got, and I was obliged to put him in irons a fewday^ before we arrived at Okhotsk, I ap[)lied to the governor, and asked him if he would confine the man on shore until I was ready for sea. He said, "Yes"; but that I mu.-^t take him on board aiiain when I left. 1 offered the (governor seventy- five gold dollars if he would keep the man until I was away, but he declined ; but would keep him in iron.s until I arrived at Kamschatka. We were often invited to dine with the governor at Okhotsk. He provided a very comfortable room for our supercargo until we were ready for sea. He had been sick durin'j^ the most of the voyage. We were about five weeks in Okhotsk, and then made ready for Kamschatka. We called on the governor to bid him good by. He insisted upon my drinking I f REMIXISCENCES. 41 a large tumbler of champao-ne ; both the -overnor and liis officers also drank with nie. J then went on board tlie schooner and sainted the port with seven guns, which was immediately returned. At i o'clock we were towed over the bar, and at 2 o'clock the pilot left us, and we stood away out of the Sea of Okhotsk on ou_r way to Kamschatka. During the night, in the Sea of Okhotsk, the water had a singular appearance, being the color of milk, as far as the eye could reach. The night was unusually dark overhead, but so light on deck that we could read a newspaper easily/ The substance which causes this peculiar color is called /;/-//, which is the food of the riglit wliale. The next day we were surrounded with whales as far as could be seen in every direction. The largest whale I ever heard of was taken in the Sea of Okhotsk, and yielded three hundred and six barrels of oil. We passed out of the Sea of Okhotsk on Aug. 23, and went around Cape Lapatka and entered the bay and harbor of St. Peter's and St. Paul's, -- Petro- paulowsky. We passed the lighihouse on the bluff, head at 3 i'. m., and at 10 v. m. took a pilot. Being at the entrance of the inner Iv.irlwr, we cleared up the decks and gave a salute of seven guns, which was returned. We then went on shore to call uj)on the governor, who treated us very cordially, and invited us to dine with him on the next Sabbath. We 1:! ' 42 Rr.MIXISCENCr.S. hired a house on shore and o'pened our salesroom, usincij tlic same liouse at ni^hl for our sleeping- r()nn-i>. We were f<M-tunate eiK^UL^li to fuid two jiersons bedsides tlie u;(nernor \\]i() Cduld speak I'^nt;- hsh. ()n(-- was named Gardner. They were Ijotli Ai:ieriean>, a:id had li\-e(l amoni;' the Russians at Kair^eliatka since 1816. h'acli of tliem had a hirge faniily, all born at St. Peter's and St. Paul's, other- wise called Petropa ilowsky. One of the Ameri- cans was born in New York and the other in Poston. I called on the governor of Kan.sehatka and re- ported to him that I had a man on board who had threatened mv life, and that the governor of Okhotsk kept him in irons while we were there, but that he obliged me to take hini again when we were ready for sea. When I informed the governor that he had tlireatened my life while in port at St. Peter's and St Paul's, he said that, being a Russian ix)rt, the punishment would be the salt mines _/"r>r ///r. I felt that that was a very severe penalty, and I told the ''"overnor I did not wish him to send him there. He then said the man must have a fair trial by jury: that the lieutenant-governor must act as judge, and the government officers to be selected by the lieutenant-governor, as jurxmen and witnesses. The trial came off, and 1 lost the case. I told the oovernor that I thouu:ht it hardlv fair, as the wit- nesses were all strangers to me, and not one of my KKMINISCENCF.S. 4.^ crew was present to oivc evidence on my side. Wlien the oovernor learned this, he was very an^ry with the lieutenant-governor, and he ordered another trial at once, and summoned some of my ercw as witnesses. This time it resulted in my favor. The man was kejn in confmenieni all the time we were in Fetro-aulowsky; but the i^overnor said he would rc.f\ise him as soon as we left, and would kcej) the man at work until he could get away to soine other country, with whieh arrangement the man seemed satisfied. (I lieard some years afterwards that the man had turned up in California, and was //7?<Y/«f///<'- '}ucdiciiu\) We remained two months in Petropaul- owsky, during which time I sold all our car-'o, and salted down about seventy barrels of salmon. When ready for sea, we took leave of the governor with a salute of seven guns, and then sailed for Honolulu. My next voyage was in the brig „ I^eeket," of which I was master, and iMr. Henry A. 1-ierce, supercargo. The " J^ecket " was built in Salem, Mass. She was chartered from the Hawaiian <>o\'- ernment for a voyage to Kamschatka and China and back to Honolulu. 'We arrived at Lintin, China, and discharged a cargo of sandal-wood and pearl shell, and then loaded again at Canton, and sailed for Kamschatka, where we sold our cargo to the Russian governor and the merchants of Petropaul- owsky. When we arrived near the Kurile Islands, 44 RKMIXISCENCES. i ■I I was lying in my bertli one afternoon reading, when I was startled by a tremendous thump under the centre of the vessel which almost threw me out of my berth. Si)ringi'.-ig to my feet, 1 went to the cabin windows, w'here 1 had a gt od view of a large whale, which had, in pas.sing, struck us a blow, but without causing anv damaLre. I passed the Kurile Islands again in 1^35, in the ship " Rasselas," of Boston, on our passage from China to Kamschatka, but saw verv few whales, being too far east of the islands. On this passage I discovered a cluster of dangerous rocks, which were not laid down on any chart at that time. They were in lat. 31" 54^ N., Ion. 140" 20^ E. The weather being clear and .ea smooth, I went to the masthead while jjassing abreast within a Uiile of them. These rocks were low, and could not be seen far in thick weather. They were about ten or fifteen feet in height, forming nearly a circle, and about two cables' length in diameter, and with much broken water around them. I think I was the first jicrson who gave informa- tion to the American whaling captains at Honolulu of the exisLence of the great abundance of whales in the Sea of Okhotsk, which |)roved so profitable to them and their owners for several years after. But this is a long digression. The governor was very kind to Mr. Pierce and myself, and we often HF.MINISCr.NCES. 45 dined with Iiini. (Jne day after dinner, he asked us to t;o with hini to see a sahnoii. 1 1(. I^rl us to the kitclien, .where we saw a very hirge sahnon on the t.il)Ie; he- then asked us to ^i,ruess its wei-lit. .\ftcr mspcetin.L;- it a few niinuteN, we thought it might weigh ^ho\xt Ji/ly pounds; tlie steward 'then weighed it in our i^resence, when, to our .surprise, it brought the scales down to sciciily f^.noids. ^rhe governor gave me the salmon, and I carried it to Honolulu in good order and gave it to the king; he also pre- sented me with a young kar, which I afterward carried to J^oston, but which proved so unruly and troublesome that I sold him for five dollars. ' The purchaser got ui) a shooting match, at twentv-five cents a shot, drawing for chances; but the i)erson who drew the first chance made a fatal shot and killed the bear. The " liecket " being now ready for sea, we took leave of the governor with the usual salute of seven guns, and sailed for the Sandwich Islands. Soon after my arrival there, Messrs Pierce & Grimes pur- chased the ship " Rasselas " (formerly of Boston) and gave me the command. She was fitted out for a A'oyage to China and elsewhere. We sailed from Honolulu on V^^^. 26, 1834, and arrived at Canton, Jan. 29, 1835. We anchored at Lintin, and, taking on board a portion of our cargo, went to Macao, where we received the balance. She was formerly 46 KUMlNlSCI.NCliS. one of tlic Liverix)ol p.ickcts, and, I think, was built at Midford. W'c went to i\anisrhatka, antl. after rcmainiuL; there two months, and (H>jM»>inL;- of nearly all our carL^o, we stood out for Ibv of Alaska, and aftei- a passai^e of thiit\-one days froni St. Petl'r's and St. Paul's we arrived safelv at Ilono- lulu, wlure we disehan>ed our cartio. 1 afterwards made a trip of six weeks arouiul the islands, obtain- ing a cargo of sandal-wood, cattle, etc., and then left the ship. After remaining a short time in Honolulu, I was offered the command of the whale-ship " Barthol- omew Gosnold," which offer i declined. The United States consul wished me to take command and navi- gate her to New Bedford, but I refused. The \oy- age of the whale-.^hip had been broken up in conse- quence of the captain, first officer, and some of the crew having been killed by the savages of the South Sea Islands. iMr. Pierce had been [absent from home twelve years, and was anxious to go back and visit his . family. He made me an offer to join him as a partner in business, which offer I accepted, and in one month from that time, Mr. Pierce left Honolulu for Boston, where he reuuiined a year or more, re- turning by the way of Mexico and South America. A short time after the departure of Mr. Pierce, I received information that the brig " Griflin " (of KI'MrNISCKNCF-S. 47 wliich our firm was part nwnvv) was wrecked by a 'uinirano o\'\ iMa/atlati. She was '^omnianch d by Capt. Win. C. Little, wlio was also part owner; tliere were also wrecked at the same time several other vessels, — one brij; and seven sniall vessels. As soon as I heard ot" the lo>> of the "(irillin," I chartered the brit;- " Lama." and iinmediatily sailed for Ma/atlan, lea\in_L;- only our clerk in the office at Honolulu. We arrived at ALi/atlan safely, and receivcfl on board about ninety thousand dollars in sju'cie. l)eloni',iiig to several parties in Honolulu and some agents in China. The specie was readv to <'o on Ijoard the brig the day jirevious to her loss. We .arrived back safely, ha\ing been absent from Hono- lulu fifty-one days. The money w rs shipped at once to Mr. James \\ Sturges. at Ca .tor.. Alter the " CJriffin " l>rok'.' from her anciiors, she laid o\ei on her l)road >ide and drifted u]) against the rocks, with the sexeral masts breaking as they struck. Capt. Little was the last one to Kave the bri»r, and while he was endeavoring to get on to the rocks, he was thrown otY fron-. the bowsprit, and. striking on his head, w.is drowned. The- ne.xt day, iiw hundred dollars reward was offered for his bodv, bi't it nex'er was found. The brig "' Mary" was anchored in the harlior, near the "Griflin," but broke from her anchor, and the vessel drilted off to sea, where she soon sunk. The sea went down ne.xt morning, and 48 KKMINISCl-.NCKS. tlu' wtuIIkt cleared so-.iic\vhat, ])iit tlicrc were no siL^ns of an\' one lloatini;'; hut on the fdlowiiv^ day it was (juiu- clear, and se\cral of the itihaliitants \\(.'nt up on the hill to set' if anvthiuL;^ could Ijc dis- co\L'i\(l of the wreik. .After a while, witli tlie aid of a nowLM-ful ''lass, thev saw soinethintj: lloatini^ at (juite a distance from the shore. A boat's crew was ininiediately desj)atched, and as they drew near, they saw it was a j)iece of timber with soniethini;' at- tached to it, and on a nearer approach, they discov- ered it to Ijc a man lyiuL;' across the timber iiakciL It ])roved to be Capt. lohnson of the briii; " Mary," who had been on the timber for twenty-four hours. He had lain upon his stomach so lon«4 that the llesh was worn away to the I'il) bones, and but for the timely assistance lie could not have survived much lonoer. He was taken c>n shore and was well cared for by the inhabitants, who expressed much joy at his miraculous escape. \w a few weeks he recov- ered sufficiently to proceed to China as a passenger. A few months later, I met him at Macao. He seemed (juite lame, but otherwise was as well as usual. I learned that he afterwards obtained com- mand of a shi}) in China. There were about five or six small vessels at anchor in the inner harbor at the time of the cvclone and all of them sank at tlieir anchorage, but there were no lives lo>t. 1 he crews of the two brigs got on shore. Capt. Little was the onlv one drowned. KKMINMSCFN'CKS. 49 Mr. Pierce returned from his visit to Roston, and. as I harl then been absent from home m"x y.\irs, I thought I wculd like to go and visit mv mother. We had, purchased the brig " Lama," and I de- cided to go to Boston in her, taking the command myself. We took on board a cargo n( hides and goat.>kins. and sailed on j^n. 14, 1840. arriving safely in Boston on .May 20. The copper had been on our \-essel for ten years, and after discharging our cargo at India WIr-.;, ir was found to be in a good state of preservation, hav- ing only a very few patches on it. Several mer- chants came down to the wharf to examine the -copper, and were surprised to {\nd it in so good a condition. Our vessel had been for some'' years trading on the northwest coast, where coj^per wears better and much longer than on the southern coasts. Before the " Lama " left Boston she was calked and coppered, and madc^ ready for sea. My first offi. cer, Mr. Owen Jones, was promoted to the position of captain, and having taken on board a cargo adapted to the South Sea and Sandwich Islands, Capt. Jones sailed for Tahiti and llonululu. I remaine 1 iit home several nu)nths with mv mother, and in the mean time was niprried to Miss Martha Turner, daughter of Rev. Ldward Turner, of Massachusetts. Messrs. B. I. Farnham l^- Co!, Mr. Junes Munne- II III! i 50 KF.MIN'ISCr.NCTS. Wfll, and our firin hoin^lu llu* >lii|) " William Clray," atvl I took llu' cdinmand ot lur. riit'>.hi|) wasjoadrd for X'alparaiso and I'ahiti, and (»n tlu' 14th of Mai-cli wc sailed foi- X'alparaiso. with niv wife, my aunt, Mrs. Moon.', and Mr. W'aid for passengers. Wr had a fair passai.;c around Cape I lorn, and arrived at X'alparaiso on Sei)t. 2S, — ha\ini;" heen one liundred and thirteen days from I'oston. — sold a |)ortion of our rar<>;o, and then sailed for Tahiti, wlu're we ex- ])ected to dispose of the remaiiuler, hut did not suc- ceed. On our arrival there we found the small-pox rao-ini; badh-, eonseciuently we rtMTiained only two or three days without otTerinir any car<>o for sale. At X'alparaiso we had take-n on hoard two Catli- olic i^riests as passengers. XX'lien we anchored at 'I'ahiti they were very anxious to go on shore, but as none of the crew or passengers were allowed to go from the vessel, I refused them jKTmission. Hut the i)riests bcLi'jfed very hard to be allowed to o;o and meet the Catholic bi>hop, promising t(^ go direcilv to his house and n.'turn in the boat to the ship, with- out going elsewhere ; so 1 somewhat reluctantly consented, but, having some misgivings, 1 watched them throu''h my telescope and saw them walkini^ al.)out the city, contrary to their ])romise. I imme- diately ordered the first oflicer to get an empty hogshead and stand it ujjon its head on deck, with one head out. A nettimj" was made to hold cloth- I i<i;minisckn{ji:s. 51 in-;-. like ;i h.-iM-. A kctllt' was thcMi placed over tlie ho.'^slu'iid roiitaiiiiiiL;- several odorous iimlters, mu h as Milpliiir, tan, leather, matches, dc. As >m,,m as the priests caim- mi hoard, I refpieslid them to chani;e all tluir i lothiiii;- so as to have them hvelv smoked. The clothin-- was placed in the mttin!;- over the kittle, and then the otlur head placrd iip,,n the cask. They remained there several hours. The priests made no objection, as they were fearful we might be quarantined at Honolulu. The fust otficer had added the friction matches withe. ut my knowl- edge, and the priests carried the odor about with them for several months after their arrival at Hono- lulu, and it was reported that even after they reached another island "the scent of the matches hung round them still." We left Tahiti on Sej^t. iS, and on arrival at Honolulu, most of our crew and ])assengers were vaccinated on board of a United States friL;ate which was then in the harbo.. It the jiilot liad informed me outside; the bar of the existence of the small-pox, I should not have entered the harbor; but I knew nothing of it until we had anchored. When 1 asked the pilot why he did not inform me of the existenet; of the disease, he replied, "}'ou did )iot ask im-y We left Tahiti, Sept. 18, 1841. When I was received as a partner in business with Mr. Henry A. Pierce, I continued the firm name of 52 RKMINISCICNCES. !^^ \l I i Pierce tS: Brewer until Mr. Pierce retired, in 1843. I tlien continued the business as C. Brewer & Co., with my nei^hew C. Brewer, 2d, until the year 1S45, when I liave niv business over to Messrs. Marshall (S: Johnson, who had been in business in Honolulu for ,the past few years. Mr. Pierce afterward re- turned to the United States overland on horseback by way of Valparaiso, Santiago, Mendoza, and Buenos Ay res to Boston. In 18.(5, ^ ^*-'^^ Honolulu, with my wife and family, for the United States v/a China, with Capt. Lovell as commander, in the ship " Montreal." Besides my wife and. children, we had as passengers, my aunt, Mrs. Moore, my cousin, Mr. Wni. Avis, and Mr. Langdeu Wiiiiams. While on the passage to China, we experienced a very heavy tyi:)h(X)n. It went entirely around the compass in twelve hours. We laid to during the typhoon, as it was evident the shi}) was hd^oring hard, and having very little cargo on board, was very crank. We got everything ready to cut away the mizzen and iiiain masts. We scud under bare poles. The sliip ran four hours handsomely, when a tremendous gust of wind struck her (it more resembled a solid body than wind), and she broached to with her lee scuppers about a foot under water. She remained in this state about twenty minutes, when, just upon thei)oint of cutting away the masts, she fell off and righted, and after- ward scud many miles without further accident. KI:^^IN1SCE^'CKS, 53 There were many wrecks near the ishinds on the coast of China, and several ot' theni foundered. The most singuhir part of it was tluil the shi]) *' Le- land " (American), whicli left Honolulu on the same day an.d hour we did, arri\ed at Honi!- Kon<'- only two hours before us, she having experienced nothing worse than a double-reefed topsail breeze, with a heavy sea running, and every indication of another typhoon. We remained in China l)ut a short time, and then took passage for home on board the ship "John Quincy Adams," bound to New York direct. I was very glad to recognize in the commander my old friend and shipmate, Capt. Nichols. We had been nearly three years together on board the " Ivanhoe," as first and second officers, and I was \'ery glad to know that we were to be under his care during the voyage home. Capt. Nichols was a thorough sea- man, and very kind to his passengers, officers, and crew. We had a very [)leasant j)assage, and arrived safely at our home in Jamaica Plain in about one hundred and ten days. I afterwards heard with sorrow that our oood friend, Capt. Nichols, died on his next voyage to China. I felt now that my sea life was o\'er, and I should settle down to tlie enjoyment of my home and fam- ily ; but I had only been at home one year before I i ■ III 54 KEMINISCKNCES. found it necessary io return to Monolulu in order to close my l)usiness witli my successors. Our firm was interested in tlic shij) " SanKj.set," wliich was about to sail for Honolulu, S(j I decided to take passaL;e in her. The car^o was con>ii;iied to my- scK for sale. She was commanded by Capt. Hollis, We sailed from Hoston on Oct. 23, 1847, with a goodly number of twelve passengers, among whom were some missionaries, — Mr. and Mr>. Atkinson, ]\lr. and Mrs. Kinney, and Mr. IJwight. The former were to proceed to Portland, Oregon, while the rest were to remain at Honcjlulu. IJefore leav- inir Boston, religious services were held on board in the presence of a large number of friends and rela- tives, and the sad farewells which were then spoken proved indeed -ix/ds/ farewell to many. While death claimed some, duty has retained the others; so that, among our little family who spent so many pleasant days together on board the " Samoset," only a small number ever rcturiu-d to Boston. We made the passage to i ionolulu in one hundred and thirty-two days. On the day of oui^ arrival there, we (oluuI the residents of Monolulu in a i:reat state of excitement, in conseciuence of the arrival of a boat from Christmas Island, ^ivincr information of the wreck of a sliip which had >ailed from Hon- olulu some three months previous. Among the passengers were Lieut. Stevens, with his wife and KFMINISCFXCF.S. 55 child, Miss Johnson, and the h'ttlc dauolitcr of Hon. Mr. Ten Eyck, then United States conimissioner at Honolulu, and Mr. Christy, bmther of Mrs Stevens. Fortunately the steam frigate " Sarcelle," belong, ing'to the French government, was then in })()rt, and through the courtesy of her commander, her services were immediately tendered to Mr. Ten Eyck, who at once proceeded to Christmas Island to the rescue of the passengers. In a few weeks they were all returned to Honolulu in safetv, and gave some interesting as well as amusing accounts of (heir trials during the three months they remained on llie island. They found the island uninhabited and no water, which added greatly to their trials, as .they were compelled to use the strictest economy with the small supply they saved from the wreck. The surf was very heavy, and there was no inducement for ships to stop there. Their situation was becomino- perilous when Mr. Christy, with three or four of the crew, decided to start off on an exploring expe- dition around the island. They were absent three or ioui- (lavs, aiul were Ix'CominL'- discouraued o\'er the result of their tramp, when, to their joy, they disco\-ered another wreck, on board of which were some pi()\is)ons and good water. This wr(_'ck was directly opposite that part of the island from where they had started, and, fuuling it impossible to trans- 56 KKMIMSCF.N'CF.S. t'.y ! I port tlic water so great a distance, they retraced their steps to report of their discovery. After a con- SLiltaion with theca[)taiii and passengers, they decided that, as the water could not be brouLcht to ///i'm, thev must go for tlie luatcr ; so, after packing uj) what few necessary articles they could carry, they commenced their weary tramp across the island. It was neces- sarilv very slow, and occupied several days. The children were obliged to be carried a great j^art of the wav, and oftentimes the men would make an arm-chair of their arms and so carry Mrs. Stevens and Mi>s Johnson, .\lth0ui2h their condition was somewliat impro\-ed by the transfer, they were quite in despair as to the probability of being rescued. Finally, it was decided to make some attempt to reach Honolulu by means of a boat. They found on the wreck material enough for the construction of one, and, without chart or con"ipass, the first officer and three or four volunteers from the crew started on their perilous \oyage , and the result, as related ab>)ve, proved successful. After the excitement had somewhat subsided, and the shipwrecked passengers became rested, the residents of Honolulu got up a testimonial in the shajJC of a ball for the oflicers of the " Sarcelle,'" which })roved to be a very enjoyable occasion. I remained at Honolulu ei-'ht months, sellinsj the cargo of the " Samoset " and settling up my own REMIMSCKNCF.S. 57 affairs. That was before the days of Pacific Rail- road, and 1 was obliged to wait 'for a good oppor- tiinity for a passage round Cape Horn. .Learning that the ship " Tsar^ Capt. Kennedv, was on her way out, and would return directly to Boston, I decided to go home in her. The " Tsar " was detained at Honolulu some six weeks for repairs. We had a very j^leasant ixassagc h.ome, stopping at Tahiti (Society Islands) two days. Besides mv- self were four other passengers, — Miss Johnson Miss Pratt, little Hatty Ten Eyck, and Mr. Smith; the latter having been on the spot when the first dis^ covery of California gold was made. ^ The " Tsar "brought the first gold-dust from San Francisco to Boston, causing great excitement on her arrival. As soon as it became known, there were crowds of people on the wharf, merely to look at the outside of the ship that had brouoht the dust. We arrived in Boston on March 26, 1S49, and from that time my sea life may be said to have ended. I continued my business alone for about one year, and then joined with Mr. James Hunnewell and Mr. Henry A. Pierce in tht.^ Sandwic 1 Islands and East India trade, as well as general freighting in various parts of the world. Our i)artnership con. sisted only in our ships, and we were one third" owners each of our several vessels. When IMessrs. Pierce and Hunnewell gave up their interests, I con- 58 KKMIN'ISCl'.NCKS. tinued tlic business under tlie name of Charles Brewer & Co., wliieli firm still continues to date (1884) in the same business as the past, still contin- uing our shii)i)ing interests. 1 have now retired from active business, and am resitling upon a i)or- tioia of what was once my great-grand-tather's farm at Jamaica Plain. My homestead consists of about ten acres, upon which I built my present dwelling in 1051 ; and now, at the age of eighty years, I can look back and real- ize that the desires and ambitions of my youth have been fully gratified; for it has certainly been my good fortune to visit almost every part of the globe. JNIy life at the Sandwich. Islands during a period of nearly twenty-six years was a very pleasant one, and I shall abvavs remember with irratitude the kind- ness I received from the many friends in Honolulu, and especially from his majesty King Kamehameha III., who, from his boyhood to his death, was always my firm friend. I i'^ YOSEMITE. During the year 1S79, I made a visit to Honolulu in company with my daughter and her friend, I^Ii.ss Rogers. On our return, we went into the Yosemite Valley, where I again had a narrow escape for my life. I here copy the account of the accident, which was published at the time. REMINISCENCES. 59 " A stn-e line of passencrcrs in the Yoseniite Valley had a most narrow escape from destruction. •' The party occupyin^i; the stage consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson and daunhter, of New Albany, Ind.,' Mrs. Thomas E. Garvin, of Kvansville, Ind., Mr. Jones and his two sisters, Mr. Smith, of San Francisco, Capt. Charles I3rewer and daughter, and Miss Rogers, of Jamaica Plain, — eleven in all. " They left Priest's Hotel, situated at the top of the hill, leading to the Chinese camp, at 8.30 p. m. The moon was shining with unusual briliiane\', and all anticipated a delightful view of the coun- try beneath them. The horses (five in number), on account of the sudden and short turn in the road, are hitched three abreast. "Shortly after leaving the hotel, the traces of the front horse of the leaders became detach.ed, which caused him to run away, and take the others with him. "F'or nearly a mile down the road, with a yawning abyss below them, were the party carried by the run- away team. They all knew what had happened, but not a word was spoken. " When nearly a mile froin th,e ^tarling point, and at the first turn in the road, the front wheel came in contact with a rock bluff, and was in-;tantly shat- tered, — and most fortunately so. Had it been the other wheel, the whole i^arty would liave been dashed il! 60 REMINISCENCES. ili: •i-' s.! {■ i i ' !■■ over the precii)i*ce, with scarcely a cliance that a single niember would ha\e been left to tell the tale. *' The horses tore loose fioni the statre, carrvini^ the front axle and attendant whrclwith tluni, and ran i.ntil thev exhausted themselves. So severelv were they injured that one of tluni had to be sh.ot ; while the others will probal)l\' be uniU for service. " Of course, when the sta<>"e struck the bluff, the passengers were all thrown forward, and several of them out ujion the ground, Mr. Jones and jNIr. Culbertson beino- both thrown from the driving" seat to the Lrround, with the latter fallimr with his whole weight upon the body of the former. " Mrs. Culbertson was thrown to the oround, and Mrs. Garvin out toward the precipice; but her clothing catching on to the wheel of the stage pre- vented her from further danger. " All wer'" considerably injured, except Capt. Brewer, Mr. Smith, and Miss Rogers, who were only slightly injured. Miss Brewer was stunned, and laid u]Jon the ground senseless for a long while, by a severe bruise upon the side of her head. " The entire party was taken back to the hotel, Avhere they were obliged to remain tor three days before beinfi" able to move on their iournev. 1 heir escai)e was one of tlu)se incidents that sometimes occur in the lives of people, that are hard to be accounted for. REMINISCnXCES. 61 "Anywhere during the perilous ride we mii^ht liave been thrown over the preeipice, whose tree- tops were just discernible, while the roots of others exposed by the niciking of the road were visible on the bluff opi)osite. "Mr. Jones had one arm and one thigh broken, and the other thigh was dislocated. " The i)roi)rietors of the hotel were obliged to pay Mr. Jones about $3,500 damages. It was some six months before he could be removed from the valley to his home in San Francisco. "Mr. Jones was taken the next morning to the Chinese camp by the surgeon in a light carriage. The mother of Mr. Jones, who resides in San Fran- cisco, w^ent immediately up to Chinese camp with another surgeon. One surgeon remained with Mr. Jones until he was able to be carried to his home. He was upon crutches nearly a year, and is now more or less a cripple." I'ROBABLE FATE OF CAI'T. DOMINIS. During the summer of i86r, Rev. Mr. Damon visited the Micronesian Islands in the niissionary ship " Morning Star." In writing to the .laWr/istn he Ljave some facts which had come to his knowledge in communication with the natives of Kbon (one of the Marshall 62 HKMINISCr.NCF.S, Islands), and he sui;i;ostcd that it iniL^ht throw some H<j;ht on tlic f.itc of Capt. Doniinis and his fellow- pas SLMlti'CrS. Tl 10 bn<' W m. Neil son, Capt. We.ston, k-ft Honolulu for China in Au_L;'ust, 1S46, havini; as ])as>}e niters CajU. Dominic (father of J. (). iJoniinis) and Mr, Hrown, e\-United States commissioner, and his son. The hri >• wa>. ne\er heard from after leav- iul; the jiort ot I lonohilu. Here is the intei'estinLr story as tiiven bv Mr. Damon : — " About fifteen or sixteen years aL;o, there came to the island of Hbor,, in the f^ill of the year, a large boat ( not a whale-boat) having in it six men. 'Three of these,' to emj)loy the language of my informant, 'were chief men,' very handsome and richly dressed. They were not like common sailors; they had very much property in their boat, — .-ails, provisions, compass, clothing, etc. " They wanted water. They touched on one of the Windward Islands and [procured cocoanuts. My informant thus described the ' chief men ': ' One tali and handsomely dressed white man, with a red handkerchief around his neck.' He led the jxarty when they landed. "Was not this our old friend and neighbor, Ca])t. Dominis.'* "The next man was 'large and portly, well dressed, and tall.' Was not this Capt. Weston .'' 1vi:miniscencks. 63 "'The other was sliort and rather thick-set, hut well dressed/ Was not this e.\-Cominissi(jner Hrown ? "The remaining; three made no especial impres- sion on my informants. " When the party land«'d, they made siL;-ns for tlie 'big chief of Ebon. ' Tlierc was a L;nat cnnvd of people upon tlie shore.' The spot where they landed was at the entrance oi the lat^oon on the southwest side of the island. Some of the chiefs were for killing them immediately, but one of them resolutely opposed the design. The contest was sharp among the chiefs as to what should be dune. The friendly native beckoned to them to follow him; but he was finally overpowered, and the mad project was formed for putting the whole party to death, which was done by stoning. Then followed the scene of plundering and throwing the bodies into the sea. " Such briefly is a summary of the facts which I have gathered, and, I'rom a careful consideration of these statements and others of a corroborating: na- ture, I am irresistibly led to the conclusion that the murdered persons belonged to the bark ' W'm. Neilson.* " I think the vessel must have struck upon some sunken reef or low island, and been wrecked, while the crew and passengers, all or in part, escaped." ^Ll ^-Bi T 1 1 ! 1 f I 64 RKMINISCF.NCES, Up to thisdato, iSSj{,f iiothiivj^ was ever heard of the vessel or crew. I have now L^ratilied my children and friends by giviii!^ them, as well as 1 can from memory, a brief account of some events of my lonL;" life. I can truly say that 1 have enjoyed my life on earth ; and, w ilh 'gratitude to Ilim "who has supplied my wants of body aiUl soul, shielded me from dangers, sustained mo in distress, and carried me thus far, a wonder to many, may I find a happy admittance to that world where existence is not measured by years, or im- provement retarded by age ! " AI'PKNDIX. "ArmoR and Supporter of life, who art the same from evcrlastin- to everlastinnr, in whose duration there is no succession,- one day being with Thee as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, — I come to Ti.ec, the Rock of A-es. the Rehi-e of every feneration, desirin'- to thank rhce for tiie many favors I have received at Thy hand. Thou hast maintained my frail existence throu-h many years, and crowned its successive periods with Thy mercy. I-:\cn my sorrows and trials have showed a leather's discipline for my j^ood. Thou hast supplied mv wants of body and soul, shielded me from dan-ers, sustah.ed me in distress, and carried me thus far, a wonder to manv. How much do I (,we Theefortheli-htand consolation an ' hopen of the gospel! Praised be Thy name, that I have no dread of ccasin- to e.xist, because Christ has rem(A-ed the burden of our fears and opened the door of immortal life. " 1 feel myself connnected with Thee by a tie which can never be br(,ken, and claim an interest in every moment of theeverlastin- future. To Thee, who hast continued my life thus far, I look for its continuance in another world. ^ "Merciful God! I am fdled with sorrow at the recollec- tion of ne-lected duty. Record not a-ainst me the indis- cretions of my youth, and show Thy compassion to my present sins. I would have a Ciodly sorrow for whatever I have thought or said or done amiss in the long course of 66 APPENOIX. my pilgrimage. The time which I have lost do Thou help me to redeem, and the good works I have begun, do Thou assist me to complete. If I have injured any, enable me to discern it, that I may make due reparation, and be at peace with all men before I go hence. " Preserve me from every sin to which I m iv be e\|-)osed. Oh, save me fi'om a selfish, censoiaous, im|)atient, and irrita- ble temper. Make me thankful to those who contribute to my comfort, and may I rejoice in the hap[)iness of all around me, and with a friendly spirit instruct and ailmonish the rising generation. Thus may I bring forth fruit in my old age. " Lord of my life, my strength, now is ofttimes labor and sorrow, and I shall soon go down to the grave. These ad- monitions of increasing ag,i and approaching death are wisely attached to n:v condition, and 1 would duly he^xl the needful warnings. " I desire to submit the events of my being to Thy man- agement without one murmuring word or one discontented thought. This is my first and earnest prayer, that as the outward man fails the inward man may be. renewed day by dav. Let my hoary head be found in the way of righteous- ness. Though my sight is dim to the world, let the eyes of mv mind be opened to see Thy salvation ; though my ears are tUill of hearing, let them hear the glad tidings of the gospel ; though I cannot taste as formerly what I eat and what I drink, let me taste the goodness of the Lonl, and hunger and thirst after righteousness ; though my limbs arc weak and my strength is but feebleness, yet do Thou hiake me strong in the Lord, to walk in Thy ways, thai: my feet may lay hold oa eternal life. O l-'ather, amid V ' APPENDIX. 67 the infirmities of a--c. may Thy comforts delight my soul, and. finishing my course with joy, let my last days be my best days. I rest on Thee. Cast me not off in my old age ; forsake me not when my strength fails, but be Thou the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all Plis bene- fits. While I live I will praise Thee, and sing i)raises to Thy name while I have my being; and, looking ftn-ward with joyful hope to eternal life, which is Thy gift, may I find a happy admittance to that world where existence is not measured by years or improvement retarded by age." "A.MI-X."