James White was a 21 year old farmer from Quincy, MA. In 1849 he sailed from Boston around Cape Horn to San Francisco and the gold diggings of California. In all he spent 6 months at sea and a year in California. I've transcribed his journal and am publishing it here as well as on Amazon/Kindle and Apple/iBooks.
Here is an extra week as they are short.
Friday May 25th
In Lat. 14º 00' Long. 94º 13'. Commenced with fine weather. The trades very moderate. Begins to very warm. Saw a great number of dolphins playing and could not catch them. Saw numbers before.
Saturday May 26th
In Lat. 12º 58' Long. 96º 05'. Commenced with fine weather. The Trade Winds in the daytime very light. Looked as though we were going to lose them. Nothing of interest
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?ance transpired more than usual. Talk on gold washers was the principle talk and has been for the past week. There were fine differences ? ?odles under or making and as many diff? ? they thought off.
Sunday May 27th
In Lat. 12º 06' Long. 97º 22'. A beautiful day. The sun rose, as usual in the Tropics, with great splendor. Calm most of the daytime.
As usual on Sunday morning, there was a general clean up through out the ship. White pants and dress correspondingly was the fashion of the day. A large concours of Edward Everett citizens tended church. I sat in the singing seats as usual. Mr. Benton gave us one of his good sermons which elicited great attention. He spoke mostly upon the power and grandeur of the sea. He spoke of God's control of the mighty waters. He said if a man after witnessing a storm at sea could be wicked aboard of a vessel, he would be anywhere. He also spoke of the solemnity of a burial at sea. Mr. Bradbury took his turn in the afternoon.
Monday, May 28th
In Lat. 11º 17' Long. 98º 42'. Commenced fair weather with the Trades moderate. Getting to be uncomfortably warm.
The Company, as they ever have since leaving Boston, employ their leisure hours in reading, writing, singing, instrumental music, playing cards, etc., but all of this will vanish soon, and in it's place hard work will come. Pick axes are already got out. Shovels etc. to be put in order.
Tuesday, May 29th
In Lat. 10º 22' Long. 100º 04'. Today as usual the weather was fair and beautiful with moderate Trade Winds. In my journal of events at Valparaiso, I forgot to put down that we added to our number aboard the vessel two passengers for San Francisco, a piece, Ramon Ravanal and Bernardo Guimarvls?, the former a Chilean, a smart manly appearing fellow, the other a Brazilian, young and boyish, but smart in actions. Knew the American language. The former total ignorant of it at first but learning fast.
Wednesday, May 30th
In Lat. 9º 27' Long. 101º 25'. Beautiful day with moderate trade winds.
Thursday May 31st
In Lat. 8º 24' Long. 103º 10'. Commenced with Trades stronger. A beautiful day.
Today commenced on another flatboat. Rigged masts and sails to the longboat and the two surf boats. All hands work with a will and harmoniously.
Friday June 1st
In Lat. 7º 03' Long. 105º 22'. Commenced and ended beautiful. Nothing of importance transpired more than usual moderate trades.
Saturday June 2nd
In Lat. 6º 00' Long. 107º 12'. A delightful day. The trades moderate. Today shifted our course one point to the northward N.W. by W. The paper Barometer or Gold Hunters Log was read. It was, as usual, interesting being composed of poetry, hints, fun, & foreign news. Slept on deck last night to know what is was to sleep outdoors. Had a very comfortable night of it.
Sunday June 3rd
In Lat. 4º 18' Long. 109º 52'. Commenced with fair weather. Rather cloudy. Looked as though we were going to have some rain. In the morning cleared and beautiful with a refreshing wind (The Trades).
Saw a whaler chasing most likely after whales. The Sunday passed away as usual. Religious services etc. Today my Capt-ship week expired. I performed the duties of the responsible office to the best of my abilities, giving general satisfaction.
Chapter 10
The Equator
Monday June 4th
In Lat. 2º 30' Long. 112º 00'. Very moderate wind (The Trades) all day. Clouds looked heavy and as though there was going to be a change of weather. Experiments are being tried every day on the gold washers. I think L.B. will make a failure on his machine. The days are growing longer and harder to ware away by some, but with me they pass pleasantly occupying time in reading, writing, etc. Every day my ignorance is exposed. Mourn that I have not benefited by leisure moments in former days in learning the common English branches. O the day passed in indolences irrecoverably lost. Think of my younger brothers coming up in the same way.
Tuesday June 5th
In Lat. 0º 44'S. Long. 113º 56'. Today we crossed the imaginary line called the Equator. By the Mate's log book and (as I copy my Lat. etc from it) Wednesday commences Tuesday noon. Whereby we crossed the line Wednesday at about seven in the eve.
It has been customary in former days when ships crossed the line to have an unwelcome personage visit the green ones to go through the operations of shaving and scrubbing to initiate him as a Perfect Salt. The operating consists first of lathering with a bucket of tar and grease and then shaving with an iron hook. This was not at all pleasant to the green one. Such customs have been done away with or at least he did not visit us. Probably, there was too many on board, and many of the boys threatened to use weapons if anything of the kind was attempted. Rained in light showers today.
Wednesday, June 6th
In Lat. 1º 36' N Long. 114º 57'. Today very warm and cloudy. Very light Trades. Now for hot weather. Sickness is among our members. Three are sick with fevers. Members are complaining of their heads & stomachs. I fear that he will not leave us before he has taken his victims. Numbers are not prudent in their living. At half past four PM Mr. Alexander favored us with a lecture on geology. It was interesting.
Tonight, the 3rd Mate Mr. Pike caught a large porpoise. He pulled the entrails out of one who was devoured by his companions.
Thursday, June 7th
In Lat. 3º 30' Long. 116º 21'. Commenced with a light Trade. Cloudy and disagreeable. Very warm. Showers in the course of the day. Calm in the afternoon.
This was a pretty dull week. Next week (to be published on Sunday) is one of the most interesting weeks in this journal.