Note: For serious researchers only.  Very hard to read, as is the original.

Route as traced via Google Maps.

Audio excerpts from the entire letter (mp3 format) Voiceover by Nancy Burnett (burnetnc@oneonta.edu), Communication Arts Department, SUNY College at Oneonta.

1851 Letter from Harvey Seaman to parents in Delancey, Delaware County, NY describing a trip by sail from NY to California via Cape Horn. Excerpts from page 4:

"But just before crossing the first Tropic we saw the Old fellow himself and a fine fellow he was, Mr Whale, he was a dark color some 60 to 70 feet in length, At short intervals he would throw up large quantities or water, then lash the surface with his broad tail as if perfectly consious of his acknowledged superiority..."

"And we were to be the victims of another deluge, but worse, we were deprived of many necessaries and then it was got up in such as style, that often a {illeg} could not relish it. We were allowanced on water, till this with other things made me sick of a Sea life I was not sorry that I was bound to California, but wished it another way.