Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-10-05
- From the New Orleans Delta
CAPTAIN TOBIN'S TROUBLES! q

Dear Della: You will find this dated from
Panama, but If there be any chance of getting
away soon, it shall be mailed elsewhere. A
large number of passengers still remain on the
Isthmus-many have been already 60 ordays
here, some of them totally without funds, and
unable to put back home or to pull on to the
gold regions-pretty much in the hx OF Inc
wild cattle lassoed by the head and hind leg
The prices of passages, too, have been raised
exorbitantly. through the cupidIty OF specula-
tors from the States, and many who were not
much accustomed 10 hard work at home, are
now showing their good sense by applying
for the situations of cooks, stewards, &c. &C.,
on vessels bound to California. Some are
worse off than am, and | am accustomed to
rough it.
My first attempt was TO negotiate passage
but nv success shows that was not inVen-
| ted for fnancer; the next was ii proposal
10 work passage, as valet 10 gentleman
travelling 10 the mines. The first duty requ-
red, was 10 shave him, which proceeded 70
do, Secuadun (Spanshl arteM. that is, spit
| ting on The soap first and rubbing 1t on ms
cheeks afterwards, Such. they told me, was
| the practice when gentleman was being bar
| hegYed but when vagaeena was the victim,
| the barber simply spit on his face and then
rubbexa in the soap The shaving went on
| less awkwanily than mlgh, have been expec-
tel, untSt The razor centtved to slip. and gave
| the patient pretty considerable cash IN the
upper lip; he sioImed some, threatened TO
kick me cut OF doors, and discharged me
I trstloUt a charter. The next effort 10 get away
was equally unlucky my future boss enga-
gel me on The express condition that could
cut hair; gave him an assurance that could,
and it was trIe-for can cut anything ex-
cept 4 friend. A pair OF scissors was soon
borrowed from fair milliner on the ground
floor, and the business was beautifully execu-
ted. Indians crop tier hair close, but his
head had not even a scalp-lock left TO orna-
ment it, or hair the eighth of an inch long
| under which a Struggling creeper might take
shelter. His mother would not have recog-
niZed him: indeed, he scarcely knew himself,
for, after having gaZed, in silent horror, in a
mirror, at the shorn reflection of what he had
| ceased to be, viz tolerably good looking
| fellow, he flung the glass at me, and every
| article Of deli in the room, from the basin and
ever down to the most paltry utensil compo-
sing the furniture 10 a bed chamber. He then
discharged me 1rith a charter, but with such
an one as prevents my applying elsewhere
My next speculation was amongst the Cap
tains Of vessels in port promiscuously, hum
Dly asking Tor the distinguished Office OF Jen2-
my Ducks, and the reply from each was, tina!
one DUO was enough for ship, and as fol-
the Jenny ducks, there were lots OF them a.
shore, willing 10 pay from SIS TO 500 for the
privilege of delivering the hens of their eggs.
A friend then gave me some fishing tackle
and advised me 10 follow st. Peters occupa
Y tion-that OF fisherman; another lent me q
palm and needle, informing me that the pro
fession of sail-maker was an ancient, honor
able, and religious one, followed by the grea
Apostle of The Genties, St. Paul and thrl
furnished ME with a jack plane, with which
TO do rough carpenter work, saying that tina
trade was practced by St. Joseph of old-st
that have now three saints occupations t.
fall back on, or a sort of trio juneto i'a I'M
) business, as boatswain Chucks observed, whel
explaining the nicetes OF his rattan 10 Pete
| Simple A very pleasant state of affairs; fiji
teen hundred or two thousand miles from
home, and not cent in the pockets of som
dozens; watches and traps gone too. Misery
they say, loves company, and here she may
indulge in the amiable weakness. Those wh
have trades, have taken shops and are work
ing away. Those who have none, look OF
and chew the cud, anxiously awaiting III
: dawn, as &c the darkest hour OF the night i
that which Immediately precedes the morn
ing