There was only one point in which they had the advantage over us,
and that was in lightening their labors in the boats by their songs.
The Americans are a time and money saving people, but have not yet, as
a nation, learned that music may be "turned to account." We pulled the
long distances to and from the shore, with our loaded boats, without a
word spoken, and with discontented looks, while they not only
lightened the labor of rowing, but actually made it pleasant and
cheerful, by their music. So true is it, that--
"For the tired slave, song lifts the languid oar,
And bids it aptly fall, with chime
That beautifies the fairest shore,
And mitigates the harshest clime."
We lay about a week in San Pedro, and got under weigh for San Diego,
intending to stop at San Juan, as the south-easter season was nearly
over, and there was little or no danger.
This being the spring season, San Pedro, as well as all the other
open ports upon the coast, was filled with whales, that had come in to
make their annual visit upon soundings. For the first few days that we
were here and at Santa Barbara, we watched them with great
interest- calling out "there she blows!" every time we saw the spout
of one breaking the surface of the water; but they soon became so
common that we took little notice of them.
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