Dana's narrative had all the fascination of Cooper's and Marryatt's sea-stories, and it was doubtless this charm mainly that caused its immense popularity; yet it was instructive no less than fascinating, as it contained the most realistic picture extant of sailors' life and treatment in American trading vessels, with intelligent observations on the countries visited. Of the Californian hide trade, in all its details, Dana presented a view which has never been surpassed. His opportunities were small for studying the history and institutions of the country; but his remarks on the places and men and customs that came under his personal observation were not only interesting, but with some exceptions accurate. The current popular idea of California from 1841 to 1848 was founded largely on this book, with those of Forbes and Robinson. The author's appreciation of the western land is summed up in the remark, "In the hands of an enterprising people, what a country this might be!” but he adds, "Yet how long would a people remain so, in such a country? If the 'California fever,' laziness, spares the first generation, it is likely to attack the second." An addition to the late editions, "Twenty-four Years After," is second in fascination to no part of the original.
I have but sixteen names to record in my list of pioneers for 1835, and six of these are doubtful in respect of date. Including visitors, the total number of new-comers is but thirty-six. None acquired any special prominence, unless it may be Henry Mellus; and none but Watson, I think, survived in 1884.[1]
- ↑ Pioneers of 1835: Fred. Becher (?), James Bridger (?), Martin Cooper, John Coppinger (?), Wm H. Crowell (?), Wm Daylor, Wm Forbes, Manuel King, Allen Light (?), Henry Mellus, Henry Plummer, John O'Brien, L. V. Prudon (?), Robt Robinson, Stephen Simmonds, Thos Watson (born in Cal.) See for biographical sketches of pioneers, natives, and visitors, the Pioneer Register at end of vol. ii.-v., this work.
Sea. N. Y., 1840, 16mo, 483 p.; Id., 1847; Id., 1857; ed. of London, 1841, 8vo, 124 p.; Dutch translation: 'Twee jaren vvor den mast.' Deventer, 1842, 8vo, 2 vol.; 'New edition, with subsequent matter by the author,' Boston, 1869, 12mo, 470 p.; Id., 1873. In the original edition the author's name did not appear on the title-page. The additional matter in the author's edition is a narrative of a second visit to California in 1839.
