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One cold , rainy evening , about eight o'clock , I received orders to get ready to start for San Jose at four the next morning , in one of these Indian boats , with four days ' provisions . No court or star chamber could proceed more summarily with a poor devil , than this trio was about to do with me ; condemning me to a punishment worse than a Botany Bay exile , and to a fate which would alter the whole current of my future life ; for two years more in California would have made me a sailor for the rest of my days . Two long , heavy spars , called steeves , made of the strongest wood , and sharpened off like a wedge at one end , were placed with their wedge ends into the inside of the hide which was the centre of the book , and to the other end of each , straps were fitted , into which large tackles were hooked , composed each of two huge purchase blocks , one hooked to the strap on the end of the steeve , and the other into a dog , fastened into one of the beams , as far aft as it could be got . Many a dispute have I heard raging high between professed " beach-combers , " as to whether the hides should be stowed " shingling , " or back-to-back , and flipper-to-flipper ; " upon which point there was an entire and bitter division of sentiment among the savans . At length , according to his own account , being desirous of returning home , he went to a shipping-office , where the shipping articles of the California were open .