1840

                           TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST

                             by Richard Henry Dana

  CHAPTER I

  DEPARTURE

  The fourteenth of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of
the brig Pilgrim on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn to the
western coast of North America. As she was to get under weigh early in
the afternoon, I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock, in
full sea-rig, and with my chest, containing an outfit for a two or
three years' voyage, which I had undertaken from a determination to
cure, if possible, by an entire change of life, and by a long
absence from books and study, a weakness of the eyes, which had
obliged me to give up my pursuits, and which no medical aid seemed
likely to cure.

  The change from the tight dress coat, silk cap and kid gloves of
an undergraduate at Cambridge, to the loose duck trowsers, checked
shirt and tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a
transformation, was soon made, and I supposed that I should pass
very well for a jack tar. But it is impossible to deceive the
practised eye in these matters; and while I supposed myself to be
looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was, no doubt, known for a
landsman by every one on board as soon as I hove in sight. A sailor
has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them which a
green hand can never get. The trowsers, tight round the hips, and
thence hanging long and loose round the feet, a superabundance of
checked shirt, a low-crowned, well varnished black hat, worn on the
back of the head, with half a fathom of black ribbon hanging over
the left eye, and a peculiar tie to the black silk neckerchief, with
sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betray the
beginner, at once. Besides the points in my dress which were out of
the way, doubtless my complexion and hands were enough to
distinguish me from the regular salt, who, with a sunburnt cheek, wide
step, and rolling gait, swings his bronzed and toughened hands
athwartships, half open, as though just ready to grasp a rope.

  "With all my imperfections on my head," I joined the crew, and we
hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next
day we were employed in preparations for sea, reeving studding-sail
gear, crossing royal yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on
board our powder. On the following night, I stood my first watch. I
remained awake nearly all the first part of the night from fear that I
might not hear when I was called; and when I went on deck, so great
were my ideas of the importance of my trust, that I walked regularly
fore and aft the whole length of the vessel, looking out over the bows
and taffrail at each turn, and was not a little surprised at the
coolness of the old salt whom I called to take my place, in stowing
himself snugly away under the long boat, for a nap. That was a
sufficient look-out, he thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe
harbor.

  The next morning was Saturday, and a breeze having sprung up from
the southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began
beating down the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came
to see me off, and had barely opportunity to take a last look at the
city, and well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship
for sentiment. As we drew down into the lower harbor, we found the
wind ahead in the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor in the
roads. We remained there through the day and a part of the night. My
watch began at eleven o'clock at night, and I received orders to
call the captain if the wind came out from the westward. About
midnight the wind became fair, and having called the captain, I was
ordered to call all hands. How I accomplished this I do not know,
but I am quite sure that I did not give the true hoarse, boatswain
call of "A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds! up anchor, a-ho-oy!" In a short time every
one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, and we began to
heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon Yankee land. I could
take but little part in all these preparations. My little knowledge of
a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given
and so immediately executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such
an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was
completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object
in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's life. At length
those peculiar, longdrawn sounds, which denote that the crew are
heaving at the windlass, began, and in a few moments we were under
weigh. The noise of the water thrown from the bows began to be
heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night breeze, and rolled
with the heavy ground swell, and we had actually begun our long,
long journey. This was literally bidding "good night" to my native
land.

  CHAPTER II

  FIRST IMPRESSIONS--"SAIL HO!"

  The first day we passed at sea was the Sabbath. As we were just from
port, and there was a great deal to be done on board, we were kept
at work all day, and at night the watches were set, and everything put
into sea order. When we were called aft to be divided into watches,
I had a good specimen of the manner of a sea captain. After the
division had been made, he gave a short characteristic speech, walking
the quarter deck with a cigar in his mouth, and dropping the words out
between the puffs.