Ere we reach the goal we perish and the coveted prize is forever lost.

Not so is it to him who seeks the Gold of New Jerusalem.

The Gold of that land is good, and all who will can find it and enjoy it.
Another way was by the Isthmus of Panama, and then up the coast in such a ship as one could find.

It was the least toilsome journey and the shortest, but still attended with hardships.

Many fell a prey to wasting fevers which burn out one's life, and so never reached the destined port of San Francisco, through which they would pass to the gold fields.
The longest way was around Cape Horn.