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Chapter I: Introduction

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Kind Reader! This simple unembellished history of portions of my life’s experience requires no preface. Its deficiencies, I trust, will save it from unjust criticisms; if justly deserved, may they be in all lenity bestowed, modified by sympathy, and kindness for the humble historian.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. Page.

My Childhood’s Home, 11

CHAPTER II.

The Departure, 12

CHAPTER III.

Fire on board Ship Nonantum at Sea, 17

CHAPTER IV.

The Falkland Islands, 23

CHAPTER V.

A South Sea Rookery, 39

CHAPTER VI.

Departure from the Falklands, and second fire off Cape Horn, 45

CHAPTER VII.

Third fire at sea. Burning of the Ship Fanchon on the Coast of Peru, 57

CHAPTER VIII.

The Desolate Beach, 68

CHAPTER IX.

Arrival and Residence at Payta, 73

CHAPTER X.

Arrival at Panama and visit Taboga, 82

CHAPTER XI.

Arrival at San Francisco. Extensive Conflagration. Its Consequences, etc., etc., 96

CHAPTER XII.

Leave San Francisco for Marysville, 111

CHAPTER XIII.

Situation and Climate of Marysville. Peep at the Country, Inhabitants, etc., 125

CHAPTER XIV.

Hotel Keeping and Life in a Canvas Shanty, 137

CHAPTER XV.

Description of an Indian Rancheria and its Occupants, 149

CHAPTER XVI.

A Conflagration. Hotel Keeping resumed. Marysville Inundated, 156

CHAPTER XVII.

A Journey up the Sacramento Valley. Descriptions of things seen and heard, 163

CHAPTER XVIII.

Trip to French Corral. Mountain Scenery. Mountain Ball, etc., 169

CHAPTER XIX.

Journey to Park’s Bar. Experience in Mining. Fatal results of Gambling, 192

CHAPTER XX.

Visit to Gen. Sutter’s residence. Description of the grounds. The Pleasant Surprise, or the Musical Miner. Good Fortune of a Lady in California. Emigrant Wagons. Belles of the Plain. Interesting and Ludicrous Incident. The English Gold Diggers. Loss of Life, 205

CHAPTER XXI.

The Orphan Child. Delights of Stage-Coaching in California. The Hen that laid the Golden Eggs, 222

CHAPTER XXII.

Execution of a man in Marysville. The petty theft the results of bad Influence. Accident at the Mines. “Obstinate as a Mule.” Mysterious Disappearance of Dunbar. Cold Blooded Murder. Disinterested Benevolence, 232

CHAPTER XXIII.

Hardships of the Mountain Settlers during the winter of 1852. A Brother’s Experience, 254

CHAPTER XXIV.

Peculiarities of John Chinaman. Conflagration in Marysville, 263

CHAPTER XXV.

Farewell to Marysville. Departure. Arrival at San Francisco. Leave San Francisco for Home, 271

CHAPTER XXVI.

Incidents of the passage. Burial at Sea, 275

CHAPTER XXVII.

Arrival at Panama. Description of Hotels. Walks about the city. The Battlement, 283

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Crossing the Isthmus. Grave by the road-side. The beautiful Valley of Obispo. Take the cars for Aspinwall, 291

CHAPTER XXIX.

Embark for Home, on board the North Star. A distressed family, 307

CHAPTER XXX.

Arrival at New York, 314

CHAPTER XXXI.

Incidents illustrative of Morals in California, 315

CHAPTER XXXII.

Conclusion, 334

INCIDENTS ON LAND AND WATER.

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