Two Years Before the Mast · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr..
Chapter 1
Epigraph
The epigraph, drawn from Coleridge's Wallenstein, sets a tone of isolation and deprivation, contrasting the harsh, confined life at sea with the beauty and comfort of the inland world that remains unseen.
Chapter 2
Two Years Before the Mast
The narrator introduces his personal narrative of life at sea, setting the stage for his experiences as a common sailor aboard a merchant vessel.
Chapter 3
I
The narrator, Richard Henry Dana Jr., boards the brig Pilgrim in Boston on August 14, bound for California via Cape Horn. He describes his transformation from a Cambridge student into a sailor, his first watch, and the vessel's departure from Boston harbor.
Chapter 4
II
The narrator describes his first days at sea aboard the Pilgrim, including the captain's stern speech, the division into watches, the onset of seasickness, the discomforts of the steerage, and the routine of washing down decks. He gains strength from salt beef and begins to learn sea duties. The chapter ends with sightings of other vessels, including the ship La Carolina.
Chapter 5
Ship's Duties—Tropics
The narrator describes the strict hierarchy and daily routines aboard an American merchant ship, detailing the roles of captain, mates, steward, cook, and crew, as well as the endless maintenance tasks that occupy sailors during long voyages.
Chapter 6
IV
The chapter details the dismissal of Mr. F⸺ as second mate and the crew's selection of Jim Hall as his replacement. It describes the sighting of land at Pernambuco, encounters with catamarans, a Pompero gale, and the approach to Cape Horn with sightings of the Falkland Islands and Staten Land.
Chapter 7
V
The chapter describes the narrator's encounter with Captain Job Terry, a famous whaleman, and the subsequent harsh weather conditions as the ship rounds Cape Horn. The crew endures severe storms, snow, hail, and freezing temperatures, struggling to furl sails and maintain the vessel. The narrator reflects on the beauty of albatrosses and whales encountered during calmer moments, contrasting them with the relentless hardship of the voyage.
Chapter 8
VI
The chapter recounts the tragic loss of George Ballmer, a young English sailor who falls overboard and drowns. The crew's futile rescue attempt and the subsequent auction of his belongings highlight the harsh realities of life at sea. The narrator reflects on the solemnity of death at sea and the superstitions among sailors, particularly the cook's belief in Finnish wizards and their control over the wind.
Chapter 9
VII
The Pilgrim arrives at Juan Fernandez after 103 days at sea. The narrator describes the island's beauty, its history as a penal colony for Chile, and the crew's interactions with the governor, soldiers, and convicts. They take on water, trade tobacco for fruit, and depart at nightfall, leaving the narrator with a lasting romantic attachment to the island.
Chapter 10
VIII
The narrator describes daily life aboard ship as they sail toward California, including tarring down the rigging, painting the vessel, and crossing the equator for the second time. A dispute over bread allowances leads to a confrontation with the captain, who delivers a memorable 'down east johnnycake' harangue. The narrator and his messmate S⸺ petition to move from the steerage to the forecastle, where they feel they truly become sailors, learning the ways and camaraderie of the crew. The chapter ends with their arrival at Santa Barbara on January 14, 1835.
Chapter 11
IX
The crew experiences their first landing on the California coast, learning the dangerous technique of surf landing and observing Sandwich Islanders loading hides and tallow. Tensions between the captain and mate begin to surface, and the narrator reflects on the harsh realities of the hide-droghing trade.
Chapter 12
Southeaster and Passage Up the Coast
The crew experiences a sudden southeaster storm, forcing them to slip anchor and ride out the gale. After the storm passes, they return to their anchorage and prepare to sail to Monterey with passengers, including the agent Mr. R⸺ and the captain's brother and his wife. The chapter highlights the dangers of coastal sailing and the rivalry with the faster Ayacucho.
Chapter 13
XI
The brig Pilgrim clears the islands and rounds Point Conception, encountering a violent squall that forces the crew to scramble aloft and reduce sail. After five days of stormy weather, they finally reach Monterey, where the narrator contrasts the pleasant, green landscape and civilized feel of the town with the earlier harsh impressions of California. He also recounts his first successful act of seamanship—sending down a royal yard.
Chapter 14
XII
The chapter describes a Sunday at Monterey where the crew is forced to work on their day of rest, leading to passive resistance and slow work. After a promise of fishing in the afternoon, the work is completed quickly. The narrator then describes a fishing trip and the arrival of the Loriotte. The next day, Mexican customs officers board the Pilgrim, and the narrator details their elaborate dress and the social structure of California, where Indians do all the hard work and the Mexican gentry appear wealthy but often lack money.
Chapter 15
XIII
The crew begins trading in Monterey, selling a diverse cargo to the local Californians. The narrator learns Spanish and serves as an interpreter, gaining insight into the local culture, economy, and social structure. He describes the town, its presidio, the people's dress, and the lack of industry, as well as the presence of Sandwich Islanders and a notable English sailor.
Chapter 16
XIV
The narrator reflects on the grim reality of the voyage, the harsh discipline under Captain Thompson, and the growing discontent among the crew. He describes the backbreaking labor of loading and unloading hides at San Pedro, the isolation of the California coast, and the devastating news that the voyage will last three or four years instead of the expected eighteen months. The chapter captures the crew's despair, the captain's severity, and the physical toll of the work.
Chapter 17
XV
The chapter recounts the brutal flogging of two sailors, Sam and John, by Captain Thompson, and the narrator's internal turmoil and vow to seek justice for sailors. It then describes the narrator's solitary night guarding hides ashore, the crew's sullen departure for San Diego, and their arrival at the harbor.
Chapter 18
XVI
The narrator and his shipmate S⸺ enjoy a liberty day ashore in San Diego. They explore the presidio, ride horses, visit the mission, and observe local life, including interactions with sailors, Indians, and townspeople. The chapter reflects on the meaning of freedom for sailors and the cultural contrasts encountered.
Chapter 19
XVII
The chapter describes the crew's weakened state after losing a man overboard, having another taken as clerk, and a third running away. They arrive at San Pedro and resume the monotonous work of loading hides. The aftermath of the flogging scene is explored, showing the different effects on the two men involved. The chapter also details the escape of F⸺, who hides in a cave until the ship sails, and the crew's activities in San Diego, including landing hides and preparing for the voyage home.
Chapter 20
XVIII
The chapter describes the crew's experiences at San Pedro, San Juan, and San Diego. It contrasts American and Spanish boat songs, recounts a near-collision with a whale, and details the dramatic process of throwing hides down a 400-foot cliff at San Juan. The chapter ends with the arrival at San Diego, where the harbor is deserted except for a group of Sandwich Islanders living idly in an abandoned oven.
Chapter 21
XIX
The narrator describes his transformation from sailor to beachcomber and hide curer at San Diego, living with a giant Frenchman named Nicholas and four Sandwich Islanders (Kanakas) in a hide house. He details the hard but independent work of curing hides, the weekly woodcutting expeditions, and the characters of his companions, especially the intelligent Tom Davis and the old patriarch Mr. Bingham, while reflecting on the Kanakas' language, customs, and history.
Chapter 22
XX
The monotony of life on the beach is broken by the arrival of two vessels, the Italian ship Rosa and the brig Catalina, bringing a diverse crew from many nations. The beach becomes lively with singing and socializing. Later, the ship Alert arrives under Captain Thompson's command, bringing letters and news from home. The Pilgrim departs, and the crew settles into routine work, including a week dedicated to gathering wood.
Chapter 23
XXI
The narrator describes the social, legal, and moral conditions of California under Mexican rule, including the decline of the missions, the arbitrary nature of justice, the treatment of Indians, and the contrasting industriousness of American and English settlers.
Chapter 24
XXII
The narrator describes life ashore at San Diego, the arrival of the Alert, and his transfer to the ship. He contrasts the Alert's clean, well-ordered condition with the Pilgrim's cramped quarters, and recounts his anxiety about returning home. After securing an exchange with a crew member, he boards the Alert.
Chapter 25
Chapter XXIII
The narrator describes the daily routine of rowing passengers and goods ashore in the gig, the race between the ship and the brig Catalina to Santa Barbara, the crew's composition and duties during tacking, the captain's habit of sailing on Sundays for economic reasons, and his deepening acquaintance with the remarkable Tom Harris during night watches in port.
Chapter 26
XXIV
The chapter describes the crew's return to San Diego, their hurried departure amid signs of a southeaster, and the narrator's risky descent down a cliff to retrieve lodged hides. It also introduces a new shipmate, George P. Marsh, an educated Englishman with a mysterious past.
Chapter 27
Chapter XXV
The chapter describes the departure from Santa Barbara with a display of seamanship, the challenging rounding of Point Conception, and the arrival of a whaleship, the Wilmington and Liverpool Packet. The crew engages in a rowing race to shore as a storm threatens, and the brig Ayacucho begins to drag its anchors.
Chapter 28
Chapter XXVI
The crew endures grueling labor in the rain, transporting hides by boat and loading wood and water at San Francisco. The narrator narrowly avoids a miserable boat trip to San José. After finishing the hide collection, the crew prepares for the voyage home by making clothes and supplies. Christmas is celebrated with a rare holiday, and the ship departs San Francisco with salutes to the Russian brig and Presidio.
Chapter 29
XXVII
The crew enjoys a liberty day in Monterey, engaging in a boxing match that resolves a bullying issue, and later attends a fandango. The chapter also covers the departure from Monterey with Spanish passengers and a brief return due to a southeaster.
Chapter 30
XXVIII
The chapter opens with the crew's disappointment over 'Chips' not receiving a letter from his wife, and the sailmaker's cynical consolation. The ship sails to Santa Barbara, where the narrator receives Boston newspapers that evoke vivid memories of home and his college classmates. The crew learns they will not return to windward, sparking joy and a sense of nearing the voyage's end. George Marsh leaves to become second mate on the Ayacucho, and the narrator reflects on his mysterious background. The ship arrives at San Diego, the final port, where they prepare for the homeward voyage.
Chapter 31
XXIX
The chapter describes the final preparations for departure from California, including loading the last hides, the exchange of crew members between ships, and the emotional farewell to the brig. The narrator reflects on the mixed feelings of leaving the ship that had been his home for a year, while also expressing relief at finally heading home to Boston. The chapter also includes a detailed account of a young midshipman's story and the crew's reading of 'Woodstock' during a day of enforced idleness.
Chapter 32
Homeward Bound: Preparations and Anticipation
The chapter describes the beginning of the long return voyage from San Diego to Boston. The crew, though short-handed due to illness and transfers, is in high spirits with fair winds and fine weather. They prepare for the harsh conditions ahead, especially rounding Cape Horn in winter, by mending clothes and gear. The narrator encounters an old acquaintance, Professor N⸺, who joins as a passenger. The crew's daily routines, songs, and discussions about home and the journey ahead are depicted.
Chapter 33
XXXI
The chapter describes the ship's approach to Cape Horn, with worsening weather, shorter days, and colder temperatures. The crew faces a massive wave that sweeps the deck, destroying the galley, pigsty, hen coop, and sheep pen. The narrator also discusses the hypocrisy of temperance on ships, where grog is denied to sailors but freely available to officers. The ship considers passing through the Straits of Magellan but is forced to abandon the attempt due to a gale and fog, instead heading south toward Cape Horn.
Chapter 34
XXXII
The chapter describes the ship's approach to Cape Horn, the sighting of Staten Land, and the crew's struggle with ice fields and severe weather. After multiple attempts to double the Cape, they finally succeed and enter the Atlantic, facing harsh conditions and a reduced crew.
Chapter 35
XXXIII
The chapter describes the ship's progress homeward, including a dispute between the captain and mate over authority, a fight between the mate and the steward, the decision to sail inside the Falkland Islands, the enthusiastic setting of additional sails, and the preparations for entering port. It also includes a reflective moment on the beauty of the ship under full sail in the tropics.
Chapter 36
XXXIV
The narrator describes a narrow escape from a falling yard, the crossing of the equator, encounters with other ships, and a dramatic thunderstorm with a corposant (St. Elmo's fire) that terrifies the crew before clearing to a fine morning.
Chapter 37
XXXV
The chapter describes the final leg of the voyage home, focusing on the ship's preparation for port, the onset of scurvy among the crew, and a fortuitous encounter with the brig Solon that provides fresh provisions. The narrator details the meticulous work to put the ship in fine order, the dangers of the Gulf Stream, and the desperate need for fresh food to combat scurvy, particularly for the English lad Ben. The successful procurement of potatoes and onions leads to a rapid recovery for the afflicted sailors, and the ship continues toward Boston with renewed hope.
Chapter 38
XXXVI
The narrator describes the final approach to Boston, the mixed emotions of returning home after a long voyage, the foggy passage through soundings, and the preparations for leaving the ship.
Chapter 39
Concluding Chapter
In the concluding chapter, Dana reflects on the legal and social injustices faced by sailors, critiquing the judicial system that favors captains over seamen. He argues against harsh corporal punishment and appeals for gradual reform through improved education and character of sailors, rather than immediate legislative changes.
Chapter 40
Twenty-Four Years After
The narrator returns to California twenty-four years after his voyage on the Alert, reflecting on the dramatic transformation of San Francisco from a vast solitude into a bustling city of one hundred thousand inhabitants. He visits San Diego, finding it unchanged but nearly all his old acquaintances gone, and recounts the fates of former shipmates—French John, Mr. Richard Brown, Evans, Mr. Hatch, Sails, and Harry Bennett—as he grapples with the passage of time and the loss of the past.
Chapter 41
Endnotes
This chapter consists of endnotes providing definitions, explanations, and clarifications for terms and references used throughout the narrative. It covers nautical terminology, historical and literary allusions, cultural practices, and editorial annotations that enrich the reader's understanding of the text.
