Richard Henry Dana

Name: Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later: Part II
Author: Richard Henry Dana

Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

Summary

“Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later: Part II”, is a work by Richard Henry Dana. It explores elements such as San Francisco, San Diego and Merced.

Quotes from Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later… (Richard Henry Dana)

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ I must not pause for the dreary country of the Geysers, the screaming escapes of steam, the sulphur, the boiling caldrons of black and yellow and green, and the region of Gehenna, through which runs a quiet stream of pure water; nor for the park scenery, and captivating ranchos of the Napa Valley, where farming is done on so grand a scale,—where I have seen a man plough a furrow by little red flags on sticks, to keep his range by, until nearly out of sight, and where, the wits tell us, he returns the next day on the back furrow ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ I got a seat on the top of the coach, to which were tackled six little less than wild California horses. Each horse had a man at his head, and when the driver had got his reins in hand he gave the word, all the horses were let go at once, and away they went on a spring, tearing over the ground, the driver only keeping them from going the wrong way, for they had a wide, level pampa to run over the whole thirty miles to the Pueblo. This plain is almost treeless, with no grass, at least none now in the drought of mid-summer, and is filled with squirrel-holes, and alive with squirrels. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ I dined with him, and in the afternoon he drove me round to see the vineyards, the chief objects in this region. The vintage of last year was estimated at half a million of gallons. Every year new square miles of ground are laid down to vineyards, and the Pueblo promises to be the centre of one of the largest wine-producing regions in the world. Grapes are a drug here, and I found a great abundance of figs, olives, peaches, pears, and melons. The climate is well suited to these fruits, but is too hot and dry for successful wheat crops. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ The wife of Don Juan, who was a beautiful young girl when we were on the coast, Doña Refugio, daughter of Don Santiago Arguello, the commandante of San Diego, was with him, and still handsome. This is one of several instances I have noticed of the preserving quality of the California climate. Here, too, was Henry Mellus, who came out with me before the mast in the Pilgrim, and left the brig to be agent’s clerk on shore. He had experienced varying fortunes here, and was now married to a Mexican lady, and had a family. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ All has gone to decay. The buildings are unused and ruinous, and the large gardens show now only wild cactuses, willows, and a few olive-trees. A fast run brings me back in time to take leave of the few I knew and who knew me, and to reach the steamer before she sails. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ The little town of San Diego has undergone no change whatever that I can see. It certainly has not grown. It is still, like Santa Barbara, a Mexican town. The four principal houses of the gente de razon—of the Bandinis, Estudillos, Arguellos, and Picos—are the chief houses now; but all the gentlemen—and their families, too, I believe—are gone. The big vulgar shop-keeper and trader, Fitch, is long since dead ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ A tug ran to take off passengers from the steamer to the wharf,—for the trade of Los Angeles is sufficient to support such a vessel. I got the captain to land me privately, in a small boat, at the old place by the hill. I dismissed the boat, and, alone, found my way to the high ground. I say found my way, for neglect and weather had left but few traces of the steep road the hide-vessels had built to the top. The cliff off which we used to throw the hides, and where I spent nights watching them, was more easily found. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ But instead of being roused out of the forecastle to row the long-boat ashore and bring off a load of hides before breakfast, we were served with breakfast in the cabin, and again took our drive with the wild horses to the Pueblo and spent the day; seeing nearly the same persons as before, and again getting back by dark. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ The light-hearted boys are now hardened middle-aged men, if the seas, rocks, fevers, and the deadlier enemies that beset a sailor’s life on shore have spared them; and the then strong men have bowed themselves, and the earth or sea has covered them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ The Pueblo de los Angeles I found a large and flourishing town of about twenty thousand inhabitants, with brick sidewalks, and blocks of stone or brick houses. The three principal traders when we were here for hides in the Pilgrim and Alert are still among the chief traders of the place,—Stearns, Temple, and Warner, the two former being reputed very rich. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later…

“ Another excursion was up the San Joaquin to Stockton, a town of some ten thousand inhabitants, a hundred miles from San Francisco, and crossing the Tuolumne and Stanislaus and Merced, by the little Spanish town of Hornitos, and Snelling’s Tavern, at the ford of the Merced, where so many fatal fights are had. ”

Richard Henry Dana

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Quotes from Two Years Before the Mast — Twenty Four Years Later… (Richard Henry Dana)

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