The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Lady’s Captivity among Chinese Pirates, by Amelia B. Edwards.

In the year 1852, on a fine spring morning, I arrived in Havre with my
eldest sister, who was going, on commercial matters, to California. We
spent several days in Havre; and on the 30th of May, being Whitsunday,
we embarked on board the little French schooner called the
“Independence,” the captain whereof engaged to touch at Rio for food
and water. Besides the captain, the master, and the crew, our vessel
carried eighteen passengers, all of whom were going to seek their
fortunes in California. The weather was superb, and our captain took
advantage of a favourable breeze to set sail. The quay was crowded
with spectators, and it was not without some dismay that we overheard
their observations on the size of [2]our schooner. “Never,” said they,
“can such a boat double Cape Horn. The least puff of wind must swamp a
nutshell like that!” It is easy to conceive the impression which
opinions such as these were calculated to produce on two inexperienced
Parisiennes, who, like my sister and myself, were travelling for the
first time. We looked hesitatingly in each others faces; but it was
too late. The time for hesitation was gone by.