Damon, Samuel C.

A Trip from the Sandwich Islands to Lower Oregon and Upper California; or, Thirty Leaves Selected from 'Our Log-Book.'"  Honolulu: printed at the Polynesian office, 1849



In 4s (11  1/2  x 9 in.; 292 x 228 mm).  Some light spotting and browning.  Quarter morocco, marbled boards; spine renewed, boards rubbed and worn at extremities, endleaves foxed. 

Forbes 1726; Graff 994; Hill 73; Howes D-44; Kurutz 168a

First separate edition, consisting of the original newspaper sheets with title added.  Damon was editor of The Friend, the Honolulu newspaper in which he published his narrative (vol. 7, nos. 6–12, 1 Sept.–20 Dec. 1849).

Damon suspended publication of The Friend and set out for San Francisco via Oregon on 16 April 1849.  Upon his return, he resumed publication, with his narrative taking pride of place in six successive issues.

"Damon's well-written narrative is a classic, and provides an early account of life in the gold mines.  He describes the primitive social conditions at the mines, and the racial tensions extant between the various groups of gold seekers.  Attention is paid to mining camps and other settlements where he found native Hawaiians living and working" (Forbes).

Scarce.