Being Forewarned Of This Before I Went To Sea, I Took No
"Long Togs" With Me, And Being Dressed Like
The rest, in white duck
trowsers, blue jacket and straw hat, which would prevent my going
in better company, and
Showing no disposition to avoid them, I set
all suspicion at rest. Our crew fell in with some who belonged
to the other vessels, and, sailor-like, steered for the first
grog-shop. This was a small mud building, of only one room, in
which were liquors, dry and West India goods, shoes, bread, fruits,
and everything which is vendible in California. It was kept by
a yankee, a one-eyed man, who belonged formerly to Fall River,
came out to the Pacific in a whale-ship, left her at the Sandwich
Islands, and came to California and set up a "Pulperia." 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; but it
being settled in favor of the latter, each of the crews of the other
vessels treated all round in their turn, and as there were a good
many present, (including some "loafers" who had dropped in, knowing
what was going on, to take advantage of Jack's hospitality,)
and the liquor was a real (12˝ cents) a glass, it made somewhat
of a hole in their lockers. It was now our ship's turn, and S - - -
and I, anxious to get away, stepped up to call for glasses; but we
soon found that we must go in order - the oldest first, for the old
sailors did not choose to be preceded by a couple of youngsters;
and bon gré mal gré, we had to wait our turn, with the twofold
apprehension of being too late for our horses, and of getting
corned; for drink you must, every time; and if you drink with
one and not with another, it is always taken as an insult.
Having at length gone through our turns and acquitted ourselves
of all obligations, we slipped out, and went about among the
houses, endeavoring to get horses for the day, so that we might
ride round and see the country. At first we had but little success,
all that we could get out of the lazy fellows, in reply to our
questions, being the eternal drawling "Quien sabe?" ("who knows?")
which is an answer to all questions. After several efforts,
we at length fell in with a little Sandwich Island boy, who belonged
to Captain Wilson of the Ayacucho, and was well acquainted in
the place; and he, knowing where to go, soon procured us two
horses, ready saddled and bridled, each with a lasso coiled over
the pommel.
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