ntion about
the ship. Rushing in where angels fear to tread, into the august presence of omnipotence itself, he boldly addresses the Thunderer, the captain of the craft, who if he happens to be occupied gives in return a deep-toned curse and a shove which sends the appli- cant headlong- elsewhere for information. Nothing;' daunted, but a little more wary in the future, before he leaves the ship he knows the difference between bow and stern, and lee and weatherside, learns to count time by the bells, and to play seven-up for the drinks.
I noticed, after we were fairly out at sea, a certain habitual sarcastic expression on the face of many, particularly those of the ruder sort, as if the wearer wished to cover his sense of inferiority. Such are the men, who, seasoned by experience, and having in reality gained a better opinion of themselves, but making less show of it, on their return from California fall victims to professional pickpockets, who regularly plied their trade between New York and Aspinwall, endeavoring to win the confidence of returning Cali- fornians so as to fleece them on groins; ashore. Some there were on this trip out who had been to California before, men of slow demeanor, with slouched hat and slouched gait, of free and easy speech, and comfortable carriage, and self-satisfied countenance, red-shirted, perhaps, as they were proud of the distinction, and these were looked up to as superior beings by all raw recruits. Some sat the livelong day gazing list- lessly on the water, or staring stupidly at their fel- lows ; others restlessly wandered about with a sharp anxious inquiring look; some set themselves up as sailors and talked knowingly of ships, others discussed politics, religion, and monetary affairs, and many had much to say of the land and people to which they were going. Among them you might readily point out the chronic talker, the chronic listener, and the chronic laugher, which latter with his asinine guffaw at every silly repartee was the most disgusting
