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Two Years Before the MastRichard Henry Dana

Two Years Before the Mast

by OpenStories

Original author: Richard Henry Dana

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"Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana Jr. is a memoir published in 1840, recounting his 1834-1836 voyage as a common sailor from Boston to California. Dana vividly chronicles life at sea aboard a merchant brig trading for cow hides along the Mexican California coast. He describes navigating Cape Horn's treacherous winter storms, witnessing brutal floggings by his captain, befriending Hawaiian sailors, and observing early California settlements. This groundbreaking account exposed the harsh realities of maritime life and advocated for seamen's rights.

Two Years Before the Mast, by Richard Henry Dana. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #2055.

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40 Chapters

  1. 1.Introduction: Biographical Note2,657 words
  2. 2.Preface779 words
  3. 3.Chapter I: Departure875 words
  4. 4.Chapter II: First Impressions--"sail Ho!"2,287 words
  5. 5.Chapter III: Ship's Duties--Tropics2,219 words
  6. 6.Chapter IV: A Rogue--Trouble on Board--"land Ho!"--Pompero--Cape Horn3,006 words
  7. 7.Chapter V: Cape Horn--A Visit3,433 words
  8. 8.Chapter VI: Loss of a Man--Superstition2,036 words
  9. 9.Chapter VII: Juan Fernandez--The Pacific2,841 words
  10. 10.Chapter VIII: "tarring Down"--Daily Life--"going Aft"--California2,268 words
  11. 11.Chapter IX: California--A South-Easter3,279 words
  12. 12.Chapter X: A South-Easter--Passage Up the Coast1,912 words
  13. 13.Chapter XI: Passage Up the Coast--Monterey1,974 words
  14. 14.Chapter XII: Life at Monterey1,158 words
  15. 15.Chapter XIII: Trading--A British Sailor4,215 words
  16. 16.Chapter XIV: Santa Barbara--Hide-Droghing--Harbor Duties--Discontent--San Pedro4,985 words
  17. 17.Chapter XV: A Flogging--A Night on Shore--The State of Things on Board--San Diego5,362 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVI: Liberty-Day on Shore3,211 words
  19. 19.Chapter XVII: San Diego--A Desertion--San Pedro Again--Beating the Coast3,097 words
  20. 20.Chapter XVIII5,436 words
  1. 21.Chapter XIX6,276 words
  2. 22.Chapter XX: Leisure--News From Home--"burning the Water"3,528 words
  3. 23.Chapter XXI: California and Its Inhabitants2,249 words
  4. 24.Chapter XXII: Life on Shore--The Alert2,522 words
  5. 25.Chapter XXIII: New Ship and Shipmates--My Watchmate7,781 words
  6. 26.Chapter XXIV: San Diego Again--A Descent--Hurried Departure--A New Shipmate2,956 words
  7. 27.Chapter XXV: Rumors of War--A Spouter--Slipping for a South-Easter--A Gale6,984 words
  8. 28.Chapter XXVI: San Francisco--Monterey3,502 words
  9. 29.Chapter XXVII4,649 words
  10. 30.Chapter XXVIII: An Old Friend--A Victim--California Rangers--News From Home--Last Looks5,562 words
  11. 31.Chapter XXIX9,102 words
  12. 32.Chapter XXX: Beginning the Long Return Voyage--A Scare5,001 words
  13. 33.Chapter XXXI9,890 words
  14. 34.Chapter XXXII4,771 words
  15. 35.Chapter XXXIII: Cracking On--Progress Homeward--A Pleasant Sunday--A Fine Sight--By-Play4,358 words
  16. 36.Chapter XXXIV: Narrow Escapes--The Equator--Tropical Squalls--A Thunder Storm2,939 words
  17. 37.Chapter XXXV3,536 words
  18. 38.Chapter XXXVI: Soundings--Sights From Home--Boston Harbor--Leaving the Ship (1)8,671 words
  19. 39.Chapter XXXVI: Soundings--Sights From Home--Boston Harbor--Leaving the Ship (2)8,906 words
  20. 40.Chapter XXXVI: Soundings--Sights From Home--Boston Harbor--Leaving the Ship (3)6,269 words