Richard Henry Dana

Name: Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI
Author: Richard Henry Dana

Summary

“Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI”, is a work by Richard Henry Dana. It explores elements such as shipmates, sailors and California.

Quotes from Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI (Richard Henry Dana)

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ I shall never forget the delightful sensation of being in the open air, with the birds singing around me, and escaped from the confinement, labor, and strict rule of a vessel—of being once more in my life, though only for a day, my own master. A sailor’s liberty is but for a day; yet while it lasts it is perfect. He is under no one’s eye, and can do whatever, and go to wherever, he pleases. ”

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Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ The Indians, who always have a holyday on Sunday, were engaged at playing a kind of running game of ball, on a level piece of ground, near the houses. The old ones sat down in a ring, looking on, while the young ones—men, boys and girls—were chasing the ball, and throwing it with all their might. Some of the girls ran like greyhounds. At every accident, or remarkable feat, the old people set up a deafening screaming and clapping of hands. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ The little children were running about among the huts, stark naked, and the men were not much better; but the women had generally coarse gowns, of a sort of tow cloth. The men are employed, most of the time, in tending the cattle of the mission, and in working in the garden, which is a very large one, including several acres, and filled, it is said, with the best fruits of the climate. The language of these people, which is spoken by all the Indians of California, is the most brutish and inhuman language, without any exception, that I ever heard, or that could well be conceived of. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ For young sailors especially, many of whom have been brought up with a regard for the sacredness of the day, this strong temptation to break it, is exceedingly injurious. As it is, it can hardly be expected that a crew, on a long and hard voyage, will refuse a few hours of freedom from toil and the restraints of a vessel, and an opportunity to tread the ground and see the sights of society and humanity, because it is on a Sunday. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ Leaving the mission, we returned to village, going nearly all the way on a full run. The California horses have no medium gait, which is pleasant, between walking and running; for as there are no streets and parades, they have no need of the genteel trot, and their riders usually keep them at the top of their speed until they are tired, and then let them rest themselves by walking. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ It is not the least of the advantages of allowing sailors occasionally a day of liberty, that it gives them a spring, and makes them feel cheerful and independent, and leads them insensibly to look on the bright side of everything for some time after. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ These we were to have all day, with the privilege of riding them down to the beach at night, for a dollar, which we had to pay in advance. Horses are the cheapest thing in California; the very best not being worth more than ten dollars apiece, and very good ones being often sold for three, and four. In taking a day’s ride, you pay for the use of the saddle, and for the labor and trouble of catching the horses. If you bring the saddle back safe, they care but little what becomes of the horse. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ It is a complete slabber. The words fall of the ends of their tongues, and a continual slabbering sound is made in the cheeks, outside of the teeth. It cannot have been the language of Montezuma and the independent Mexicans. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ S— and I followed in our shipmates’ wake, knowing that to refuse to drink with them would be the highest affront, but determining to slip away at the first opportunity. It is the universal custom with sailors for each one, in his turn, to treat the whole, calling for a glass all round, and obliging every one who is present, even the keeper of the shop, to take a glass with him. When we first came in, there was some dispute between our crew and the others, whether the new comers or the old California rangers should treat first ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Chapter XVI

“ Mounted on our horses, which were spirited beasts, and which, by the way, in this country, are always steered by pressing the contrary rein against the neck, and not by pulling on the bit,—we started off on a fine run over the country. ”

Richard Henry Dana

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