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\ '

KAMBLTNGS

CALIl ORNI A

u V

(

RAMBLINGS

CALIFORNIA;

CONTAIMNU

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY, LIFE AT THE MINES,
STATE OF SOCIETY, &o.

INTERSPERSED WITH

CIIARAOTERISTIO ANECDOTES,

AND SKETCHES FROM LIFE,

BEING THK FIVK YEARS' EXPEIIIENCK OF A GOLD DKiOKll.

PRINGLE SHAW

TORONTO:

JAMES BAIN, 37 KING STREET EAST.

T U R o V T •
''3 VO\OE .-^TRKKT.

ER,

PREFACE.

In tlie goud old times, that is beforo a voyage round the
world was a mere trip of pleasure, the adventurous traveller
who then gave his experience of foreign lands, was a rarity,
and his work might well serve as good authority for half a
century to come ; and indeed, in such sleepy times, when
^ a hundred years performed but little change on a country
or its people, the audacious scribbler who added another
V(»lume of travels, on the same ground, might well be
punished l)y neglect, fur his impertinent repetition of the
threadbare theme. But now, great portion of the world
are in a " fast" age, and in them more changes occur in
twelve months, than in others in twice the number of
years ; but in none that ever existed, has the hand of
civilised man performed so much, in as short a space of
time, as it has within the bounds of ibis mysterious land.
This must be my best excuse, for attempting to add
a new leaf to the many already published on California

VI.

J'HKJ'ACK.

''■'" ""•'■■'■• «'■« !'""« contain witl,i„ , „

"'oi.- n,a„„o,s, eu»t„,„. ,„,, '*'." ■^''^''•''» "• "-^ people,
Jev.tod e..el„.,ivelv ,o ili„ ' ' '''" '"'' P"' '-^

-> eounto- offers a better field. ' '' "'^''^'

^b biisine,s.s i„ Califovr.ia w,. . i^

-•''-'- ... ou^nL J ',: 1:;:": 77. --"^ -y

''"■■«p-od :,, ilj;;j :'";'-"-'. '■.-«™u..

'c, coupled

for

pryin«

' Produced
)r the in-

'•^pace, 1
eountrjr^
•^ people,
' part is
r which

n ; and
y other
tly my

and if
on, in
2t that
?n did

CONTENTS

PART J.

THE COUNTRY AND HER SOVEREIGNS ''"';,

TART 11.

THE MINES ,.,

• •\^^

TAKT ill.

FACE OF TIfE (dl-NTRY, AGRICTETURE. AM) LAI!0[; :;•

J AKT l\".

ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES FROM LIFE i;;i

How I Jl'MI'ki) a Claim 13 j

A FiKLi) Okfickr 23-

TiiK Si'K( ri.ATua 24.,

A Ti;ii' TO Til]: SoniiiMiN Mi.\k> ]4(,

An Oi!at!0\ ,-.,

Tm: SiaciEuN's Rihk ,--

i. I (

-^■^ 181

ThK AuCTIONKi:ii jg ,

'^'^'"^ '...Z'.'ZZ. U.0

The VoYACib; Ij.,r,

TllK Saltei! .,j^.

SKIiASTlilM)!, IS TaKJ N 922

War IX China ,,0-

- w 1

THE CONCLCSIoN

KAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

PART I.

THK COUNTI{V AND HER SOVEREIGNS.

It comes not, properly, witliin the limits of these
j^kotches, to dwell upon the wouders of that half-way land
— the Istlmuis of Panama — whose torrid scenes, so start-
ling, novel, and gorgeous, so utterly at variance with the
panorama of his native land, enchain at once the imagi-
nation of the fresh voyager from the temperate zone, and
leave an impression that after years can hardly erase.
These have long since been delineated by able and truth-
ful pens; though much still remains unsaid of Chngres.
its harbor, and its people, its densely wooded hills, and
dismal feverish vallies, the grim dismantled fortress of
San Lorenzo, rising in solemn, though burlesque majesty,
as the protector of the mongrel native population at its
base, — of the white man's shelly camp right opposite, sus-
tained in those by-gone days by the Californian emigra-
tion, and the indiscriminate abode or shelter of speculators,
blacklegs and boatmen,— of native beggars, with leprous
skins and jiggery feet,— of the long, tedious row, up the

liiffti-':::

lUMBUNliS I.N- <ALI1-0P..MA.

<^l »n,l .I„..^„.h ,,tr.„„, j,„j,,„^j

-and .1., „n ciaWished «„o-vario<l o.,ly In- ut "fh
'«-<:,.._ when nnpojoj ia thoir „r„,re.s, by tl o rcT f

3 r'uiec.,soi.s-,.f parrots and parror.ucttes scrcm

. ^^^"'^"^ ^»^J tlic ehutterin- of

the «„,(!,, while no* ,, zophjr'.s ri„i„n stir, amidst th^
gross , ,.o™ vo„ot.i„„ of the i,„„e„ot™ble t -o

coci , ; ''' '"'""'^ "f '■™'>ecile pre-

« -.Itl., t t lly „„ada,„o,i to thoi,. antoccdents, or tboir
present abtl.ty, aud indeed we ,„i.l„ safciv add
race w]^u.h ,% • ^ ^ »ai^iy aaa. tiieir

race Ml„ h ,. ,iu,st now a disagreeable medley of red
black, and dirty white —of n>o i . . "^ '

boo huts of r.,. \ '^•^' '^''^' ^""^'^ ^^'^^ '-'^^J"-

hut.s of Gorgona, where a - five " eouhl .careely nrocur..

a -eagre lunch of mould, biscuit and jerjte;

f'IiUiltl\o lll(tlint;Mn frir.l- ]r,., T . 1

-1.1. .Ill nacJv Jeadnii; to the wr^f^vi,
and it !'ivr fi, , ? , , , '^ \\c.'-tern ocean,

"-..... <-a;on'ba.;::,::r.r;^::::^jrr''"

and windows .re dispensed v-^f> ^ ' ;;^'e''^ <^'or.s

--™...v-.be. .Ls.;t :;:;;::;:;: ;::,j^;

*' "^^■"' '••^^ ^^'^ r-und.—where table.s are of

I
W

ilAMBLlNGS IN CALIFORNIA.

tly by rcpub-
■eaking ditty,
J^J uncouth
' tJiG acres of
Clients of our
ttcs, scrcain-
n-ied by the
latterinir of
sun blaziuf

amidst the

forcst,—of
I' of inertia
ibecile prc-
c eoniniou-
s, or tlieir
athl; tiicir
ey of red,
i the baui-
'h procure

beef, — of
ck; on the
'I'll ocean,

I'anajjui,
niULio tiie
'Ore door.s
ion is a
(Hvded by
xodus, —

.sing all
ies staud
ailed by
3.S are of

stone and canoes of mahogany, and where clean water is
worth sixpence a glass.

These sights and sounds are even now fast fading before
another, I may not say a better era; and many an inter-
esting relic of Panama's acadian days must die unnoted
through the continued stream of strangers, and the unwel-
come innovation of the iron horse. I too must bid adieu
to it, and transport my reader at once through the peaceful
waves of the Pacific, and safely land him on the shores of
California, where a new panorama, unexampled in history,
soon obliterates all the minor incidents of the journey.

Perhaps no country, in her dawning efforts of existence,
ever moie suddenly or successfully leaped into life, or
started on a more propitious career, than California; pre-
destined, as she certainly seems to be, with her twin sister
Australia, to wake to life and develop the long slumber-
ing energies of a hemisphere, every way capable of sup-
porting tlu'ir millions of intelligent and taught beings.
The full blaze of the nineteenth century has shed its clear
light upon her priujary exertions ; the lustre of improved
science i.-^ able and willing to guide her every power of
invention or appropriation, while no antiquated prejudice
of political or religious bigotry, ur ancient animosity of
locai classes need be any obstacle in her onward course.
lOvery nation, not only of Christendoni, but we may say
the universo, has tendered its quota of youth, determina-
tion and talent ; her mineral, agricultural and commercial
attributes stand unri^alled, and her prominent position on
the map as an invincible operator for good or evil on the
Pacific's countless legions of barbaric tribes, gives her an
influence, which if riabtlv annroTtriated, nr.\y allow her
supremacy for centui'ies to come. All these have, of

•vAMj:i.I.\(,

Ar.IFoRNj^

themselves, contributed

state, suffi'3i
Jating philosoph

><> iaj the loundation of

ont to realize the day-dream of

a model

^ny a specu-

Tlc «>° i" "'"" "'■^" ''^ '''"^'> '» "'-rd with

to the ocfupatioii of (liose whn ,1 .li i . .

subtler ael.l „f ,„of,„h ti " '" ''''"' '" ""'

":r t'::r '"t.^" r "-" '-- -^- ^

'" loss <.>.,c ,!,»„ ,|,e proli,„i„ari,... w„ulr hrt"

''"'^1 leai object, nnivorsailv: for monev i ) ' ' Y' .
arc of too esscMti.) v.Jn. i. 7,' ' '""^ ^"''''^

of f..n , . "^' ^" ^'" ^-^-Pcnded for mevo freakB

ot tancy, or m pleas „.r the ev nf t1, •

Ti,; 1 X. . ^ ^"* '.^'- "t t!ie coririoissenr.

UAMULINOS IN CALlFOilNIA

'on of a model
many a specu-
O'lmllj fulfill

y the iJiutlier'8
to accord with

solution, and
patience to
ee for inspec-
=0'^ and effect*

rove in the
('ortain it ia

voliiptuariea
II the van of
ig pointed to
ignitude are
il operation,

have been
It hyperbole,
iHist be the
itered upon.
f' it a public

the irrand
1' .uid time
more froake
Jcur.

int for the
iivc sprung
I'nod aside
ads graded
he echoing

Tlio .-tafo of ih'- Pro.-s may ?crve a?; a valuable eritiTiou
tu typifv the pro.-pority and uoiwral tastes of tlifi poople
in iiioi^t cuiintrics — wl!'.'rf such a thijig exists — an-i as th(!
('alifoniia iicwsp;ipv;x. in nuineri'-al value, in (■oinparison
to tlu; population, arc far alioail of ail o'tlicr State.--, so are
thoy in .'Ml\';mce i.-f tlu'. ( liief |,ni-t in t;iste. diuiiitv and
jud^iDenl. Many, f'l be sure, ;ire jiuerile and linie-stTAinu'
tra.-li, niiide u;. of .-l-rii:;' and r!iildi.-b bravado, or v.-itli
profuse selci-iii)!!-; from the '•y;ill('r kivored " ]r.ol;s i.f tiie
Ned Huntline .-ehool. oriuimdly manufictiu'ed (u -uit the
t;!:-tcs and cjipjieities of the iaetoy girls, or tin:' ••;ibie t .•
read lolks" tliat i'nrin >ueh an iniportnnt item in the Xew
England census. Hut as niaiiy incubi of t!ic .--a.nie trenViS
liavc lon'r di.-^L-'ra.eed tiie older States — e^De^v room becom-
ini: :«i/aa-ee — sonic liuve no doubt, to the superlative deiiuht
of their more inteliiucnt readers, moved tlieir location t->
the I'a.eiiie shore, and Inflicted the euvsc of their jiresonee
on t][o uiiibitunato gohl seekers. But it is a cross thcv are
bound to cndur". and ii will no dou1>t be mitiiratcd in TI<'a-
vcn's own ;;ood tiini\ San Francisco, at the jirescnt time,
issues nu>re than thirty; most of them ton, are conducted
by talent('<l iirMl disecrnip.ir men. and more than one. indeed,
rcsondjlc iii their editnrials. the calm diuaiityand unflinch-
ing imh^peiidence of such a pnpor as the London TlDia,
than could be (wpeeted in an Americiui journal, devoted,
as they te'o commonly are, to the vilest purposes of p^artv.
and buuiul in all thinus to the beck uf the liiu'lie.-t bidder.
But lierc, taste and education exist in a vcrv laru'e propor-
tion, and as often are the properly of inoleskin as of bruad-
clutli ; in consequence a proper reward has before been

2iven editors of a suuerior tone, who could thu« '!^-<^ b"

'■ ' 'J

the Ic'jitiniato proceed.^ of their intellectual labnr, witliout

i; J

RAMIU.lMl.v iv t,ll.ll.',>.!.NIA.

dceeuJi,,,, to ,1,0 ,lo,-|,i.a.Ie .ricl.s of .o.,lji„, ,,„j .„ff
-ns ..uhv.cluuk, and lvi„„ ,„ „3e ,n,Ma. a. l.,.;. ^

pi-

tlici

1^- lo"t oyo„ „,„o„. ,|,e „„,,, ,■„„,„,,„, .„„, ,,^^ ^
'.c.r most ,e.,K.et.blo ...oln<.v,.,„oo,., i. ,„o ,l„„..oro,„ ,/

«. bout th,, d,,.u.^„„g aniflcial Mi,„ul„s. It ,„.„.
'"<)«'l, a„ „u-«nt,ov.,rtil.l,. „..i„„i, with ,I,c,h: .atcr™ of

body pol,„.-like n„ auto^.d-oao d„ ,„ „r„„i • o .'hL

Wl. .1,.. couc-odc-l po,„t,, ,l,c ,„u,.l, ,.re,,„r .onvon e„c«
.ccap,ta„„„ a ..li,,,,,. ,„„„,,„, ,„ „„„ „,, ,^ J;

I'onnnoro Cooper, to ,vIh.,„ Atuori,..,,- ■„,. ,'

indebted for provi,,.- t., ,be„ n, \ '""■'''

eo.dd he r„. I n " '■■' """ •"' -\"'<^'if.->n book

'■ "■""""' "•"'"■"••''' ''•>"■•- -■'•ti^.an.i

eul .0 ,u„ a pertee, iitera.y ..auMtlet. be.ide. bein.

arr ,,,„„ ,„,„^, ,„^^^ ..„„„„„„,,„^^,^ ^^.,,^ ,_. ,^ «

uid aflord to l,e ,„.t to the ,„o,ives and aetion. of a
b 1= o„e,t,v, w,tbo,.. deteriorating. ,>„„ .1,0 bonor of hi.,

".Unc land „,„„en, at rare intervak«en:H,o .brow

■^^'"'^'■'"''"'^'•■"'^■^■U:.,:...„U,,.,, Z

niiliviMble republie.

Thi. unsafe sy.K.n „,■ ,ia,t,,-in,u ^ell-enee,„. is, to bo
^ ".-e, pronnncntly observable i„ ,bo IVifie IVe.ss, and i,
-Uo bo wondered at, ,vb<n.eb„o.,b«tthoele,„„:

t::: I ": ^"' ■"""*'''^- "-'-«' ""•■' '>'•• -oient

'" '" ^-'■- '^''''■'" '"''-'''^ '•' ncfoni.m'o with their

liA\i;MN(J.S !\ (AI.IKOllMA.

If)

'ing ;u)J puff,
trgf.

'> I'i'iic'uluu.ily
•ind iinproju-
tlio lustre of
l;niocroii3 sya-
'<--i)i lonccordl,
ki-'loped quito
(' tatlicrland,
it seems,
^e caterers of
.'piiblie, jKs a
g; ovcrlook-
(3' unhitppily
(.'OMvcnienco
.'I iimititude.
<■ '•«> luuob
icrlean book
• critics, and
f^i<Io8 being
b bis Jearn-
v'^ of fiction
'(.•tidnf- of a
lonor of hi^
d (o tbrow
''' "lit.' and

. is, to bo
■es!<, and i«
« (doineote
bs^ ancient
With their

S
■I

iVauclii.M' system, can mise ri barrier ugiiin.it tlvi f^ross
fnaids and outrage,-* openly professed and practiced by ber
tinic-r>crvin;;- and ini(juitou.s government, tbe I'ros.s will
\no>t as>!u\dly be prominent, provi(K-d it retain tbe su-
periority it biis ah'cndy obtained in advance of tbe sister
States. It bas not been witbuut a n..(Vt-crrul stru-julo. tbat
diuse pajicis ba\t: maintained tbeir iiuUipcndcnee and
iVeedoai. M«»re tbnn one lias paid bis life for liis princi-
ples, and soreral liave undergone tbe, unpleasant process
of being c<)\vbided in tlndr s:inctun!s for telling tbe trutb
unpolitely, and tbus lacerating tbe feelii;gsof certain tbin
skinned gentlemen, t<;o (diivalrous to trust tbe redress of
tbeir grievances to nn impartial jurv of tbeir (Mmntrvmen
Tbe total population of tbe State, bas been estimated to
range at tbe present time in tbe neigbl)orbood of .'iOO.OOO,
allowing for tbe average increase since tbo census of '52;
tbe incvea.se niostly accruing from tbe plains — as tbe dif-
ference between tlepartures and arrival, by tbo ocean
steamers is luit trifling, tbougb leaving a small balance-
mostly of tbe fair sex — in favor of tbe countrv. Tb<^
ligures in tbe census, were, probably, as near tbe trutb a,4
could be expected ; but, bowever, no great dependence
can be placed in thy' official returns, wben we consider
tbe extremely fre*; .and easy manncf. in wV.ieb a lar'^o
portion oi" tin- p, ople fancy to exist. Tbousands arc
literally b.nneless. Largo bodies of miners keep in per-
j.ctual motinn from bar to guleb. and guleb to canon, in
pursuit of variety, or paying dirt. (.)tlicrs are out career-
ing on ilie boundle.-s prairies, in jmrsuit of game, leaving
no better luilf at borne, to provide tlie :i].},licant witb tbe
recjuisite information. Orlwv.M i,u^ a^^ c.-.,t.-,>f,, j ,...
ran^bes. fur ofT in secluded vdliey. tl 'ir wIi^reaboutH a

ii;

llAMBLI\(;s IN CAI.il

OllNiA.

■".v.«tor3. ,„ .„, ,„,, u,e,„,Hlvo., or . oha,,.-,. ,v...,,Wvr wi,„

.-■--."....Ihlv „s„, ,„ „„„.. „„„, ,, ,^„. I „ ,■

-^V- ;--m,, t,,i., ,h. pn:,v,.n,ial vn..,i,v .„,,k4 t^

'•"^ •' tiiitvlv and ilK^'al l,ri).,. i.' ,. ■ . '

,-'^'<u.! ii,h iu tncron.-us. worearonunf...] r ,. ;,

1"^.. .1.1,0,1,; ,„,L , |,.|. ,.,,„|,| I .
<^^'^v „„o, „]„,„ it i, ,^, ., ■;" '•" *' '"

■- "'^ "^ 1- .-^.l-cod iV„,„. Alk., ti,c. oi.i.e„., l,„li,,„

-K g.n,,e,..,, or Ar,.u.,, o,.i,i,, ,,,,„„,„„, ^^..;, ; ;

-,«,.,.,. oo,.„„„,p.,U,B,,,v tho ex.,.e,„e ^ i;

'':~''''l' ''■-■"■ -'■■-10- «.. 1.0 1, ■,,o..,l.u-;.i,o„ti,...„-,,,,

plOXlOM. ''•■

l"-'""'"iuato. Tl,o r',.o„ol,. „iso, to,-,, ,„ ."''^"'-"
|,„bi, I • ■'" '•'l'>.i"Jlu-r.. liiuol, lo ti,oir„w„

I' b..lk ot tl,o,„, ,„ <.o„se,|„c.„oo, 01,00.0 Umn. for ,|.eir
<lwo ling plaoos, „horo ,,n oxi.tonoo ,„nv bo piokod „, b

^■"""' ""■ """"''•' ''"'l totally „,or,opoli.o,i (1,0

-4

-».

i!.^^ll^],l^^.> IN (A 1,1 KOI? N I A .

(•^' wajfaror who
'- "'Je the hoards
Jitary mountain
i'xeo],t in their
^ui( of ".i'ruL,"
ty ;ui(l oaroh'-.--
offiei'tls. roniJcr
lii^'h to ,'pri)i a
■'■'t L'Mvcnniicnt
JiH'iir, by means
•■^1 t'ormiii^i t];o
•I' in -,[ .separate
tlic'ir )-c5;t)oc-
'J tar fn.rn an
i'o<rineous olc-
i>'-^''is, .Indian^
hccn honoroi]
^'"omc facility
-hout iuiporti-
■r(.'>< and <■:,)]]-

u'ui>. ("hinose,
'!t re- publics,
u important
t<' their <nvn
filled ao-;;iij.<|;
tion nf fJieni
■'^ avocatidns
tvn.s fur their
ickod up, by
its of others.
'p'">li'/ed the

boot-black iiiii' plofessioii. but now it a[.jiears about ciiually
divided with the negroes, thoy are uenerallv found in
cvowd.s round the priticipal hotel-; in San Francisco, brush
in hand, asking eniploynient. They likewise cry all the
fish — manufacture liot de,u<dinuts, with a portable cookinr^
apparatus, at the street corners — orind knives, aiul jteddle
cheap citrnrs. calces and frn.it. The mouicd classes uene-
rally invest their capital in restaurants, uand^ling saloons.
;ind drinkiu';- shops, which are extensively patronised by
all nations, from their ;^reat sliill in culimiry affairs, and
the univ(Msal taste they manifest in adorning and "gettin'^
up," eoui»!ed with a i:re;;t spirit of ])olit''ness. and inclina-
tion to e.\eel in the art oi' pleasing'.

The Spanish .\meric;ins are hold in soverciL'u contempt
by citizens, ami arc stigmatized with being filthy, ignorant,
lazy and vicious. But this report mu.st be received with
great caution on account of the antipathy between the
races, engendered by th. Anunican war, and constantly
fed by little acts of aggression by both parties, and. in
truth, it must be owned that the poor Spaniard has been
more sinned against than sinning. Hundreds have been
murdered, or ruthlessly driven from their homes, for acts
«>f dcjo'cdation committed by Americans. No s,u,,m>r is a
crime committed, than su.^picion falls immediately on some
unfortunate Mexican or (,'liileno, and as is often the case,
where the people bcconu' the executive, the accusers are
by no means expected to prove the victim guilty, but he i.s
commanded to establish liis innocence, and but little time
is allowed for the operation. They have, in nuuiy cases,
suffered more persecutions, even tlian the Chinaman, from
the simple cause that his natural liaiightiness leads him to
resent oppression, and his heart burn?^ for revenge, which

KAMiiLINUS IN CALIi-'UKM A.

IS often fVarfully ubtairuMl. They huvc apparently come,
not for tlio imrposc of aocumulating woaltli, but to live
easily a.ul enjoy life. IJut when compelled to work, no
more skilful or industrious miner can be found than the
ffambnsino of .Sonora. When the cxehe.iuer is flourishing
they dress like hi.lal-os, and puff their n);,n'iioe,, iuter^
minably, au.l are found with tastefully adjusted wanfo,
around their darling monte table, a uiatter of necessity to
them at such times ; as a people they are extremely qriu r-
ous nnd polite, thouo-h very reserved, and seem happy
and contented when supplied with melons and cards, with
something to play for,

The Germans, as is usual with tlu^m in other countries,
.-•re industrious, orderly and contented, and appear to be!
with the Anglo-Saxon, the only people well adapted to bo the
progcuitc rs of new nations. They are, in the main, very
unpopular with American and Irish laborers, because no
reduction of witges, will tempt them to pluck up a spirit
and strike for a higher remuneration. They .-seem satisfied
also, when in business for themselves, with slow, but
constant returns, which, together with the essential gift.s
of economy and sobriety— except, perhaps, a strong pen-
chant for %.v />;>>•— in most cases, even here, are surely
conducive to prosi)erity. The extreme facility with wh' ^h
they ac(juire the Knglisli to.iguc, and the habits of the
ruling people, conspire to hopeful success in localities,
where mendicancy would alone present itself to the thrift-
less minds of many others, who look with contempt upon
German thrift.

As for the Italians— who are fortunately not veiy
numerous, they are .-hiefly of tiie lowest ela.ss, and manage
to slide through, in the round of existence, as that classic

FiAMBLINC.S IN rA[,iri)nNl A.

ntly come,
5ut to live
> work, no
I than the
flourish inpj
foes, inter-
L'd mantoA
ccessity to
elj gviif r-
em happy
ardri. with

t'Oiiritric.';!,
ear to be,
1 to be the
lain, very
'cause no
p a spirit
1 .satisfied
^low, but
tiul giftji
on<,' pen-
re .«urely
th wli' ^h
ts of the
oealitics,
bo th)-it't-
npt upon

!0t
It]

it classi*;

very

people arc wont to do, in their own sunny land. That is,
tliey beL'. sleep, or grind Imrdy-gurdys. It has often been
a -juery with inquirutive persons, and those fond of the
marvellous, by what stroke of fortune the dark-eyed
sij^uors were eonveyod liither, and what could be their
object y The most reasonable soluti(ni to the problem,
seems to be, that they had some shadowy idea of lazzaroni,
wliite mice, and tambourines, being up in the market,
and essential to the well-being of (,'aliiuniia society.

r>ut the most sfciiking feature in all this varied crowd —
at least to a freshly arrived stranger — are the Chinese
residents. Evt!ry .spot where their presence is tolerated
>ecms oeeu}iied, and they appear particularly attached to
their own select society, for it is an extreme rarity when
a ,-ulitary .specimen is discovered straying from the fold of
iiis brrthrcii. The emigration was a perfect rush during
the years of T)] and '52 ; for the next two years, most
probably from the evil eye with which they w^ie regarded,
it sensibly declined, but has again commenced as briskly
as ever. The pictures on the tea-boxes, grotesque as they
may a])pcar, are in many rcsjtects good resemblances of
the (tri^inal. but it must be (.wned by their greatest
:.dmirc:-s tluit tlie fitney sketches have most wickedly
naiterrd the undt'\ iatiiig coarseness uf the celestial coun-
tenance. A dreary sameness exist.s throughov', both in
form and feature, and both experience and perspicacity are
rceuisite in (»rder to puint out onaJoJin from another, with
any degree of accuracy. They have all the same angular
features, almond shaped eyes, coiidcal cues and ridiculous
inexpressibles or petticoats ; the article in question having
about an equal claim to either the masculine or feminine
tegument. They don't wall:, but ( ontvivc to scuttle alontr

UA.MIW.INCS IN fAUroilNIA,

orncwhat afto,- ,l,o fi.l,!,,,, ,„• ,,„ „|„,,„„, „„„,. ,„„,.,^,,
for wat,.,-, .In,,.,.;,,,- tl,c fcH al,.„. i„ ,|,c „,„., „,„„„,i;
">""...■.■ ,v,H,.„t .aisinjr flKm, ; ,l„.ir .•!,n„.v, ,l,iol<.s„|o.l
^Ime, hnwovor, ,„ay ..wiallj- u.,hI ,„ .!»• .1„.,„ „,i,
ruliculous nppcaniucc.

Miners and .,(1,.,. ,„„.,i,„ «.|,„ ,,„,, ,,|,,,||^.,| ,|^^,^^^ ^.^.^^^^^
va™u.s places i.ave ,eeeive,l stro,,,- ceusure fV,,,,, some
pMlam „-„p,s,,s f,„. the oonto,.pe „„.l „fte„ worse usa,.o

TThu-h ".f„l,„ _„s tl,e Chinaman is li liaHy ter.nedl

.as recen,,, ,„ „,eir l,an,ls. Anih.mt a,.on,p,in. to
,iu« .fy those par„os i„ ,l,eir unwarmntabh. pr.,eee,lL..s
Wll, ., «-e nnpartially ,la„ee at the suhjeet, >vc shall fin,!
^ome cause for this apparently ernel anin,osity. |„ the
tot place, every thin, in connection wiH, then,, s„ en-
P .a .cally n,arb then, out as a ,,:.,,,,.. ,„,,,, ,, „^ ,, '.

.-an,,y fron, ,l,e Oe„r,iu,n Si.lns, had the p„w "
ioco,not,on already obtained access to that rcn.ote planet
rh,s e.rcumstanee is rp.ite sufficient to excite the prejudice
o many „. ,t ,s a reeo.ni.cd fact, the anta.onii, illnt:

ad a Ifo, ,,n ,n„ovat,ons. lin, „ ,„ore logical and seri:

""^, "''•'.«"°"' »- "'■■^^'i h tlH.' opponen; to Asiatic
c-.u«ra,n,n. It .as publicly l.nown ti.at , ,y of the

r specs f,„ , ord.nary arrivals Iron, other countries, who
"0 to cn,.,cl. tl,e,.,selvcs individually, and very often to

powe. o the .state, a-ul in the end, perhaps, to becon,c
bench , ^ ^^ theVconteude

<o«ld never be hoped for from the Chinese. for-t„ .J
™tn,„g of mutual scorn between the ,„o raecslfhc

•lAMlU.IN<iS IN TAT.IKOKNIA

'Zl

Lirdo n);ikin<r
•O'^t uncouth
', tliit'k-solod
f llx'iii this

1 them from
iVoiii some
worse usajre
Ij termed —
empting to
>roeeccHngs,
e f^h.'tll find
tj. In the
lem^ so eni-
p, that they
;)ecimens of
powers of
lote planet,
e projiidice
lism almost
) parvenus,
il and sori-
to Asiatic;
y of these
t'd in all
tries, who
y often to
vealth and
to become
on tended,

)r til am7

"■ J

aces — the

priiuiji.il anivals in tho^.' days, cunsi»tcd of nomin.ii
freemen, but absolute jitona in reality, attended by keen-
witted masters, who krpt tlicm earefuil) alo<»f, and assidu-
ously endeavored to prevent ;til coiumunieatioii witb whiten,
(( la Ci no/ ill II So II //I.

It was a>>erted that th(y Were ori^iiutlly enuaiied in
their own ('(nuitiy for u eertain small sum pai<l in advaneo,
the said sum to be li(|uid:ited by a few dollars paid month-
!}•, which was barely suiheient to furnish their wardrobe
riu! proceeds of their labor meanwhile bein^- dej)osited in
the hand> uf the oHieer in ehar!;e. The disbursements
alsd were liiiht in tlie extreme, as a ear<;n of riee i:cnerally
aeeompanied thttii. -utheient for their consumption during;
theirsdjourn in the uiiconi;cnial land of the "outside bar-
barians." MS thev rat})er unpolitely designate all poor fel-
lows iHit natives of the celestial empire. This state of
affair- was not merely an evil, but an outrage of serious
import, eallini: haidly for redress, both fn.m it« inconsis-
tency with the institutions of a free country, and the
prohtlcss (Iraimige of treasure tu enrich the coffers of a
foreign and barbarous dcspotisjn. As this trade in Coolies
lias now ceased, together with importing for theniselven,
merchants arc now tlu.'ir best friends, and miners treat
them with much less active hostility than formerly— but
not less contemptuously — and John has learnt to take all
scurrilous jests on his anatomical structure, and all oppro-
))rious epithets, with grinning affability, as the surest
method of preserving a sound Chinaman. Ju the town.s
their main occupation consists in washing for the public,
and trading with each other, and many of their merchants,
short as their residence h?s been, have already aceuiriu-
lated handaonu? fortunes. In r}i,- different uiiuiug se«!tion8,

RAIIHLINOSJ IN CALIFORNIA.

-wlicrc thoy arc foiirul in the greatest numbers, they gene-
rally work earth which has been eonsidered unpayable by
white men, and seldom reject it, while it produces a daily
average of one dollar per man. Often, too, wh^n they
accidentally .stumble on a spot where the pro.spects are
favorable, they are summjuily ejected, by any lucky indi-
vidual who fancies to claim the ground, or else pay u
handsome price for the privilege of non-interference In
large camps where laws exist, a right of purchase is gene-
rally respected, but in ob.scure diggings, it is not so," and
too often the new-comers succeed each other so fast, that
the actual discoverer, is at last obliged to give up his
ground in despair. This is most likely a reason wliy a
contempt for veracity is imputed to them, for on ques-
tioning a Chinaman as to the paying properties of his
claim, the invariable reply is "No good, John— two pans,
hap cent— no hab got— no make licey,"— (Rice.) Thej
rarely attempt a legal action, even with each other, which
is no small sign of sagacity and prudence, for although
the law would very willingly go through the form "of
dealing the commodity out to them, it would, very aptly,
be the monkey system— and they generally excuse the
court the trouble of stripping them.

They have striven hard, at various intervals, to be
allowed the practice of jurisdiction among themselves;
but as bad precedent has occurred in Java, and other
places, where this privilege was conceded to them by the
Dutch, and afterwards retracted, from the abuse of the
power thus granted to them, it has been concluded, here,
to deal them out law, when required, after the ftishion of
barbarians. Expensive as the most frugal fare has always
x>eeu in tliis country, the Chinaman contrives to subsist

'*
^

HAMULI N08 IN CALIFORNIA.

r.i, they gene-
unpayable by
tluces a daily
h whin they
prospects are
y lucky iudi-
r cbe pay a
'fcronce. In
base is gene-
not so, and
so fast, that
give up his
3ason wliy a
for on fjues-
rties of hi.s
— two pans,
ice.) They
>ther, which
or although
he form of
very aptly,
excuse the

vals, to be
heniselves ;

and other
'lem by the
'Use of the
ided, here,

ftishion of
has always

to subsist

■i

-'X

on a very trifling outlay of the circulating niediuiu.
Their diet chiefly consists of pig and vegetable!, the lat-
ter, with the e.\ception of rice, being greatly aided by the
spontaneous productions of the country, for they are
excellent herbalists. These they cook with great skill and
complexity, and handle their slender chop-sticks with
dexterity and despatch, keeping up a constant colloquy
with each other during the busiest and most interesting
periods of the feeding process. Every thing possibly
edible, however, is aceptable to the Oriental palate ; the
coarsest of ofTal and small fl.sh, lizards, rats, fat puppies,
and all such abominable contributions, are gratefully
accepted by John's capacious, and ostrich-like stomach.
But rough as the raw material may have been, there is
nothing disgusting in the appearance when served ; indeed,
nothing can exceed the neatness and cleanliness of their
cooking arrangements. But much as others may contemn,
there are doubtless many good points, worthy of imita-
tion, that act as a heavy counterbalance, to the more disa-
greeable phases of this extraordinary compound of civili-
zation and barbarism. They are, without exception, the
most law-abiding class in the community; it is a great
rarity when one of them cuts up a freak worthy of the
recorder's notice, and even then he is seldom the aggressor,
but merely acting in a becoming manner of self-defence.
Bu. ' V, ti rliis latter becomes a crime in the eyes of the
la's ■ • u Chinaman's evidence is worthless against a
citizen. They are temperate in the use of alcoholic
liquors, extremely economical, and industrious as bees.
Although well satisfied with a small compensation for their
labors, there is no injury to other ouerativts, on the score
of competition, as they mostly keep aloof, and live and

1 f

fUMHLIA'.^s [X CAI. [FORMA.

trade with each other fn avocations nn<i localities that
would be utterly de.orte.l hut for their nntirin. patience
.'ind per,«everanee.

It is to be deeply r.-trictted that the ritrht hand of fel-
owsh.p and Christian charity ha. not been n.ore freely
-Klered to this .-tefuland deeply thinking peopled
^\ho can tell the astounding effect such a course niiUt
bavc ultin.ately had on the destinies of the world, a^ul
the march of the only true civilizer, ti.e Christian relioion ^
Let ,t be ren.embered that this inoeni.us race, end>ncino
a^ they do such a huge proportion of earth's inhabitants^
^■^>^ remam steeped in the darkest night of idolatry, and
notwuhstanding tho clou<l of nnssionaries who have'noblv
gwen their talents, fortunes and lives, fV>r thedod-like
motive of heathen conversion, their efforts have almost
Oten as naught, and treasure^ of worldly wealth, and,
What ,s worse still, treasures of human intellect and vir-
tue, uave been hopelessly s,|uandered as worthless thinos
t-ut.t would actually appear as if the Deity himself l^^d
blued h,s own good time, and h,>re, on the sho,os of the
once lonely J'acilic-where the oldest race n.ay e.nbraee
.M>u fratern.se with the newest-had placed his holy stand-
■-^■^]^ ="Hl n.arked it ,mt as a grand rallyintr irround and
urnversity, to provide the whole heathen woHd with in-
Flructors, of potent and lasting infiuencc-preaehers of
ih, gospel a.ul men of their own language and kindred
^^•S th.s ,s of all others the most effective field in the
world to make converts, whose future efforts mi-ht well
be crowned with sueeess on their return to the\nd of
then- nut.y.ty ; but, alas ! such a consummation ean scarcely
bo looked forbythemostenthusiustie. wher<^ brutal it- ind
c^ontetiipt are exercised, instead of Christian forbea'rance
aud brotherly love.

KAMBLl.NOS IN CALITORMA.

loealiticf; fhat
'ir\n<y patioiici'

Iiaiid of fel-
moro freely
Ivin^' people,
course luioht
? world, and
i.'Ki religion ^
\, embracing
inhabitants,
idolatry, and
» bave nobly
be (Jod-like
bave almost
caltb, and,
• ct and vir-
iloss tilings,
liniself had
10)0^ of tlie
ay embrace
holy stand-
nvMind and
d with in-
■eachers of
d kindred,
old in the
might well
Ke land of
n s-ijarcely
itaiity and
•rbea ranee

Of the hist, thougli not least, the famous Anglo-Saxon,
a title uuw monopolised by all who claim the English for
their nutivo tongue. lie is here, as be appears determined
to be in all places eventually, the head, heart, and tonguo
of all ; and if he has somewhat misapplied his genius, and
degenerated in the observance of the moral code, and in
some of the nobler applications of his intellectual nature —
by comparative estrangement from the society of virtuous
females — exertions for the accumulation of wealth liave
been proportionably stimulated, and his native daring and
iiiternal strength have been multiplied four-fold.

The most numerous and important of this section of
tlie (jenna homo, are, of course, the citizens of the United
States. The native American presents himself to the
foreigner visiting the Atlantic States, according to the
provincialism of his birth place, and some of the most
h-ublinie blunders have been perpetrated by European tra-
vellers, by setting down the peculiarities of an individual,
or even of a State, as a national sample of the whole,
seeming to overlook the fact that Connecticut, for example,
may not in all instances set the fashions to commonwealths
having the most trifling connection with her, scarcely an
idea in connnon, and more than a tliousand miles off !
'i hey might, indeed, almost with the same show of reason,
exhibit a " broth of a boy" from the wilds c^ Connemnra,
for a staid citizen of Whiteehapel — or a Cossack of the
t'on, for a Baltic fisherman.

But here we may speculate on the characteristics of an
individual representative, from what portion we please,
and shall thus obtain a juster criterion of them, as a total,
than we could by the minutest inspeetion from Maine to
Texas. The genuine Yankee, from the land of "fixins,"

RAMBL!N«;.s £N rAUFORNJA.

^^^.^.I^ dctoaod by hi. bu.,li„g habit,, „a,ai intoua.iou,
..d ecc.„„u-,. .,,„.uatio,.s: the, will often manufacture:
the „ea„s ,,, a hvehhoed, and hy even the foundation of
.. f^.rtune, rom the n.o.t ineou.prehen.ihie, unthoupht of

"'^ '"'.'"''"r """''' »"'" "l"'«"«l' their expemuents

woo,„,. ,he li,.l.!e ,..Jde,s. are frc,ue„t failiros like
• - < --1- spuler, the, return a,„in ,„ the har.e, un-
it"'' T, "' '^ ""'''""^ '' ""'^"^ "■"-'-' -"■
success. Lhey are ,n u,o.«t eases the instiirators of every

-•■"*.■ permanent and ,o„d. Churches and Schools, Hos-

. ,a,s and Asjlnrns, and „,„„beriess institutions of benefit,

..« oeeply .ndcbted to their exertions in the cause of hu

--.,,, wh,le the low .rogueries already n.anifest disgust

"d u„cas,„ess at their presence. Though e.vtre.nely p"."

sp,nted ,n their gifts, they are trcn.endously attld.ed

^•tht^;, ° ^^'"»"--7f-w''ilc petty thefts are viewed
Will. upe,la ,ve contnn.ely, j;ig„„tio ,•,.„„,,, ,,, ,,„,^.^^,

too often w,th u„,,uali(ied approbation.

1 our b'hoy of New Vorl- i„ .. m- , .

h-iif „f .1, , , ' --"^ rollicking fellow—

fi.'it "t them arc dentists— drcssv if he ,•■„, . ff i •.
"-vch adicted ,0 heavv Viti , , ' "'"'

;;;-;' •■-;^ many things W. „,„,/,,/,./>,,,.,,. ,,„,,

■';■■"■'': ■■■''■l;;-'«-tlK- nia.erial, will i,,,,s, ,,,,., ,;,,,,,,,,„

-™,.en.,ior,K„„.i.Qu:,t.e, the last ,„iarter .o'es ij

r;,'":'"'^ ■?'' >— trothcr.inhin:,,:

-;d physiognomy, bu, is I'ar in advaneeof bin, i., his ideCs
« -nifet destiny, bniggadoeia and filibusterism.
;. .beral patronucr of the theatrical corps, spouts .< N ' v
.Mhe winter of our discontent." and „„,;,' .„ ,,;„"'^
fouudest tnystery of the green room, ..uotes T I t, e
""" '^''' ' '*'"■ ••' "-"-■'-, and Calculates wh e

-:Ci

■ t

RAMBf,iN(iS IN rAIJFOHMA.

li intouatioii,
Uianufaoturo
oundatioQ of
iithought of,
experiments
itilures, like

•liarjie, un-
'wiicd with
n-H of every
hools, Hos-
'^ of benefit,
lu.se of hu-
t'est disoust
enieJy pub-
Ij attaclied
are viewed

looked on

1' fellow —
>i'd it, and
lers, lie
'i/i's. and
iiil\- sport
iioi's free
He h:is
laii»u;(iie
bis ideas
I Hois
■, "Now
tlie pro-
! I*aine,
^ben be

hidf; adieu ttj this Jrublunary spliere, to a'o soiiiewbere, and
bill into the arms of Munroe, the grestt oriiiinator of liis
' iilitieal opinions, and the most renitukablt' man the
world ever produced.

Tbc Kentuckians I'ennsvlvanians and lUu-k-<-ves, are
a tbrivinu prudent race, and a]iproaeb the Vankee mode!
much in tbeir ideas of thrift and persistence. But their
spheres of action differ widely; for whib; the latter
eschews bom; and sinew practict', and develops his per-
ceptive facidties to the most ample stretch, in the my.stc-
riou.s doctrine ot speculative chances, the former plod
industriously at e-tablished avocations, and are anionj'' the
mo.st industrious and well-doinij; of American citizens.

'J'he South and S. West — to judpe from that biriic nor-
tiorj here, amply displayed for perusal — are far — very far,
in tlio rcai'ward, in comparison with those ii; mod, in
almost all the essentials that constitute refinement and
enlightenment. The curse of slavery with both, and the
.semi-barbarous, unrestrained frontier life of the latter,
have left an indelible and unplea.sant mark upon tho
present ueneration of the workin-j' classes of whites, and
desj.ite thv bootless l)oast of free citizen.sbiji, and much as
ihcy \,it:\ vaunt their symiiathy for the (biwn trod(h-n
masses of Euro].e, the Kus^iaii peasant is fully their c<|Ual
in knowledL'e, and their superior i?i intciirity.

Tbc F. I'"s of the S(»utli. seem to po,<vess all the Jiauub-
lincss of (he little (Jernian Prince, minus urbanity ami
respect to the laws of tlieir c<nintry ; and it is a sad truth,
(bat oven in this countiy. most of tlu; trnoedios enacted
have taken their oriein in Southern principles, said prin-
ciplc'ir conHistin;^ in tlie higiiwayman's coat of arms, —
" mieht (^or money') ii,akes riiibt."

ii0

KA.MBUNUS IN CALli'OKNIA.

tonstant commuuicatiou with .laves has done iucedible
CV.1 wuh the lab„m,g ela..s of .outher.ors; having it con-
M^ntlybdoro their cjes, that their on,plojn,ent i^pi-eoisely
HMular to that of an inferior race, and e.vtren,ely unre.nu
nerafve besides it can hardly, he supposed, in a country
where the moral rein i., held so loosely, that virtue and
mdastry can long hold out in the struggle-he resigns iu
Jespan. and the sole desire remaining is to calmly loaf hi.,
clays away. ''

l-he most poverty-stricken, know-nothing gangs of the
bouth, I have n,et with, are the Georgian miners, and
dirt eaters rom Carolina. A large nu.nber of the Ueorgians
origmally found their way here on tlie Coolie system But
on one point they diftered materially from the Asiatics-
hat IS, they invariably repudiated all indebtedness on
the.r arrival, and after thus whitewashing then.selves
connneneed geulogie;,! excavations on their own hook
■ndepcndent as the fourth of July, They are e..tremei;
dissipated, and slovenly in their apparel, but good-natured
and coninmnieative, while all of them seen, to have an
inveterate j„ „,../„„„ f„,. t^^less boots, and crownlcss hats.
i he Carolinians are only distinguished from the Georgians
by the great delight they manifest in ina..ticating earth
but as this i.. an article of consumption, free to all parties,'
I don t see that we have any particular right to interfere
rrovdcd the ground be not auriferous. From this odd
propcnsuy they have been nicknamed Wrteateis or
Dirtikins.

The Loui.ianians fro.u the Crescent City have ideas of
the largest dimensious, and boast that the banks of their
" Fatber of Waters." caves in more dirt, annually, than
wuuia manufacture a better island than Great Britain

RAMP.LINGS IN <'A IJFOBNIA.

'2U

)ne iuercdibic
aving it con-
it is precisely
lely unreiuu-
iu a country
t virtue and
e resigns in
Ini ly loaf his

angs of the
miners, and
e Georgians
stem. But
! Asiatics —
' ted n ess on
themselves,
own hook,
extremely
od-natured
■0 have an
nless hats.
Georgians,
iug earth,
;ill i)arties,
interfere,
this odd
eaters or

e ideas of
s of their
illy, than
Britain.

They .'tr*' brimful of pity and contoiuiif for Nigueri*,
Northerners, and Abolitionists from everywhere, are full
of «trangc oaths, carry long knives, and patronize brandv-
hraa,4i and mintjuleps to any extent, toasting confusion,
with all the honors, to Sunday laws and Sons of Tempcr-
aneo.

The Sharp-shooters, ory///.Y>', from the mighty ^iissouri
and its tributaries, are often made the butts of their better
provided fellow-citizens, and they are, in sooth, commonly
speaking, rough and unpolished as their own westein land.
They have an instinctive antipathy to salt water, ;ind in
(•onse<|uence, the major portion of them wlut have refi-eshed
California bv their attendance, are iiilLirims bv I he land
vnutc. They are extremely lo([uacioas on the earliest
ac({uaintanceship, and woo betide the luckless "stranger"
upon wliom they inflict, with their barlmrous dialect, the
lights and shadows of life on the plains, for as this soli-
tary journey in the wilderness — which they term travel-
ling — has been the tirst from the paternal ro<if tree, their
memories arc most disagreeably green, ;ind tenacious of
the smallest circumstance of adventure. Durinu' the sum-
mer of 'oO, a. certain county — far aw;iy in the wilds (»f
Missouri — yclept Pike, was taken — without any premoni-
tory s)'mptoms whatever — with a wholesale e*netic, and

fairly inundated the desert — thick as Pharoah's frous

with shoals of youthful, long-legged, hungry Pikes. To
the common query of returners — who met them on their
march — of '' Whence come yc ?" the invariable counter-
sign was Pike county, and as they brought for their sole
heritage, a profounder shade of verdure even than their
predeees.sors frotu the same State, their brethren got
incongruously classed with them, and th«' biicf coi?non)en

RAMBLINQS IN CALIFORNIA.

of Ftke IS now familiarly applied to all. They are a fine-
iooking, corn-fed, hardy set of varlets, straight as Indians,
and have the aboriginal distaste to aught that savors of
drudgery,, but when he snuffs the tainted gale, the puke
;s thar, and ten cent dirt, pick and shovel are dropped
in disgust, when the track of a grizzly or antelope is near,
for they are all -lost monsters" that come within sight of
nis unerring rifle.

They are a whiskey-loving lot, adepts at the fashionable
games of poker and scen-xcp, but are otherwise intensely
Ignorant, and are easily directed in their votes by any
^mall politician from their own state, for they are clannish
in the extreme, and faithfully attached to their own section
of the republic.

All these varieties are only to be found collected together
in tae wonderful menagerie of San Francisco, from whence
proceed the different streams of fortune hunters, big with
higli hope, and again receives them on their backward
route, with spirits exultant or crestfallen, as their varied
rates may be.

The city occupies the north-eastern extremity of the
pemnsula, formed by the bay bearing its name on the one
side, and by the Pacific on tlie other. The harbor has
been materially injured by what has been termed the ex'-
tcnsion policy, or sale of water lots by the .^overnn.ent to
private individuals, for the professed object of forminc. a
Mnkmg fund-an appropriate name, by the way-i„ order
to meet the liabilities of the State. But the real use of
t^iese ots has been to form palatable tit-bits from his obese
l^xcellency to his parasites. So well satisfied did the rulers
become with their former experiments in this nlan of 1..k1
making, that a fre.h Bill was formed for the^ purpose" of

RAMIJLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

ey are a fine-
it as Indians,
at savors of
lie, ihe puke
are dropped
lope is near,
iliin sight of

fashionable
se intensely
)tes by any
ire clannish
own section

ed together
t'oni whence
's, big with
' backward
leir varied

ity of the
on the one
Jarbor has
ed the ex-
rninent to
forming a
—in order
3al use of
I his obese
the rulers
n of land
Lirpose of

■I

rescuing another mile from the clutches ef old Neptune.
But the former recipients of the bread and fishes being
rather impulitically excluded from the next meal, were in-
dignant that their rivals should obtain peaceful possession
of the city front, while their own wharves and warehouses
already existent were contemptuously thrown in the rear —
they became in consequence horribly patriotic, denounced
the schemers and their nefarious machinations, and openly
acknowledged their own delin(iuencies in times gone by ;
the press also joined in the crusade against the proceedings,
and the city delegation resigned their seats, but were im-
mediately re-elected — a democratic principle said to test
the will of the majority. The plan was therefore reluc-
tantly abandoned for a season, but will doubtless be again
agitated on the first propitious opportunity. The poor
expectants had to weep over departed hopes, and seek for
drier diggings, after making the disagreeable discovery
that si'overnment patronaLre and water lots arc both fleeting
and unstable things.

Much uiischief has been already done, for the great
business portion is, even now, outside the high water mark,
and nearly fills up the crescent which originally existed
between the protecting points of the harbor. In a south-
fast gale, the position of the residents in many places is
much more romantic than comfortable, for the houses un-
dulate gracefully to the howl of the tempest, and the
surging billows down in the cellar, and form no bad emblem
of republican " institutions" in general.

Many a reverend old tub of a ship, that has been crowded
oflf to make way for the splendid race of clippers that now
sw.arm upon the ocean, is here laid up Ijig]', and dry, with
a mile of street between her and her native element. —

•••>

KA.MMLI\(;.s IS <:AIJK()H\/a.

■l«''li."K house. :.„,! ,.>•,.„ cliua-hcs; a,„| cu-ollem tcno

-, w„l. ,|„„. ,„„„.|„,i„„, ^^^,

''"" """""«-".V"l'afli,„>j,vo,„l..„l„„.|,,

" •'" '•• -. ..il I.Mf:„,,,e,s, „„d.n colors, JMSlIc .u-l, o,l,or

"" '.'" "'!"■ ,"»■" "'"■'■-' i»"-i, -Hi i,„cdio». of ,iu.i;

» ankee, wi h stare lod c.II n- -., i i . *

■ -von,., u, ,,,. I,. ..,,„,, p,, ,„,,^^_^,,, ^,H

A u, c „„.,x ,„„,, .s,„, a„. ,.,i.,i,i„, i„ ,^^,..|,., ^^^^.^^^ ^^
^' m,s „■„„,„ ,,„,, „,„j ,,,„,., ,„^,^,^,,,._^|^,^ ^^ ^. ^1^^ _^^^ ...

vcnaho..„u,,,e,,«.«on,is..,,,,.o,,,,,.. Si,,, ■,,.,„,,,,„,,„.
; -1 Jun„, ,l,„ Chun d,„,,s,,, „,„„..,„,,. of v..„ „..,.
n,eo,,t|,„.,,„.,l,v.Mo.i. lH.,Ibo„„l i„ l,i.|, ,„,,„,;.j

<•"'<■> 1" •■ vnlk i„ .•„,(| ..|„,c ,0 t„„t,|
IllOtI

I'.-l.-..-. I..du,„.s, l,.i,|„„„„, l,,|„„,j,„, ^.

« .tlc.,„e,. ,,i eol,,,.. lit.,,,,),, ev.,., „.,i„„ „„J„ ,„,,,,„_

■ ^-,1-. .i.vuM h.acujors :uui ou.stou.s iuaiutaia their due

!•" Oil moves the
1
i

RAMl.I-INGiJ IN rA'TFOHNlA.

'Xfollent tone-
''•>*>. >triiL-turos
•<■»' the finest
hy .spots, two
1 shelter funii-
'■iiJti III) iidur
'.•stiiiH on tho

'i«><' ])lankcMi
iit't". Crowds
'c eacli otJier,
!Ies.s of their
I tnidolovifia
I'vc-pipe. en-
tile .solemn
<'t .stockin,f>i!,
fiithoiii.s. A
'. who fliiur-

t' \\dlH nirn.

li^h culorecl.
hiippily ual-

Here, too,
1. lifting up
-in .^ulicita
moves tho
►rituiid jijul
'iiiaiis. an,i
" heaven —
» their du«?

preponderance, and others must gradually adopt them,
even tor the motives of !-elf-defcnee and cumtbrtuble exist-
once.

Whole cargoes, of two ur three thou.sun(i tons, are dis-
charged and placed upon the wharf with a celerity and
punctuality elsewhere incomprehen.sible. Drays loaded
with rich freight from every climate, and pulled by sleek
and powerful horses, freijucntly blockade the ill-conditioned
street.^, to tlut Ji.smay and choler of hurried pedestrians,
notwithstanding the prai.seworthy exertion.s of their pro-
fane (Iriver.s, every epithet, holy and unholy, often failing
to extricate them. One good reason for this every-day
chaos in the wholesale streets, is the common liberty
enjoyed by the merchants of depositing their wares where
they may think best, and as all arc, of course, emulous of
exhibiting their stock in the most alluring position to the
public (^ye, it i.^' not unusual to di.'-cover a respectable
stock-in-trade, nearly midway of the street, while the
capacious lirick store to which it appertains, is merely
garnished with a beggarly account of empty boxes.

When we have tired our eyes with the teeming streets
and wharves, and evening compels reluctant trader.s to
adjourn, we may step aside and survey at a respectful dis-
tance, the worshippers at the shrine of chance — at least
as it was a year since, for, alas I its palmiest days are over.
In 'r)2, a broken down old roue — who had won and lost
within a week $50,000 — in lamenting the degeneracy of
the present times, informed me, with tears in his eyes,
that the then doings were but childish tricks in comparison
with the dashing days of old. It might be so, but faith

tn A lITAl*!?' en nip 0(i ^^ Cff\ ni*** vnliT r\if\ c* + i!l nr»/« t¥ n \tt H fi»»-fc\ri*^ ^

might be hazarded, from the immenfic numbers who nightly

HA.Mn,,rN,;s ,.v v^uronsl^.

''■■'"'■"■'"I i'-i..«,, .,.,, , , """"•; ■■'w'"^<' '■"•■ 'i,i., „„-

""Pl'lii'd f,„,„ n„, , ,,. I'"^''' ^y <lio way, ,ra»

T'-i-...-.flun.n,:, ,;V''''•''''^^^•'''''-"%•

'<"^'M,.,l, „n,i„ b„„ r„, , ■': "■"■"' '" «»ec-t sounds

l^uiWin,, b,,,,,„ , , j ""I" '-«<!. of the „„,i,,o
^^'-c,l„-...s., „„, ,,:„■,.•!,. 1;':,; f ;'■%-"' ""'-s of ,,!,„

seo.notl. best „„,„ ,„■„, fll'l ^f *'>'^"'Cvo,,,so whiel,

lent of two bit, „ ,„,, ' "'f . '^"'- "><•' ""iforu, orjuiva-

bcauty-all of H,e Ae ^h ,1b T? ""'■'"'•" "^ '■-""'<'
"«'o «ti„ ,i,.hf,v,„„„ , , "'"^ "'°^"^- i'«loli«.t.>~

roul... and ,„.„,;, .^'^^ ,.f '"'^ --^'b' fn>pe,y, .be

consirtent with the ,„„, „,„„,/ """''" '" •''" '«l.".t.
Order i, ,,„id t„ fc, „^,, ^

q^cnoe, „,a„-, „eee.s,ity • ,„d ,1 , ' '" " "'"'•''-■■

■'ol'i Rood initsapplie,/' '^J"^" '<""=" will ,eo,„ to

^- they too havot :' : ;, r;; r ,t:;^."'^«''^'-'"".v--

the sun. .■,,„!„ , '^ ' "" "" things else nnde-

■—■""'■«"<■»-'* oveu bore the name of

SIAVIILINUS IN CAM FORMA

-tin conductod
^^ find painted
y to ni;iK-o the
' ^'o'" thin nn-
llod in fjplen.
'lit'eiit nfrair,s.
"' (-'i'ch, day-

■ Ji<^ way, was
"1 nmncrous
leii- radiance

1 noon day.
tt'cot sounds
■'1 wa.s tliero
vino. TJie

tlie aniplo
'Jai.s of the

^iistidioiiH
i'<'ge which
' straight"
'HI equiva-
of female
lolieate- —

■ niirrorw,
stay'cs of
ciy, the

J'OS])(H:ts

'I conse-
seein to
liquity :
* under
lanie of

'&■

»'

witness on the niurdevor's trial, who pronounced tbo
prisoner respectable, for tlio very satisfactory reason that
he kept a ^iii;. The gamblin^L^ houses demonstrated as
Huch, UHc only the time-honored and substantial ,Lnvnu:!fl of
iMonte, U'uijrc et Noir, Faro, c"s:c. ; but in the lower regiona,
whore the spicy pasliuics of .Uoulettc, iM'om-h Monte, and
the LiltU' Ji»ker (lourislud, not a shadow of a chance ex-
ibtcd in favMi- of the deluded pilgarlit- who dared to te.st
the JKizanls of the ;:aiM<'. Kaeh tabl;; had its ad<Mpuitc
nuinb.'i' ^A' r(ij,i>n\-: — a nuMiiicel nu-c of bankrupt _u;aniblcra
and pI^kiM.ckuts. Thesf bank einpli»yces would win or
lu-e lai'-c >ums ni.iihtly, trimnilnLi- th''ir <ails to suit the
tastes of tlie uninitiated — more (-specially the fresh youthfl
wlio v.ert' ciiiuh.us of :iuiassing a little pile on the spot,
from the b'llance of the home supply, minus the di.-anrcc-
ble eoiieuuiitants ..f ihc i)iek and shovel. So gku'ing,
even at that time, did the legali/,(Ml robbti'lrs and outn'.gea
be(<i:iie, that the patirnal law makers t-ondescended to
fi;'.uic ami cUM-t a bill fir the suppression eif the smadler
specie.-; of swindlini;- ; Imt as .saving appearance was its only
object, it was easily evaded, ;iiiu the light amusements
were abiKist immt-diaiely renewed^ with a trifling elmngo
in externals, but in all resp.eets eoineiding in substance.
As an iliu.-ii-ation of bureau gullability, 1 will endeavor to
describe one trick which was played in the houstvs on the
most itublie streets, night after night, for thwu} or four
years.

A fi'esh importation from the -\tlautie :-Uates, or a suc-
cessful miner di termiuedly bfuiiid for Inj^^linj, irf inuuc-
diately detected by tht^se e\p(#ieneed physiognoraiats, the
moment he crosses tlie threshold. As soon a.s pricked, tho
tyro is gradually trustlod up to the ten^pting precincts of

.']6

i^AMni.lMis IN ('AMKonNlA.

Ix'in;:; rr,prrf„hfr, thdugli this word it is now well known
may be adnii.s,s;iblo to much f|ualificatiou, illustnited by tho
the A n r tabh tho name of the oimie— where the
banker, in an easy ehair, reposes in all the majesty of
wealth, in rear of a table on which is a ^^reat displny of
mi-i,'ets, slu-s. and dollars. The table has an ornamental
eovcrin- — :i spaeo in front of which, enclosed by :i
crescent, is marked by the famous introduction t<. all book
learninu'.

An animate.] scene now c(.iiimences between the jolly-
banker and his auxiliaries, who occupy his ri-ht and loft
wina, with a rcscrye in front for emergencies. He of tho
slu-s and specimens has, to all appearance, liijuored oyer-
mueh— his fine shinino hat has received a dingo, and
topples grofXi;iIy from his brows— he bra-s of his bank,
and uuich witty repartee passes between him and his amia-
ble eollea-ues, who with shirts of fanciful patterns, pistols,
and beard, are excellent fac-similes of miners, well to do,
<Mi a visit to the nu-tropolis. They are sharp-looking
miners too. exeeedinoly wide-awake, and apparently re-
scdved on stripping the inebriated gan»bler of his entire
capital. After much amusing dialogue, the banker in a
bungling .sort of .style, rattles the die and inverts his box
oil the table, he then reHU)ves his hand from it and solicits
bets— at the same time, the troublesome miner on his left
apparently endeavors to divert his attention, by handing
him some awkward coin toexeliange. While the bankcr'n
eye is turned off, the deed is aceompli.shed. The confede-
rate on the right perceives his advantage, and, with a eat-
like motion, slightly raisesThc box, which plainly discloses
the winning letter to all the spectators, his associate thou
eeases his aim()y:inc(\ ;ind d(
bags on t;ie siini|;ir tnlij.' let

own th(>y plumj) tlieii- lieuvj

ter

llAMHMNtls IN fAllFOllNIA.

*11 kn!)wn
ted by tho
^hcro tho
lajcsty of
ilispliiy of
'nainontui
od hy -,i
> all book

tho jolly
and loft
le of tho
rod over-
igo, and
is bank,
liis amia-
S piHtols,
.'11 to do,
i-looking
■ntly re-
is entire
ker in a
iiis box
1 solicits
his left
liaiidinp:
)ankor*H
xmfede-
h a cut-
lisolosos
t*' thoa
lieuvj

Now.

ill

this little hy-i.lay has l-oou acted exi-n-s

Iv to

.ly

arouse Hostin^'s ac.iuisitivoness, and has been attentively
watched, both by that verdant one and the other by-stander>
—the "reatev portion of whom are aware of its object, but
rvcn iahey werr so inclined, they dare not utter a syllable
<,f warnin- to the dupe, for summary and unpleasant ejec-
tion from'the pren.ises surely follows such an ollenee.-
As this is most probably IJostin-'s iirst introductn.n tu
such a scene, he has naturally enou-h some conscientious
scruples, touchino. the propriety of thus defraudm- the
.M,od-natured i:and)ler. Uut lie a.-ues to hiniselt, that
others will do it, and wliy should not he have his share;
besides to double his linances in a moment is a splciu.id
idea, so he concludes to repent at leisure, and with a ner-
vous jerk he stakes the buckskin ba- which contains his
all, exelaimino- in a voice shakey with the excitement,
'' The Mines or Bostin-." The die is instantly exposed
to the view of all present, when lo 1 his favorite letter has
inconceivably disappeared from the top, havin- indee.l
been dexterously capsized, previous to uncovcrin-.

If the pluckc-d keep frigid, he is kindly permitted tu
depart in peace, and perhaps invited to imbibe ; but if he
exhibit intractability to his fate, he instantaneously dis-
covers himself bewildered in the -utter, from whence he
is seen slowly to emerge on a prospecting tour to " mur-
derer's bar" or '' Sears's diggings," as the case may be,
while the old formula begins anew as a fresh g.josc is le.l

to the table.

Contemptible as these resorts may seem, large sums were
daily realized by these authorized rogues, and the l.ankers
were far from being thought lightly o^', even among the
highest society the city could aflbrd, for many of the tables

IIAMIMJNCS rx I'AlJFdUMA.

W'vvc uun.'d hy .lu-lovs and (u'iior;i!>. wIk. thus prnfitably
li,i,lit(MK'<l the liibors of law and warfart — and one victim
f'olI()W(Mlaiiotlieriii(inicksucce>.si()ii, carniiio^ his experience
dearly to he .nire, hut in tlie end perliaps safer to hiin
tlum wonhl be a tenip(»r:iry sueeess, whieh. niio-ht delude
him on to a life of infamy and perhaps a disuracefnl death ;
but llie.se unfortunates, smartinu' ui- ler a first severe eas-
ti.u-ation, are apt to look with continued horror on u-aniblint;,
and mentally determine to abjure it forever.

Public f>]>inion lias however turned against the knavc.«.
.Sunday play was first prohibited, and finally all were de-
clared unlawful ; and althou-h niucdi of it is still ea.rried
on, they are at least prohibited from exiiibitinu' their
enormitie.^ to the public ua/.e. which saves inany from
falling:' into tlieir clutches.

Many other callings were, and are even now, followed
m the r>ay ("ity, not a whit more honest than those above-
mentioned ; such as mock auctions, watch stuf!inos, and

other swindling' tricks, incidental to a much larger city.

One reason may be that operative labor is here certain
'V'calth, and money is comparatively speaking-, easily earned,
and in most cases is apt to be valued in proportion. This
circumstance, in conjunction with the miserable police
department, liolds out a stroma: inducement toblack-lecrs of
every jirade, t-. say nothiuo- of the political dislionesty of
those to whom has been entrusted the protection of life
and property. It has herjtofore been an inviolable rule —
cheat on the grandest scale, cow hide the servant of God
at the altar, or pistol your opponent for injured honor; tlie
invincible dollar will vindicate you, and carry you scathe-

l0S< tbl'''11'>l' t1inMV/ln<i] .i.v.iin^* -i ''l/^ii<l r-^--U-> i- 1 -1^ »

IV... S.I.. .., ..,.,.,, I .j^anj.-i i( vioUu Oi \-. it iU'.-^.--Cr^, iKicKcii

hy all e.xislin- statutes. As a proof we may cite in ac-

AMIil.lNt.S IN (-AT.U'CUNIA.

•>n

ii'iifitably

victinj
:pcricnce
' to hiin
t delude
il tloJttHi ;
vcrc cji?-
ambliiit;,

knavo.«f.
ivcro <\o-

1 cjirricd
lu' tlioir
II V from

rbllowod

above-

<i,'S, and

city.—

certain

earned,

. This

' police

:-]c^9 of

esty of

of life

rule —

of Ood

)r ; tlie

seathe-
1 1, 1

UJifKCli

' in a(r-

iS:S

count, the hundreds of murders connnitted within tho
,.ity. and how nuiny un.lerwc^nt the last penalty of the
law ? Just tliree, one of whom was an unfortunate insant^
Spaniard, and the other two were poor, unknown, penniless
vaurants. IJut no other result could possibly accrue,
where beardless boys, and unprincipled shoulder-strikers
sat in hi-h ].laces, owin- their elevation whi(di was but
temporary, and therefore the nn.rc abused, not to their
r.Ttitudc'ur tu their -cuius, but to tlic insaue cry of party
;,nd the -rossest humbu.ti-ing of the -reat unwashed demo-

iracy.

Hut there are many si-hts and sounds both pleasin-
and instructive t.) the lover of his kind, which are already
takin- deep root in this -reat mart of heterogeneous and
conflictinu items. The Sabbath bells calling to the house
of praver, the work iu most instances of the pcvsevcnng
sons of New Kngland ; the happy, noisy urchins, loosed
from school restraint ; the lu.sts of news-boys vending the
latest papers from the east; the tearing, ranting red
republican steam paddy, scooping a ton of sand at each
inspiration of its mighty lungs, he is your true and im-
partial leveller, a.ul gives to the valleys the superfluity of
the hills -, already have its efforts graded dozens of streets,
and performed of itself the labor of an army of spadesmen.
IJut tlu' great mafuifaeturing district of the city, occupie.^
the soutirern portion, which bears the pleasing chimerical
name of " Happy A'allcy."

Hut few branches of mechanical industry are now, or
are ever likely to be of e<iual importance with iron manu-
facturers, in this State. The inconvenience of importing
^,],,^5,oy 5,^f,,.i,;ij(M'v. wl'.ich was Until recentlv a matter Ot
necessity, was undoubtedly a dead wei-ht to such m-

^ II

U AMBLINGS IN CALII'OUNIA.

vestments u.s re(iiiireJ them fur their thurouirli develop-
ment. In many cases a slight misunderstanding on the
part of the manufacturer, witli regard to the proportion of
the article, or injury received in the long voyage, has cost
thousands of dollars, besides the immense loss of time
resulting from such a casualty. Practical men shortly
perceived this imperfection, and an early encouragement
was in conse<|uence given to the pioneer foundries in
Happy A^alley, their numbers have under this fostering
influence vastly increased, and at the present time, the
tall chimneys, pufling off bellows, and discordant dang of
hammers, make up a pandemonium worthy of Brummagem^
herself, and constant employment is thus given to num-
bers of skilful w^orkmen, at wages unprecedented perhaps
in the world.

The trade to be sure is yet in its infancy, but the brat is
a lusty one, and a glorious manhood is before it. Many
ocean steamers of vast nuignitude already di:;turb the
peaceful bosom of the Pacific. Every lonely bay will ere
long be ruffled by the restless paddle, which will recjuire
existence or at least constant aid from the busy cyclops.
Commerce also will most si.rely pry into each navigable
stream, but San Francisco must still be as she is now, the
great force-pump. Her commercial advantages must still
continue imperative, both from her central position, and
fror; the fact, that it is almost the only harbor worthy of
the name on the Western coast of habitable North
America. Already indeed there is an export of
machinery to the home ports, the islands and western
Mexico, the quartz, grist and saw mills, are also supplied
with tlioir c'car, with more convenience, and in tlie orvl
much cheaper, than they possibly could by the best system

of i
ine
asp
the
be

■'"<iy

MV.Mlil.lNliS IN ( AlilFORM.V-

dcvolop-
L^ oil the
)ortioii of
, has cost

of time
I shortly
'agement
dries ia
fostering
me, the
ehing of
111 m age m^
to nuni-

perhaps

ofimportntiun. A uniform increase and success is the
inevitable result, and despite the bleak and uncomtortablo
aspect of the region apportioned to the sous of Yulean,
the adjective of Happy, is not so nml apropos as might
be superficially imagined.

le brat is

. IMany

;iirb the

will ere

reciuire

Cyclops.

avigable

low, the

lust still

ion, and

'orthy of

! North

port of

western

supplii'd

the end

t system

■ -n f r-i-" -iinaiiTiMMriBrini

^/-vr^i'-W:, r^'n-rip/--^- -r-^ -%.\i^-

**A**«£ill . ■

\k k'

rART li.

T HE MINES.

f
'M

Foil the reason that the mines were the great acquisitive
principle that led to the permanent occupation of (*aii-
fornia, they are too apt to be considered by the new
comers, as well as the "old folks at home/' the leading
feature, and, indeed, only powerful point of attraction
worthy of a separate notice. Without pretending to deny
that their influence is now, and long will be the most
potent of any one, in directing the destinies of the state,
it must .'^till be acknowledged that their material impor-
tance has been much overrated, and all must allow that
every ounce exported tends to exhaust their s'^ oriority
over other less pretentious, but more solid and lasting
6elds of investment and labor.

It is somewhat surprising too, that the richest Placers,
as well here as in Australia, were the earliest discoveries ;
in fact, what at the present day would be trumpeted forth

flo v«lnahl«' rlirrrrivic-o wmild sn!irr^f>lv liaVG Sufficcd tO dcfraV

running expenses, during the never-to-be-forgotten years

;Tf;-7 :;""?t:c:^"7r-~""«~""''"^'r^^T3Bi^S^.r

KAMT'-LINCS IN ('AMKinMA.

4:;

(tf '4S fvml '41'. Milling liiis ihav settled down in the old
loc'uli'.irs — not ^ct exliau.stcd — to a regular and Ic^itiinutc
(inploynicnt, r{M|nirin^ skill and <\\]icrionco !is well as
strcni^th ; and a froh hand, CNeii ae'(.'ii>tonied to lahoriuus
empluynient. ranmit ox]»("ct w;iuc'S with the t'xporicnecd
drifter, tiny more than to >hip as an abh; seaman, ignorant
of the stern or stem <tf ji sliip. Althouuh proverbially nn
unecrtain employment, gold is still disscminatt:d in the
soil with a strange system of regularity: and while we
admit it to be more fluetuating than most honorable <'m-
ployments, the priee of labor is mostly aft'eeted by the
average suecess at the mines.

To give a synopsis or history of every mining eamp
would prove neither useful nor interesting to the general
reader, ev^•n if it were possible, whieh it is not, both from
the vast territory to be explored, and tli(> difficulty of pro-
curing eorieet ,-talistics. tVoiu the lM):i<ting propensities <)f
the over stuiguine, and the doleful complaints of the des-
pondent and lionicsick. Ncitlier can we place absulute
dependence on the editor's '' Facts of the day," or their
correspondents lengthy epistles containing the latest
" News from the JMoun tains." Such stuff is mostly treated
with sovereign contempt by the \eteraus, and well may it
be so, for it is often a mere ruse oi' stagt; or steamboat
proprietors as an indueement for tyros to patronize their
favorite line ; but as caniors on other rivers and roads
are well posted on these tricks of the trade, their covert
advertisements arc e'lually stuffed with " astounding dis-
coveries " and "big lumps," so much so, that a balance of
attraction is perfectly establibhed, and the would-be nabob
i« onU' '^uz'h'd — Uko tbn d'^'ukev botween the bundles of
provender — as to whieh of the*EI Dorados he had best

4:;

RAMBLINCS IN CALUOllN lA.

patronize. Nor eun we trust much to the hoards ut un-
successful ,^eoh:.psts, always to he found in the larger
cities Their views are most likely to be tinged with the
bleak retrospect of their disappointment, stupidity, or
shameful prodigality, and the thoughts of their varied
afflictions, induce them to look on the mining districts
with other than rose-colored spectacles, and fervently to
dispatch them with all their ct cctcras to his Satanic
majesty, forgetting that whatever their occupation may be,
its essential support originates in the stalwart arms of the
.old-hunter. The truth is-the adventurer's wisest plan
is to jump in, haphazard, wherever fortune may p^^ease to
ouide his footsteps, and should his acciuirements fall below
Lr, he may watch the flight of birds like the soothsayers
of old, and pitch his tent by the guidance of their wing.
Such a proceeding may prove cjually propitious, as the
best directed scheme derived from the wisdom of his pre-
decessors. He may rest assured, however, that in every
undeserted mining locality, capable of supporting a store
or liquor shop, gold is still in the soil, and if all c aims
be not already occupied, his prospects are probably
,,^ ..ood as any other, that is, in surface diggings,
whJi-e a short probation is suffi(nent to acquire the requi-
site skill ; for experience has proved, in spite of modern
geology, that no amount of skill or sagacity can at all
times point out a gold lead, be its hue, consistency, or

position as it may.

Mining at the present time may bo classed under four
great heads, each differing from the other in many im-
portant features. They are, the surfoce diggings, deep
diggings, river and quartz mining. The surface diggings,

1 T — „ io^r»n ar«^ '^f nmirse nearlv

where the aeposiia nave wccn la.^^, ar.. —

f 'i

4<;

KAMlUJNr.S IN CAMKORMA.

exiiau-tcfl, ;iiu! cvfii tlio.-o that have ]):ii(l ;iii»i!rrato wac;0H,
aro liccdiMinu' cvf^rv ilav innn- dilVn'ult td find, in those
places where wafcM' has heeii preeurahh" \)\ natural or arti-
ficial means. There are vast tracks still, however, that
have unlv heen di.-covci'e'l (liirini!' the dry seasons past,
that w.iulii -iipjnirt — ww-X most jirohalily will vet — (luiusands
u\ miners, v.lien wr.tei can he eonve_\ 'd to iheni at reason-
a'ole rail's; this cannot |,o>sihly he until the value oi' labor
is depreciated, and a nii>n> moderat*^ income expt-eted c»n
oriu'inal oulhiv, or until ri<du'r uronnd eoiumanded hy a
ditch already existing' is inipo\ crished, when the Avater not
(lem;\nded el-ewheri' may he turned, rather than wasted,
into a more umderatcly jiayinii- (diannel. Thci'o are many
district-; too, whero it will always lie .".n im])ossihility to
convey watei- on account of their altitude, that iia\e been
v,'orked durinu' several \ear>. wdnnu'ver there is rain water
sidhcii'Ut for tlu' purpose. It is ni'edless to say such a.rc
not vi ry desirable, for they cannot be worked except in a
rain storm, and of coursi> must — under common circiim-
^t.^,^.^,^ — [lo idh> nine-tenths of the year. Diii'ii-ino-s of
this descri])tion to l)e luld or valued at any thin;;' must,
when in operation, pay exceedin<i^ly well.

W here th.e >tra;a is ri(di and the field extensive, water
can generally be tonveyi'd, from some of tiie mountain
streams or rivers, by means of a dit(di or flume, and in
such cases, an amph' sujiply may be provided for the greater
part of the year. l>ut as water i.s very expensive when
delivered by those means, the inferior places as be-
fore said, must lie fallow, until the winter rains supply
the necessary fluid without money, but m^t without price.
Indispensable it is, as the existence of the ore itself within
the soil, to prosecute the business of mining, for there is

I ■?

IlAMBLlN(ii4 IN CALIFORNIA.

■5
a

nb««lnt,.I,v, !-■ .-'th.l .1 wash,,,,, by «ln, , u,

f.w ^l.im..'^ s,K:..ks ,.,„ Ik. ox.nu.fa, Iruu, tho v.. pr, ■

portion or s I ...,t ,,-av,,.l .Uh wh-u-l, U .s onvo ,h^^

L-,e h>o„«< to 1,0 .u,-c a, ■.o,M-l<.;'l"I'.;'"'lt" -

,„„; old .li../n„s «l,o.v ,„uvi, 1...S boon lound bj p.ck-

i„..sbtob..l3-,a.ol.lo|ioo.i;,,. oHtho oyo, bul .-uob |U-e

I- ,■ il.,.v -no ,li""in-s of tho oiost llo^u■!l-

|,lo kin.l, wlo.ro tho :..oM oau bo .blo.toj „. ihr ..,/ ..Itor

tin; !ti(i.-t- tiiiiiute ocular lost. • ,i

,,„, ,,,.,,, ,li,,h„s, whiob MV now last bocotn.n, tb
„„|o ,lo|,on,U.ooo or tho toioo,., ;,,-o ^voAod >n two atllovon

i. iviou. tb.t tlo. only w.,y to lo-o.,oot Ibo Wgo o,- boa-

„r , i|,„, is by .b,ki,o, . ,-baa in tho Tirst .o.t.o.o and
ir,.voblo,torno„.totbo„-on„ar,o,otbo.b.t..ond,ng

..v'i^thio^ .0 Ibo su,i;oo or Ibo oaab in tubs, oxooj.t
v.loJv t'no .voHol is not of n -o-.t doioh, ov ot n vory

1 :odo.on,,tion,ibutv.onldno,koitnH.,ro.ounJ,.vo,,no

,;,,,„„„, „r,his n.tnro is ,„l ot, n.o.vly, by t:uan,, the
«.o.Vnloss l.n...,ion oil- .nd byin;. tbo p.y dirt too, wblon
i. 0,00 piokod up and ...look Tbis i,. denon.no.tca
,„.,;,,,„•„,/, bat it is r.roly tbot ..round w.ll 1-y l" >^"¥
inoro tlooi rnin, twooly to thirty foot. ^

.|V ,,,,u,,ndo . bill it is o.ot :.onov.lly ro.,uis,to to s.nk
., lo,lo nt .11. it is usUid to cooUK'noe ut a lio.nt supposed
'to bo at loast snllioiontly low to drain olV all tho water, and
opon a tnnnol. Sotootirnos it is essoutial to out tbvo.ugh
^vbat is tovnrorl tho nm lodoo, and follow tbrougb wl h
just suBioiont i-iso to drain olV t.ny springs tbat may be
stvuck-. b-or it is orton tho case that tbc bod-vock wtl
rise up, ctuiiciding vviiu me ma im =uu.c ..... va -_,

■-■'--■""-ii(teA^T>ffl-inif'g''«^«f-'tf*Mfii^

RAMin,I.N(i.S IN CAl.lKOllNIA.

s .

again dooliiio or jn'fch tow.'irds its centre. The ledge most
conunonly lies in such a .shape in the best tunnels. .Some-
times the tunnels liave been eommeneed at a point too
high for drainage, as it i.s found on cro.ssing tlie rim ledge
that it still continues descending ; and no resource re-
main.s but to retreat and commence anew at a point suffi-
ciently low. ]Jut when the tunnel lias been started and
followed too low for the paying gravel in tlie liill, it can
be obviated by penetrating upwards to the proper distance,
and going on with another one above, the old one still
answering the purpose of a drain and as a means of entrance
and exit. When the excavation is made through the
solid rock or very compact ground, it is not neces.sary to
protect the top or sides, but when unsafely loose, it is in-
di.spcnsable to line both with timber to prevent them
tumbling in. Many lives and immense labor have been
sacrificed from carelessness in this particular. "When the
distance is much, it is fr<Miuently necessary to sink a shaft
in the interior to cause a current of air ; but when this is
impracticable from the rapid rise of the hill or the com-
position of the soil, it can be ventilated by means of fans.
Even after auriferous earth is found, the tunnel is con-
tinued straight ahead until the lead is crossed or dis-
continues suflficicntly paying. A series of cross drifts
then commenced at right angles with the main one, the
breadth of the claim, or if not claimed, a In ilUcretion.
All the empty space behind is then filled up with stones
or waste dirt to keep the roof solid, and cross drifts cut
parallel to the others, and as close as safety will warrant.
In this w^uy an expert drifter will strip almost every inch
of the ledge, and work himself gradually backwards until
the lead is exhausted, leaving the ground above as solid
as when he first commenced operations.

UAM15LIN(iS IN CALli'OUNlA.

Nut th. most ai>tant nppvoximatiun can be maac to tlic
>vcalth of the hills in ('aliloruia, fur every month teems
with fresh (liscuv.ries in this system of n.ining, but it is
it that will .vadually brin,^ the eallin.u^ eompletely under
the enntrol uf eaint:di.ts, or at least of lav,e euiupames;

both from the heavy risk that atUuds pn.l,eet,n, and the
o.pen.e of workin, after the .old is founu ; the thousands

of prosneet holes and deserted tunnels scattered through-
out the len.th and breadth of th. land, tell a sad tale ot

,.any a small Ibrtune's wreck, and may well act as beacons
to deter others iVom venturing their little all m an adveu-

ture so ha/.ardous. .

Tl,c vivor oiMv.t di,;/.n;.rs oceury the cl,u«,.cl.s ul nvov.,
,,„1 thusc r»rtio„s c-.lkHl Uu-., ^vh•K■l. have und.mbtcdly
bcon fovMK.a bv the eavtl, «ush«l from the n.ounU.ms by
,vi„tov tVcslu-t;. At tbose b.vs the riv.v often .ppoa,-s to
U,vo been tuvned IVom its orighud course, by the aee„.,,«-
,„tion or aeiK.u,iu its bed, and fonns a spee.es of flat
peninsub., and s„n,etb,,es even a„ island that d.v.des tl«
river into two eluumels. The goUl on tl^ese plaees i,
.nostly fnu, wldeb eireun>stanee .ill aid to verdy the theu.y
fit. bein..- a de,H,sit-tbe .rowtb of eentnnes It ts

L ,lwou:U-i-i-'''^';-"r'':.;"tr

n,ountains, or in rrofessional parlance less si»tt d f
it «ill n>ostly pay a per eenta.e fron. tlje su.*>ce to tbc
bed rock, a deptl, varying in difterent places iron, a bun-
d ed feet downwards. When the bod rock as found ba c,
- it is n,ostly worthless, utdess perhaps it U. oc.n.ptcd the
bod of a s rean, where large deposits have often been found
secreted in the crevices or " pockets," after the water ha.

l>ni>n +!i1:on off. , ■.

"■ yooTaft<:r the first discoveries of the precious metal, tlie

if'

RAMBMNOH IN CAI.IKORNIA.

mountain rivers were suspectod to contain the hirgcst
quantities, and some of tho earliest fornied conipaniw
^ero organized, for the grand object of giving another
direction to the river, and to lay its unknown and long
concealed trea.^ures open to the light of day. The very
formation of the bars tlieniselves, offers a powerful induce-
ment to such a project, and renders the undortakin- com-
paratively an easy one. Where the river i.s .su.spectcd to
have swerved, a "sink" mostly exists near the neck of
tlie peninsula, where the ancient stream took its course
centuries ago, before it was blocked up and compelled to
sock another outlet. This sink is deepened sufficiently to
form a race— and often the earth taken from the race has
proved much richer, than that afterwards ac(]uircd from
the actual river bed. At its upper end a dam is thrown
across the stream, wliich is thus drawn through the artifi-
cial channel, leaving its bed completely dry for a distance
often of two or three miles, or whatever iength the race
may be. River mining is always a costly work, and the
risk a heavy one. Some, indeed, after an outlay of more
than a million of dollars, have not paid wages even after-
wards, and even where the prospects were favorable, one
night in an early winter has suddenly swept away dam and
all. Many of them have however paid their enterprising
companies a thousand times over, and those who once
engage in it seem to prefer it to all other mining.

This wholesale drainage is likewise of vast benefit to
those who hold what are termed bar or bank claims, that
is from tlie low water mark back to the hills, and varying
in breadth in different districts, but thirty or forty feet
may be a general average. By the removal of t];o water,
they are enabled to sinkj their shafts below what before

RAMRLiNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

constituted the water level. Thiw could not be managed
formerly, with any degree of success unless the pay was
exceedingly good; from the great labor rcfjuired in
pumping out the water, that constantly filtered through
the gravelly banks of the river.

The quartz leads form an entirely independent feature
in the art of mining, totally distinct from the others. They
can only be worked advantageously by monied men, from
the great (quantities of machinery reciuisite to separate the
gold from the rock. This can only be accomplished
thoroughly, by crushing it to a powder, although very rich
(juarti! has repaid individual effort, sometimes very hand-
somely, merely by burning and then pounding it with a
pestle and mort^ir. The greater part of the ([uartz com-
panies for so far, have been failures, arising in part from
want of thorough prospecting in the lirst instance, and in
the second from inexperience, imperfect management, and
irresponsible defaulters. IJut no doubt can exist of its
ultimately becoming a permanent and profitable branch of
mining, when expectations are moderated, and when men
of integrity and skill are permitted to guide their manage-
ment.

The existence of these (quartz leads is very singular ;
and their contiguity to almost all hill diggings, and the
immensity of gold actually contained in many of them,
hold out confirmation strong to many, that quartz is the
original mother of the precious metal. And that flats and
bans are freqiiently found rich, at great distances from any
quartz lead, but contain quantities of quartz gravel, only
shows that these places have been formed by the passage
of water from the hills, and even the trold in the rivers is
frequently found with small particles of that rock attached
to it.

>■ .1

' ?!

UAMHLINOS IN CALIFOIIMA.

.Main ([uartz leads <2;euoralIy run parallel to each other,
althi>.,uii (hey hnve spurs or braiiehes in every dircetion.
The lead ean often be traced for many miles, ihrou|i;h hill
and valley, and oven across laroje rivers. Sometime it to-
tally disappears from (he surface and auain emerges clear
and distinetas ever, lookimr at a distance like flocks of
snow white sheej), and adds on-at variety and interest to
many an other\vis(> monotonous landscape.

iMininu; maidiiiiery has undernone ureat chanjzes and
im]»n»vements since (he early days, and just in i)roportiou
as tlu' uold beca'iic more dillicult to procure, so have the
means for fai-ilitadiiLT its extraction increased. Duriii"-
the j)eri(id of the early discoveries — a knife to scrape the
crevices and a tin cup to receive tlie pnteeeds, were con-
sidered sullicient implements ; wlu'ii it beuan to be found
mixed with the earth, a tlarim;- tin or iron })an bepin to
be used, and is used still for prospectinu' and cleansimr
purposes by the whites, and even as a means of livelihood
by (Jreasors and Indians; many a snui,^ fortune, too, has
been made by the simple ])rocess of *-i)annini!: out." The
operation is performed by insertin;; the pan (wluLdi con-
tains aliout a common ])ail-l'ull of earth,) in the water and
keepinti; it constantly ia motion, at the same time pickini^-
out the laru-e stones. As the pan flaps backward.s and
torwards, the liuht sand uradually works off, and the u'old
naturaVy settles to the bottom and by continuinii' the pro-
cess the jiold is left completely by itself; the fiftieth part
of a cent can thus be saved, and is })erfectly visible. A
Mexican ean ])an from fifty to a liuiulred pans per dav,
and make small waires out of earth paying; two or three
CvHic 10 III!.- ifiKKeiiUi. ,\iLLr iiic [laii came rue rocKcr,
and finally the long torn, sluice and hvdraulie, together

J'.AMHLlNdS IN I'ALlfOHNlA.

'}0

with tlie process of -round sluicing and tl.e nooessary
•accompiiniiiifiits of ditches luid Humes.

The rocker us its name implies, consists of a box some-
what in the form of a child's cradhs with the rockers at-
tached, but shallower, and sometimes without a footboard.
At the upper end, when in operation, is a piece of canvas
on a slight wooden frame, moveable at pleasure. This is
inserted, angularly from the top nearly midway to the
bottom at the head of the rocker. Over this rests a box
about two feet square and four inches deep, with an iron
bottom punched with holes a (juarter of an i.ich in diame-
ter, it too is moveable as well as the canvas or " apron."
When a bucket of " pay-dirt " is deposited in this box,
the machine is set in motion backwards and forwards by
means of a handle attached to the body, and water poured
on by a dipper holding about half a gallon. This carries
througli all substances of less diameter than the holes,
and wlien this is accomplished, the box is lifted or swung
off on a kind of hinge, to dispose of the gravel that re-
mains. In the meantime all the light earth, gravel and
sand, have washed completely through the rocker— which
is so phued as to have a small declination from head to
foot— leaving the gold and heavy sand on the canvas.
The apr.)!! is not removed until what is called a run has
gone through, which consists of 25, 50, or 100 buckets,
according to the richness of the earth or the judgment of
the operator. When this is done, the apron is carefully
scraped into the head and taken out, while water is again
applied and the rocker shaken smartly. The gold, from
its superior specific gravity, is thus left behind, mixed
most commonly with heavy black sand, which is separated
by panning or blowing, if tolerably coarse, but the very

;»

IlAMBLINdS IN CALIFORNIA.

U'
J.1

fine can only bt' thorouglilj saved by uiixing witli quick-
silver, which aiiKil,nu;uates soon with the guld by rolliiit;
the pan round. The sand is then easily washed vn\ and
the quicksilver containing the gold is deposited on a piece
of buckskin, and tightly s(juezeed s.j as to let the <|uick-
silvcr run through. The volatile metal is driven off in
fumes, by exposing (he aniaigau to a strong heat ; when the
quantity is large it can be s ived fbi- future use by means
of: >tort, which condenses the fumes like tlie worm of a
suii. In light samly soil, two good hands may sometimes
wash six liundn'd buckets per day, when close to the
water; but generally speaking, three or four hundred is a
good days work.

The long t^-m was a great improvement on the rocker,
nnd altliough diil'ering j-mch in appearance, acts jn-ecisely
on ihc ^ame principle, b;it with jnucli greater des])alch and
eco!iomy,and tlie reason it has not completely M!i)frsL'ded
the rocker, is, tiiat itrc(p' <'s a smart running stream of
at least >ix cubic iticlus, and a fall of one fo(»t in twenty
to work successl'ully. Its principal advantage is, tliat the
running water performs the work of rocking itself, and
whde two hands keep busy in feeding the machine, o'lc
can, by working industriously^ keep it clear of tlie refuse
gravel, simjily by sliovelHng it out, aiid no inte'rruption is
requisite in the matter of cleaning up, before the conclu-
sion of the days' work ; when one or two thousand buckets
of earth is found in the " riffle box," concentrated into
one panful.

The sluice was the uext improvement in the art of
kbor-saving, but it is ofteu impossible to apjdy it, in ground
where either the rocker or torn may be advantageously
used. It wants a much heavier stream than the torn,

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

requiring the same fall for a much longer (Vi>:tancc. A
''string;" of sluices, frcuerally consist of a sueecssiun of
boxes, like a trough twelve feet in lengtii, having two
sides and a bottom, and tapering at one end so as to tit
snugly into each other. The length of the '' string"
vaiies, act;;'-ding to the tenacity of the wa^h-dirt, fr<»u> hfty
fjet to a thou.-and. The gold is saved in these boxes
after the earth is shovelled in, in a variety of ways. As
the water rushes through, it carries all the light earth off,
and also the gold for a short di.-tanee, until it meets with
a " riPiie,"' which is some sort of an obstruction in the
boxes belov/, where the precious metal may have the means
of settling down to the bottom.

Sometimes, the riifle consists of light slats of wood or
iron, running crosswise or longitudinally, and sometimes
of a board fnll of auger holes. But tlio varit'ties arc
lc"ion, for there is not on(; essential in the whole n.ining
craft, upon which exists so much diversity or o])iiuon ; and
indeed it is a favorite method among the uiiscliievous boys,
who wish to set a pair of cranky old fellows by the ears,
to introduce and compare the resiiective favorite of each.
It is, no doubt, from this that the California proverb is
derived, wiierein we illustrate^ a man's success in some fa-
vorite project, by saying " He has inade the riflle."

The hydraulic h.ose is perhaps the most wlu^^esale sys-
tem of all, but so many natural advantages reciuire to be
united for its prolitable use, that many n;ay be resident in
the mines for years, without ever having the opportunity
of seeing it tested. It re(juires, in the first instance, a
very steep bank of earth, either to be strippedoff for a sub-
Strata, or to be auriferous in itself. This field must also be
of considerable extent, for the various items used become

RAMIUJNOS [N fALlKORNMA.

very expeii.sivo, :md unles,'^ the claim holds out for Ji lon<i-
time, it would not be prudent to attempt the operation.

The work is })erfonned ])y turninu the water on the face
of the bank, throufj^h a nozzle attached to very strong hose
— srenerally No. 1 canvas doubled — similar to the way
water is forced from a fire engine, only, thiit instead of
being forced out by hand, it is done by the pressure or
weight of the water itself, which is of course powerful in
proportion to the height it falls. With a fall of forty or
d^ fifty feet the effect on a bank is tremendous, for no strata
of earth is so compact as to resist it. It will even tear up
the common sand: tone ledge, and lava melts before it, like
snow. I have seen dogs intentionally killed by it, in a
few seconds, and accidents have occurred, where men have
lost their lives in a similar way. I knew of an instance
where a drifter — in close contiguity to a hydraulic — was
accidentally buried, by a cave of more than forty tons of
earth, and before his three companions could return from
a distance of three hundi-ed yards, whither they had gone
in pursuit of shovellers, the hydraulic had released him,
and although he looked quite damp and uncomfortable at
first, he returned to his labor <|uite philosophically in a
few minutes.

(j round sluicing is never a finishing work of itself. It
simply rethices the ([uantity of dirt, to be afterwards
sluiced by the u.'-ual mc;.ns. Jtis done by allowing a very
heavy stream to rush over the ground, which requires to
be very steep in consequence, and thus carries off a very
large per centage of the refuse soil without any shoA elling
at all, but the constant application of the pick tends ma-
t.priallv to fxncdito thp niattor. more esneeiallv if the
quantity of gravel is material.

KAMTUJNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

Tlie capital invostocl in ditches would appear almost
fabulous. More than one has cost a million of dollars, and
some of tham in their various ramifications are over a hun-
dred miles in length. In many places a single mile has
cost twenty thousand dollars, and there is now scarcely a
camp of any importance in all the northern or southern
mines, where water is not procurable by artificial means,
for a greater or less portion of the year. Although em-
bracing such an enormous portion of the capital of the
country, there is not probably a more uncertain invest-
ment in the whole range of this uncertain country. Tt is
next to impossible to put a valuation on your stock even
after a year's experience. And instances are not rare
where a dividend of a hundred per cent has been paid at
the end of si k months, and at the very same time the
stock a drug in the nuirket at fifty per cent below par.—
Instances of this kind occur where the strata has been
completely superficial, and paying well while they lasted,
were of course soon exhausted. But again the stock
may take an upward tendency— after being almost aban-
doned—from the discovery of deep diggings commanded

by its waters.
' The speedy exhaustion of the mines was early foretold,
and even so lately as '52, the erector of a brick building
in a mining town, was generally ridculed as a visionary.
But at the present day there is not a town worthy of the
name, that has not several substantial fire-proof buildings
of brick or stone, and notwithstanding that the diggings-
in the immediate vicinity are for the most part worked
out, new habitations are constantly in the course of erec-
tion for concentration is now more fashionable than of

yore— and the large camps have chiefly swallowed up the

RAMHLrNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

^uirH ones. And the practical miner in spite of the cou-
etant improvements, has actually to go farther for supplies,
than ho had in the earlier times.

What a contrast do these funny little villages present,
io the eye of one habituated to the sleepy agricultural
towns of other countries ; built of all kinds of possible
materials, shapes and sizes, and in any spot, no matter
how inconvenient, where the first store-keeper choose to
pitcli himself. Sometimes they are found on a ])road flat
with no suburb visible, squeezed together as though the
and had originally been purchased by the inch, the little
Btreets «o crooked and confined, a wheelbarrow could
scarcely be made to go through them ; sonjetimes again,
they aro made up of detached buildings, forming an ex-
tended village two or three miles long, a great inconveni-
ence to every one, and to politicians and gossipers in par-
ticular. Some, too, are quite invisible until you discover
them at your feet buried in a deep chasm, and unap-
proachable, unless you be pleased to make your mfrec
like an otter. Many of them placed on an apparently
sheer hill side, resemble in the distance some native ex-
crescence, and on a nearer approach, appear to ha\ e been
thrown proniisenou.sly from some gigantic lumd, and
stuck — like bird lime to the naked rock — forever beyond
all reach of humanity in general.

But for all the forlorn appearance that many uf them
present, they are to all intentvS and purposes " towns as
are towns" — real go-a-head marts for trafiic, living on
tjade, and the constant turmoil of demand and supply.
They were never intended by their founders for aught
else, and business men, not pleasure seekers are the
owners. Independent citi'ions enjoying life on patrimo-

UAMHLlNaS IN CALIFORNIA.

nics, or annuities arc not to be scon, and but rarely, old
men, women, or children. The chief ingredient is vigor-
ous and sturdy manhood, brimfull of life and expectation,
always excepting the eternal lounger of the hotels and
billiard saloons, that indigenous plant of American soil.

I do verily believe if the whole catalogue of the free
institutions—from independence day down to stuffing a
ballot box— were exposed to the inspection of an un-
prejudiced judge, with the view of obtaining his opinion
as to what constitutes the most original native invention—
the pure unadulterated ' dead-head ' would most assuredly
bear the palm. Yes! Envious foreigners may strive,
and that successfully, to snatch the honors of steamboats
and forced servitude, telegraphs, piracy and mint juleps—
but the loafer is incomparably- an established United
States fixture— in short, an iiistitution. He has no sec-
tionalism about him. lie is a federalist, a part and par-
cel of Uncle Sam himself. Kansas may be gained by
Shavpe's rifles, or ruffian guns— foreign citizens may be
stripped of their franchise— chewing tobacco may be-
come unpopular— but the loafer is a permanence. As he
is at the Astor House, so is he in Kl Dorada, his means of
livelihood the queerest problem of the day. But there
he is, in lank dyspeptic flesh and blood— day after day,
and year after year ; in salubrious weather on the piazza
of the best hotel— or in bad, at the box stove, picking his
teeth or lazily puffing a fragrant Havana, his heels up-
lifted, his upper lip negligently curled, and the very cut
of his hat betraying a languid contempt for the whole raoo
of the uninitiated. He has no fellowship with the P^uro-
pean sot of o, gin slion nr wine cellar — no synipathy with
such, for a gulf is between them. The}j are humility'*

■ 1!

RA.Mj;i-l\(i.> IN CALIFOHNIA.

self in pursuit oi' an invitation— he drinks at your rtrjuest
with the solenm dignity of a Pacha. They arc dirty—
his linen is faultless. They get drunk when they can-
he is never incbrintcd— liis appreciation of the glorious
cxhdaration of alcohols is much too profound, to be rashly
sacrificed for the unpleasant consequences of over indul-
gence. Once a year, however, they awake from their
torpor, and durin«;- the whole turmoil of an election, ap-
pear gifted with astonishing powers of ubiquity, as well
as ability and inclination to treat their fellow-townsmen
indiscriminately, on the smallest pretext. But after the
excitement, their unwonted exertion and munificence in-
stantly collapse like the baseless fabric of a vision, and
they calmly betake themselves to the natural and orderly
functions of a dead-head, until again resuscitated by the
cries of their country.

^ Too many tyros get discouraged on their first introduc-
tion to hard knocks and indifferent placers, ar d desert at
at once, indignant and disgusted. Such persons, if possi-
ble, return home by the first steamer, and of course relate
to sympathizing friends, the doleful catalogue of their
wrongs and misfortunes while in the mines, interspersed
with shrewd guesses, as to the ultimate fate of the unfor-
tunates who remain ; and all this elaborate knowledge has
perhaps been acquired in the experience of twenty-four
hours. The unfortunates whose finances will not permit
an immediate exodus from the country, must seek employ-
ment in cities for bread, and a reconstruction of their
wardrobe, they will tlierefore be obliged to labor for a
trifling remuneration — often, indeed, merely for their
board. Such has been the fate of thousands, who with
the diseased fancy of becoming immediate nabobs, have

IlAMBLIXdS IN CALIFORNIA.

(51

in the Iir.<t rovulsion of fueling, boeu liurriud into the
uppo.sitc extreme, and tlieir crushed spirits have submitted,
and bowed to the lowest depths of degradation and vice,
where a moderate independence might have been acquired,
in three or four years, by the use of a moderate share of
industry and thrift.

There is another class worthy of mention, from their
great numbers and the powerful influence they wield. —
These good natured people take things as they come with
the stoicism of a Turk, but are not in the end in any
more affluent circumstances than those just mentioned. —
They are, nevertheless, as independent and perhaps to
the full as happy as lords. As they erect their own
shanties— rent, fuel, and water are free — and their only
remaining difficulty is to li([uidate the weekly store-bill,
which they manage by working their ground one, two, or
more days, according to its productive powers. Those
who are not fortunate enough to be proprietors, perform
the same object by working for others. Another half
day, or day — according to the individual's imbibing (quali-
ties — will pay the tavern bill, and the "balance" of the
seven days is at the gentleman's own disposal. Thia is
expended according to varied tastes, the free and easies in
drinking, sleeping, and eucre, while those of a literary
turn spend theirs in the questionable improvement of their
minds, to be derived from translations of obscene French
books, and the odd novels that chance throws in their

way.

It must not be supposed that the hard laborer — even in
the mines — is always the most successful, although it
certainly is the place, of all others, where tiie prudent
exercise of bone and muscle meets with its surest and

i'f^

l{.VMI!LI\<iS IN rAurOHNIA,

Diost :i«l((juatc rewanl. Tlicr.' :u-c mu.ibcrs of porson.s,
liowevcr, who niaua-o by vaiiuus inireiiious plans, and
adroit niann.uenient, to elude labor, while at the same time
they eontrive to serape the ('iisl tooether in a wonderful
nianner. Besides tlie leo-itiniate ofiiees of stores and board-
in.U' houses, there are many whose sole occupation consists
injmnjn-u;/ or locatin- claims, and tlien diKjiosin- of tlicm
in the most advantageous way possible by sale or barter.
As a body their respectability is more tlian doubtful.—
They are obliged to prevaricate and double in every con-
ceivable way, to carry out their plans with success, which
are, for the most part, executed on fresh arrivals from the
agricultural districts, and foreigners, more especially the
Chinaman, who is commonly considered lawful game, even
by the wild but cunning aborigines, who have actually
had the aptiiess, to palm themselves on the unsuspecting
Asiatics as foreign tax collectors, and thus swindle them
out of their dear bought earninu.s. One of the most suc-
cessful tricks heretofore in vogue among the mining spec-
ulators, was happily denominated salfin;/. This consisted
in shooting small portions of gold dust into a bank from
a. shot gun, where it was likely to pass through the ordeal of
prospecting in the pan of the intending purchaser, who
discovers when too late the rluin^r to be liis sole remu-
neration.

From the vast influx of foreigners into the mines, they
were early deemed by the lords of the soil, as excellent
sources for revenue, and a law was soon in operation, enti-
tied " An Act for the protection of foreigners," but '' An
Act for the spoilation of foreigners" would have been a
much more applicable title to its spirit and intention.—
From many causes, it has not worked so glibly as hoped

UAMJtM.NdS 1\ < ALIFORMA.

tor, not the lo;ist of which is the unjust principk' of nia-
kinu; tho tttxes themselves ;i reality, while the so-ealleil
proteetii»n. in the way of eompensatioii, is(|uite ina(le(|uat(i
and visionary. Uesidcs, the law was a copious bungle of
itself, and althouirh a larue sum was, and still is raised
monthly, it docs little more than enrich the persons em-
ployed in its collection. A ureat animosity prevails
against it by all foreigners, and in diggings where they
are the prevailing poi)ulation, it is a dangerous and often
impracticable feat, to raise a dollar. As the oidy alterna-
tive in ease of non-compliance, is to take the body, as tho
law enacts, the tax at the present day is rarely enforced,
except on the inexhaustible Celestials.

Even so late as '51, when the fiats of the legislature
were more respected than they have ever been since, the
collector could often make a per ccntage, even from
speakers of the English language. But from that date it
has got gradually into disuse — principally from the risk of
collection — although the attempt is sometimes made, even
at the present day.

In the Summer of 1853, there was a eom^jauy consisting
of three persons, on a bar of the main Vubea, called
Ousley's, of which 1 was a member in reputable standing.
Like all diggings in the foot-hills, the gold was extremely
fine and very sparingly sown besides, and for more than a
month, our industry had barely sufficed to extort civility
from the dirty little Dutch storekeeper, who for some time
previous had stuck up in his den some badly executed and
worse spelt placards, purporting that " Trust has just
vamosed the ranch, to look for new diggings," or perhaps
containing a pleasant little fiction — that if we paid to-day
we would be quite welcome to trust to-morrow — the un-

ILVMDLINdS IN (AUroUNIA.

kiinlest cut (it the jest being in the snrpvisiuf,' tact, that
to-morrow never conies. IJut us we never pretended to
sec the prints tit all, things liad not yet reached a climax,
and pork and slap-jacks still continued to smoke upon our
liospitable board.

I was one noontide endeavourini- to doze in the hot
blast beneath a spreading live oak, after an unsuccessful
morning's hard labor, and in a humor quite the reverse to
agreeable, with no safety valve by which to expend it, for
my companions were at the same time — if possible — more
disagreeable than myself. I was suddenly startled by the
api)arition of a little sallow Mississippian, with a bald head
and two revolvers and a rifle as long as himself.

" Friend," said he (juietly, " jidgin from your overall.*?,
your a nnncr I reckon."

" Yes," I exclaimed iiercely, in spite of the formidable
array (»f my <iucstioncr. " Poverty must bear its uniform,
I suppose, but I have yet to learn that we must endure the
gibes of bummers and blacklegs in conse([Ucnce."

" Darn your overalls," he replied, in so bland a tone 1
could not for the life of me penetrate whether it was a
malediction, or sage advice, touching a very unseemly rent
that existed in my garment. However, as his remark
called for no direct reply, I merely cocked the tatteied
rim of my hat more proudly than before, and relapsed into
as di' nified a silence as I could possibly assume.

" Stranger," he resumed at length, " can't you disciver
who I be ?"

" I have no curiosity sir, to penetrate into your private
affairs."

'' Wal I've jest got you now whar 1 want you. I ain't
private you see, nor never was private, nor none of our

l!A.Mi;i.l.\<l.S IN CALIFOHMA.

()5

tolk.s, since the time my uncle sijot tlie schuulmaster in old
Kentuck, we couldn't .sweat in private, we was allers boun
to do somethino; for this free country of ourn. My brother
Bob, he's a judge, and the youngest — that's (.'aractacus —
he's his constable, we all go snucks, and I'm for'n tax
c'lector at your sarvice. And now, whose your pardners ?
for I won't insult you by axin if yuu be a citizen, you
talk too good Amer'kin for that. IJut whose your pard-
ners ? Air they Amer'kins or air they for'ncrs ?"

As I felt at the moment in a misanthropical mood, I
was seized with the idea of annoying my companions, and
knowing well that there was not a grain of dust, or the
President's face in the cabin, I promptly informed him
where he could tind two, one Irishman and one Canadian.
The little man pondered the subject for a few minutes,
patting his head with a flaming bandana, and then ob-
served with the aspect of a Solon,

''I reckon I'll put down to the Chinese can»p, I kin
'elect thar, any how, and it mightned be much keount to
try that thar cabin of yourn, for I've found in my expe-
rience, an Frishman is allers a citizen and a good democrat,
and as for the Canuc — why the unfortunite critters, they
want to be bad enough, and mayhap bymby when they
larn something, we'll allow 'em to annex — so I'll jest
travel do ami whar it will pay on the ledge."

For miles down the Western slope, below the highest
peai.s of the Sierra Nevada, gold is rarely to be found.
About one-third of the whole disttiuce down, the first
placers begin to make themselves \ isible. Loose pieces of
quartz interspersed with slate, and a loose red loamy soil,
are the first sure indications, and there are but few ravines
— containing compact gravel in their beds — in which the

<56

HAM BUNGS IN" CALIPORMA.

colour of gold may not be detected, by the use of the pan.
The pmspect gradually improves for another third, and
then they decrease proportionably, until finally lost in the
great valleys of the Sacramento in the Northern, and the
San Joaquin in the Southern mines.

A few placers have been discovered in the coast range
but so meagre, tlu.t in few localities have they defrayed
the expense of collection, although, in the very important
article of quicksilver, portions of this range have proved
exceedingly productive; and where it exists, the ground is
valued at immense sums, but from the great outlay re-
quired in the commencement, the mines are only worked
by chartered companies.

The main lead of the gold fields appears to run midway
on the Western slope, and parallel with the ran-e, froi
the interior of Oregon to the State of Sonora in Mexico ;
although vast tracts intervene of small value, and for the
remainder of the mountains, south of the river MariposH
—although containing small leads— few of the placers are
of sufficient importance, to induce parties to form any im-
portant settlements.

A great excitement was raised a few years back, by the
announcement, that an extensive mining country was dis-
covered in those regions, at a place called Kern liivor,
and some thousand miners deserted the Northern dis-
trict in the pursuit. But after incredible fatigue ard
expense, in a journey of four or five hundred miles, thej
made the withering discovery, that the river was nearly
dry, and the diggings, except in a few spots, already oc-
cupied by the first adventurers— of the most inferior
description. Many died of inanition and exhaustion, and
^ ' ' ^^---rv luuiid tiu-niselves bankrupt; jo

RAMRr.lNOS IN CALiyuKXH,

pocket w,th „„ ,,r„«poot of renewal. ludiRnnnt at their
delusion, enq-.„ries were set on foot, with the view of fer-
ret, „p „,.t the deeeiver, and it „.« fi,,^,,^, ,,jj,,,j ^„ ^,_^
pr.ne,pa »torelieeper of the di.triet, who had alreadv
absorbed the entire funds of tl,e eonnnunitv, by «.lli„;
«hem provision., at an exorbitant rate, and wils just then
on the eve .,f taldnn; his final leave.

An indignation meeting was the result of this enouiry
wh.eh ended .„ the arraignn.ent of the aecusod before the
bar of tho .njured j.rospeeters, and after an i„,partial trial
the unfortunate merehant was eondenu.ed to the gallows,
»d h,s ,ll-g„t,on gaiu eonfiseated fertile purpose of assist-
mg the people to return. Justiee was pron.ptly e.eeuted
0" the dehn,,uent, and the ea.np becun.e almost deserted ■
-d f^n that date to the present, no explorations of 1
importanee have ever been n.ade south „f the so-ealled
f?outheni Mines.

Rven in that wide auriferous region eontaining the l.-re-
-ont patent, in the Maripo,SH district, mining is very far
from being a prosperous oceupation, owing in part to the
^eare.ty of water, beeause the ehief part of the river

-out of u, Tuolumne are dry at uJt half of the yr
»nd their is,,ia,„„, ,„al<es it a eo..t!y and proOtless journo;
■ Ko oil anJ return during the ,hy sea.son , and all persons
■» all intimate wiM, the mines, the manners, h.' it,, and
ae.|U,red propensities of .ho.sc who follow the ,voeatioii.
w; own that a permanent settlement in some plaee that
will alloru constant if even slow returns, is the only way
-with isolated exeeptions-by which the work can he
advantageously prosecuted and money eventually saved
IJut the majority of gold-hunters are either men of gfon.^
sanguine temperaments or reeHcss advulur.-rs, and many

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

of the former class will toil in the i.K.st industrious way
for a yoAiv at a ti.nc, sustaining life on the coarsest edibles
and at the end be as far fron, the consumation of their
dearest hopes, as they were at the commencement ; the
cause of tliis is easily explained.

Two men probably locate a claim in a ravine that will
produce three or four dollars per day to the hand ; they
then erect their cabin, work a few days to lay up a stock
of provisions, and then commence prospectina^ by dicrgin-
holes in the hills contiguous, with the view of discovering
a richer lead. Shaft after shaft is sunk without success',
until beans and tlie usual savory accompaniment have dis-
appeared from their habitation. Necessity again compels
them to apply themselves in their despised gulch. They
are again resuscitated, and the prospecting commences
afresh, until the year expires and finds them head and
ears m the ledger of the merchant, and their despised
claim confiscated to liquidate the debt. But had they used
the same amount of industry in working their gulch, as
they did in excavating the hills in fruitless searclies 4 a
fortune, they would both have acquired a thousand dollars
each.

This mode of working makes tlie average amount an-
nually earned— to the ma)i— but trifling,' although the
semi-monthly exports by the steamer, make the aggregate
appear large. ]Jut the truth is— between this speculative
system of applying their labor, and travelling from place
to place, together with much idleness, intemperance, and
reckless waste— at least two-thirds of the mining operatives
live in a state of constant poverty, although a hope of final
success supports the one class, and a firm resolve to amend

lOrae indefinite period, the otl

r. And so they drudge

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA

along, much happier than might be imagined, under such
disastrous circumstances.

Many persons in reading over the various casualties to
life and limb — to be found in California newspapers — and
observing that the people, in the majority of cases, revenge
their own wrongs in open defiance of the legal tribunals,
are apt to imagine the country in a position of complete
disorganization and lawlessness ; but essentially bad, as the
state of society undoubtedly is, in no other country within
the universe, could the rights of property and human life
be equally respected under a system of government nomi-
nally invincible — but in reality incapable of executing its
smallest mandate without an extreme physical majority.
Republicanism, here, may be literally said tu have run
mad, so ridiculously incapable is it of exercising control
over the masses ; for even among the most enthusiastic
admirers of the so called popular principles of govern-
ment — the law, its makers, and all its complicated ma-
chinery are laughed at, and treated, not only with derision
but often with marked hostility.

It is undoubtedly the good sense and natural love of
order and of justice, inherent in the Anglo-Saxon and
his descendants, that makes the country habitable at all,
and safer than many that have their laws respected and
enforced; and the popular outbreaks that in France or
Italy would lead to wholesale murder, debauchery and
robbery, merely repair the social fabric, and are in truth
but the enforcement of the law itself, which in the letter
at least is founded on just principles, and respect for the
rights of all.

The San Francisco Vigilance Committee in 1856, may
serve as a striking illustration of this. For although

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

nearly ten thouBund able-bodied men (a force that in an
old country would represent u population of a quarter of
a million), were in arms against the government itself—
and that of their own creation— the rights of good citi-
zens were uniformly respected ; and their worst^ enemies
mast own, that the whole turmoil had the desired effect of
purging the State of a nest of desperadoes, who levied
blackmail on all outside their clique, with the keys of
office and the treasury under their control. It was not
the existence of the thing itself, merely, that created for it
such a great amount of local attention and world-wide
notoriety, for such risings had been long foiniliar not only
in the metropolis, but were, and still are, matters of daily
occurrence throughout the length and breadth of the
land, and rarely excited more than , momentary attention
It was simply the e .tent of the rising, its monied influence,
together with its grand conceptions, vitality, and political
bearing that won it notice, not only from the local au-
thority but even from the general government, although
the latter even, would have bee» perfectly imbecile in quell-
ing the outbreak, with the whole of the standing army ;
for noble-looking and effective as the volunteer companies
of the ITnited .States undoubtedly are, when pleased to act
on the outside eueiuies of their country, it would take
much patriotism indeed, to imagine the shadow of o,,llant-
ry or bravery, t.. hover around the scrubby looking blue-
coated gentry, who promenade with the U. «. upon their
knapsacks. The greenest company of supes, in a provin-
cial theatre, acting as "guards," look like veterans in com-
parison with these parodies of soldici-s. Many of them
walk literally wide between the legs like Falstaff's— "a,s if
they had gyves onf and there is little doubt but they

WMmmmi^.

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA-

have been mostly intimate with such appendages. So diffi-
cult is it to find professional food for powder, in every part
of the Republic, that neither physical nor moral blemishes,
need be any damper to the ambition of the military can-
didate. The truth must be told, however, that the na-
tive Americans to be found amono; this motley rabble, are
extremely few, and the "repjlars" are here held in as sove-
reign scorn, as in despotic eountrios they are looked on
with hatred and dread.

The authority given to a mii)er's meeting, looks like a
tacit understanding between the government and people,
that while the former is allowed to swallow the revenues
without question, the latter may govern themselves, in
their own small cornmunities, as they may think best, with-
out fear or favor from the higher powers. Without grant-
ing the philosophy of paying for nothing, still the miners
themselves have shown themselves much more capable than
their repre.-^entativcs. They are authorized as a corpora-
ration, with the power of forming their own bye laws, but
so much is tlie commission stretched, that in many camps
the whole code — from stealing a shovel to a premeditated
murder, is administered promptly, without consulting other
courts than their own ; and so simple is their method, that
the variation of punishment between the two erinies, is of
small moment, when characters are both bad, for a high
gallows and short shrift are the usual satisfaction of the
law. Their proper power, however, does not extend beyond
making laws to govern the tenure of property, and they
are n allowed any power of administration ; but a decision
from a miner's meeting is rar«,'ly appealed from, and would
nearly always be nsejess, for the verdict of a iury from
the county town would be little respected when the physi-

Sfl

RAMBLINviS IN CALIFORNIA.

cal power of tlie comrnii.iity would bo in direct opposition.
In the summer of 185G, wliile residing on the Stanislaus
River, in tlic Southern mines, a new ditch— which com-
manded the ditrgings and provided a good supply of water-
caused a great influx of strangers, hardy laborers, gamblers,
salters and Chinamen. So large did the community become,
that our old laws became incapable of managing us, and a
new code— the work of an eminent member of the bar,
from Philadelphia— was passed fur cur future good beha-
vior. According to the provisoes of the document, a stand-
ing committee and recorder were the only officers, and the
recorder the only allowed recipient of a fee. I was the
fortunate candidate for the latter office, and really, the
pocket money came in very pleasantly for a good little
time, and so li-ht were the duties, that they did'i^ot mate-
rially encroacli upon my other occupations. They con-
sisted merely in making a record of each site, occupation,
or tra.nsfer of claims, at a fee of one dollar, and none
were considered legal without this formula, which had
the clfoct of making the occupiers of the ground all
known, and vacant ground could thus always be^ found, by
consulting the books of the recorder.

In many camps Chinese and Spaniards are excluded,
but as our bar liad many from tlie free states and many
foreign citizens, charity for color triumphed, and a Hot-
tentot was admitted to e(iual rights with a born citizen of
Washington itself.

Shortly after the recognition of the new laws, one of
the miners disposed of his claim to a Chinese company, and
a bill of sale was given, and the whole formula of the laws
rigidly complied with. The Chinese went diligently to
work, and all went smoothly until the forenoon of the

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

next day, wlien I was disturbed at my work by a sound
like the roaring of many waters, and looking up, I per-
ceived on the bank about lifty pigtails streaming in the
wind, and fifty gutteral accents, and a hundred tawny arms
in violent motion. I waited patiently until weariness
caused a dead silence, and tlie interpreter stepped forth
and commenced an explanation.

"Some 3Ielican men good — some no uood, some bad —
Chinaman likey good Melican — likey licey, n likey tighty
— Chinaman buy claim — he pay money — he go workey —
by and by, tree bad Melican men come and say to China-
man, vamos I clear I or trow in river. All oe go work
China claim; Chinaman no likey, he come see you. You
go fighty tree bad Melican men. Chinaman likey you vcly
much, good I You go fightey — he pay you ten dollar."

There was a death-like stillness during the interpreta-
tion, out of which I picked sufficient to inform, me that
three men had taken possession of the claim which had
been sold the previous day, and had won a bloodless vic-
tory by routing the fifty rightful owners.

Feeling it my duty to interfere, I posted down to the
disputed territory, the Chinamen following in Indian file,
but at a most respectful distance. 1 found three gaunt
long-haired fellows, each with a pistol in his belt and
shovelling away in the most commendable style. They
paid no attention as I approached, and I was obliged to
open the business myself, by informing the lankest of the
party that he had committed a blunder, by going to work
on ground, the property of another party. He stopped
his shovel slowly, and measured me leisurely from head
to foot for a full minute before he condescended to reply.

" Whar's the party ?" said he

HAMniJ.VOs !N CALIFOIINIA.

J replied by pointing towards tlie distant Oolestiuls. He
looked attcQtivoiy where I pointed for a moment, and
turned his gay.u on me more in(|uirinoly tlian before, then
with a faee of tlie bhmkest surprise, he loudly addressed
his nearosl partner, —

" Oh, Andrew J. Pearns, como here, will you ; here's a
Yankee says them dratted little yallerehap.s is a party, but
et J ever hcarn any thing 'ccpt a corn-huskin go by that
name afore, mny I never be lost in the streets of Littleroek
agin, and that's in blessed Arkansaw."

As Andrew J., found just the same difficulty in ex-
plaining, T was obliged to make them understand as well
as I was able, the necessity of their giving possession
again, immediately, to the expelled ..ties. IJut when my
object was really made known to their muddy intellects,
their indignation arose to its heiglit, and I almost quailed
at my own temerity, in venturing aIo)ie among such savages.
They berated me soundly for '- Irmging up with colored
fellers agin white folks," and concluded by telling me,—
"We'll skin you like a 'possum, and fat our liar with
your taller, ef you don't clar in a bee line whar you
b'long."

Not having any peculiar desire to experience the sylvan
sport of Arkansas, performed upon my delicate frame, I
withdrew a little faster perhaps thau was commensurate
with dignity, but not half so fast as my copper-colored
friends. As I had now undertaken the affair and had
received much insult, I was determined to push the case
to the utmost limit, and with this resolve proceeded to the
chairman of the committee, who sent round a messenf'er
and at noon the whole white population were mot in
solemn conclave— except the filibusters.

RAMBLINOS fN OALIFORNTA

A committoc of throe was then dispatched, bearing
orders from the meeting for the jumpers to withdraw, but
they returned also at a rate if possibk^ more accelerated
than the recorder, bearing a refusal, coupled with an im-
pertinent challenge to any Freemonter, to go down if they
pleased, and have a free tight at rough and tumble. This
was the signal for a general turmoil, and in twenty
minutes upwards of a hundred men were armed and
equipped, and proceeded in regular military array to the
scene of coiifiict.

The men of Arkansas received them with eool <iisdain,
and it was not until they were summoned twice by the
burly voice of the cliairman, that they condescended to
cease their labor. He commenced by reading the article
from tiie code, having a direct bearing on their case, and
informed them of the resolution passed at the meeting.
He then pulled out liis watch, and told them, that if one of
their party remained on the claim at the conclusion of
live minutes, he would assuredly be shot down, and ad-
vised them to collect their traps at once, and leave in
peace. Minute after minute was called out by the chair-
.uan as they expired, and still the desperate fellows con-
tinued to stand their ground, without an eye (juailing,
amidst a profound and deathlike stillness, only broken at
intervals by the loud voice of the leader as he called out
the minutes of life. My heart ))eat wildly as the fourth
was solemnly called out, without a motion on the part of
tlie victims — fur I knew as surely as that powder would
blaze — they were dead men at the conclusion of the call,
if they still retained their stubborn position. A part of
the last Uiinute liad passed, when my iirst antagonist
coolly addressed his compeers, thus : •' Tottenham Pearch

RAMBLINOS II* CALIFORNIA.

and ycou, Andrew .1. Pearns, we have stud our ground
like free Auierkins, but fortin's agin us— three timog six
IS eigliteen shots, in our shootin irons, anii t^n rr' . ten
times ten of the sneakin nigger-worshippers ; we can't
conic it respectable, let's travel I" and uracefully hoistin-
their picks and shovels, they left the ground just as the
last moment expired, with the air of men that had achieved
a victory rather than a defeat. The Ciiinamen were thea
put into possession, and held and worked their ground
without interruption.

A theft rarely occurs in the mines themselves. The
great numbers that usually occur throughout the wliole
State, are perpetrated in the larger cities, and on travel-
lers in unsettled districts. A lock is seldom used at all on
a miner's cabin, for a burglar could penetrate the chief
part of them as easily as a carpet bag. Petty larceny is
commited by squaws, who trusting on the great privilege al-
ways allowed to the wearers of the petticoats in this country,
sometimes take extreme liberties with flour, sugar, and pro-
visions in the owner's absence. Their husbands are very
cautious about such things, for the same indulgence is rarely
accorded to them as to their wives, and indeed did not fear
prevent them from such a venture, laziness would of itself,
be every way sufficient to keep them passably honest!
Many philosophers contend, that the reason for the superior
energy of people in Xorthern climes, over those of the
tropics lies in the circumstance,that spontaneous productions
engender indolence, and that the very necessity for indus-
try, in an unproductive soil, for the simple requirements of
existence, stimulates to increased exertion and taste for the
superfluities of life. But the theory is at fault, sadly,
among the natives uf California, both with the aborigines

RAMBLINOS !?} CALIFOllNIA.

themselves, find the superior descendant of the Don. The
natural irrowths of the country fur man's food — in the
mining countries in particular — are extremely limited, al-
though in almost all places where irrigation is practicable,
the soil will yield moderately, nearly every variety of pro-
duction. The sustenance of the Indians appears to be
now, as it always has been, principally grasshoppers, clover,
ncgrns and the nut of the sugar pine, varied with fish
when in season. Wild animals have, of cours(!, been plen-
tier before mining commenced, but their miserably con-
structed bows and arrows, plainly show, that they could
never have materially depended on the chase for support.

Their method of trapping and cooking grasshoppers at
the same time, shows much ingenuity; and is, to them at
least, a pleasing and exciting pastime, and very amusing
for an outsider to look at. Half a dozen holes are dug in
a clover flat — where the game abound — as close to each
other as possible, and about the shape and size of an inverted
beehive. They then place closely around the holes, a ring of
dried brush, which they set fire to, and then commences the
]i^xnt — the oldest patriarch of the tribe, condescending to
v.'ork witli the squav/s, and ^'fights his battles o'er again"
with rdl the oithusiasm of sixteen. They commence
by forming a circle round the fire, at a distance of some
hundred feet. Each is armed with a bush, with which
they drive their victims before them, as they gradually
contract the circle and approach the fire. One hop through
the fire, and the wings, horns and claws, are stripped off,
and they drop into the holes, unable to escape from their
pursuers, who then clear away the circle of flame and have
a luscious banquet on the crispy crickets. In the thick of
the season, they dry the superabundance for winter use

i- t.'i

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

and the«c, to;:,.ther with flour ananufacturcd from ncorna
— poimdod in a huge mortar .scooped out of a solid granite
Icdgc-are the staple articles of the lodge, during the un-
productive seasons of the year.

The squaws are often despatched with their pans, and a
large horn spoon, c.jled a cuchara, to find gold dust; but
the proceeds of their success in this empk.yment are never
w.sted-except on feast days-for eatables, but are ex-
pended in adorning the persons of their lor.ls, and
moistening their interior, with tlie rankest description of
cheap whiskey. It is not considered safe generally, to
leave much gold in the sluices at night, in the district
where Indians are plenty, for it is said that the ladies prefer
prospecting in a riffle box, to trying their chances on a
natural bank; but they are often blamed for such little
tricks, when, if the truth were known, the real perpetrator
resides at the best hotel, wears kid gloves, and carries a
six ounce gold chain on his vest of French velvet.

rART III.

FACP] OF THE COUNTRY, AGRICUL-
TURE AND LABOR.

The history of California has of late years become
familiar to most readers, through the American newspapers,
and it would be in exceeding bad taste, for nie to make a
repetition of the infliction upon my patient readers, by
giving them State extracts, from narratives founded on fact
at best, after deluding the gentle creatures with the idea
of hearing an interesting retrospect of wanderings, through
the longth and breadth of this romantic land. Deeming,
nevertheless, that a little statistical and descriptive infor-
mation, concerning the principal localities ;.i;d towns,
individually — places heretofore unknown almost, except in
name — may prove interesting and probably more instructive
than a general topographical sketch ol" the whole — always,
and necessarily, vague and contradictory; I will endeavor
to do so v/ith as little prolixity as possible, and those who
deem the subject dry or unprofitable, may either skip
.l*art the Third, or devoutly ask for patience.

-:' ■■■„■ ■^■*i'|^*--.A*"r-..,

?2p8r-

HAMBLlNciS IN CALIF(»KMA.

It will be (.bserved by any one who takes tlie trouble of
consultinii; a iiki|i, ainl comparing the statistics of a,t:rieul-
tiire, 111 th.- various counties north and south, toirother
with the nuniber(.f inhabitants in eaeh— that the southern
portion of Alta California, possesses an overwhelniino- ad-
vantaire, in the production of every description of vegeta-
bles and domestic animals, as well as, in the important
item of females and children. This criterion, though, of
Itself, will not be sufficient to form a solid judgment upon
their respective merits— for the reason that the people
of the south, with fe- r exceptions, are employed in farm-
ing occupations, the o her resources being but of seeondary
consequence, while the vilages are wide apart and unim-
portant in .size. In the north— on the contrary— at least
one half arc residents of towns, and the chief portion of
the other lialf are i.iiners; so Itiat the proportion eni--
ployed on farms— or ranches as they are termed— is but
trifling, and the proportion of productions to the indi-
vidual, with its high value, will show an exceedingly satis-
factory reward to the tiller of the soil. It would thus
seem, that the upper portion of the State was thrice
blessed, with a fruitful soi|^ mineral and commercial ad-
vantage ^ together with an ample supply of timber, botli
. )r home consumption and foreign supply.

But, if we examine more minutely into detail, we shall'
become fully convinced, that the North can never rival the
South as an agricultural producer, and that the latier
is especially , and providentially intended, to become the
feeder of the former. It may appear a matter of no im-
portance in a genera] sense, as to which portion has the
advantage in this respect, the whole territory being con-
■olidated under one government. But I have been thus

RAMTU.INOS [N CALIFORNIA.

induced to toucli upon the relative powers of the two
portions, on account of the dissatisfaction and angry dis-
cussion formerly raised between them, and sure to be re-
sumed on every possible occasion, pending the policy of
a separation. And when it is considered, the different—
not to say contradictory — legislation required for each
and the great territory, separated so much by wastes, there
is but little doubt that such a course will finally be adopted
and become mutually advantageous in the end; at least it
will be much mon^ satisfoctory to the population south of
a line running east of San Francisco. For as the majority
are emigrants from the Slave States, thei. great desire
could then be accomplished, of introducing slavery into
the new State, a desideratum, which, however devoutly
wished for by them, at the present time is a moral impos-
sibility, on account of the enormous number of opponents
to the ''peculiar institution," to be found in the mines
and cities of the north.

The mining counties are never likely, indeed, to sup-
port themselves with their present inhabitants, because
that, in the aggregate, the amount of arable land is very
scarce— and the consumers bear a very disproportionate
majority to the producers— and as the farming land is
principally confined to river flats, whore the air is rank
with miasma, and liable to flood each winter, the process
of settling goes on but slowly, and it is not considered by
the wise ones, as a very safe or profitable investment for
capital or labor. Vast tracts of land still remain available
to operative farmers, and the market is mostly a fair one,
while but little difficulty is likely to exist on the score of
title, for the Spanish grants are but few, and present pos-
session is almost certain to secure an undisturbed title

RAMIJL!N'(iS IN CALIFORNIA.

wlic.i the land is in tlic market— by the occupant takinj?
it at government valuation.

But on the whole, however, the lower portion of tlie
State offers by far the ojreatcr inducements to families
intendin- to settle, when the Mexican irrants are con-
firmed, or rejected; for good land is abundant still, at
nominal prices, and although produce ranges much lower
in value than in the mineral country, the market is gone-
rally good, and the labor of tilling the rich virgin vaFleys,
is comparatively light. On account of the large compact
tracts, settlements and society are fast improving, and
communication by rapid means of transport, will grow
apace on tliese rich level plains.

The climate of the main portion of California, may be
reckoned, at least, as among the most delightful on the
globe. For, except on a few overflowed grounds— where
bilious diseases are prevalent— consumptions, rheumatism,
fevers, and every sort of epidemic, are almost unknown'
except through undue exposure. Bright suushijie in a
sky like Italy's, and healthy breezes, are sureties for three-
fourths of the year. The remainder of the season is
variable, but since the heavy freshets of '52, it has never
rained in one winter, more than sufficient to nioderately
moisten the soil and supply the minoi's with water for
sluicing. Early in March, the bleak summits of the hills
begin to clothe themselves with the richest verdure, and
the cattle hie to their tops, where the first fresh grass
begins to spring. They then gradually descend towards
the plains, as the sun makes hay on the high grounds,
and at last are driven to the swails and tules. But they
in their turn scorch and wither, buueath the uninterrupted
glare of the sun, and the t jntinued months of unmoistened

liAMlJLlNMiS IN CAIJFORNIA.

winds. For a (juartcr of a year this natural liay is the
only provender to be found ; but crisp, dry, and tasteless
as it appears, it is, in reality, nourishing- and palatable,
for flocks of all kinds cat it with much apparent relish,
and keep nearly in C((ual condition as when it is fresh, for
it still retains niucli of its juices, inconsequence of never
being wet by a single shower of rain.

A large party of us once arrived at a lonely valley, in
the county of Los Angeles, at which we intended to remain
some days. Tiie horses were tired and hungry ; so, after
watering them, we made each fast to a picket, stuck in the
ground — with a rope twelve feet in length — and supplied
them with a small quantity of barley, for the ground
looked bare, and black as a freshly ploughed field — offering
I thought one of the most discouraging prospects imagin-
able to a famished horse. In the morning, I proceeded to
my steed, with his breakfast, but was extremely surprised
at the manner in which he kicked up his heels, and the
ineffable scorn with which he treated my hospitable ad-
vances. The ground was covered witli something that
looked iike coarse black dust, and as I watched the incli-
nation of my companion's nose, I saw him move his lips,
as though he was going through the form of eating, in ac-
tual mockery. Surprised at his actions, I seized a handful
of the dust, and after an examination of its nature, found it
to be a very superior description of clover seed, and for
many miles in every direction, the ground . literally
covered — to the .^epth of nearly an inch — with this excel-
lent provender, the straw having completely crumbled into
powder, under the influence of the \r < .

summer.

herd of Spanish cattle, that I saw immediately after, proved
their good cheer, by their sleek hides and rumiuationH,

RAMBMNGS IN CALIFORNIA.

an.] we found it unnecessary to remove the pickets but
twice during the week of our stay. I saw the same valley
in the ensuing spring, and so rank and tall was the clover
--all then m blossom-that it was a matter of extreme
difliculty to pass through it on foot.

There is great similarity in the regular variations of the
seasons throughout the State, and the great apparent dif-
tcrcnces to be found, owe their origin much more to local
causes than to latitude. The southern valleys have of
course the least changes in temperature, and preserve an
extraordinary degree of iiiildness the major portion of the
year. The coldest season i. in March, about the first
cessation of the rains.

The^ lands lying west of the coast range, and those
bordering on the extensive bay of San Francisco, are
greatly subjected to cold N. W. winds throughout the
summer season, and strangely enough, the winter is gene-
rally pleasanter throughout. Many portions of the north
have great extremes of heat and cold, occasioned by the
great and sudden elevation of the hills ; and it is not un-
common, to see the herbage springing up in the valleys,
green and fresh, while twenty miles up in the mountains,
ditches are frozen, and all mining operations brought to a
stand, with snow ten feet deep.

I append to these short remarks— touching the climate
—a few meteorological observations I made at San Luis
Obispo, during part of the months of January and Febru-
ary, 1^54 ; and as this place is nearly midway of the State,
the table may give some idea of a California winter-^
although, as a general thing, the climate inland is more
Jiable ^o sudden changes, and greater extremes of heat and
cold.

RA>U$L[NGS IN CALIFORNIA.

are

DATl';

Jan.

20.M

21."
'22.011
23.0t>
24.011
2y.M
2f).0H
27. M
28.08
29.0 K
30.M
31.0i^
Feb,
I.OR
2.M
;j.os

4.0U

r),M

7. OS
8.0 K
9.M

WINDS. :

nAiii

>M.

TltlillMOM.

Direc.

Force.

Inch.

Dec.

Air.
40

Uiit
45

Wet

.SK

N W

S K

r^■2

>■ \v

:,H

i' (

■>

3t)

;(

'•

511

N ^y

••

2',t

i 50

N \V

.Ji

1 53

•JO

8 K

; 60

•;

! 0.3

i 55

0.")

I 05

CLOUD".

WEATHER.

■;triit.

Cir.
C. S.
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SE Mild and I'lcasant
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Very tiuo.

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I'leasant.

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Small rain.
Very iiut.

Rnin.

As to the ([uantity and <juality of horticultural pro-
duction.s to the aero, they arc seldom equalled, and
probably never excelled elsewhere ; and most descriptions
of fruit — where a trial has lieen made — grow with all the
luxuriance of a tropical climate ; amongst the vegetables
that grow with peculiar excellence, may be mentioned
particularly — barley, potatoes, onions, cabbage, melons,
cucumbers, tomatoes, <S:c., and indeed, almost every de-
scription of garden vegetables. But a regular and com-
plete system of irrigation, is imperatively required to
conduct horticulture with success, except on the low un-
healthy intervals of the vSacraniento river.

Santa Clara is perhaps the most important agricultural
county in the country, for great progress had already been
made, under the surveillance of the old Mexican priests,
prior to its annexation to the American Republic. Its
productions are already extensive, but a serious drawback
to its prosperity exists in the large Mexican grants that

a 2

RAMHL1NGS IN CALIFORNIA.

cover much of its surface. These wide ranches-oftea
covcnng many leagues-will continue to be no man's
land, until a final decision has been made by the U. S.
Court. For even among those confirmed by the board of
commissioners, the chief part have been appealed from by
tnc squatters ; and when the final decision is made, the
next job will be the act of dispossession. This will be
the most difficult feat of all ; for, assuredly they will not
move an inch for the Sheriff— they are the militia
themselves,— and as for the regular troops, why, if they
unite— and they certainly would— they are better soldiers,
and more numerous, than the whole standing army ex-
isting in the State. Some of the shrewdest of the Mexi-
cans are gradually granting deeds to the residents at low
prices, and this is the only plan, possible, for them to
escape complete robbery, for they have already discovered
in more ways than one, the inefficiency of the govern-
ment to protect the weak against the encroachments of
the strong.

It must be acknowledged, though, that many of the peo-
ple have conscientious scruples touching the propriety of
taking possession of that which is not theirs, and in con-
sequence, great tracts of the richest alluvial deposit, con-
tinue to be a wilderness, except at intervals where some
hardy Ishmael has dared to pitch his tent, and shelter his
household gods, in defiance of all prohibition, with his
stout heart and brawny arms his only title.

lu those portions where the titles arc indisputable, by
coming into the possession of Americans, whether by pur-
chase or matrimony— the latter seems in most favor— the
amount of improvement is wondrous and beautiful. The
tillable land— like most in the State- consists of a val-

mm^.

RAMBLING^ IN CALli'ORNIA.

ley, sometimes gently undulutiug, but in general, level
almost as a billiard table, between two ranges of moun-
tains, and studded with oak trees, like an English park.
The valley varies in breadth^ from twenty miles to a few
yards, where the two chains contract, and again expand
it; and these valleys of variable breadth, running in length
nearly north and south, and extending to the Mexican
line, constitute nearly the whole of the farming land of
the country.

A mission was early made in Santa Clara by the tirst
settlers, and as whites as well as Indians began to occupy
the attention of the worthy fathers, two chapels of ease
were soon erected for the accommodation of distant wor-
shippers, during the severities of the winter season. There
are now two bustling little towns at these chapels, and the
chief part of the settlements are in their immediate neigh-
borhood. The road from the little town of Santa Clara,
to the city — or Paella of San Jose, a distance of four
miles — is one of the most delightful imaginable. The
ground is hard and smooth, and shaded through its
whole extent by large trees on each side. They have
been planted at regular intervals of five or six feet, and
meeting above, they totally exclude the sun. The planters
of these veterans, have long since mouldered into dust, for
these kindly monuments of their benevolent labor, already
bend to the march of time, and have the full appearance
and bulk of centenarians.

There are many vineyards in this county producing
grapes of delicious flavor ; pears and peaches, too, are
plentiful, but there are other places much excelling it in
this branch of agriculture. Its population exceeds 10,000,
and its greatest productions in 1855, were the follow-

ilAMBLlNGS IN CALIFORxNIA.

ing:— onions in pounds, 800,000; eabbarre, (100,000;
grape vines, 2r),000; barley in buslicls, 700,000; wheat'
100,000; potatoes, 500,000. \ have seen melons from
this place, Aveighing over GO pounds, and cabbages 30
pounds.

Santa Cruz county i.s divided from Santa Olara, by a
long spur of the coast range, about ten miles in breadth.
This ridge provides excellent pasture, and supplies in
profusion, building and fencing material for both counties.
The principal timber consists of pine, and a giL'antic
species of cedar, called red wood. It is extremely light
when dry, takes a very smooth finish, and scarcely shrinks
at all, but it is rather soft, and too easily split, to make
very good floors or furniture.

Santa Cruz has probably the most uniform climate in
the State, and although in close proximity to San Fran-
cisco, might almost seem in another State. It is very
small, and consists merely of a narrow strip upon the
coast, from three to ten miles wide, and above 30 in length,
but contains more arable ground than others of ten times
its extent, [t has been styled by all admirers of California
scenery, the garden of the world, and it really does appear
to bear upon its youthful face, the world's first fresh fra-
grance, as it came from its creator's hand. Flowers, blue
sky, and sunshine, continue almost in an endless cycle,
and th. :uild breezes of the Pacific, temper the harshness
of every season.

This circumstance gives it a great pre-eminence over all
the other great agr-uiiural valleys, the principal of which
are— Suisun, Napa, ^un Juse, Los Angeles, and the long
reaching flats of the Sacramento -nd San Joaquin. A
frost is rarely seen at any season, and snow is unknown,

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

except when seen on the distant hills of the coast range,
at rare periods. Thousands of acres in this valley are
covered with luxuriant crops of wild oats, and large herds
of half wild cattle are to be seen revelling on the luxury.
Although owned and branded with the name of their
proprietor, they are wild as deer, and frequently danger-
ous to solitary footmen, who have often been gored to
death by them, when without arms, or a tree in reach to
escape to. Nearly every plant that is good for the food
of man, the earth appears to bring forth kindly, and with
the most trifling degree of cultivation, and things that in
other less fortunate lands, would seem in the strongest
contrast with each other, here grow amicably side by
side, like a happy family ; grapes, and potatoes, currants,
strawberries, and raspberries, with peaches, apricots and
oranges, all flourishing as though indigenous to the soil.
Art has done but little yet for this lovely valley, but na-
ture has prepared it for much, and few who have labored
in its generous soil, would willingly leave it for the sterile
and harsher climate of the Atlantic seaboard. Santa Cruz,
the county town, was a populous mission, but the coarsely
built old church is now almost in ruins, and a great por-
portion of the simple inhabitants, scattered or destroyed,
through the unceasing persecutions of the American
squatters.

The county of San Joaquin, occupies a portion of the
great valley of the same name, which lies between the
mountains of the Sierra Nevada, and the Cast Range
proper, running in length nearly N.W. and S.E., and
averaging in breadth, aboul 40 miles. The soil for a mile
or two back from the rivers, is extremely fertile, but the
intermediate spaces are gravelly, and chiefly untit for

HAMHIJ.NdS LV I'.V UFORM A.

cultivation. Dry Cvok, a s.null l.rnnch of the Mcxju-
Iunni<«, divides this valley from that of the Saeramot.to,
and tli(> important San Joaquin river runs for a loni^ dis-
tance nearly in the centre of the valley, after its efflux
from the mountains. The eonti-uity of the auricultural
lands to the richest portion of the Calaveras and Tuolumne,
.secures an unfailino- niarlcct to every spocicH of its varied
productions ; all articles bcarin- nearly double the price
that they would in Santa Cruz, or Santa Clara; but the pre-
valence of fever and a-ue on the best land.s, deteriorates
much from their value. The carrying, trade to the main
portion of the southern mines, is of vast importance to
this county, and the roads and bridges are the best in the
State, the oravclly nature of the soil being a great ad-
vantage in tlie lieavy rains of winter. Teaming is carried
on in the grandest system, some of the waggons will hold
upwards of eight tons, and are drawn by twenty mules,
and the proprietor of even one team and waggon requires
to be a man of some capital, for large team mules are
worth 300 dollars each, and a waggon, about 81,500. The
mules used arc of a very superior breed, and are much
preferred to horses, from the fact that they require less
attention to their wiints, and their powers of endurance
beneath a hot sun.

Earley, for feed, is the staple production on the river
flats, and eiglity bushels to the acre is by no means an un-
common crop. Potatoes weighing 81b, floury and sound,
are plentiful; and cabbages and onions are grown in
profusion, and sold at moderate prices, but the teamsters'
and retailers' profits more than treble their value before
they come into the hands of the consumers in the mines.
Salmon and other fish arc caught in abundance in all the

RA.MlJLlNdS IN CALIFOKMA.

rivcTB, an<l tlio i»lains aro covered with wild liorses, elk,
door, antelope, and ninnberles.s varieties of feathered jrauie.
And although hunters are numerous, they have not mate-
rially doereased their numbers ; hut so wild are they, that
it rccjuires threat skill and ex[»eri(!ne(! to prosoeute the
callin<^ with success. Many native Californians and
Mexicans, employ themselves in eatel.ing wild horses, or
Muataiujs, by driving them into traps or corrals — a sort of
pound — where they lasw them, and then dispose of them
to farmers and others, for S40 or §50 each. They can be
broken to harness in u few weeks, but they are generally
light, and apt to be treacherous for the whole their
existence.

The principal streams arc the San Joa<iuin, xMofjuelumne,
Calaveras, and Stanislaus. The San Joaquin is navigable
to Stockton, and much higher, during freshets, and is the
grand trunk that receives nearly all the rivers of the coun-
try, south of San Francisco bay. The Stanislaus, which
separates this county from Tuolumne, has been very rich
in its upper portion, and contains much profitable mining,
even ten miles from its mouth; paying regularly in fine
gold, so low as the foot hills, from %'l to $4 per day, to the
hand.

Stockton, Ca.storia, and Knight's Ferry are the only
towns. Stockton was at one time the third in the State,
but now contains only abcmt 400U inhabitants. It was at
one time a depot of a fur company, and then occupied by
a Mr. Webber, but was not permanently settled until the
first your of the gold discoveries. It has been a great
sufferer from fires and freshets, and it is most likely from
this cause that few importing merchants reside in it ; and
goods from the interior pass through from Sau Francisco,

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RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

without profit to any except the carriers. It is situated
one mile from the San Joaquin, on a sluggish but deep
stream, called Stockton Slough, and possesses the public
Lunatic Asylum, which is one of the finest buildings in
the State.

Castoria— sometimes called French Camp— is also on a
slough, and was an old post of the Hudson Bay Company.
It is small but very lively town, particularly during the
rainy season, from the great superiority of its roads. The
whole population of this county is about 8000.

The County of Napa is convenient to San Francisco, and
contains the most beautiful and healthy valleys of the
northern counties. It is fast settling up, though the In-
dians as yet fdrm the greater moiety of the population.—
They are, however, principally domesticated, by employing
them on ranches, and very useful they prove as herds.—
Their remuneration is not very much, for as none of them
are troubled with the luxuriant ideas of their brethren in
the gold fields, they have never had the opportunity of
making themselves useful at other employments.

Napa supplies the markets in San Francisco bay, with
large quantities of produce— barley, wheat, and beef are
the most important About $40,000 are invested in
quicksilver mining, but the gold placers are not very pro-
fitable. There is a mountain of very strange appearance
near the coast, standing quite aloof from any range— it is
visible more than 50 miles off. There are great numbers
of hot sulphur springs in Napa, many of which are said to
possess extraordinary medicinal powers, and are much re-
sorted to, by invalids, from all parts of the country.

The Napa river, after running in a southerly course
through the centre of the valley beari)ig its name, empties

RAMBIJNGS IN CALIFORNIA.

into Pablo bay. It is navigable nearly 12 miles. Putas
takes its source in the North, and after watering the de-
lightful little valley Berryesa, courses its way rapidly
through a narrow mountain gorge, all trace of it is finally
lost in the vast tule marshes of the Sacramento. There
are great numbers of romantic looking caverns ; but the
most interesting curiosities, by far, are the geysers, or hot
sulphur springs, situated a few miles north of Napa city,
in the interior of the mountains. Their diameter varies
from nine inches to twelve feet. They are perpetually
boiling, and the water frequently spouts upwards more
than twenty-five feet. Powerful streams of burning gas
issue from great fissures in the rocks, and the sound it
makes in its exit, is louder than the escape of steam from
the largest boiler. The water is all strongly impregnated
with sulphur, and the smell of the gas is extremely pun-
gent. Napa city and Suscol are the chief towns, and the
whole population, ranges near 3000 — 1600 of whom are
Indians.

Sacramento, which contains the second city in the
State, is bounded on its Western side by the river of the
same name, which is second in importance to but one on
the entire western coast' of North or South America
Its resources are completely agricultural^ for there are no
mines within its boundaries that will defray the cost of
working. It has 10,000 head of horned cattle, and 5000
mules. Horticulture is carried on much more extensively
than elsewhere, and its productions of onions, cabbage,
carrots, parsnips and turnips, are nearly equal to all the
rest of the State. Even so early as 1854, there were 307
acres in melons alone, and their value, together with the
other productions in the market, amounted to more than

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

half a million of dollars. The arable land is low and rich,
requiring no irrigation ; but the air is extremely un-
wholesome. The city of Sacramento, to which the river
is navigable for large ships, is intended for a perfect
checkerboard, as the streets have been surveyed, but in
consequence of the dilatoriness of the people in building,
when compared with the expertness of the engineers, the
whole board was completed before the former had filled
up a decent double corner. The city as now existing
forms a T ; a few streets parallel with the river and levee,
forming the top, and these, bissected by two main streets
of great length, complete the figure. The streets are all
numbered eastwardly from the levee, 1, 2, 3, &c., but
although laid out to nearly a hundred, they exist only in a
fertile imagination after 12th street, which consists of a
pig-sty and hay stack placed tete-a-tete. North and South
they are named alphabetically, and although they are all
particularly short, they already nearly consume the twenty-
six letters. J, is a noble street, a mile and a half long;
both it and the levee, or 1st street, were at one time de-
corated with live oak trees through their whole extent,
but during the universal license enjoyed about the periods of
flood and fire, 8onie of the free a»d enlightened ones took
the liberty of appropriating them all for culinary purposes.
There was something very refreshing in their appearance,
particularly in Hummer, ai- they dotted and cooled the
surface of the thirsty prairie. Greenly, and luxuriantly,
they spread their gnarled and scraggy branches over the
fevered citizens that hurried past. Each whispering
zephyr that faintly winged its flight along the thirsty soil,
seemed revivified and rustled once more into life by the
hardy old veterans, The city seems to have almost owed

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA-

its existence to these trees.. The weary pioneer from the
far off banks of the Mississippi, rested and refreshed him-
self, his family, and his cattle, beneath their kindly shel-
ter. A sense of home grew up in his bosom, and an
attachment to the spot was engendered. He pitched his
tent on the flower-covered banks of the noble river, and
other rough but sympathizing hearts, that clung instinc-
tively to nature's loveliness, followed in his train, and
soon, each tree sheltered a canvas hut, and smiling faces.
Trade gradually pushed itself in, and during the first year
of the gold mania, the fairy city arose like a fungus. It
is still progressing in spite of its disasters ; and the num-
ber of its fire-proof buildings, is only equalled by the
neighboring city on the bay.

The original Contra Costa, lies immediately opposite
the city of San Francisco, on the north side of the bay.
It has more than doubled its population in the last three
years. It has been lately divided into three counties, and
their fruitful soil, together with their admirable position
to a good market, hold out great expectations for its future
advancement. The arable land all lies on the slope, be-
tween the coast range and the bay, and is of a very supe-
rior description. Settlers keep pouring in, probably faster
than in any other of the agricultural counties, and villages
are springing up on every point of advantage on the bay
open to steam navigation. The hills on the background
are filled with redwood, where shingle makers and rail
splitters have heretofore found lucrative employment, but
they are now thinning it out very fast. The land, although
good, is not adapted to fruit, or the more delicate species
of vegetables, on account of the harsh winds that blow
constantly from the bay during the summer. The prin-

RAMBLINQS IN CALIFORNIA.

cipal Streams are the Jacento, San Ramon, San Pablo, and
San Leandro, but they are all unimportant. The towns
are Martinez—the seat of justice— Squatter Town, and
Oakland. Oakland is delightfully situated en a little
harbor of the bay, and in hourly communication by steam,
with the metropolis, a dwelling and watering place for the
wealthier citizens, as Brooklyn is to New York. It is by
no means uncommon to see several hundred acres in one
potatoe-patch, and forty or fifty men employed in ex-
tracting from the soil the dry, and bulky excrescences.

Monterey, which joins San ,a Clara on the South, is
altogether agricultural and pastoral, but it is much cov-
ered by old Spanish grants. It has about 4000 inhabi-
tants, two thirds of whom are white, and its surface
covers about 400 square miles. It is naturally divided
into three districts — separated from each other by ridges
of mountains, but they all communicate by passes, and
constitute portions of the main valley, that extends the
whole length of the State. Salinas and Carmel extend to
the coast, San Juan is in the interior. Each of these
contained a mission for many years, orchards of pear trees
were planted, and much land brought into a state of culti-
vation by domesticated Indians. The towns are San Juan
and Monterey. The former is a very sleepy little place
in the midst of plenty. Monterey, 80 miles south of San
Francisco, was at one time the capital of both the Cali-
fornias, and the largest town, but has made very little
progresj since annexation ; and its adobe houses and
muffled nuns, seem not yet fully aware of the fact, that
they have the supreme felicity of being an actual portion
of the free and universal nation.

The bay and scenery of Monterey is the prettiest on

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

the coast. The harbor, though small, has tolerable shel-
ter, and is a port of entry. But the grass grows in the
bonded stores of the custom house ; the collector's time is
consumed amidst the click of billiard balls ; the doctor's,
in prescribing cogniac — to himself; the Nantucket har-
bor-master's in watching the sjyarm spout in the offing ;
the lawyer's, in creating dog fights ; and the commander
of the fort sits on a rotten gun-carriage, watching with a
placid and gratified eye, the process of incubation per-
formed in the rusty bombs, by his Shanghai liens.

San Louis Obispo, lies south of the county of Monterey,
and borders on the Pacific ; it has no mines, and agricul-
ture is in a very backward state. Of a surface of nearly
600,000 acres, only 50,000 are unclaimed, and the white
inhabitants number but 400. The ground is held in 37
Ranches under Mexican titles, and is fit for little except
pasturage, to which it is best adapted. It is so inconve-
nient to market, that the rightful owners have not been
much annoyed by squatters, and the name of American
is much less detested by the native Californians, than in
other counties, where they have experienced a greater
share of persecution. It contains 50,000 head of cattle
and horses, and has a port or rather a roadstead on the
coast, but no harbor. The heavy sea that continually
thunders in from the wide reach of the ocean, even in the
calmest weather, makes the calls of the steamer rare, on
account of the extreme danger of landing freight through
the rolling surf. There was a mission formed here at an
early period, nine miles from the coast in a very pretty
locality. The lands pertaining thereto, have, of course,
been confiscated, but a small village — the only one in the
county — has sprung up around the ruins of the ancient
chapel. 1 2

RAMBLINQS IN CALIFORNIA.

Santa Barbara-containing, chiefly, portions of the
coast range-extends to the coast, and is extremely
mountainous. It has a pretty little town bearing its
name, on a small roadstead, at which steamers touch in
their weekly trips between San Francisco and San l>ie<.o
The soil IS not generally well suited to cultivation, nor
even susceptible of irrigation, from its extremely rough
and uneven surface. It is called, however, one of the
best grazing counties, and supports enormous herds of
cattle, but it is capable of feeding, naturally, five times
IS present amount. It ha« several streams emptying into
the ocean from the mountains, but so near does the range
run to the coast, that none of them has length or volume,
sufficient to dignify it by the name of river. The Santa
Barbara is the largest, which, after running a length of
fovty-hve miles from its source, discharges itself into the
ocean. San Buenaventura has a course of thirty-two
miles, and enters the Sea, not far from the ancient mis-
sion of San Buenaventura. Santa Inez is upwards of
sixty miles in length, its mouth is within a few miles of
1 oint Concepcion, the principal land mark and light house
on the whole coast. The mountains in this county, frc
quently attain the height of 4500 feet, and one of them
contains a small volcano, which smokes at long interval.
Ihe sea in this neighborhood abounds with many varie-
ties of excellent fish, among which may be enumerated
corvinas, blackfish, mackarel, crawfish, sardines, clams,
and oysters.

But little improvement can be hoped for in this region.
Ihe Spanish grants cover a great surface, and their old
habits and customs predominate over all others. Even
the settlers from the land of enlightenment have retro-

RAMULINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

graded in their ideas of morality, and descended to the

barbarous amusements of bull baiting and cock fightinc

a favorite Sunday recreation— whore whiskey, profanity,
and fipjhtinr^ abound, as a natural result.

It is really astonishing to witness the extreme interest
taken by every class in the community, and the money
that changes purses, on the result of au engagement be-
tween two mean looking speckled fowls. From the richest
Kanchcro to the humblest peon— the priest, and his
hearers, all throng to the soul exciting combat. The
padre has most commonly a notorious sporting taste, and
great celebrity for his judgment, in the cut of a comb, or
the curve of a spur; and on those sweet 8abb:ith even-
ings Ms rusty cassock may invariably be seen, surrounded
by a knot of sporting men, whose dark eyes gleam with
fierce delight as he details his experience and opinions of
the gentle craft of cock fighting. The inhabitants of this
county number 4000, more than one half being native
Californians.

San J)iego, although of small mineral or agricultural
value, is nevertheless possessed of many interesting and
important points of attraction. Embracing, as it does,
within its boundaries, the southern extremity of the

State, and in absolute contact with the lower peninsula

it is therefore the most thoroughly Mexican, of all the
counties in Alta California.

The face of the country may be set down as three-
fourths barren, sandhills in the front, reaching to the coast,
interspersed with some fertile valleys of no great extent;
and in the rear of a great sandy desert, many miles in
length, reaching to the river Colorado, which empties
itself into the Gulf of California, at its extreme northern

I !l

100

RAMBLINOS Iff CALIFORNIA.

terminus. The bleak hills in the front, have not a single
tree upon their slopes to give variety or breAk the uni-
versal sameness of the landscape. The only appearance
of vegeiAblc life, are two or three varieties of dwarf bushes,
or chajypnrel, that grow around their bases, forming in
some places an impassable thicket, and make very desirable
covers for Grizzlys and California lions. There are only
about 500 acres of land in cultivation, and yet it supports
quite a respectable number of beeves and other domestic
animals.

The town of San Diego ontemptible as it now appears,

was at one time the second in importance, and although
possessing a fine little harbor for the reception of small
craft, it has deceived less accession by emigration, than any
other of the small towns on the coast, between it and San
Francisco, a distance of 600 milec.

On examining the town, the increase makes itself plainly
visible, the light airy Yankee style of architecture, con-
trasting strongly with the heavy jail-like adobes of the
natives. An air of primitive simplicity still hovers around
the old town, and the good folks of the place still seem
to retain, that easy comfortable way of letting the morrow
look out for itself, so refreshing for a lazy person to con-
template, and so strongly characteristic of the Spaniard,
be it in the old world or the new.

By the way— although in possession of all the less pre-
possessing attributes of their ancestors, as far as haughti-
ness, idleness, and bigotry, are concerned— they possess
but little of the heroic disposition and fine features of the
old Castilian. And, indeed, they approach so much
nearer, in manners, features, and complexion, to the
aborigines themselves, as will lead to the conclusion that

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

101

but little of the unadulterated Spanish stock remains
among them, and the same may be "aid of nearly all the
Spanish settlements, both in North and South America,
particularly among the lower classes ; and this hypothesis
may serve as a very excellent a.id sufficient reason for the
semi-barbarism, into which the chief part of all the
Spanish Americas have fallen, since their separation from
the mother country.

The old town of San Diego, with a population of not
more than 1500, can still boast of its plaza, &nd its priest.
The latter, when I saw him, was a fine looking old
specimen of a race now nearly extinct. His broad, bow-
window figure, showed a strong partiality for the good
things of this life; but the kindly and reverend expres-
sion of his handsome countenance, bespoke the man with
conscience unsullied, and mind at peace with his maker
and fellow men. It was quite a pleasing and interesting
sight, when the padre chose the great square of the town
for his lecture room, and gathered around him his bare-
legged and youthful disciples. Wild, and uncouth, as they
were, his gentle, though perhaps superstitious teachings,
seeined to exercise a strong and humanizing influence
over their half savage natures, no way improved, I must
say, by their recent intercourse with the pink of progress,
in the person of Uncle Sam ; for bad and false as their
tenets may be, which enthral them, they are infinitely to
be preferred, to the broad Atheism, openly acknowledged
by the chief part of the intelligent strangers who have
cast their lot in the midst of this simple people.

San Diego is a favorite resort for horse stealers and
suspicious looking rprasers, or half-breeds, chiefly from
its remoteness and the uncertain communication with the

r^.,

102

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

more civilized districts, besides its convenience to the
wilds of the neighboring republic. It is also a depot for
cattle and sheep, wliich are purchased in small droves in
Mexico, and collected here to be driven or taken by steam
to San Francisco or the mines. The climate is delightful
and regular, and bears a strong and favorable resemblance
to the balmiest portions of Italy, or Sicily, but it is even
less oppressive and much more uniform, the thermometer
ranging at summer-heat with little variation through tho
entire season. In '54 but one physician existed in the
place, and he died of a broken-heart, occasioned, it waa
said, by a want of practice. He complained to me in the
most affecting way, of the citizens' obstinacy in adhering
to robust health.

" And," said he, " old age itself, will not procure me a
solitary patient ; for in place of expiring in a christian-
like manner, in the respectable bosom of pills and phials,
I believe the unconscionable heathens gradually contract
themselves into a dry rattle box, and take wing on a south-
easter."

There are plenty of shrivelled up Indians to be seen
tottering along, who have forgotten their age, but who
were men and women, and took instruction under the
Mission priests, more than seventy years ago, and look
like the dried corpses, from the Capuchinf- of Palermo,
revivified to rebuke and warn the people of this wicked
little town.

But emigrants — however delighted at the salubrity of
the climate — are mostly in search of something more, even
though the Heavens were laughing gas ; and as there is
little else to offer here, the mushroom settlement, made
during the '49 excitement, has remained with little in-

I
\
1
f
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RAMBLINdS IN CALIFORNIA

103

crease, and a dullncHs that lasts the whole year is rarely
or never disturbed. The main prop of the pliice lias been
the quarter-master's station, which maintains a lar^^e num-
ber of people and mules. They are constantly employed
in transporting provisions and military stores across the
desert, to the fort on the Colorado— a distance of more than
200 miles. This, together with the Texian emigration,
through New Mexico, and the trade of Los Angeles and
Monterey, is sufficient to support two large-sized steamers,
that call here weekly and proceed North to San Francisco.
The whole population of the county is about 4000 — only
one-fifth of whom, under the most liberal construction,
may be called white.

Los Angeles— .inf/^ice. The Angels— is about the oldest
settled mission in California, and possesses ground in the
highest state of cultivation of any in the State. Still, the
amount of American improvement has been but trivial, for
the same cause which has been such a bug-bear in nearly
all the southern counties, viz : the Spanish grants, which
cover more than three-fourths of the whole surface ; and
as the leagues of land have been doled out with no un-
sparing hand, by the Mexican government, the number of
proprietors is comparatively small— except in the imme-
diate neighboriiood of the city of Los Angeles, where land
is laid out in the .smalle*it possible lots, like a patchwork
quilt, for the purpose of forming vineyards.

It is fully expected that land will soon be purchased at
moderate rates ; for to effect this object, the legislature
will— it is thought— lay on a heavy tax. This will most
likely compel the Bancheros to dispose of their property,
from their inability to pay liigh rates, on vast tracts which
are used only for pasture. It is generally the extremity

104

RA.MBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

of foolishness for people to place any dependence, or make
any cal' ilations, founded on the good intentions of the
people's representatives, in California. But men of expe-
rience believe this, from the nature of the obligation itself
— arguing from precedent — that the government had never
been known, since its formation, to shirk the promise of a
tax, and indeed, in some instances graciously doubled it —
without even receiving a vote of thanks from the favored
people.

Nearly the whole of the country is applicable to agri-
cultu^-' ad much of it is extremely rich, and it will
doul ( become in time, of great iuiportaoce as a producer.
At int present time, vast herds of stock roam at large over
the great treeless and undulating plains. The soil is deep,
and free from stone, and produces an excellent and un-
limited supply of wild clover of an exceedingly nutritious
nature. But the vineyards and orchards in and around
the city, are the main support, and their productions are
the staple exports of the region. The city of Los Angeles
contains a population in the neighborhood of 6000 — more
than half the people of the county — and is at the present
time, the most respectable and flourishing of all the Spanish
towns in tlie State. It has — like all the rest — a large
plaza or sfjuare, from whence runs the main street, which
finally forks and becomes two — leaving a block of build-
Jnj^s between, ending in a point like the delta of a river.
The remainder of the streets look as though they followed
the sinuosities of cattle tracks, and are often concluded by
a dead wall, or the impenetrable leafy screens of a vine-
yard.

The houses are, with few exceptions, built of mud-brick,
roofed with asphaltum, and are extremely oool and com-

RAMBLINGS IS CALIFORNIA.

105

fortable during the lioats of summer. There is a small
mount in rear of the town, a few hundred feet high, and
as there is no other elevation to interrupt the view to
the coast — a distance of twenty-seven miles — the prospect
is extraordinary, and possesses much both of interest and
beauty.

Far away to the west may be seen the distant ocean, con-
stantly covered in the dry season by a thin white haze, that
gives distant objects an indistinct and spectral appearance.
The broad open plain between, is dotted with countless cattle
but no habitation of man is visible for miles on miles, save
a small mound like a molehill, from whence issues a thin
column of smoke, near a fringe of wood that borders on
the far off river. A long "bull team" guided by ome
strapping hoosier, flounders along, with freight from the
port of San Pedro, half hid at intervals by the clouds of
dust raised by the hoofs of his wearied cattle. The
smart stage passes him like a whirlwind, rattles through
the town in slashing style and deposits its occupants at
the door of the hotel ; the miserable wretches unrecog-
nizable by their nearest and dearest, beneath the thick
coating of red dust they have acquired in their transit
which seitles impartially on every thread, and fills each
pore of their tender cuticles.

But the change from the shrivelled country to the fresh
greenness and sparkling brooks of the vineyards con-
tiguous to the city, is like the spell of an enchanter.
Every sylvan scene of rural felicity would appear realized^
when first entering the green and shady lanes, that com-
merce to show themselves within a radius of four miles.
These lanes intersect each other in every possible direc-
tion, like a llosumond's bower, and experience is essential

lOG

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

I': II

to thread their mazes with success. They are delightfully
shaded by the close willow fences on each side, so thickly
matted that a bird could scarcely find ingress, and the
sight over the gate, after fifty dogs are pacified, is a per-
fect wilderness of every description of luscious fruit-
grapes of every variety, figs, peaches of mammoth dimen-
sions and downy softness, apricots, pineapples and oranges,
and great bell-like pears show themselves by thousands in
ever corner. Little streams glide through and lave the
sides of enormous melons, that topple with their weight
and crush the defenceless pomegranate; while birds of
pretty plumage and musical throats, keep flitting from
branch to branch. And this is not one scene, but a sam-
ple of hundreds, nor hardly of a season, for it may be
found nine months in succession; and even in the bleakest
of the winter season, the hardier vegetables of a northern
latitude flourish in the greatest luxuriance.

The number of vines in Los Angeles and its suburbs is
750,000, and the average yield is 51bs. of grapes to each
vine. About two million pounds are annually shipped to
San Francisco, from the port of San Pedro. The remain-
der are partly consumed in the neighborhood, and partly
in the manufacture of wine and brandy ; large quantities
of which arc made annually, but are as yet principally
kept in store to acfjuire age. The Champagne is famous
for its eff'ervescence, fruity flavor, v'\d elevating properties.

Beef cattle are worth from 320 to $80 per head, and
pay well for driving in large droves to the northern mar-
kets. Hemp and tobacco were formerly raised to some
extent, and shipped to Mazatlan and San Bias in Mexico;
but of late years their chief attention has been turned to
articles of home consumption. There is a very extraor-

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

107

dinary sprinir of Asphaltum within a few miles of the
city, where the pitch boils up incessantly, the whole
covering two acres of land. It is much used for raaking
roofs for the houses. The roof is flat and excludes the
rain sufficiently well, but has a very dirty and slovenly
appearance, during the hot weather of July and August j
for it runs down during the warm portion of the day, and
congealing at night, each house is adorned with black
icicles hanging from the eaves, more than three feet long.
There are many salt and sulphur mines; the latter chiefly
exist on a tract of country owned and occupied by a Mor-
mon settlement. It is called San Bernardino, and has
hteiy been set apart to form another county. Monte and
San GabAvi'i are two thriving little towns in fertile dis-
tricts, and arc fast filling up with emigrants from the old
western States.

There is a little island twenty miles from the coast, in a
south-westerly direction from San Pedro, named Cata-
lina. It is very barren except in a few scattered valleys,
and its productions little more than a coarse stunted
grass, {Mid its general uninviting surface would seem
to mark it out as afflicted with perpetual sterility.
Yet some experimentalist unknown, but supposed to
be Captain Cook, lauded a, few goats on the stony and
inhospitable island. For many a long year they existed
and increased their numbers, free and uuharrassed by
dogs, and the knives of butchers. But, alas, for them !
A speculating son of Esculapius, finding time hang
heavily on his hands, took a trip from the neighboring
coast to see if something would " turn up," and as his eye
fell upon the bearded fathers of the flock, the desire of
dominion grew up in his breast, and he at once constituted

108

RAMBLINOS IN CAMFORNIA.

himself sole " monarch of ;tll he surveyed." He resided
sufficiently long to establish some color of a claim, though
his friends regarded the project with ridicule, as the evi-
dent proof of deranged intellect. But subsequently, events
in the shape of a comfortable independence, proved the
adventurer's sanity, as well as sealed the fate of the whole
goat fraternity ; for, in a few months he made a transfer of
his interest in them, to a San Francisco house, at the rate
of $4 per head, and as they numbered 20,000, he was soon
enabled to abdicate his throne, and retire to the calm en-
joyment ol private life.

Tulare is a large territory in the south, extending from
the coast counties to the eastern limits of the State. It
is, generally speaking, a vast and dreary wilderness, cov-
ered with a thick coarse rush called Tv^r, from whence
the county derived its name. It is the grand rendezvous
for wild horses, cattle, and game in every variety ; anS
the white inhabitants--wlio only number about 300 — prin-
cipally occupy themselves in the chase. Grrizzlies have
been caught alive in this region weighing 2,600 lbs. ; and
wild cats, lions, and cayotas, abcand. Tulare lake is the
largest in the State, and receives the tribute of many
mountain streams, but has no apparent exit.

The county of 31arin is agricultural, and contains about
1500 persons, 1000 of whom are white. The amount of
its productions and invested capital, will compare favor-
ably with many containing a much greater population.
The amount of capital invested in brick-making and lum-
ber alone, may be estimated at $300,000. About 3000
acres are in cultivation, and the climate proves very kind
to yams and various species of fruit, of which latter it
will soon be an extensive producer. There are no minerals,

RAMBLIIS'GS IN CALIFORNIA.

109

but more than two thirds of the soil may be cultivated,
and immense quantities of wild oats are cut for hay, and
exported.

San Francisco county, although of medium extent, con-
sists mainly of the Metropolis itself, there being but
2000 inhabitants in the county, outside the city limits.
It is but proper to observe though, that the fathers have
had no cramped idea concerning the future dimensions of
the infant city. The map to be found in the various land
agent's offices, may well challenge comparison with the
proudest of anti(|uity. It might not, however, eventually
be injurious to the interests of a purchaser, to take a look
at the premises in question, before he ratify the bargain —
that is, if he can find it — for lots at moderate rates, are,
not improbably, outside the anchorage ground, or perhaps
three or four miles back in the sand hills of the interior.

Mission Ward, which consists of the old Mission Dolores,
contains 70 or 80 houses, with the usual quantum of
hotels. It is a neat little village and is mainly supported
by the rich gardens in the neighborhood. In reality, it
is nearly thee miles from the city, although contained
within the corporation limits ; and its old church, green
glades, flowery hedges, and prattling brooks, form an
enchanting contrast to the dusty jammed up streets of the
city, and the bleak sand hills that intervene. With these
advantages, and an excellent plank road, it is, of course
a great resort of pleasure seekers; and on Sunday, in
particular, the road is a perfect stream of omnibvsses,
gigs and horsemen. The latter are chiefly supplied by
livery stables ; and the gallant greys are taxed to their
utmost, in order to v.u\\:o. the conscience of the rider per-
fectly clear that good value has been received for his cash.

110

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

It is the only leading road into the country, and is on the
direct line to San Jose and the southern counties. The
bridging and filling tu San Francisquita creek on the
county line — a distance of 80 miles — cost more than
$50,000, but three-fourths of it was swallowed by the
managers.

The range of mountains, commonly called the coast
range, runs lengthways of this county. The Mexicans
gave it the more poetical name of Sierra Morino, or
Brown Mountains. The highest portion of this range
commences at a point about twelve miles to the southward
of San Francisco, and they retain their ide itity to the very
southern exttcmity of the State. In mi;ny places they
rise upwards of 2000 feet above the level of the ocean,
and form a noble shield to ward oif the raw N. W. winds
from the rich farming lands that line their eastern slope,
on the great bay of San Francisco. There have been
large quantities of redwood in different parts of this
county, but it is now much used up for rails and shingles.
There arc about 3000 acres employed in cultivation, and
the taxable property has been estimated at thirty millions
of dollars ; but value of real estate fluctuates so strangely,
it is very difficult to form a correct standard.

Solano is a noble agricultural county 5 and its conve-
nience to the bay gives it advantages of no mean impor-
tance, in the matter of shipping to the most advantageous
markets, with good despatch. More than 10,000 acres
arc in cultivation, and farming pays well ; stock of various
kinds is plentiful, and more than $50,000 are employed
in (juartz and placer mining, in the coast range. The
principal towns are Yallejo and Bcnicia. Tb.e former was
at one time the capital of the State. The legislature first

UAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

Ill

sold their presence to the lord of the soil, for a large sum ;
but the lord not finding their honorable presence so lucra-
tive as he had fondly anticipated, bogged to be released
from his engagement, and his prayer was humanely
granted by them, as soon as they became fully aware that
the miserable village lots comprised the chief of the
(reneral's possessions; and had they been brought into the
market, under the happiest circumstances, would not have
produced one-tenth of the stipulated sum. Benicia was
then made head-({uarters, and finally Sacramento, where
a good State House is built, which will most probably have
the effect of making it the permanent seat of government.
Benicia is a half dead little town at the mouth of the
Sacramento, where there are dry docks ; and the large
ocean steamships coaling, and refitting, aid materially in
keeping it in existence. There are four very rich valleys
in this county, that contain the chief portion of the arable
land, viz : — Suscol, Sulphur Springs, Green, and Suisun.
Suscol lies west of a range of hills, bearing the same
name, and extends to the northern boundary of t'.e
county; from Vallcjo it is rich, and contains more than
thirty square miles ; it is washed by Napa bay, and wild
oats at present cover a great reach of its surface. Sulphur
Spring, running from Suisun bay through the Suscol hills,
is both well watered and fertile. Green Valley, as its
name implies, is covered much of the year with verdure ;
it contains ten square miles, and is a rich clover pasture.
Suisun, the richest and most extensive, contains forty
square miles, but is completely covered by a Spanish
It opens out on the cast into the Sacramento

grant.

valley, and hi\-- the most salubrious climate on that un-
wholesome river.

112

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

Mariposa covers au immense extent of territory, coutain-
inp; within its boundaries tho present limit of the southern
mines, as well as a great surface of tillable land. Its re-
sources as yet, however, have been but sparingly developed,
principally because its streams are small, and are quite dry
for a large portion of the year. And besides, its mines
are not of so rich a description as to counterbalance the
expense and loss of time incurred by travelling from place
to place. It probably contains the greatest number of
quartz leads of any other county, and great numbers of
wealthy companies, have lately engaged in the enterprise,
which to all appearance is very flattering. Mariposa is
the county tcJvn.

Siskiyou is both an agricultural and mining county, but
neither are of any great importance. It is awkwardly
situated, and its resources but little known. Its popula-
tion may be estimated at 3000.

Mendochino has a population of 500, but only 300 are
white. It has little good land unoccupied, but has great
resources in lumbering, and possesses many excellent saw
mills.

Yolo is separated from Sacramento county, by the river
Sacramento, and extends along its banks a distance of
forty miles. Its northern boundary extends to ten miles
above its junction with the Feather Iliver. It consists
mostly of tule land back from the river, and very difficult
of being reclaimed. The land along the river bank con-
sists of intervales, and is a very rich deposit. It has great
advantages for raising stock ; but the large freshets that
occur annually, anii sweep away houses, cattle, and all
descriptions of property, liinder greatly the dcvclopnicr.t
of its resources. But the baneful misama which pervades

RAMBLINflS IN CAl.lFORNIA.

113

every portion of its surface, during'- -the summer, is its
worst enemy A great portion of the people are con-
stantly prostrated with fever and ague, and the residents
of a year or two, have a very enervated and dejected ap-
pearance. And what spell enchains the large population
to this noxious region, it is difficult to conceive j for what-
ever the wealth may be that is concealed in the soil, a
lusty arm can alone develop it ; but these poor ghosts
can barely crawl, and the luxuriance of the vegetation
only conduces to distil for them a rank and loathsome
poison.

Several little towns have been laid out, but they have
all fallen short of the projectors' ideas ; the only one hav-
ing the least appearance of prosperity, is Washington,
immediately opposite to Sacramento city, to which it
communicates by a steam ferry. Cache Creek, in the
north, is on a small river of the same name. Fremont,
Cottonwood, Merrit, and Putah, never were of any impor-
tance, and are now almost deserted : and the great barn-
like hotel, with which each is graced, calls up no romantic
sympathy for its decay, for these horrid little towns are
withered before they ripened, and antiquity aloue can give
sublimity to a ruin.

The population of this county is mostly native Ameri-
can, from the Western States — a class, that are, perhaps,
the best adapted of any, to endure the trials and vexations
of a dismal swamp. The population was three years ago
1500, but will now scarcely number 1000, ten per cent of
whom are females. About 5000 acres of land are culti-
vated, and the capital employed in gardening, boating,
and other purposes, exceed $100,000. The mountains
are the coast range ; and there are three romantic little

114

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

lakes, named Washington, Clear, and Tule Lakes; Clear
Lake»has a surface of thirteen square miles.

Calaveras, in the heart of the southern mines, has not
more than 320,000 invested in agriculture; but is so well
timbered, the saw mills alone have cost $100,000. On
account of the large mining population which it contains,
coupled with its own non-productive powers, merchandize is
a heavy and lucrative business ; no less a sum than one mil-
lion and a quarter of dollars being invested in this channel.
About half a million is employed in quartz ; and the money
invested in other descriptions of mining is veiy great, for it
possesses within its boundaries, perhaps the richest portion
of what are called the southern mines. Moquelumne Hill
is the county town, and issues a rabid little democratic
newspaper, that has been the means of inspiring the people
morr than once, to destroy water ditches and flumes, when
rates were not sufficiently moderate to meet their views.

The town lies one mile south of the river, whose name
it bears, and divides it from the neighboring county of
Amador. It is built on a hill, at the head of a ravine,
which extends to the south many miles, and has proved
very rich. But the most important diggings, have been
the bed of the river, and the hills in the immediate neigh-
borhood. On one in particular — overhanging the town —
the shafts have been sunk so close to each other, it strongly
resembles an enormous grave yard; and is completely
drifted out on the ledge, a depth in many places of more
than a hundred feet. Ten miles south of Moquelumne
Hill, is the pretty village of San x\ndreas, on the main
road leading past the Big Tree, to Utah and the Mormons.
The diggings in the immediate vicinity of this place, have
been worked out chiefly, as they were originally shallow ;

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

115

but its central locality, between the branches of the Cala-
veras, helps to support the town, which contains 20 stores,
42 liquor shops, and 3 places of worship, together with a
little blue journal of Conservative principles, named the
Indcjyendcnt. A deadly feud of course exists between it
and its rival of the hill, touching the County Seat ; but
the democrat has the advantage of present possession, and
belabors the other with the all prevailing argument, that
its tendencies are nionarchial.

The town consists of a triangle, formed by its three
streets ; one is occupied by French, Spanish, and other
natives of Continental Europe — one by the Chinese — and
the main one by Americans, Jews, and Britishers ; and
the stores and saloons in each, are chiefly patronized by
their own people.

Vallecito, south of San Andreas, is well supplied with
water, and produces much gold during the summer season.
Murphy's Camp is a thriving business little place, and is
situated nine miles north of Vallecito. Angel's Camp has
taken a great start lately, on account of tremendous quartz
discoveries^ which have been the means of drawing in
much capital from other places, and it bids fair, from pre-
sent ajtpearauces, to totally eclipse all the other camps in
the county. Want of water has been a great drawback
to the resources of this county, but the ditch', are now
numerous and good. The principal one is named the
Table Mountain Ditch, which commands all the camps
just mentioned, and gives a plentiful supply for eight months
in the year, at the rate of $6 per day to the sluice stream.
As the diggings are now principally quartz and tunnels,
the miners can employ themselves advantageously in
piling up earth, in readiness ^ur the rising of tho stream.

116

RAMBLIiNU8 IN CAMFOEINIA.

There are many i^ood ditches around Mo<iuelumne hill,
but tlieir njost profitable days are over.

There is another large ditch which takes its source from
the Stanislaus, and gives a plentiful stream for the whole
year. It supplies all the miners on the lower portion of
the river, and is calculated to irrigate the plains of the
San Joaquin, as soon as the mines along its course are ex-
hausted ; but this cannot occur for many years to come.

The principal bars on this river are, Byrne's Ferry, Six
Mile Bar, Two Mile Bar, and Knights' Ferry, and indeed
the banks of this stream pay small wages, the whole way
through the foot hills, and even far into the plains.

Some of the trees in this country are supposed to be the
largest in the world. A ba'-k section of one veteran was
packed and despatched to the Now York Crystal Palace.
Its dimensions are as follows : — circumference at the
tiTound 9G feet — 4 feet above the ground, 84 feet — 14 feet
above the ground, 64 feet — height 307 feet, and the bark
13 inches thick, and its age estimated by the number of
rings, 3000 years.

The county of Amador on the north, originally a portion
of Calaveras, contains some excellent farming valleys, as
well as good mines, but as yet they have not been much
worked, from the extreme scarcity of water. Jackson,
Dry town, ^'oleano, and Butte — situated at the foot of a
remarkable conical hill — arc <|uite lively places, during
the rush of the winter season.

Tuolumne county, lying south of Calaveras, is divided
from it by the large river Stanislaus, and is bounded on
the south by the Tuolumne river, which rivals the Stanis-
laus in size and richness. It is next to Calaveras in
ininortanee and contains the two largest towns in the

HAMllLINfl.s r.\ CAIJi-'ORMA.

117

southern niinos. It lias a poimlation vei-ning on .10,000,
and 2000 acres in cultivation, l)ut aoriculturo is of very
secondary importance, and nevci likely to be very profita-
bio: The annual value of its auricultural productions do
not exceed 3100,000, while the money invested in mining,
cannot be less than three millions. The principal towns
arc Sonora— the county town— Columbia, Springfield,
Jamestown, Shaw's Flat, and Chinese Camp— all of^them
included within a radius of five miles. Sonora is a large,
straggling, ugly place, on the bank of Wood's creek, whi'^ch
was, at an early period, very rich, but it is now exhausted,
and the chief of the ravines are too high in the mountains
to pay well. It is, nevertheless, rather a flourishing place,
earning its success partly by being the seat of justice, and
partly by its convenience to numerous groves of excellent
timber ; and the saw ujills of Sonora and its neighborhood,
supply the chief portion of the people throughout the
country. (.\)lumbia, four miles from Sonora, is a large,
well built, flourishing place, and the deep diggings in Its
district will make it important for years to come. "" Spring-
field, two miles from Columbia, is a small but very prosperous
village. Shaw's Flat is an extended village, nearly two
miles long— all deep diggings, and pay welL Jamestown,
on Wood's creek, was at one time of some importance, but
h^ rather retrograded in the last three years. Chinese
Cimp is tlio head quarters for natives of the Celestial
Empire, but has also many white inhabitants. The mining
laws of this camp, are the most peculiar in the State and
are the glory of all monopolists. The paying ground con-
sists of surface diggings of many hundred acres, varying
in depth from one foot to ten, and the size of a claim is
only 20 feet square, or 400 square feet-a space that in

118

RAMBLINOS IN f'ALIFORNIA.

many cases could be worked out in a day. IJut the beauty
of the law lies in the proviso, that you are not necessarily
confined to the diuiensions of one claim, but may locate
as many as you please, simply by diguing a small trench
round each, and this duty performed, your title is recoo^-
nizablo to all eternity. !>y this moans, there arc several
holding more than a tiiousand claims each, which they let
lie, fi-om year to year, either for the purpose of speculation,
or to work them at some future time, when the price of
labor will be more moderate.

The table mountain is the greatest natural curiosity in
this country, and has excited much attention for the two
last years, both from miners and scientific men, from some
rich discoveries of placers in its interior.

It first commences to show itself at a point above
Columbia, and retains its name and natural characteristics,
clearly and distinctly, to its termination, in a steep bluff
at the foot hills wliieh border the valley cf the San Joaquin.
The length of the mountain is about 40 miles, runnin«»
nearly due east and west, and it varies in breadth from
five miles to a hundred yards. Its surface is a perfect
plain, chiefly elevated above the surrounding hills, through
which it takes its course, meandering like a river. The
top is strewed over with loose rock, extremely hard, and
strongly resembling sea coal cinder, and the strata or crust
surface is a solid mass of the same material, more than fifty
feet thick, at many points. In many places it crosses tlie
river, and again returns, leaving great chasms many hun-
dred feet deep, through which the river hurries in its fury.
Its face, whether to the river on the north, or the low hills
on the south, presents a perpendicular wall, often from
five to seven liundred feet high, excepting at u few well

RAMnLINCS IN CALli'UllMA.

119

known points, where its surface is sufficiently inclined for
the passage of an empty wauo-ou. Every conceivable form
of architecture may be traced in imagination on it^j sheer
sides— high tower, balcony, and pillar, and turned with all
the regularity and precision of a structure, formed on the
nicest rules of geometry, yet varied in its excellence to
every conceivable form of a crystal, and its agreeable trans-
formations throw at defiance the faintest idea of monotony.
It is most particularly its contrasts that stamp it so with
wonder and sublimity — so tame upon its green top — so wild
upon its grim sides — its surface flat as a lake — and its
pitch the sternest of precipices, destitute of one kindly
branch or b(mgh, to break the fall on the relentless bould-
ers of the distant current.

]>ut our interest in Table Mountain, ends not here — a
theme of greater wonder lies buiied in the donjons deep of
this 'mighty tumulus — what imagination could have eon-
ceived, that at the foundation of this tremendous mass,
there rolls a silent yet rapid river — cool and clear, unmo-
lested by aught that breathes ? No fishes glide amid its
pearl;y depths, nor on its ripi)le docs wild bird dip its
wing, nor look its food. For ages has the still stream
pursued its course, hundreds of feet beneath the ken of
living thing, and fed the ocean secretly from its uTdvnown
source. But a p'-ospecting miner broke the spell by making
rich discoveries in a tunnel. Great excitement followed •
and in a short time many hundred tunnels were in opera-
tion, and large sums were expended; but as yet, little
has been achieved, though tiie chief portion of them con-
tinue sanguine, and claims are valued at large sums.

Stanislaus county, south of Tuclumne, is small and un-
important, but some new ditches hitely introduced, have

120

HA.MHL[N<JS IN CALIFORNIA.

'fit ji

gTDatly added to it.s coijsc'(juciico, Tlic most important
camp is low in tlio foot liills, and boars tlic name of La
(^'.'((Nf/e, or French Bar, on the Tuolumne river. It is
now the seat of justice, which was originally fixed at
Empire City, and was, two years ago, a portion of Tuolumne.
It is situated on the south fork, and has a population of
loOO, m a distance of one mile. The upper or new town,
the smallest but now most prosperous portion, has two
respectable hotels, twenty stores, and a shoal of lawyers
and <loctors, who appear a mild and subdued race, and
easily approachable, oven by the vulgar, through the
prevailing medium of a fancy drink. The town is built
on a broad level shelf that projects into the river, and
altogertier presents a most eligible position. There are
very rich diggings on the s.;cond table from the river; in
some j.laces it actually has paid 25 cents to the pan, from
the surface to the bedrock, a distance of 50 feet. A man
with a hydraulic power and sluices properly placed, could
in such gnmnd, wash out 82000 per day; but diggings so
rich, rarely hold out for any length of time. Tunneling
is going Oil very extensively. The </irf is procured from
a lead more than two hundred feet in the interior of the
hill. It is all a river gravel, mixed with white cement,
and contains lieavy deposits.

There is a petrified tree at La Grange, with a trunk 14
feet in diameter. It makes its appearance in the mouth
of a tunnel, and grain, growth, and outlines, are unmis-
takeably and distinctly visible. The remainder of this
county is only adapted for farming and grazing, and much
good soil borticrs on the main river,

Mercedes is the county south of Stanislaus, and contain-
ing some placers, but they are not generally considered val-

RA^ I>Ll\(;s JN CALIFOUNIA.

121

uable. The priiiL-i|i,iI river i« the Mercedes, which empties
into the San Jo;u|uIn, iuul the point of their confluence is
called the best ►"^alnion lisiiing' in California. Indian Gulch
and Mercedes Falls, are the principal camps. The latter
place is remarkable for its sublimity and beauty, lle-
moteness from market makes agriculture rather an un-
• profitable business, for the miners are mostly poor and
sparse.

Sutter county, on tlie Feather river, is all a plain ;
much of it is unreclaimablc tule, but the banks of the
river are a rich botto/n, and pioduccs a larac return; I
have seen peaches brought from Hock farm, wei"'hin«'
half a po\ind, grown on trees oidy three years old. The
population is only about 700; more than half of whom
arc Indians, in a state of semi-civilization, that is, they
wear white men's old breeches, and driidv firewater when-
over it comes in their way.

Placer county, in the nortiiern mines, has a population
of more than 20,000, and contains some of the oldest
mining camps in the country. Although some have of
late years "caved in." fresh discoveries have been made,
even faster than the old ones have become exhausted.
Illinois Towi\ and Michigan Bluffs, are the most important
new towns. They are constantly increasing, and the
deep diggings v»'ill support a further increase for numy
years. Coon Creek, Auburn, Ophirville, and Kattlesnakc,
have been among the richest camps in all the mines ; but
they are now like dozens of the old towns, gradually dyinir
a natural death. The county lies on the American river,
which joins the Sacramento ; some attempt at farmiuL'
has boon made, but it is extremely trifling, -iud U'-vcr can
be of any material importance

r si

122

RAMBLINOS IS CALIFORNIA.

»■ I

I I f

\ uha i.s anotlior iiorthorii county, and po.vscs.scd at one
time, tlic ureatest amount of bar digirinos of any in the
State. It is watered tlirougliout ])\ the river Yuba,
cniptyino- into the Feather. Tlie red soil of the former
river, for its wliok; extent tlirougli tlie mountains, contains
gokl, and the river is ydlow as tlu; classic Tiber itself.
Many too, like (';\3sar have crossed its waters, and achieved
the object of their search in plenty; but too many, alas!
have closed their eyes forever, in the hardships of the
early seasons ; and many a breaking heart at home, still
weeps and watches in solitude, for those who will ever
sleep soundly, to the rude river's requiem. 1'here is
little attcnipt at agriculture, except some barley and
melons, but the good prices — from the expense of pack-
ing — make the most indifferent crops, tolerably remuner-
ative. The ri\er in its upper portion is formed by num-
berless small tributaries, but the three principal ones are
termed; the north, south, and middle forks ; they all
contain gold, and the very minutest of them, at one period
sw'armcd with busy miners.

The most important districts are Mill Creek, Hampshire
Creek, Deadwood Creek, Slate Creek, Canon Creek,
Ousley's ]?ar, Long's and l^irk's Bar. The gold on Mill
Creek is fine and in moderate (juantitics, the lumber is
excellent. Hampshire Creek abounds with excellent
lumber, and supplies a large country with boards for
sluices. The soil of headwood Creek, was at one time
thickly impregnated with gold, and still contains good
diggings; there is plenty of good pine and an excellent
saw mill. 81ate Creek approaches close to the Sierra
Nev.'ida ningt^, and fontains imicli coarse gold, but it lies
very deep, and the labor of extracting it is very great, a«

KA.MIJM.VO.S IX CAJJFOKNJA.

]23

it is mostly doposited in deep fissures of tlie bed ruck,
riuion Creek luis very coarse gold and has been consid-
ered at one time, the most profitable diggings in the
northern mines, the best portion of it liowever, extends
into Sierra county. Ousley's Bar is quite an extensive
village, and Ims a pictures(|ue appearance; as the walls of
all tlie cabins are constructed of logs or boards, with white
cotton roofs, it appears from the summits of the adjoinintr
mountains, like a flock of sheep in a poor pasture field,
while the busy miners, burrowing in the banks, might well
be mistaken for industrious moles. The gold on this bar
IS so very fine, that (juicksilver is always required in its
perfect preservation, and great (juantities have been ex-
tracted, paying witli extraordinary regularity. Tt lies on
the main Yuba, ];] miles from the city of jlarysville, and
has about 750 inhabitants. Park's Bar is the next in
.size, and there are upwards of fifty more of a similar size,
vvhich are still more or less worked. •

The City of Marysville is in a very flourishing condition,
and its central position for convenience to the mines, and
being the head of navigation, unite to increase its impor-
tance. It is built on the Yuba, one mile above its influx
with the Feather River, and although a good business
locality, the climate is weakening and unwholesome.

The smaller streams are Bear Biver, which is the
county line on the south, and empties into the Feather
Uiver 81 miles below Marysville. Dry Creek, No. 2,
empties into the same river, G miles above the mouth of
Bear. There are ex( client fanning and grazing lands on
both of these rivers, with fine grass at ail seasons. Dry
Creek No. 3 empties into the Yuba, and receives many
small streams of itself, it is 40 miles lung, has nine saw

124

HAMHLlXdS I.\ CALII-ORMA

mills upon it, and -(.Id in small (numtities. Indian Creek
empties into it 22 miles tVoni its mouth ; has a o-uod steam
saw mill, and -old in payino' (|uantities. (lark's Pain
emi.ties into the Vuba, 20 miles al.oNv .Marysville and
omj.loys upwards of 700 miners. The hi-hest point of
the middle Vuha to the mountains, has hoeti estimated at
about oOOO i'eut.

Sierra eounty, joining:' Vuba, is a small minin-- eounty.
It has a population of ()000, and nearly a million dollars
invested in various ways, of which placer minin- takes
one half. It contains live bustlino' little towns, Downieville,
rineorove, Windsor, Coxe's Bin- and (ioodyear's ]Jar.'
Downieville on the Vuba is the laruest, containinu- 1500
inhabitants, and the mines in the vi dnity are deep and
pay lumdsomely.

Nevada is a larp' and populous county, containing' about
25,000 inhabitants, one-third of whom are citizens, one-
third (Jldnese, and the renuiinder specimens from almost
every race. .Mining and grazing are tlie chief occupation
of the people, and it contains 700,000 liead of horses and
horned cattle. The amount employed in mining amounts
to five million of dollars, and in merchandize half a million.
Nevada is t!ie principal city.

Butte, so called from the mountains of the same name
has a population of 15,000, and possesses extensive
resources, botli in agriculture and mines. Although farm-
ing has not been much attended to, there arc upwards of
5000 acres iu cultivation, but the systcni is bad in the
extreme, and the productions, as a consequence, form but
a poor criterion of the land's capabilities. Half a million
dollars are employed in ouartz ininiuL!'. but for so far tli^ ••
have not been very remunerative. Tlicre is mucii placer

iiaii ('reck
:()()d steam
ik"s Piun
'Villc and
t pitiiit of
imate<l at

'j: county,
ill dollars
ing takes
.vuievillc,
ar'.s ])ar.
ii.ti- 1500
deep ami

ng about
en.?, one-
II alnio.'>;t
cupation
irses and
aiLiount.-s
million.

ic r.ame,
xtcnsive
:h farni-
t'ards of
1 in the
3rni but
million

'■■■' ^'"-7
1 placer

RA.MLLl.XC.-i IN (".\I.IFOK.M.\.

125

mining, and the returns arc very satisfactory, (ircat
quantities of lumber of an excellent description are pro-
duced — the united work of tifteen powerful saw mills.
The mines arc of goKl, ,silv(>r, lead, phitina and -luicksilver,
but gold and (-juicksilvcr are by far the most abundant.
There is much sublime and beautiful sciuiery in the Butte
mountains. Table Mountain near the Feather Kivcr— or
Jiio </(' /»s j,/,r/iios, ;is the Spaniards beautifully term it —
strongly resembles a work of art, and a close ins})cction
will alone convince one that it is not a counterpart of some
ancient llhenish Castle. Mount Hood, with its head cov-
ered over with ]KM]Mjtual snov/, towers far above its surround-
ing fellows, and is visible in clear weather more than a
liundred miles. Between the mountains are many exten-
,*!ive valleys of surpassing loveliness, as yet no more than
casually looked at by the eyes of civilized men. The
principal camps are Oroville, the county seat—Bidwcll's
Bar, and Forbes Town, l^idwcll's Bar on the Feather
Ixiver, vras at one time the county town, and a very flourish-
ing place, but after the exhaustion of the riverbed, judge,
ardiivcs. lawyer,^ and new.^paper, all removed to the younger
and more thriving to'.vn, and the Cayotas will soon play
hide and seek, through the streets of this deserted villao'c.
(Vilusi has no mines, and has oidy about lUOO inhabi-
tants, the chief portion of whom are congregratcd in, and
ai'ound the litth^ towns of Oolusi and 31unroevil!e. Colusi
IS at the head of summer navigation on the Sacramento,
and forn.is a depot for goods, from whence they are packed
on mules to Shasta, I'itt Biver and other mines in the
north. Teliama bluffs, higher up, answers a similar pur-
pose during' the freshets. Munronvillc is th.c couK-ty seat.
Very little is known of this region yet, for the interior ia

12fi

JtAMJJMNGS I\ CALrFORNIA.

C'oinc a

' i

almost n pathless wilderness, but it is likely to Leco... «
^'ood country, liavinj,^ more late and earl/rains than the
counties farther south.

Hunibolt, encdosing the bay of the same name, lies on
the Pacific coast, ,iorth of San Francisco Bay. It supplies
a M'roat part of the country with lumber, and is slowly but
surely pro^jressint^.

Khmiath, north of Ilumbolt, is a small county, with
about loOU of a population. It lias but little land under
eultiyat.on, and the anjount of capital employed i. nat
lai;^'0. It all consists of a narrow strip on the coast iiye
inilcs wide and twenty long, which is of a yery superior
description. The riyers are, the Klamath, Trinity and
Salmon, all of them contain gold in payin-M^uantities, and
are extensiyely worked. The Klamath empties into tlie
1 acihc and is next to the Sacramento in size. The prin
cipal mountains are called Salmon and Prospect, they are
of great height, and are crowned with snow more than
eight months in the year. Timber is plentiful and of
magnihcent growth, plenty of redwood measurimr upwards
of 20 feet in diameter.

Trinity in the extreme north, has a population, supposed,
oi oUUO whites and Indians. Its mines and other resources
are but little known, they are extensiye and rich, at least
on the riyer bearing its name. The natiye Indians are
the most fierce and warlike of any in the State, and haye
given great trouble and expense to the general goyernmeut.
El Dorado was the great theatre of operations durin- the
first gold excitement, and although still possessing a lam-e
population, its palmiest days are oyer. The surface has
been all exhausted, where payable, and the deep dio-dn-s
-which are all nearly clalmed-are now the only'^^nes

RA.MBMNCJS IN CALIFORNIA.

127

become a
IS than the

ne, lies on
Tt supplies
slowly but

lit J, v/itli
iHid under
ed is not

coast five
^ superior
■inity and
:ities, and

into the
riio prin-
. they are
lore than
d and of

upwards

apposed,
resources
, at least
lians are
ind have
)rnnieut.
ring the
: a laro-e
"ace has
liairinffs
ilv ones

worked. The principal camps are Placerville, El Dorado,
Auburn, Coloma, Fiddletown, (Jrizzly Flat, and Indian
IHirgings. Placerville is an old town, and «ne of the
largest in all the mines.

Sliasta, the last of tiio list, is far north, and attained
much notoriety for some time, on account of tlu; Indian
hostilities. They were, indeed, almost the only red men
who showed a martial spirit, in opposition to the march of
t\iii invaders, though their pigmy resistance was much
overrated and magnified, by the hireling press, in the ser-
vice of the self-dubbed heroes; who won gold and even a
species of glory, fur the feat of driving a few Imif starved
breechless savages, from their hunting and fishing grounds,
to perish among the snowy hills of the interior. The cli-
mate is the severest in the State, and much destitution
has occurred, during the first three winters after its first
occupation, from the extreme difficulty of convevin.-- -pro-
visions at that season. Large deposits of gold were found
in the region around the town ; but of latu years the(iuan-
tity has greatly decreased. Mining in summer is much
retarded by scarcity of water, and in winter froin a super-
fluity of snow, but for so far, little has been done to ob-
viate the inc(invenience, by ditches or flumes.

Shasta is much too higli in the mountains to make farmino-
very successful; only about loUO acres are under cultiva-
tion, and the proceeds are veiy small. Shasta City has a
population rising near 3000, and the whole population of
the county may be estimated in the neighborhood of 5000.
The principal live stock consists in mules, of which
there are upwards of 1200. They are chiefly employed in
packing provisions through the mines, and conveying
freight to Oregon for passengers ; for the great northern

i !i

I i

•i r

1l'8

'lAMIi|.I.V.is l.v ( Al.lKuRN.A.

^s :,:,;;'■ ::;!:-v""'-^'"" ^''■^■-^'.•'^'■

abound in „ ' .""^' ""l"'-™'-'l wi.l, .„,,,,„„,

cho,llic,l«. Til,. .„,h .,,,,1 1, . V.U-lnlls „t|i,,,-

.1,.« i.,,lu, '• " '"''"'■'""^' "- "-''"l" StiUc with

their first oeciinatiuii TIu. f ii • . "^ ''"^"'"".i.'

'ant:.,.e,,e,.^,,,XM ' ; ';":;:::^;-;-;"■'""^-
wn..<e, (.... o,,o n„,,e To.,,:::!,: :',^ ;/.;::;;'

..',;,.,'""*""''"''■•""■" •■ »f tl.O ,l00p-
'- HU I,..-,, 1111,1 ,,„,„ „„, |„.„|.^ ^^^_ ^,^^^ ^^^ I^

It has been beiausc 1 b-,v,. I , ""■'"""ant,

d voi-silied surf.,r.o I. , '-"'ines, ot its wide ;ind

. .or c.o„,U,.v of t„o .a,ne population, the,? '. '. 1" ^
"t or people, to whou, seating the biw i, ,„o disl ^

" ''• -^'^^' ^'^«« t^ whom the oric^inal ex-

'»i>^ district.
'W'leapifal
'ill-', about
» .^nlpliur,
'ions other
iibuiidaiit,
i^hite with
• portation.
'J nniquG,
•ittcndin^
»st impor-
•>'■ Canon,
iKi Town,
cry grout
i»c golden
the deep-
en iiieant,
ortunitj^
11 others,
skeleton
iliarfea-
ide and
•re eon-
u'lt iiiaj
iplato a

ter pro-
lan any
aps no
istaste-
volved
lal ex-

nA.MBLI.\(;8 IN CALIFORNIA.

129

travagant visions of the gold tields, would naturally hold
out the strongest inducements, were the highly sanguine,
the despiser of drudgery, the lover of danger and adventure'
together with the gambler, the bully, and the professional
prig. Such a class exists in the smallest numbers, among
the hard working, plodding community; and to them, as
a whole, California presents herself, in preference to any
•1 other, as their proper and sure field, to acquire within the

! shortest time, the means of independence and a comfortable

home.

^ Among the first eniigrants, this uncongenial elen.ent

most abounded ; for, besides natural inclination, they po.s-
sessed the most money, and were best able to overcome the
great expense incidental to such a voyage, when *he means
of transport were so meagre and imperfect. The most
respectable class consisted of patientless doctors, briefless
barristers, book-keepers, superior mechanics, and the
whole host of the shabby genteel ; runaway soldiers and
sailors, formed another large portion ; and the rascals
filled up the rear. Very soon the pick and shovel handles,
irritated the tender palm of the eler/ante, and he sighed
for his lighter and more familiar occupation. The bfack-
legs, too, got disgusted with the degradation, and sought
the more congenial occupations of office holders or ga'in-
blers. In consequence, every possible channel that de-
manded skill, education or light labor, was rapidly filled
to overflowing, and were soon depreciated far below the
calling they despised ; while the community was burthened
with a host of non-producers, who fattened on the exer-
tions of the industrious miner. Resources for mechanical

skill. havA nf InfA tmovo a/^n^^_i.„x j.„ i i ..

— j..,_^.:^ „.^.i„„„^jjj^ ucveiopea iiieuiselyes

w well as fields for the professional and literary, and the

180

RAMnLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

present settlers are better adapted to their occupations,
than the forty-niner ; but the self same forty-niner still re-
mains, more abhorrent to toil than ever, and willing to
give his services to any easy occupation, at the most nonii-
nal value, provided that he can escape the. infliction of
labor.

Such being the case, the robust and persevering, can
alone make a visit to California, a profitable one ; for to
all others it is most miserably adapted to their condition,
whether as a temporary or permanent home. The crowds
of lawyers, small tradesmen, mechanics, and others, who
swarm in every little camp, even of the most humble de-
scription, soliciting the patronage of the public — of whom
they often form at least one half — is truly astonishing,
when every one of them can, if he choose, find plenty and
independent employment for himself, and thus earn three
or four dollars per day. But they prefer to waste their
existence, in useless and hopeless competition, almost de-
prived of the necessaries of life, despised by each other,
and even by those whom they dare to consider inferiors —
for the paltry privilege of idleness, and a white shirt.

■

iipiitions,
!r still re-
rilling to
Dst nomi-
liction of

ling, can
e ; for to
ondition,
e crowds
ers, who
mble de-
of whom
)nishing,
enty and
irn three
ste their
most de-
ill other,
feriors —
ihirt.

PART IV.

ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES
FROM LIFE.

HOW I JUMPED A CLAIM.

Never .shall I forget my introduction to the mysterious
and exciting occupation of a gold-seeker. With what
lofty aspirations did I don the red shirt and inexpressibles
of dongaree I The glorious scheme of my childish years ;
those fruitless, untold hopes of rivalling Aladin, or that
experienced mariner 8iubad ; all those fleeting, and
ridiculous, but not less blissful thoughts, that brightened
my onvvard path to the world of life and action — thoughts,
alas I long since smothered by unpleasant contact with a
rough and jostling world, and the deep gulf of manhood's
dull decay — all those lovely chimeras of my boyhood's
verdant fancy, when I religiously believed in Santa Claus,
and the vegetation of penny pieces, were again revivified
in my mind's eye — not as fleeting goblins of the past,

132

RAMBLINGS IN TAUFORMA.

raised to lacerate n.y l.eart with the remc.nbranoo of dis-
appointed hopes and .sorrows, long since mellowed to a
pleasing sadness-but as tnie tangible facts of bright-eyed
promise, leading through a flowery trail, and even now on
the eve of fruition.

The r^lorious panorama of flood, field and mountain, that
greeted our every step on that bright summer morning
might a n.ost awake a glimmer of romance, in the bosom
of a radroad director; for even my stalwart, matter of
fact fnend, Buckeye, who marshalled my presence to the
promised feesame, seemed moved by its influence, to the
spirit of song, and made the very old hills rejoice in their
echo to '' Californy, that's the land for me." But, hum-
hly do I confess, that much as I felt and appreciated the
influence the beauteous scene, I can only now repeat,
hat beautiful it was; for, not a hill, nor rock, no. water'
fa , nor tree-not one of nature's innocent devices, to
lull the heart from care to peace, retains a definite position
10 my memory-all remains merely as a bright hued chaos
of views, but seldom seen, and hard to be forgotten. But
my thoughts and conceptions were other than for landscapes
-They were grovelling in the dust, aye, in the very gr.!v^el
that lay wet and closely packed in the crevices of the
bedrock; for on that never ^o be forgotten mornin..- I
was to be ushered at once, without apprenticeship, i^to
the full mysteries of the mining art, and all its respon-
sibilities. Buckeye, my bosom friend, of two days ac-
quaintanceship, volunteered his assistance in the act of
initiation ; and sturdily we proceeded with shovel, pick,
and pan, to .y.m^., or take possession of the claim of the
redoubtable Cincinnatus Baggs. Baggs, we knew to be
"~ "- '^''^ -r^'-'Aiud—a great desideratum, by tb.e way.

00 of dis-
'wed to a
•iglit-ejed
n now on

tain, that
morning,
he bosom
natter of
3e to the
), to the
! in their
Lit, hum-
iated the
V repeat,
)i* water-
nces, to
position
sd chaos
n. But
dscapes.
y gr,'ivel

of the
ningj I
p, into
i'e.spon-
lys ao

aet of
, pick,

of the
■ to be
'.0 way,

RAMBLINCs IN CALIFORNIA.

133

m such cases, for possession is generally a knock down
argument— and as he was well known to hold three or four
claims in the same district, we had great hopes of estab-
lishing a right; for miners and mining laws, are in most
instances in radical opposition to all monopoly.

The task was one requiring a due proportion of nerve ;
for Cincinnatus was a reputed buffer of six feet three, a
Pike county man besides, and of course an adept in all
the innocent recreations, of biting, gouging, and playing
horse, so much delighted in by the primitive people of
the '' Setting Sun." We picked and shovelled faithfully
for two or three hours, until we had removed all the light
depoists of the surface, on a space six feet square, and on
this made a smaller hole in the compact sand and gravel,
as low as the iTuba river would permit us, without bailing.
A pan was then filled with the deepest earth we cou°d
procure, and placed in the hands of my skillful and ex-
perienced companion, to " prospect" or test the value of
the ground underneath, from the sample already in our
possession. We descended to the river which was close
at hand, and peeping over the shoulder of the operator, I
watched his manipulations with impatient but intense
interest. Slowly did he move the pan, and gradually the
lighter portions wore away in the tiny waves made by the
agitation of the pan. He then carefully picked out the
coarser gravel with his fingers, and commenced the motion
afresh, the heavier particles slowly descending, and the
lighter going off, until at last the filthy lucre was plainly
discernible in shining specks, mixed with a small quantity
of fine black sand.

''Well," said 1 endeavoring to look wise, and to spoak
professionally, "what's the prospect ?"

131

RAMBLINOs IN CALIFORNIA.

■) It

He vvhirlci it munrl the pan for a .uinuto, without nay-
ing any rej^ard to n.y keen inquiry, and after euTuin^ to
an apparent conclusion he observed,—

'' Jf this prospect was on the north fork of the Feather
or even in the Colund.y digging-s, I would reckon on
twenty-two cents; but this gold ain't ri.-ht familiar to mo
0^'ct, and 1 kind o' think it looks thin and Haky, and if so
be, there ain't more than from eighteen to twenty cents •
but It is easy dirt to get out, and we can n.ake two ounee.s
a piece, to the day, like sn.oke, if the streak only holds
out." "^

Here was a windfall for a penniless purse .' Thirty-five
dollars a day, in regular payj wh; It was an independent
fortune, ;in inexhaustible bank, of which I was cashier
and director. To be su.. the money was locked up in the
vaults, and there was no key, but tlien I possessed the
means of pick ni^f the lock; and again we commenced
with renewed vigor to throw up the earth, and bail out
water. Pleasantly the work went on, for another half hour,
when I was suddenly aroused from my day dream of bliss',
by the low deep voice of Buckeye, as he rolled out the short
but emphatic sentence : —

'MIe'sH eomin', the puke; mind your eye; vou b^
spokesman, he knows I've got a claim ; show' your .-law.i
and bluft'him off."

And before I could thoroughly comprehend the tenor of
this hurried advice, [ found myself face to face with the
notorious puke. I am free to confess, that T almost
wished myself comfortably away " in some lone cot among
the distant hills," for his appearance fully verified the
reports I had received of his powerful well knit frame.
lie h:u\ certainly been well described as a " roarer," and

RAMr.MNMiS IN CALIFORNIA.

135

ithont pay-
coming to

do Feather,
reckon on
liliar to nie
, and if so
n\ty cents ;
;wo ounee.s
only holds

riiirty-five
dependent
IS cashier

up in the
messed the
inmencod
d bail out
tialf hour,
1 of bliss,

the short

; you bt?
Dur f'law.i

) tenor of
with the
T almost
>t among
ilied the
it franit\
i?r," and

sadly did n.y mind misgive me, while 1 mentally conned
over the results of a hand to hand struggle with this her-
culean produetio.i of the mighty west. But the time for
repentance had expired ; 1 thought scorn to beat a cow-
ardly retreat, and an honorable one had now become im-
possible. I therefore, agreeably to previous advice,
shovelled away with more diligence than ever, apparently
fiuite unconscious of the new comer's gigantic presence.
But as the old song says, " My eye was upon him," and
I have little doubt that the beat of my pulse betokened
excitement, and no little fever. Our visitor soon seated
himself on a boulder, and after an awful pause of a few
seconds, he gave a snort to attract attention, and then
opened his mouth and spoke.

" iStranger," said he in a voice of great solemnity, '• is
A soger a man o' war, or is he not V

The pulse beat faster still, on hearing such a belligerent
interrogative, and I feebly observed :

" War, my dear sir, does certainly strike me, of all
others, as being the occupation best adapted to the wants
and natural propensities of a military man, and the one
too, in which he could have the opportunity of spreading
himself to the greatest advantage."

" Wal, stranger, 1 knowed it all the time myself, but 1
kind o' wanted a uuijority in my favor, like a huU-souled
ilopublican, as 1 be, for you see, the way of it was this,"
(pulse on the decline)—" You see, Dick the Whaler, and
Whiskey Tom and nie, had been playin' a civil game of
poker, and I lost the whiskies, and jest as I began to box
the cards, for Td won the deal, you know-some newspaper
man in stud-horse clothes, from VFris.o, cum in and begun
to read the news— and he could read like thunder— and

i ft

'Hi J

<r?^

- !*?*'- J

186

RAMHLINGS IN OAUfORMA.

2^ the new.,, .ez it, -The ,nH„-„-.„a,- fi„<l »ix shou at
the mcrehnnt.nan without injurin' him,' „ud soz I_. The
»0K.,- must have a darned poo.- mael.ine of a revolver, or
el»e the pedlar handled his pin.- ri.lu .mart, anyhow.'
And that l.ttle fiste of a whaliu' Oi„k up,, an' ,ez he-
Reckon, P,ke you never ,ee a ,nan-o'-war.' Now, stran-
ger, I m a modest feller ; 'taint easy to raise my eomba.
but th,« was a rubbin' it i„ too strong, for I have travelled
»ome, myself, /l,„ve; / have been to St. Louis; I have
erossed the plains; I should judge I know a painter from
a parrary heu, or a becgum from a horned toad. Did'nt I
Bee droves of men-o'-war in Missury, when we lieked the
eussed njens and Mexieans ? Didn't they axe me to be
a man-o war, and hadn't I half a mine to jine 'em, only
hat dodger in them parts was skeeree, and another youn'
Baggs was shortly expected. So I ups and pounds Diek

a smart ehanee, and before I'd eoneluded, thinks I, ■ there
mayb o„ i ,^,,_,__^, j^^^^^ ^,^^^ ^^^^ ^^^

i II tote myself back now, and finish the job-f ,r he', t,M
used up to travel '." ... a.

Having thus soothed ,ny nerves, our unpleasant visitor
posted off raptdly for a few paces ; he then stopped short,
and turning on his heel, again hailed me :

" Oh, mi.,ter l-you've told me suthin', and now I'll
tell you suthin'-M.,„, M„,u,,. ,-, ,„,!, ,/,-^,,-„,., ,,„„'«
'", '-y <■«. I tried it myself last winter, and thev
prospected at first mor'n considerable, but they gin out so
<imck they made my head swim ; but try your chance for
a turn-up-Jack, and when you can't, come to me and I'll
trade you a howler for eash-gi„oi„e five cent stuff-a hi-
bank, and no water to n.ake you swear. If vou hunt for n.^
when the weather', n.odcrate, t ,„.,,, be „t work, and a-.in I

RAMr,!J.\(KS IN CAMFOHMA

187

six shots at
*ez I—' The
revolver, or
t, anyhow. '
i' sez he —
N^ow, stran-
iny combat,
ve travelled
is; I have
linter from
Did'nt I
licked the
e me to be
'em, only
;her young
unda Dick
3 1, ' there
you ; but
)r he's too

mt visitor
ped .short,

now I'll
^A' yoxC re
:ind they
;ia out so
bance for
; and I'll
ff — a bi-'
nt for me
d :i,i?in, f

mayn- be at the orocery ; but fur a gin'ral rule, when itn
warm, look in the shade, for I'm allers binmd to be thar!"
When he had concluded his harangue, I hypocritically
tendered my acknowledonients, muttering at the same
time something about sour grapes, which Cincinnatus
heard or regarded not, for with an unwieldy motion of
his big hand, he departed on his mission, singing '< Barbara
Allan," with a voice like a Stentor. But if the illustrious
traveller judged not wisely in the first instance, he did but
too well in the second. The thin strata would not defray
the expense of stripping, and we were forced to abandon
the chum, as our predecessor had done. And thus
ended my first jump.

A FIELD OFFICER.

His name was Breeze, and if true, what some persistently
affirn, is the case, that names were originally o-iven to
point out some peculiar characteristic of the individual
then was my general a worthy descendant ■ for he inherited
"» all punty the gifts of his ancestor in one respect nt least •
tor a more "gassy" individual-as the Americans term \i
-It never was my lot to be put in communication with
He was one of the great men of the country in '5'^ at
which period he had probably risen to the high'est pinnacle
ot his fame, for from that time to the present, his star
has been on the decline, chiefly from the h.no- cessation of
hostilities, with the dark nations of the north. But mv
connection with Imn was a peaceful one. No proud pran-
cors insidted the slain, nor ghastly wounds upbraided us
in cmr labor. The weapon wielded was the pen-the blood
shed was the ink-and the tield, a neatly bound volume

l:5S

RAMKLINOK IS TALIFORNIA.

of foolscap-ancl the subject, the hard founht battles of liis
j^oneralship.

I frankly avow, that it was a feeliu^^^ nearly akin to awe,
whieh I experienced, when I heard my name announced
and was ushered into the presence of this august person-
a,ge. I had often read and heard about generals; nay I
had often seen them at a distance, while reviewing troops
seated on splendid chargers ; their aids-de-camp gallopino^
towards them like the wind, and spattering the mud in
spectators' faces. But 1 had never even seen one afoot, much
less in a room eight by twelve, with a large bed in it ; and
—although I knew it to be impossible-like the ancient
1 oruvians, I could scarcely divest myself of the idea, that
a general and a horse were inseparable. There was a deep
solemnity, I inu.gined, attendant on my introduction a
corporeal reality extremely trying to a nervous, bashful
nature. Had it been a major, or even a colonel, my trepi-
dation would have been much less, but a real live general
of brigade was astounding; for the very name itselt>alled
up pictures of Boney and hi>^ generals— feathers dancing-
spurs jingling, and all the pomp and circumstance of do-
rious war. But my military patron Aras quiet and courteou.s
as I could wish, and— to use a homely phra.se— I soon
found myself as easy as an old shoe.

The general had three friends with him in his study—
I might say bedroom and parlor too, for it answered all
three purposes. The first was only a judge, and the second
a major, but as neither had seen more than twenty sum-
mers yet, they bid very fair, if they kept on proffressin<^
in proportion, to the age of three score and ten, of attaining
quite dignified titles. The third was the county surveyor"
■■ '•!'<^-'v-^:U ma.i wiio enierea wiin me, and whom

battles of Ilia

akin to awe,
announced,
i;ust person-
'als; nay, I
wing troops,
ip galloping
he mud in
afoot, much
Hn it; and
the ancient

idea, that

1 was a deep
oduction, a
IS, bashful
, my trepi-
ve general
;self, called
dancinji* —
nee of glo-

[ courteous
e — I soon

s study —
swered all
the second
enty suni-
rogressiny
attainine:
surveyor ;
nd whom

RAMBLlNtiS IN CALIFORNIA.

139

they saluted as '' colonel/' was the surveyor's assistant.

This was the wav of it— Mr. A , a merchant doing a

flourishing inland trade, was elected to the ollice of county
surveyor, un the regular democratic ticket. ]^ut, unfor-
tunately, the successful candidate, if he attended to the
duties of his office, would have been obliged to neglect his
own private business, in a way most detrimental to his in-
terests. And besides, although he received the enthusiastic
voices of his constituents, it unluckily happened, that
matheuwitics had been (juite overlooked, in the extreme
haste with which Mr. A had been educated for the drama
of life. But such little casualties will occur sometimes,
where every office is in the hands of the rabble ; and he
appointed a deputy in his stead— the youth above men-
tioned—receiving half the fees, as a sleeping partner with
his nephew. ]3ut the nephew, although in possession of a
superfluity of time, didn't know a mjuare from a triaiigle,
and was obliged to farm his office out again to the colonel, on
the halves, who was making a fortune then, though per-
forming the whole duties, and receiving but twenty-five
per cent, on the original fees charged to the dear people.
Next day 1 entered on my duties— which consisted in
recording in a good plain hand, the incidents of flood and
field, in which the brigadier and his allies were engaged,
during the memorable battles of '50 and '51. with the
iJigger Indians. Part of the copy from which I formed
my records, were in the general's own hand, and the various
officers under his command ; part were editorials, clipped
from newspapers favorable to the prosecution of the war;
bat by far the largest ingredient, was the oral narrative of
the fight, from the lips of the general himself The-e re-
cords were all to be depoaited in the archives of the Stete,

140

HAMBLiXf.s IN CALIFORNIA.

Mf1

1 il :'^

and (u,u.c V,,,,,,,- A,.,ericas will „„ ,lo„bt be iospircd to
*ed. 0, vaW, bv ,-«,di,„ U„.o heroics of their „Ct«rr

i .oy ...ust h„ve h„d . t,e,„e ,„„ ti.ne of it, such „,„r t

and c.,untcr.,„arc.h,n,., ehargi,,,, a„d fallin,. back-thore
-.s „„ re.roati„,_bl„wi„,. up of ,„ine.,, „„d who e o
uiassaores of rod skins If l,.,lf t- •. '" "noiosale

of i,„t„.i;t "* " "'"•'' "••"-•' ">« battle

of Au.terl,tz was but a bar-roon. row in con,pari.,on
Orders rou, the .-encral, tra„s,oitted by his aids seeded
o % hko crackers o,. the fourth of Jul,' and wer I'd
as .f they were the wand of a magician, and thirteen con'e
cut.ve vetones were achieved, in as n.any days

There was none of that nnlitary brevity, nevertheles,

n,uch adn.ired in the hook-nosed fellow of Role atu^

they were al volununous docuu.ente, not a tittle of etl
("otte or t,tle was forgotten, and notwithstanding a vat
-nounto. bad pen.nanship and orthography, and ILll

made „ the n 'T ' " ^^" P^"-'" -ntion waa
made ■» the plunder account, of the acorns and crickets

Zrart" V -r " ''' '""■' ''""^ '-""- "« g 't

m-iai:::; "zz'triXr '^^"-' ^^ '^»

would „„» T " ' '"'' '*"'^^''* ">« "ticks

thetv 1 ' " '""''"'' """ '" ""' ™"-. -J-ing

i-ne severest season. '^

1 have n,y old en,ployer now, in my „,i„d-,, ,,ye as he
deposued h,s burly person on a low camp stool, hs' a" bi
t.o«s heels resting on the balcony; calmly sur ey n! the
passing crowds on the street. There he «. I

Ms war stories, ruminating the ' W' L^TZ

His little pig's eyee. half hiH Jn f.Uo .r ..__i. ,

- ••• •-'^ V2 iiuwuoiesonie fat

■ 4

IlAMRLINfiS IN CALIFORNIA

e iospirod to
3ir ancestors,
ch luarching
back — there
i(i wholesale
e, the battle
comparison,
litis, seemed
were obeyed
rteen conse-

2vertheless,
^ome, about
3 contrary,
ttle of eti-
iing a vast
i magnani-
u-^t at least
ntion was
d crickets
being the
't by the
e articles
-s, durins:

ye, as he
his ambi-
ying the
icoursiog
eed, and
beneath,
onie fat,

141

and h.s flabby hands, .supported by his thumbs in the
arm holes of liis waistcoat. His heavy blue cloak was al-
ways attached to his laruc nock, by massive clasps of brass,
on winch was developed in large letters " Excelsior ''
Whether this clasp was the gift of a grateful country, or
a purchase from his own privy purse, T am sorry T cannot
state, but I am certain at least, that it had some mytho-
logical bearing on the connection of the land with its
gallant defender.

For hours have I listened to his dull monotonous drawl
—spiced at intervals, during periods of excitement—with
huge south-westorn oaths, which, however, he bashfully
commanded me to suppress in the copy. I followed him
m his details, sometimes thrice over, and copied much of
his manuscript besides, but the subject to mo is still
wrapped in the deepest obscurity. T merely know that
Brigadier (Jeueral Breeze saved the country, and to use his
own literal words, "gave the diggers particular, and infer-
nal fitf." The situation at ten dollars per day, and a free
lunch, was a good one; and I was visibly affected and
grieved, that illness compelled me to resign, but I have
no doubt, he had not long to wait, to find a candidate for
my vacant chair.

How much these victories have cost the public, has
never yet been fully made known, but the aggregate must
be enormous; and the wily field officer, despite his thirst
for military renown, has been by no means forgetful of
indirect "spulzie;" but has feathered his military couch
so warmly, that he can calmly recline, in a green old a^e
and expound to his loving femily, how fields and feather^
were won in the early good old days of Califorriiu

142

RAMBLINCiS IN CALIFORNIA.

THE SPECULATOR.

ii il:

.1:

Seth Brown was a born speculator, he could not exist
without it. Though he professed to be a member of the
Baptist (niurcli, yot the church was but secondary to
him, for trade was his religion and his life. He was a
thin, wiry, little red haired man, extremely nervous and
bustling, with a sharp, kindly grey eye, and a person al-
ways punctiliously neat and clean. He had three little
sandy haired children, and a wife who was a regular tar-
tar; for although burthened continually, with a compli-
cated out of door business, the unfortunate Seth had to
perform three-fourths of the domestic duties, legitimately
attached to woman's sphere ; and when he failed to per-
form the smallest trifle of his allotted task, the pointed
method in which that injured gentlewoman would enlarge
upon her wrongs, must have made him believe himself
the most wicked and black-hearted monster in the uni-
verse.

In his usual routine, he was out of bed at daylight to
prepare the morning meal, (for $100 per month, for a
hired girl, was more than his circumstances could afford,)
and when this was accomplished, and the children washed
and dressed, he arou.^ed his better half, who came out look-
ing bilious and cross enough, but at the same time prepared
to do ample justice to the excellent cookery of her husband.
When he had arranged the crockery, and made all things
tidy, ho posted down town to his oflice, and his lady to
her gossiping acquaintances; and when he returned to
dinner it was sometimes cooked for him, but these were
exceptions, for he had orpnomllv fV>of /^»^^«„i.: j. ^_-

RAMBLING8 IN CALIFORNIA.

143

\ not exist
iber of the
condary to

He was a
srvous and

person al-
:bree little
Bgular tar-

a compli-
ith had to
Jgitiniately
ed to per-
le pointed
lid enlarge
fe himself
the uui-

aylight to
itli, for a
Id afford,)
3n washed
i out look-
3 prepared
■ husband,
all things
s lady to
turned to
hese were
perform

himself, and also the conclusion of the household arrange-
ments for the day.

^ Yet did not his heart become discouraged, nor his am-
bition flag, for although burthened with the whole care of
such a family, still as prop after prop gave way, of his
airy castles in the city, his inventive genius soon erected
another; and if he could not manage to lay up funds, he
still contrived to keep his head above water, and his wife
and little ones respectable and decent. He had commi.nd
of a small down-east schooner, in '49, and during that
year had conveyed his family hither, and left off the sea,
for the purpose of pursuing his favorite inclinations in
the city of San Francisco. His acquirements in litera-
ture were but meagre, and yet his first attempt was the
management of a newspaper; how he got through with it
Heaven knows, for he never read a book, and his language
was the concentrated essence of provincial Yankee ; but
most likely he received assistance from some of the shoals
of unemployed lawyers who then infested the city. But
people would not read his paper, und so he published
a book for them— a Directory for the city— which contained
a large amount of useful Statistical information, correctly
and neatly drawn up. This was well patronized, and he
made well by it at ^5 per copy, exclusive of advertisements.
But when his edition was disposed of, he was again at
leisure, and started an advertising agency, that is, he kept
up a correspondence with all the principal journals, and
procured the insertion of advertisements by canvassing,
charging a per centage upon each. This at length bccan^e
his fixed occupation, for he adhered to it for several
years, and kept it always as a stand-by when other re-
sources failed.

14 (

HAMULI. VMS IN fALIFOIlNIA.

if:

i 'i

His next operation was to take a contract from the cor-
poration, to niunber each door within the city liniitH, at
which ho made UO per day until tlie work was completed;
but he was obliged to collect it himself from the tax-payors,
and when he went round for that purpose, the tax-payers
refused to comply, alleging that the edict was unconstitu-
tional, and against their consent; for they all knew their
own houses well enough, and some were no way solicitous
for the public to know their whereabouts. Brown, justly
indignant at such treatment, attempted to reason on the
matter with them, saying that it was a great injustice for
them to receive the benefit of his labor, without any remu-
neration for him; but they ingeniously combatted this
argument by granting him the privilege of rubbing the
numbers out again, if he pleased ; such reasoning as that,
was of course conclusive, so he calmly put the speculation
down to profit and loss, and forthwith entered the ham-
washing business. Previous to the year '54, California
imported all her salted provisions, and the amount of bacon
and hams, annually landed in San Francisco was very large.
In the long voyage round Cape Horn— some six months—
many of the hams lost much of their pristine freshness of
appearance, wliich much deteriorated from their value in
the )aarkct, when placed in competition with handsome
ones, even if equally sound, f.,r good looks are objects of
importance even to hams as well as to young ladies. The
observant Seth soon perceived what was required ; so he
collected his cash and built him a tall smoke-house, and
took contracts from the merchants to repair the damaged
articles at three cents per pound. He first stripped off and
threw away the greasy cover ; he then scraped them with
a knife, and Kcrubbed them thoroughly with soda and hot

Ill the cor-
liniitH, at
ompleted ;
ax-payors,
tax-payers
inconstitu-
new their
solicitous
5vn, justly
on on the
ustice for
any reinu-
atted this
bbing the
g as that,
peculation
the ham-
California
t of bacon
ery large,
nonths —
shness of
value in
landsome
bjects of
es. The
d ', so he
use, and
damaged
\ off" and
lem with
I and hot

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

i4r>

■ i

water ; they were then smoked, inserted in new bags, and
packed in barrels with fresh salt, the barrel was then
headed up and sent oif to the storehouse, where they
became A No. 1, and brought 50 cents per pound. "Ah,"
said he, in recording the transaction, " that ham-washing
was a sweet business, and 1 cleared to^ a day at it, for
four months in a streak ; but there was too many neighbors
from my own 8tate for any good, and for all I had a board
wall all round the yard, and a locked door with "No Admit-
tance" on it besides, the 'tarnal critters found me out; for
in two weeks after they suw what I was at, the business
wasn't worth a rotten gasperaux, and vulgar at that ; for
there was no less than thirteen smoke-houses all in a
bunch, and I cleared out, for you could'nt see the sun
once a week for smoke."

His next vocations were to invent a machine for catchino-
craw-fish, and to plant a bed of oysters, both of which
failed, and then he tried the tin business in roofing
houses; raising chickens; making tomato catsup, and
other callings too numerous for detail, with various de<^rees
of success; and when I last saw him he was busily at
work on an iron riffle for sluices, which he intended to get
patented, though he never had visited the minos in his
life.

Although so much addicted to trading and quaint
speculations, which rarely succeeded, poor Brown had a
hand "open as day to melting charity," and that, too
often, most indiscreetly expended; so much so, that I was
at last obliged to take him severely to task for his im-
provident conduct, urging that, although it was a very
commendable virtue in its place, it was scarcely just, or
even generou —in his then precarious circumstances— to
himself or hi:, family. ^v 2

146

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

^^ell, said he, you've maybe hit it, for all my own
townsmen here, hint that way, though their 'pinions don't
hurt mc bad, for I guess I know ^/..v. pretty well. They're
Quampiackers I" J "=

'' Quampiackers ! What is that y"
-as it possible you never heard of Quampiac ^ Well
p raps you ha'nt, and if not, you needn't want to, for it
has, and no mistake, a lectle the meanest location, and
has some on the closest fisted folks, on this side the herrin'
pond. It's away down East so far, they can never make
a raise, and they will freeze to a copper cent till their
joints are stiff. Indeed, it's a slim chance to get alon^,
anyway, and mayhap it's the natur' of the poor fellers'
J3ut, strange enough, father was as free and open handed
a chap-m his riper years-as you could scare up in a
prospec-ting tower from Maine to the Colorado; and signs
ou It, the Brown family were allers poor as No. 8 mackerel
And the strangest of it was, he got turned to that way of
thinking m one night. You see. Dad, till he succeeded
at last, was the most inveterate office-«eeker known in them
parts. He cared nothin' about politics-it was the office
he wanted; and he always contrived to get a nomination
on some ticket or 'nother. Sometimes on the hard-shell
sometimes on the soft, or the locofoco, or the independent;
and often on no ticket but his own. At it he went, tooth
and nail, year after year, till his head grew fro.ty in the
unsuccessful battle. I Idnd of wonder, too, someLes, at
his bad luck, for a smart man was Dad, and his views were
not onreasonably aspirin' nuther, for he gen'rally run for
constable, or hogreeve, or something of that natur', that
he was competent enough to fill.

_-., -n... .,...^, , uxcary-eyed, fiypocritical old deacon

RAMBLINGS I\ CALIFORNIA.

147

II my own
lions don't
I. They're

3? Well,
to, for it
iition, and
le herrin*
ver make
till their
?et along
)r fellers !
1 handed
up in a
lud signs
aackerel.
It way of
-icceeded
I in them
he office
ni nation
rd-shelL
)endent,
It, tooth
f in the
imes, at
WK were
run for
ir', that

deacon

there, by the name of Zeb Skinkcr, that allers held the
office of cordwood inspector, for he suited the citizens to a
hair, on account of his skinflint dealins. feo this precious
«on of the church keeled over dead one day, and by some
mistake or onforseen accident, the revered author of my
bein' got 'pinted in his stead; and if ever there was a
middle-aged gentleman sprouted two inches higher, straight
off the reel, that man was Dad ! There was quite a con-
siderable jollification to hum that night, and next mornin'
the old man was up, bright and airly, to attend to his
dooties, While he was a drawin' on his boots, a neighbor
came in to borrow fire—for they don't even buy matches
there— and the neighbor asked him how does he do? ob-
serving at the same time, that he looked a kind of scaly
about the gills. And says Dad, '^ I estimate you'd do the
same if you'd had such an allfired dream as I had last
night :•' '^ Du tell !" says the neighbor. Says Dad—'' Yes,
I do, and what's more, I'll never disremember it, nor the
moril it has learnt me, nuther !" It appears that the clam-
bake the night before was orful nice, and the old gentle-
man, as was by no means oucommon, had rather a'leetle
overfed himself, and in consequence, feelin' drowsy, turned
into bed putty quick arter supper, and the first thing he
knew he made the disagreeable discov'ry that he was in
the infarnal regions of Beelzebub I

" There was a promiscus monotony of areat roaring
brimstone fires, and all sorts and any quantity'of in-eniou^
fixins for tortur'. There was lots of folks from our way,
and some of 'em communicants at that, all a workin' and
industrious as their boss in a gale of wind, and among the
rest, who should be there, appcricntiy quite at hum, but
the seed,/ vong cordwood inspector, Zeb SHnkcr, follerin'

148

RAMBLINGS I\ CALIFORNIA.

jest the 'dentieal same calling as on airth, only it was
brijnstone 'stead of rock maple.

"So, wliile Dad was obsevvin' minootly the varieties in
this onpleasant landscape, a feller comes in a drivin' a
whalin' big bull team, and Skinker he goes at it, as usual,
with his nieasunn' rod, and says to the feller he won't
p.-^ss it on account of its bein' two inches short. And the
other fcllei-, who appeared to be from Pike, commenced a
cussin, quite leisurely, but rather boisterous, and Skinner
follerin' suit, cussed too, and they swore away at each
other duri'.i' several hours in a most onchristian manner,
until they were interrupted in their pastime by the old sin-
ner of all sinners himself, who was rigged out in a Shanghai
coat and a great pair of sideboards, with a pen stuck
behind his ear; and, great king! his tail loomed out
astarn like the Cape Cod sea sarpent. His face was on-
visible to Pad fi ui his position, but he could hear him
plain enough, when he axed, quite mild like, what they
meant by disturbin' him when he was a settlin' his 'counts 'i
And Skinker ups and explains about the short measure,
and says the teamster — ' Look here boss I I've been a
haulin' brimstone to you nigh on a thousand year, and
was allers allowed for a hull cord, more or less, and now
the fust day this chap's in office he commences chaffin' and
iindin' fault I' Well, with that, Satan turns slap round,
and .u'cs the inspector full in the face, so mad that his
tail bristled out jest like a cat's when she's got her Ebe-
nezer up, and he roars out, in a voice like a thousand
airthquakes — ' Skinker I pay the man for a cord ! Xone
of your Quampiac tricks in this place!'

"The noise 'woke fatlier up, but he believed in that
dream, and his last word to mo, on the joyful occasion

RAMHLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

149

nly it was

arieties in
drivin' a
;, as usual,
■ he won't
And the
imcneed a
d Skinner
y at each
1 manner,
he old sin-
Shan ffhai
)en stuck
omed out
e was on-
hcar him
what they
s 'counts ?
measure,
c been a
year, and
, and now
affin' and
ap round,
I that his
her Ebe-
thousand
•d! None

I in that
occasion

of my leaving them parts forever, was — ' Seth, don't be

mean

t' "

A TRIP TO THE SOUTHERN MINES.

Some years ago T collected all the funds at my disposal,
with the intention of making an investment in fruit, and
hearing from those persons most experienced in the trade,
that the city of Los Angeles, in the southern country,
was the most desirable mart for purchasers ; I forthwith
determined to patronize the city of the Angels. But as
I had often heard it repeated, that " It is a poor rule that
won't work both ways," I concluded to make a little ven-
ture downwards also. After pondering the matter over,
carefully, for some time, my disturbed mind gradually
concentrated itself upon fish, and, by my friend Seth
Brown's advice, I bought from him, a good many barrels
of smoked salmon ; and shrewdly guessing that the ab-
sorption of so much salt in the system, would cause a
longing for effervescent drinks, I procured an antidote in
the shape of many bottles of champagne cider, manu-
factured on a now system, without apples, by a famous
chemist of Sun Franeisco.

Every thing being pi-epared, 1 and jny precious cargo
were shortly on board of the coasting steamer, that, ac-
c ording to advertisement, made a weekly trip to the port
of my destination. During the rushing, crowding and
general excitement, always incidental on the departure of
the steamer, I observed two sporting chips of the law,
whom 1 had known slightly, a year previous, in the
Northern mines ; but fortune not being so propitious as
they desired, were southward bound, as I was afterwards

150

KAMBUNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

il i

ill

t {'

given to iiiulcrstniid, with the intention of inflicting a
new.^paper on the benighted native ('alifornians. Both
were in an exceedingly lively humor, and had, to all ap-
pearances, been dining out, for they were amusing tliem-
selves at the expense of their fellow creatures, wherever
chance favored their designs. When hausers were being
cast loose, the fuss became ten times more fast and furious,
oranges were flying thick as hail, and good-byes were
shouted in every imaginable civilized language. '' Adieu,
>lon(Vn';" " Cxood-bye, Jake ;" ''Frank, my boy, take
care of yourself," were all mingled in discord with the
wicked curses of the captain, and the roaring of the im-
prisoned monster in the hold. One of the observant edi-
tors elect, at this time, sneered at his companion, and
threw out some caustic insinuation, touching the other's
apparently friendless condition; and the accused in-
dignantly placed himself in the most prominent position,
for the purpose of proving to his opponent, his large pos-
session of tlutt much coveted article, and bawled at the
top of his lungs—'' Good luck to you, II. Smith, my dear
fellow," but an attenuated shabby man, with a cotton
umbrella for a parasol, was the sole response to this chris-
tian wisli, and the discomfited friendless Juan, retired
from the charge in disgrace. The other now mounted in
]iis stead, and taking his hat gracefully in his hand, ex-
claimed-" Allons (ieneral-Iiye-bye, Judge," when in-
stantly, at least a dozen shining stovepipes were raised
aloft, dazzling the speaker with the reflection from their
polished surface. IIu then retired in calm dignity from
the scene, and rejoined his humiliated companion, who
adjourned with him to the bar, and stood the juleps in
token of defeat.

RAMBLINflS IN CALIFORNJA.

151

iflicting a
Qs. Both
to all ap-
ing them-

wherever
rere being
d furious,
>jes were

" Adieu,
boy, take

with the
f the im-
rvant edi-
lion, and
e other's
;used in-

position,
arge pos-
d at the

my dear
a cotton
lis cliris-
, retired
unted in
aiid, cx-
vlicn in-
e raised
iUi their
ty from
i>n, who
uleps in

My cider was all stowed on the forward deck, on account
of its airy situation, for I was fearful that the closeness of
the hold, might have an injurious eft'ect on its exploding
powers. Hut, alas 1 I never committed a more fatal error,
for next moriiing we were clear from the fresli breezes of
the bay, and the sun cast his rays tiercely down on the
windless waves of the Pacihc. Towards noun the first
gun was fired from tlie central hamper, and from that time
until the sun fell behind the waves of the Pacific, pop,
pop, went the bottles, every half minute, as loud as re-
volvers. If over there was a literal ap])licatioii of the
term "paying the shot," it certainly was then, and I was
the victim, for every report cost a dollar, and I was forced
to endure the lieartless jests of the passengers, on the
unknown proprietor, with that "infernal fire" still ring-
ing in my ears.

Well, the champagne was a dead loss ; and perliaps
the constitutions of the Los Angelites, might be grateful
for the misliap ; but the fish were a failure also, for in hot
weather, people do not hanker much after smoked Salmon,
salt as brine; and so I was obliged to force them on the
market at a very depreciated value. With the wreck of
my fortune, I purchased an assortment of fruit, consistinu-
of pears, figs, peaches, and apricots, convoyed them to the
coast in barrels, and had them just ready for shipv:ent on
the day of the steamer's expected arrival— a very impor-
tant point, for despatch is peremptorily re(iuired to make
the fruit trade profitable at all. But— begging Miss
Edgeworth's pardon— there is such a thing as bad luck;
for what human forethought could tell, that precisely on
that eventful occasion, when my whole life's earnings
were at stake, the refractory steamer would break down,

152

RAMBLIN(JS IN CALIFOHNl A.

m s

;n^

and (lolny me for another ten days ? Let us (Iraw a veil
over the mehmolioly conclusion, for the ren.cn.hrancc har-
rows n,y feelino-s, ovon to this h.te day. Suffice it to say,
that my whole car-o was vui.uMl, and I f,mnd myself onco
more on the streets of San Francisco, almost i,/that posi-
tion so fashionable in California, and aptly denominated
'* strapped."

So much did n,y loss prey upon my spirits, that I
prescribed chan.n;o of scene for Tnyself, and bavin.- a
friend resident in tlio valh^y of Santa (>u/, from whon,
I had been Ion- divided; J came to the conclusion to
pay bun a visit, and try the experiment of rustication
for a few weeks, to soothe my shattered nerve.s I
therefore proceeded to the place, paid my visit, i^ot tired
of my own idleness, and the Iloosiers besides, and attain
my ambition was stimulated with the desire of ^' niakin-
a raise." So, without having any very definite idea, with
regard to my future proceedings; I shouldered my pack
and journeyed eastward. A long spur of the coast ran-e'
nine miles in width, divides this valley from the neighbor-
ing one of Santa Clara, and towards evening I had "made
the transit, and was entering on the broad plains of that
fertile valley.

Santa (^lara is at present one of the most productive
counties in the State, but much of it was, at the tinu) I
8p<'Hk of. an alnuwt unbroken wilderness, more especMally,
in the central portion where 1 now was. Trudging along
in the bright moonlight, my eye was already scanning the
plain, in search of the softest couch, when the loud clear
notes of a bugle almost close at hand, startled mo ex-
ceedingly. When my first intense surprise had partially
subsided, at hearing such unwonted sounds in that vast

aw a veil
a nee Iiur-

it to say,
■^olf on CO
tluit ])osi-
ouiiiiated

S that I
laviui:; ;i
11 whom
usion to
Htication
ves. I
cot tired
lid again
' making
ea, with
ly pack,
t rangOy
jighbor-
d made
of til at

'liuctive
time I
oeially,
g ah)ng
ing the
d clear
me ex-
artialljr
at vast

HAMUr,IN<;s IN (ALiroRNiA.

1 5:^

Holituch', I turiKMl oft" Hharpjo the riglit, with tlie inten-
tion of alhiying my curiosity uix.n the suhjeet. A small
mound (•outaining a level surface of lu.arly j,n acre, and
apparently of volcanic; origin, lay between me and the
Hounds, and on gaining the summit, my surprise was yet
intensified .-.t the strange sights exjxised to view. The
place was one of the little oak groves, so peculiar to the
region, made bright as day by numbers of torches, and
eongregate,! in .me mass, within the space, there could not
be less than live or six hundred persons, who instantane-
ously dispelled all snpernatural illnsions I may have
formed, by all uniting in cd.orus, to the good (,ld hymn
entitled " I am going to the land of {'anaan." This con-
vinced me at once, of my pr(.pin.,uity to a camp meeting,
most probably held in this lonely spot, both fron. its ro-
mantic beauty, and its central position with regard to the
three large settlements of .San dose, San duan, and Pajaro.
Nothing c.udd be more perfect and tasteful, than' the
arrangements for comfort and convenience, under the cir-
cumstances. Seats an.l slu-ds were formed of slats, brou-dit
fro.n the neighboring redwoods,-vNhile the central place'^of
worsh.p was sh.Mlcd by an in.m,M,se sail, which had been
procured tor the pur,)ose, by s..me industrious Christian
iron, the wreck of a clipper ship, on the neighboring,
coast. The sle<.pi„g apartments surrounded this, and in
the rear, the long tables of redwood, together with the
smoking stoves, and savory stean.of beef, pc.rk, venison,
and game, plainly inforn.ed the nose, of the extensive
refectory. At the conclusion of the benediction, all re-
tired to the well overed tables, where the hospitality was
unbounded ; visitors were invited to partake of the good
cheer, not only for the present, but to remain and recc-ivo

.:;.«iiE;.i^il;Ci:4:j

I 't!

154

HAMBL1N(5S IN CAUFOHNIA.

1 |U.

a continuation of the same favors for the whole week
during; which the meeting was expected to continue.

As my readers — from the confession of my circumstances
— are no doubt aware, that I had no peculiarly pressing
enf'ao-ement iust at that time, I was induced to remain for
a few days ; and although [ have witnessed many meetings
of this description, and in various places, I can positively
aver, that for order and decorum I have never seen this
exceeded. The affair was carried out at the sole expense
of about a dozen individuals, and if obtaining converts
was their object, they were most certainly amply remu-
nerated for their trouble and expense, for more than a
hundred persons, were induced to enroll themselves on the
books of the church.

The society was the Methodist Chur.-h South, completely
divided from, and in direct hostility to the Church North,
on that one grand subject of surpassing interest, over all
others — the slavery question — a subject that bids fair, not
only to separate the people on religious grounds, but
eventually, to break up, politically, the whole confedera-
tion of the States. The Northern church has an express
article in its discipline against slavery, while the other,
not only expun^-cs the offensive article, but allows slavery
both to preacher and jxM.ple, and even openly recommends
it from the pulpit.

That the people of this 8tute, however, which is nomi-
nally free, should so strenuously harp upon the patriarrhal
institution— as they call it— may appear strange ; but one
reason is, the continuation of their old habits, and the
other, the hope of forming a new State, of sound Southern
principles. Indeed, the preacher, although to appearances,
a conscientious and sincere man, could not even iu his

RAMBLIN08 IN CALIFORNIA.

155

olc week

lUC.

Linstances
■ pressing
emain for
meetings
positively

seen this
e expense

converts
)ly remu-
e than a
^'es on the

onipletely
ch North,
, over all
» fair, not
inds, but
^onfedera-
n express
ho other,
ivs slaver}-
;ommeu(Jy

I is nonii-
itriarrhal
; but one
and the
Southern
pearances,
^en iu his

homilieH, control himself from expressing his opinion on
the all-absorbing topic. He was one afternoon calling on
the people loudly, to repentance, with the energy and
fervor of a Jonah, and to illustrate the horror of death in
sin, more especially, he described the last moments of a
victim to the fury of a mob, in one of the wild South-
western States.

"My dear hearers," he exclaimed, "my right arm
would have been freely given, to rescue that wretched
victim to the power of the evil one, froni the fearful judg-
ment of an abused and insulted people. He was not tit
to grapple with death, or to face his God, and with the
sin that bears an express curse upon the perpetrator, by
the Deity Himself, he dies, accepting not of any ministry,
hard and impenitent to the fearful crime, yet with the
consoling words of the blessed Savicmr upon his polluted
lips. Ah: n)y friends, there is a devilish fortitude,
as well as there is a Godly fortitude, and the evil one
sometimes deserts not his ablest supporters, even to the
last; for that worse than murderer— that violator of the
express command (.f (lod, and our ever-to-be remembered
constitution, that man-stealer, in short— that deadliest
foe to the dear rights of a free people— that veriest enemy
to heathen conversion, died with a front of brass, and an
eye that quaikid not before the insulted majesty of his
fellow-creatures— he died as he had lived, cursed by God
and man — u deluded, hardened abolitionist !"
^ These prophetic remarks were received with much unc-
tion and many groans by the sympathizing congregation,
and I was mentally conning over its matter, together— I
confess— with some quite irrelevant thoughts, 'rerr^rding
my own position and future movements, when a heavy

lo(i

RAMBI.INUS I\ (^ALIFOUSIA.

!i'

slap upon the sliouldcr, brou^lit nic to my feet, and face
to face with mine ancient chum, the prince of all good
fcllowx, and companion in many a previous .scene — the
stalwart Mac.

Times had flourished with my frie*id, durin«; the early
part of the year of our separation, lie had become the
proprietor of a store, and did a Nourishing trade, until
collection day came round, when there being no a.ssets in
the hands of his customers, and his stock thoroughly ex-
hausted, he had made up his mind to try his fate once
more in the mines, with his head clerk and junior partner.
And as our circumstances bore a striking similarity to each
other, to ,say nothing of former friendship, I was easily in-
duced to form one of the party, which was to commence
its journey — by the land route — on the succeeding day.
And now, I trust, 1 have made it sufficiently clear to my
readers, the various causes which induced me to take this
trip. So I shall proceed and relate, as they occ-urred, the
most exciting sights and adventures, on this — to me at
least — interesting "trip to the southern mines."

The same evening I was introduced in due form to
the third individual of our triumvirate.

My first impressions — and they continued for some
tiiiie — ^vere uf a confused assemblage, and undue propor-
tion of legs and arms, with no body or face, worth speak-
in..; of. lie hailed from the land of Boone, and the long
rifle which he affectionately claspcvl, at once attested the
votary of Nimrod. A brief consultation was now held
upon the spot, as touching our several resources, and the
various reciuisites for the long tramp— a distance of 200
miles. We found ourselves amply able to provide the
simple necessaries, with a balance in the exchequer

RA.VnLINGS IN PALIfOUMA.

157

and face
all good
)ne — the

the early
come the
tie, until
assets in
ighly ex-
fate once
• partner,
ty to each
easily in-
ommence
(ling (lay.
ear to my
take this
irred, the
-to me at

I form to

fov some
le propor-
th speak-
I the long
tested the
now hold
, and the
ice of 200
•ovide the
ixchequer

together with a good supply of camp cooking utensils,
blankets, and an aged California horse, that would pro-
bably go his tAvcnty-five miles a day, carrying our traps
and provisions. IJoone (contributed nothing to the general
fund, barring his elaborate limbs and his riile, conteudinf^
however, on the right to all the privileges of a full part-
nership, from the vast utility he was to be of, in providing
the larder, through the great game country we had to
cross.

AVith regard to the victualling department, a sack of
wheat flour was passed ncm. con. I then modestly pro-
posed bacon, as an agreeable accompaniment to farinaceous
food, but was indignantly frowned down by the hunter ;
who proposed that the words powder and shot be inserted
in lieu of the swine flesh, which was passed, I being in
the negative. Our negociations were then brought to a
close; and the next morning shone brightly and cheerfully
upon us, as wc took a bird's flight course across the plain,
for the Pacheco pass, in the main coast range. The blue
hills, shrouded in a thin vapor, stretclicd along our front,
and the pindc of Pacheco soaring far above the rest, at u
distance of twelve or fourteen miles, formed an excellent
landmark to lind the entrance to the pass.

A more beautiful reality of a farming country, docs not
exist, than the valley we crossed to attain the pass.
Level as a board, and with a rich loamy soil, on which
not a drop of rain had pattered for six months at least : it
was still covered with rich clover, other grasses, and wild
oats in profusion, and although dry as powder, was siill
Hweet and nutritive in the highest degree, as the laro-e
herds of Spanish cattle we passed, fully attested by their
shining coats. Thou.sands of geese, sandblll cranes,

lo«

RAMBLINOH IN CALIFOllNIA.

ill ■!

I'm'-'
Ill-It

plover, and curlew darkened the air at intervals, and the
sharp report of the rifle far a-head, told that our pioneer
was busily stocking the game bag, preparatory to our
meridian bivouac.

Noon found us all at the entrance of the pass ; our horse
was released from his burden, and we set to work, with i\\\
the skill, bought by hmg expeiience, to prepare the noon-
tide meal. A turnover was soon crisping in the frying
pan, and I made a desperate onslaught at once upon the
game bag, beside which the long slight figure of the
owner was listlessly extended. I .shook out the contents
with all the energy of appetite, and out dropped the most
attenuated specimen of a woodpecker, I ever beheld I
Comment was unneccs.sary, for although the wretch had
the impertinence, to correct me in the name I gave the
thing, by blandly terming it a " Peckerwood," if he had
called it a goose it would not have made it one, so we had
to dispense with animal food, and poor Boone received
nothing but vinegar looks, as seasonin^^ to his dry cake.

Having despatched our frugal meal, we were soon once
more upon the road, audslowly pursued our course through
this wild and sublime region. The range at this point
averages about twenty-five miles in latitude, and com-
pletely severs this valley from the neighboring one of the
San Joaquin. The pass is a singular freak of nature. For
the first five or six miles, the ascent is impciceptible, and
it varies in breadth, from a hundred feet to a quarter of a
mile, the soil rich and the vegetation luxuriant ; in fiict,
in all respects, a perfect spur of the valley — if we may
use the expression — flanked by hills of great height, and
most forbiddiuo- exterior. The very genius of want, seems
to rei^-n supreme upon their surface ; some consisting of

and the

pioneer

to our

iir horse
with Jill
je noon-
B frying
ipon the
3 of the
contents
;he most

beheld '.
itch had
;ave the
' he had
) we had
received

cnko.
oon once

through
his point
nd com-
ic of the
uro. For
iblc, and
rter of a
in fact,

we may
gilt, and
tit, seems
listing of

KAMJir.lNUS IN CAMFOHNIA.

1;-)!)

mere revolving sand, and some of naked Mand.stone, that
form frightful precipices, hundreds of feet in depth, and
some straggling dwarf oaks, that cling tenaciously in the
moist nooks, are in many places the only appearance of
vegetation.

From the beginning of the first rise, the road be-
comes irksome, and tiresome in the extreme, though
the hills are depressed, in comparison with those that flank
it; so much so, that even an empty waggon, has with
great care and constant attention been conveyed through,
but it is an operation requiring great skill and considerable
risk. On we toiled, until the shades of evening began to
throw a gloom over surrounding objects, when we bef'an
to look around for a spring of water, for ourselves jis well
as the horse, and by which we intended to encamp for the
night. At last we arrived at a point where two trails
united — both equally distinct — and we settled it that I
should take one which slightly diverged to the left, and
lead the tired beast, who now moved at a snail's pace — my
companions to take the other, for we judged by the ap-
parently small angle at which the paths closed, th;it they
would again meet at a short distance ahead.

I acknowledge that as 1 partf:d from my associates, my
feelings were none of the most pleasurable nature ; and
retrospect, calling up scenes of distant home and pleasino-
rccollecti(msof the past, in no respect gave me consolation,
in the unpleasant predicament I now found myself. I was
alone and almost unarmed ia the heart of a dreary wilder-
ness, said to be full of grizzly bears, tired, hungry, and
parched with thirst. This was sufficient to induce de-
spondency, but had I had a foresight of the niirht of
terror I was doomed to endure, my unpleasant feelings
would have been niuch more acute.

'ill
•I

■

IGO

RAMRLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

I judged I had accomplished Homewliat more than a
mile on my solitary courBe^ when darkness completely
enveloped me. According to our compact I halloed until
1 was completely huarse, without receiving any answering
signal, and the path had for the last half mile, become so
very indistinct, 1 became much of the opinion that it only
existed in imagination. To increase my difficulties, I
soon knew that I was skirting the side of a remarkably
abrupt hill, so very great indeed, w;»s the inclination, that
the weary beast, though an old packer, could only be per-
suaded to proceed, by constant tugging at the halter, and
often I was brought to my knees, to prevent myself from
rolling down the hill, which from its resemblance to those
I had passed in the afternoon, 1 rightly guessed terminated
in a precipice. 1 was Jievertheless peremptorily obliged
to proceed forward, for the slope effectually prevented the
possibility of turning the horse, with the object of re-
treating.

After a wearisoiue half-hour, spent in this way, I struck
into a small blind ravine, where the winter rains had
scooped out a little basin, in the sandstone ledge, about
ten feet s(iuarc, the rock to the right and front rising up
in a perfect dead wall, while away to the left the prospect
was completely lost in a yawning gulf of darkness. As
no alternative remained, I formed the prui nt resolve of
remain':.; all night on that .solitary spot, and forthwith
proceeded to unpack the tired animal. A scrubby little
oak contrived to eke out an existence on each side of the
channel, to one of which 1 fastened the liorse, and with
the dry sticks that lay plentifully strewed in the ravine, I
soon had a roaring lire, for the night was chilly and dark
as pitch, i spread my blanket before the cheerful blnzc —

UA.MHLINCiS IN rALI]-Y)RM A.

161

for I Wiis too thirsty to cure for food — and as tlic graceful
wreathes of smoke, softly arose from my fragrant pipe, the
soothing influence of the weed was gradually imparted to
my mental vision, and I soon began to moralize and consi-
der of the number of earth's inhabitants, who at that mo-
ment would gladly barter their fates for mine.

I was slightly aroused from my reverie, by perceiving a
little animal crawl forth from the decayed end of the back
log, and run directly under the blankets upon which I was
seated. I sprang up at once, and despatched it, and exa-
mination proved it to be a very vicious species of scorpion,
the sting of which fre(|uently proves fatal. Tn hunting for
the scorpion, 1 also caught a tarantula, a gigantic species
of poisonous spider, about the size and form of a common
door knob. Here was a delightful locality for a bedroom
— in the midst of a den of scorpions, and without the pos-
sibility of changing it for a better before daylight, which
was nine hours ofl", at least 1

So nervous did this circumstance make me — for 1 had
always an instinctive horror of vermin — that 1 kept my
feet for two or three hours, at least, walking three paces
forward and three back, such being the utmost stretch of
my prison. Tired nature by this time, could endure it no
longer, and after throwing a large quantity of fre-^h wood
upon the fire, lay down to rest, but with the firm resolve
not to sleep ; and so much were my hearing powers
stretched, for the smallest rustle in the dry leaves, the
feeling became absolutely painful. At last, in spite of my
resolve, 1 fell asleep. How long 1 slumbered, it is difficult
to say, but at length I awoke, with a cold chill and horri-
ble shuddering sensations. I opened my eyes, but without
the smallest movement of mv nerson. nnd the first obj(

y person, a

lect

162

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

my glance fell upon— within about nine inches of mj
face— were the glittering eyes, flattened jaws, and arched
neck of the largest rattlesnake I ever beheld. The fire
blazed up clearly and brightly at the time, enabling me to
see, with the greatest distinctness, eveiy shining scale and
each particular fold of the motionless venomous monster.
3Iy eyes gazed into his, with a species of stupid fascina-
tion, and although I realized my imminent peril to its
utmost extent, instinctive fear prevented me from moving
a single muscle.

I was fully aware, that should the reptile strike me, in
tlie position I then was, my case was utterly without hope,
and a few hours of excruciating agony would leave me a
lifeless clod, on that desolate hillside, without one kind
hand to minister, or one ear to receive my last sigh. IIow
long tins fearful stare continued, it is impossible to say,
for T took no note of time. It seemed like hours, but most
probably it did not extend to many minutes, when I could
perceive an almost imperceptible retrograde motion of the
head, and uiy ear detected a faint whirring of the rattle.
This token, which T knew foreboded an immediate attack,
appeared instantaneously to endow me with all my hereto-
fore powers of self-preservation.

With all the energy of despair, [ threw myself vigor-
ously backward — the snake striking the next instant — ray
first spring was plump into the fire; from thence I made
a complete summersc^t over the recumbent horse, and then I
rolled away down the hill at an angle of forty-five degrees,
but was fortunately saved from utter annihilation, by
clinging fast to a small bush within a few feet of the
precipice, experiencing no greater loss than the skin of my
hands, and ;i largo parr, of my pantaloons. With great

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

1C3

labor I again ascended to the scene of conflict, and having
armed myself with a club, met my antagonist in nearly
the same position as when L took niy departure, lie had
followed me into the fire, and was now writhing in agony
on the blankets, but I soon put an end to his suftbrin^s by
some well directed blows on the head. His lengtl^was
five feet two inches, and he had thirteen rattlers and a
button suspended to his tail.

It now becanje necessary for me to hold another consul-
tation with myself, as to the manner in which 1 should
pass the remainder of the night, for I judged that it still
wanted some hours of day dawn, and some kind augcl in-
spired me witli a simple idea, that afterwards caused me
to reprove myself severely, for not sooner taking advantage
of. 1 was in possession of several fathoms of rope, with
which the pack had been lashed ; this I apportioned into
what sailors call clews and lanyards, to which I attached
the head and foot of the coverlet respectively, and fasten-
ing the end of each rope to the little oaks, I had an excel-
lent hammock at once, suspended four feet from the ground.
I turned in gratefully, to my swinging bed, and although
my head and feet were a trifle n)orc elevated than a nautical
man would consider quite ship «hape, 1 was, two minutes*
utter, utterly unconscious of all sublunary things.

At daylight, 1 was aroused from my deep tv.^ice, by the
«ound of a human voice, within a few feet of me, which 1
soon decided to be the Kciituckian. He was in a gloomv
soliloquy, every syllable of wliich 1 could clearly distinguish'
but so close was n.y hanging bed to the side of the steep
blufi, that he was quite unaware of my contiguity

" Wal," said he, - of this here aint a a prettv eon..i.^.ra-
ble mesa of hot homminy, J aint Jeems Peitibone, nor

'>:t*

164

RAMBLTNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

'if
1

nobody else I Here am T at last, coino to years of destruc-
tion — and six foot three in my mocassins at that — with
ne'er a bit of hoecake. fomarty, or dodger to stick in my
blessed head, this Chuesday mornin', AJ). one thousinp^,
eight liundred, aiid fifty odd. Dirty water for supper,
repeat for breakfast, and a white frost for a bed kiver.
Wough I 1 could chaw this minute a chunk of a dead
nigger; and there's that punkin-hcaded Mac, a snoarin'
away, like Sent Antn'y's falls, and has no feelinx for a
young growin' feller. An that other darned ignor'nt
for'ner, must ampcrsan hisself an' his crow meat boss, clean
over the bluff, jest to spite a feller, I du believe. Wal I
we mought have spared him and the boss, wall enough,
but what did the mean cuss take the grub over with him
for ? He wont want that whar he's gone, sure, the nin-
compoop I iSarvc hill) riglit. what business had he to be
snickerin' at a free Auier'kin's legs, or a pokin' fun at his
nosey (\\S3 em ! I'm a know-northin' from this day out,
if I onlv get rid of this snarl."

During the outpourings of this troubled spirit, I was
busily engaged in arranging the traps, and when my well-
wisher had relieved himself of the burthen on his mind, I
apprised him of my existence and propinquity. I then
proceeded to retrace the fanciful path I had taken on the
preceding evening ; and if it seemed bad at night, it was
absolutely fearful by daylight, running as it did, along by
the brow of the precipice, to which we had unwittingly
approached, nearer than six feet, several times, and one
false step would have sent us thundering down the horrible
gulf at our feet.

When I rounded the hill, I met Jeems, who greeted me
with every evidence of pleasure, that gradually heightened

destruc-
t— with

in my

iousin<^,

supper,

1 kiver.

a dead
snoariii'
IX for a
ignor'nt
ss, clean

Wai :

enough,
ith him
the niu-
h(^ to be
m at his
day out,

t, I was
my well-
mind, 1
I then
n on the
t, it was
along by
yittingly
and one
horrible

2eted me
ightened

RAMIILTNUS IN CALIFORNIA.

165

into a broad grin of exultation, as his longing eye felf
upon the mess bag, safe and sound. We aroused Mac,,
who was sleeping comfortably by a rather indifferent
spring, and after partaking of some hot coifee and bread,
we supplied our faithful Jim with some water and barley,
and proceeded onward, inspirited and refreshed. This
day was a momentous and wearisome one. It was up
one hill and down another, constantly, in the early part
of the day; and in the afternoon we found ourselves in
the level pcn-tion of the pass, which extends into the
mountains from the San Joaquin valley, somewhat resem-
bling the opposite side, but shorter and wider. At dark
we arrived at the western side of the valley, and finding a
good spring, we took up our (juarters and spent a very
comfortable night.

It must not be imagined that Jeems was idle all this
time, far from it, for although he had provided nothing
for so far, excepting that ghost of a woodpecker, he had
already blazed away the chief portion of the powder, and
I verily believe, that he considered himself a very useful
personage, and that we could make but a very indifferent
fist without him. On the first day's walk in the plains of
the San Joaquin, he, as was usual with him, preceded us
a mile or two on the path, with the design, no doubt, of
intercepting hares or antelopes, that might otherwise be
ilarmed at the presence of so large a partv.

The land, for this whole day's march, was slightly un-
dulating, like a rolling prairie, and too light and gravelly,,
fc iuceessful cultivation. No human habitation was risi-
ble ; and in the distance could be seen immense herds of
antelopes and wild horses ; the latter chiefly led on by some
patriarchal stallion, would sometimes approach within a

: 4

166

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

few hundred yards of us to reconnoitre, and then, evi-
dently not relishing our appearance, would dash away to-
wards the wide tules, with a pace like a whirlwind. Seventy
miles off in our front, and at right angles to our course,
rose the dim blue mountains of the Sierra Nevada ; and a
long fringe of oaks halfway between, marked the serpen-
tine course of the San Joaquin. The remainder of the
plain was treeless, and destitute of grass, except in some
low spots, few and far between, like an oasis in the desert.
The wild things, though, seemed to enjoy it much, and
our steed cropped the fragrant bushes that chiefly covered
the surface, with every appearance of satisfaction.

We had; been moving on very quietly for two or three
hours, and had seen, nor heard any thing of our pioneer;
we were getting slightly uneasy in consequence, when on
gaining the summit of a small swell in the land, we per-
ceived almost close to the road, the illustrious Pettibone
himself, up to his elbows in blood and grease, disembowel-
ling a fat antelope — a regular " heart of grease."

" Ah, ha I" he crowed, '' I don't savy plugging ante-
lopes, don't I ? Oh, no I I ain't a dead shot, nother, ain't
I ? No, sir-r I I waste powder, too, do I '/ Tn course I
do. Fetch along that frame of a boss, will you ^ right
smart, and tote off this here venison."

''Look at that," he continued, pointing to a bullet hole
in the hide, " thar's a wownd for you ; I sighted right for
that white spot, onder the fore shoulder, and plumped him
clean, whar he lived — aighty rod by Jackson — never

kicked."

" Be off, now ;" he concluded, with the air of a monarch,
'' nack off vour meat, while I load sweet Nancy agin."

A. V

We started once more, taking wivb. us some of the

evi-

R AMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

167

choicest pieces, and left the remnant for the cayotas or
prairie wolves, and made as many calculations about our
prospective dinner, as ever did poor Oliver Goldsmith,
over his famous hauiich. We had not proceeded more
than two hundred yards in the van, when we perceived a
horseman to our left, riding at a full lope, and approach-
ing us at an angle, evidently with the intention of cutting
us ofi". He closed on us rapidly, and ])is first salutation
was a brusque in(|uiry, as to what might be our particular
business with his meat. Surprised at the question, we
indignantly informed him that it was our own property,
and was shot by our other partner, who was now appr-oacl^
ing us with his rifle reloaded. When he arrived, the
stranger firmly persisted in his demands ; affirming, that he
had shot the animal out of a large herd; an hour previous,
and he had merely alighted to cut his throat, as he wished
another shot at the herd. lie also described to an inch,
the locality where it lay, and added, that the bullet entered
a white spot immediately beneath the left fore shoulder.
This was proof positive to me, and I forthwith advised
Jeems, to deliver up, with as good a grace as possible. He
seemed no way inclined to comply with this advice— most
probably from shame — but as he evidently feared the de-
determined front of the stranger, he reluctantly complied,
exclaimina,' : —

" Wal, stranger, I reckon you can have it, but as sure
as Old Hickory's in Heaven, I thought 1 shot it, squar in
its tracks."

This little incident, however, ended the hunter's occu-
pation ; his title became for the remainder of the way
merely honorary, and the honor consisted in luggino- along
his clumsy twenty pound rifle, himself.

168

RAMBLINUS IN CALIFORNIA.

This night we remained on the phiins, and arrived the
succeeding day on the banks of the river, close to the influx
of the Mercedes. It was very low at this time, yet still a
noble stream, and seemed fairly alive with small fish,
principally bass, perch, and suckers. There was a hog and
cattle ranch at the place, to which was attached a small
store, for i.hc accommodation of the few farmers scattered
along the intcval of the river. The land, for a mile or
two on each side of the river, is very fertile, and not very
inconvenient to market — but fever and ague are very pre-
valent, in August and September.

While hunting up some drift wood, for the purpose of
cooking coffee, I observed an old superannuated seine,
lying on the bank, that most probably had been thrown
aside by some fishermen, during the preceding summer,
as unscaworthy ; and proposed that we should borrow the
punt, belonging to the ranch, and try our own fortune for
a dinner. With the assistance of two travellers, whom
we met at the ferry, we acted on the hint. Leaving two of
the party with one line, we vowed out towards the mouth
of the tributary ; we then paid out the net, made a sweep,
and commenced hauling in. As the net gradually col-
lapsed by our united efforts, the stiv in the water increased,
until it actually seemed to boil, and it was only by dint of
great exertion, that wc succeeded in hauling to land. Tie
little fishes swarmed in thousands, but chiefly managed to
escape, through the large meshes and rents. 13ut the
larger fry were not so fortunate, for we contrived to cap-
ture eighty-two splendid salmon, many of them more than
thirty-five pounds in weight, and none less than ten. We
threw them up on the bank behind us, which was probably
five feet in height, perpendicular from the water's edge.

ivcd the
he influx
fdi still a
lull fish,
I hog and
1 a small
scattered
a mile or
not very
very pre-

urpose of
ed seine,
1 thrown
summer,
urrow the
»rtune for
I's, whom

Qg two of

le mouth
3 a sweep,
daily col-
ncreased,
)y dint of
nd. Tie
in aged to
liut the
d to cap-
II ore than
:en. We
I probably
ir's edge.

HA.MBLINUS IN CALIfUKMA.

1G9

And after the fatiguing exercise— that had only occupied
about twenty minutes liowevcr — we sat down on the beach
to rest, and congratulated each other on our good fortune.

The Kentuckian i)roposcd that we should go into the
curing business at once, by drying the lish in the sun, and
then sending them to the mines in Tuolumne or Stanislaus ;
and the aole way that he looted the sum total up, reckon-
ing 240 per hour— 12 hours to the day, and 25 cents per
pound — showed that he knew something of the primary
rules of arithmetic at least. J3ut we were suddenly inter-
rupted, in the midst of our castle building, by the mangled
remains of a fish, that tumbled over the bank, on our heads,
accompanied by a squeak, and the sound of a scuffle.

We were soon on the bank, and such a scene of carnaoe.
it never was my fortune to witness. More than three
hundred hogs had scented their prey, from afar, and
pounced on the salmon like a hurricane. Hungry as
death, they tore the lish asunder, while still wriggling in
their jaws, and bit and mangled each other savagely, in
the madness of their excitement. All attempts to drive
them off, were ridiculous and unavailing, and it was only
by much exertion and strong fighting, that we succeeded
in rescuing four from their clutches, for our own consump-
tion ; these we cleaned and hung up in the sun, for future
use, reserving one for present purposes, and with the as-
sistance of some butter and potatoes, that we procured at
the ranch, we made a most appetising meal.

Next day, we struck out for the Tuolumne river, which
still lay between us and the mountains. This is a Uiuch
more fertile country, than that we pa.sscd through on the
preceding day; the interval or bottom land as it is
termed in the West, extends to a much greater width on

170

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

1^1

• \.

tho banks of the streams, and the intermediate portion,
has a heavier soil, and produces spoutarn (-u is in srreater
abundance. We reached the river 1 >ioic' n!},hlfall, en-
countering nothing worthy of record ; and the succeeding
afternoon, commenced the ascent of the foot hills of the
Sierra Nevada; the increased number of roads and trails
in every direction, plainly informing us of our neiirhbor-
hood to the land, " Out of whose hills, thou mayst dig
brass."

This evening, wc were much puzzled at one point,
to find the right road leading to the place we had intended
for our destination ; and we consequently diverged slightly
towards a ranch house we saw, for the purpose of making
the necessary inquiries. The building itself, attested the
nationality of its owner. Two substantial log houses
under one roof, with the intermediate space, floored, but
not closed in at the sides ; with a more unpretending
structure, about twenty paces ofi*, proclaimed the dwelling
house of the Texian, together with the pen for his " ser-
vants." A very corpulent negro wench, of matronly
appearance, sat at the door plucking a goose ; and beside
her — with his hands stuck firmly in his pockets — was her
wooly patcd son, I presume, aged probably eighteen years.
He was watching, at the moment, with a very enthusiastic
eye, a cat fight ; the animals being attached to each other
by the tails, and then thrown over a clothes line, suspended
a few feet from the ground. He was making a violent
effort to appear unconcerned, by striving to pucker his
thick lips into a whistle, but it would not do, for the young
Sambo's eyes exhibited unequivocal signs of satisfaction,
despite his demure face ; although he had only been the
instrument in getting up this pretty pastime, for the ex-

»M

RAMBLINC.S IN CALIFORNIA.

171

press Himisemeiit of young massa— a red haired, freckle
faced imp of eight or ten— whose happiness appeared com-
plete.

I propounded the necessary interrogatories to the young
negroj respecting our dilemma, and while he was endeav-
oring to enligliten me, making confusion more confounded,
with one saucer eye on me, and one on the feline combat, a
huge burly personage, some fifty years old— with his short
.sandy hair combed straight over his eye brows, making
his forehead villainously low— emerged from the middle
porch, and strutting right up to where I stood, opened the
conversation himself.

''Oh, stranger .' yeour from the east, I reckon."

I made him a polite negative to this iniiuiry — though I
knew well what he meant— by informing him, that I was
last from Santa Cruz.

'' Oh ! blast Santa Cruz !" said he, " I s'pose yeou was
raised somewhar, warn't you ?"

" Yes," I replied, " born to the eastward of this, most
certainly."

"Wal," he exclaimed, "yeou have, mayhap, heern
tell, that Scriptur' says, the wise men conie from tharaway,
and ef so be, the folks raised thar, air so darned wise, why
they've got gumption tu, an. ef they've got gumption,
they mought, sartin, be coaxed to take a hint ; an' ef they
will take a hint, yeou'll oblege me, by tellin all the blue
bellies yeou can skear up, not to meddle no how with a
free Texian, or say one sylahle to his property, anyhows
or anywhere's ; for by ./ce-hosaphat, I'd a leetie raither
let daylight into a whinin, cantin, paper-faced abolitionist,
than kick a cussed, lazy, wooly-headcd ni2<jer!"

And suiting the action to the word, ho applied his

172

RA.MHLIiNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

if
I -

ample cowhide boot to the property in que.stion, a poste-
riori, and hmdctl him most suddenly and unexpectedly,
on the tub of teatliers, which his mammy had just care-
fully lille<l, this he inverted aloD<^with his maternal parent,
and amidst the bellowing of boMi, the curses of the incensed
owner, and the cloud of down scattered by the wind, I
made my escape, without ac(|uiring the information I
sought.

We found the road ourselves, without much difficulty,
and in two days more, were busy in prospecting a bar on
the Stanislaus ; but as that opens new scenes and associa-
tions, not properly belonging to the objects of this sketch,
I shall here conclude my " Trip to the Southern xMines.''

AN OIIATION.

:i*'

For a few mouths prior to the election of President
Pierce, the sole occupation of a large portion of the peo-
ple was electioneering. 3Ioncy and time were squandered
in profusion by both parties ; and no stone was left un-
turned to encourage the vacillating, or to intimidate them
as the case might be. Paid, and unpaid orators, har-
rungn.-d each night in the streets of the cities, and even
in the smallest villages, to attentive crowds. Transpa-
rencies, with patriotic sentiments, paraded every thorough-
faro. Ephemeral newspapers, of Lilliputian dimensions
but high sounding tithes, such as " The Banner of Liberty,"
" The Jkilwark of the J3rave,'' " Freedom's Saviour," &c.,
rained over the country, and were perhaps paid for by
some one; and the established press, thundeied out (ie-

KA.MBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA

173

n postc-
pectedly,
just eare-
il parent,
incenyed

wind, I
ination I

lifHcuIty,
a bar on
I as.socia-
s sketch,
Mines.''

'resident
the peo-
uinderod
left un-
ite them
)rs, har-
md even
iVanspa-
loroujrh-
tensions
/iberty,"
IV," &e.,
I for by
out (ic-

nunciations ajjainst the one, and proportionate euhigi. .^ on
the other.

Every trifling action in the life of eithc p^' 'ate or
public, from the cradle to their present pL t ,.i, was
animadverted upon, in the strongest of ter;:is; .vid if one
tenth part of what was printed of either, wa. co.ruct, they
were both better fitted for the tender mercies of Jack
Ketch, than to grace the most exalted position, within the
gift of a powerful nation. It was certainly a great puzzle,
to penetrate the caui*e, which induced people to neglect
their private affairs so much, for the election of the Presi-
dent, particularly in California, The idea of them all
being office-seekers, was simply ridiculous, for independent
of their great numbers, some of the most enthusiastic
busy-bodies in the campaign were men to whom office was
worthless and inconvenient. Patriotism might perhaps
serve for a reason, but the hottest of these same politicians
would openly acknowledge, the inefficiency and uselessness
of their State government, as well as the general, to con-
trol the people of this State, either in punishing the guilty,
or protecting the innocent. But perhaps they acted on
the maxim of " Try, try again,'' and it may be, a shadowy
outline of some responsible system, already glared before
their excited fancies.

But be the cause as it may, all fought like heroes in the
service ; and it was really interesting to observe, that, in
spite of the lengthened apprenticeship to republicanism,
the ancient veneration for hereditary honors, has yet far
from become extinct, even here. Scott's ancestors, had
each a little biography of his own, for two hundred years
back, as giving him a sort of venerable right on the suf-
frages of the worthy people, who were earnestly implored

174

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

to " throw up their greasy caps/' fur this illustrious scion of
a Ion- line of glorious ancestors. But the Scottites slightly
overreached thems.ilves in this point, for the Piercites, fol-
lowing in their train, showed themselves more skilled in
genealogy, and carried us rearward to the days of the
wizard (Jlendowen, tracing back from son to sire, until
concentrated at last, in that mirror of ancient English
chivalry, the ill-fated, gallant Hotspur.
^ There was a great gathering of the Scott clans, held in
Sacramento one evening, outside a fancy saloon, gilded
like a parrot's ca re, and bearing the Spanish cognomen of
the Adobe; frou, the fact of its being built on the remains
of an old mud euitice, supposed to be the oldest in the
city. It has long since evaporated, with hundreds of its
neighbors, in the groat fires to which the place has been
so subject; but was, at the time I speak of, in all its
pristine freshness and glory. When I approached, an
orator was already on his legs, vexing the placid air of
night, witli a voice like a pair of bagpipes, his auditors
lining up the street on either side, within hearing of his
nasal pliillipics. I knew he must have been a remarka-
ble man, for the crowd applauded vastly, when he came
ti such words as— -Lone Star," "Our Flag," ''American
Ivigle," (.Ve. ^ but 1 liad lost much of tlio addre.ss by my
late arrival, and in fact, only arrived in good time for the
pororalioii, and hero it is, —

•■ And now, to conclude, felow citizens, [ want yeou
nothen more nor less, but to come up like what yeou are.
and what yeou'r knowed, and feered to be, over the whole
'varsal creation—///.^ ."^prycst, fhc cutest, and far mo<t
peowerful, and iVcest people on this everlastin almidity
globe; I want yeou, [ say, to come up like what I've pic-

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

175

tur'd yeou to be, and vote for tlie great presarver of this
blessed union — the hero of Churubusco, the con(juer()r of
Chihuahua, the keeper of the keys of Montezuma, the
great, the mighty General Scott. Of heroes, my friends,
he is the lone star of all, in fact the very top notch, and
ef yeou blind yeour eyes, and won't know it, why the
Europeans will, for they know it well, and kalkilate thar
motions by yeour'n. Don't yeou know that the nurses in
Rooshay, try to still thar squiillin brats, with repeatin his
name in full'/ Doesn't Boney even, found his hopes of
enslavin the French people, on yeour rejection of your
great general ? And doesn't the Britishers have no interest
in this all-powerful o'er-masterin subject ? Think yeou
gentlemen, that they have not thar eye on this great
country, now 't Aye ! and her emissaries are even
now in our midst. They envy us ; they hate us, but
most perticerly they fear us; for she already begins
tu know that we are the phwiiix that are to soar
aloft upon her ashes ; she begins tu feel, that her
ineasure of iniquity is full, and that our great Scott, if
elected— and most sartin he will— will be the means of
dashin' the pisened chalice from her polluted hands, so
that in the eiuphatie words of Holy Writ — <sheshant rule
over tlio nations no more.'

" Yes; even th;,t small, but proud female. Victory, is a
watchin' operations, is a watchin' the times from iier teower
m London, an' a shakin' in her white satin shoes, for fear
that you will not vote for Pierce, and why, i ask, should
she not ? Was it not Scott that humbled the proud Lion
in a hundred conflicts ? AVas it not him that stopped their
encroachments, in Mexico, and gained to the Union this
country, whose sands are gold. And was it not Scott that

176

HAMHMN(iS IN ('AI.IFOllNIA.

\J'

lit

(if

•ii!

*'f

■sent tlie British Lull Lack a rourin, with his tail atwixt
his lo.irs. iVoiii the bloody hattlc fields of New York ^ Let
niK-ient and lundern history ho hauled over, a)id Avhat will
it present y )Vhy, it will tell ye.,u of a (!esar. a Alexander,
and a Honey, that would have thrashed Wellinofon like a
sack, only for JJlueher an<l his Prooshians— })ut where will
you lind a .^cott r Whar's hin o.juals anion- the slaves of
earth's despots y Nor, turnin' to the l..n,o' eataloouo of
heroes, that font, and bled, and die<l, in a buildin' up the
fabric of this tremendous confederation, can we lind a lit
companion to tiiis, our present nation's pride and -lory.
To the rally, and the rescue then, Wliius ! and suj)port, to
a man, this greatest of the gieat, who alone of all the
proud names ycou can muster, is able, durin' oiu; tarni of
office, to bring the hull might of com})incd JOuropu, a.
crouchin' at your indignant feet.

" //r never got sick upon the lield ..f battle, and keeled
over from his horse, wiien 8anty Anny was a coinin' down
upon him, with his murderin' niggers, IJut it u-ns him,
that sent them and their paper cigars a flyin', like corn-
stalks and undjrellars in a lively hurricane. And I'll tell
yeou wliat, my friends, a namin' no names, but hewnHiiof.
the man that presented the boy with a cent, to purchase a
stick of 'lasses candy. T say (.net; uiore to yeou, shove up
the man that will make the haughty, antifjuated aristocrats
of Kurope, cut thar very jug'Iars for spite, wheti they see
the sun (.f liberty a mountin' in the west, and a spreadin'
his alkilliu' rays over thar benighted lands. For the time
is a sure comin', when, if we have this great con(]ueror at
our head, the broad folds of the stars and stripes shall float
gracefully over the Kramlin of Moscow, and an Amer'kin
army shall march in good order over London bridge, to
the Soul inspirin' notes of Yankee Doodle."

Ill atwixt

Let

.- V

Avliat will
lexaiulcr,
oil like a
vliero will
slaves of
iiloiiuo of
i' U}) the
liiul a lit
id -lory.
ij)port, to
)f all the
! tarin of
lurope, a.

d keeled
ill' down
('({s hi in,
ke corn-
1 I'll tell
was no/
rchase a
diove up
is too rats
they see
prcadin'
the time
ueror at
hall float
iner'kin
idge, to

RAMT{MN<]S IN CALIFORNFA

177

Justus this delij^htful vision vras pictured so graeefully
to the admiring patriots, the fire-bells clanf^od from every
engine-house, and scattered them pell-mell, eacli to his
own location, or, 1 do verily believe, he would soon have
had the meek-eyed moon herself, branded with the [J. H.
It afterwards transpired, that tlie alarm was merely a rase,
got up by the loco focos for tlie purpose, who dreaded the
sledge-hammer effects of the orator's ek)quenee, on the
sympathising hearts of the people.

THE surgeon's ride.

He was a prominent member of our company (which
was denominated the " Eureka," jnir ixaJhrnce, although
we rarely found aught but good appetites and lame backs
about sundown.) His name was unknown, but we called
him Sawbones; for he was an M. I)., and held a paper
which he often showed, and called a diploma. He was
one of those vast shoals of doctors, annually manufactured
in some of tlie States, and then thrown helplessly upon
an unpitying world; half educated, but tho.'oughly licensed
to kill or be kilhMl. Althougli a tender fledgling, he was
constitutionally fond of his ease, and heavy potations were
his weakness. The latter he gave as hi v<>nson for rarely
volunteering his services to ])rocure provisl. is from the
nearest grocery, which was six or seven miles from our
camp; and as this road was a part", '"V dreary walk, being
unfortunately neitlur planked Jiui macadamized, a foot
journey was eciually distasteful to all of the party. The
purchase of a stalwart horse was, therefore, the result of

178

RAMBLIN(iS IN CALIFORNIA.

. Si

our cogitations on this important subject, who was hir<;c
cnougli, to be sure, although Jiis prici; appeared very sus-
piciously small. Ilis name was '' IJoneyj" but whether
this title was an a])breviati()n, commemorative of the little
corporal of Marengo, or from its bearing a direct allusion
to llic (juantity of ossified matter contained in his system,
must forever remain a mystery. Certain it is, that bones
might correctly be said to represent his leading feature, so
prominent they were, and so gigantic. This framework
was tightly covered with an uncomfortable looking hide
and the capacious regions enca-^ed by it had been the
bourne of innumerable barley-lields, at ten cents per pound.
But no doubt existing about his being " all horse," and
as he was not procured for the sake of beauty, or for any
particular benevolent designs cherished for him by his
buyers, his capacity as a bearer of our burthens was shortly
tested, without ceremony or respect for his gray hairs.

Mr. Sawbones discovered immediately, by intuition, that
some tom-iron was indispen.sably requisite, in order to
develop more fully the resources of the Eureka company,
and he handsomely tendered his services to procure it from
tiie aforesaid grocery, with the assistance of Bon(>y. liis
gracious ofier was vi' course accepted, and a great many
other important comniissions w«!re entrusted to his charo-e.
Among the heterogeneous items to he jtrocured were the
following, to wit : one cwt. of flour, a (juantity of red paint
molasses, butter, colfee, itc, with six pounds of nails, and
a tea kettle; the whole of vrliich would comprise a heav}
pack of itself, and the courier departed ainid,-t general
good wishes, with a clcnin sliirt and a smiling countenance.

Alas ! mucli may be comprised in the journey of a day.
The sun — as he always does — luounttHl to the meridian.

• f

IIAMKLINOS IN TALIFORNIA.

179

was largo
very sus-
; whotlicr
tlic little
t allusion
is system,
hat bones
eature, so
raniework
nn<;' hide
been the
er pound.
fse," and
r for any
in by his
as sliortly
hairs,
tion, that
order to
company,
le it from
ey. His
oat many
s charfice.
were the
red paint
lails, and
.' a hoav}
: j^enoral
itenanee.
uf a day,
meridian,

and his declining rays lit the weary miners to their lowly
cots. ]3ut a gap was in the circle— Sawbones, where was
he 'i' Echo iK.r anything else made reply, vhio darkness,
coupled with a heavy rain storm, do -d over flood and
field. In our disn)al, lealcy cabi ,, \irk forebodings br-an
to beha/.anled— not only concon ..:,■ on,- own fate, but of
the unfortunate nie.-senger, an<l the ugly beast that bore
him company; and I shanu> to say it, ami bl.ish wImIc [
J write, nearly all .mr sympathy was expcmled on the

latter,

dust at dawn the ri.lerless steed was foun.l at tlie door
in a very unenviable pickle. Xature, J had lliou-ht in
one of her <,uaintest freaks, had done her worst for him
long since, but the illustriou.< mare of (,)uixotte might as
well ape IJueepJiMlus, as the present shajM'less thing attempt
to vie with the sprightly animal that eoeked his tail .so
jocundly on the j.revious morning. Still, it was he; there
was no forgetting that Roman nose, ami those great'anatu-
mieal eorners for whieh he was ,so f.mous. Ifis limj.ing
legs wer.> encrusted with mud, and the ensanuuined si-n
of despair was on his bridle; his whole body was parti-
coIohmI as the map of Hurope, an<l he hung his classical
head and droo])ed his tail with slianic aiul agoiiv. After
a earefu! analysis „f ih,; various rainbow tints with wliieh
ho was adorned, the groundwork was decided to eoiisivf ,,f
-^uperfine flour, at ninety cents per pound, ami (he remain-
der a nuMlhy compound of unknown proportions .,f red
paint, molasses, butter, gnmn.l <,,f]'ee, Sec, (he whole
formin;.; .piire an expensive pieture, though a very eoarsa
daub. The lidless amd pipdess kettle, whieh eont-.ined a
tew nails, still <-lnng to the saddle's apolouv, its battened
-^ides mutely elo,^uent of the fearful ordeaJ it liad },a-ed •

180

RAMBLINffS IN CALIFORNIA.

'■'f

but, worthless as it was, it formed the silken clow by which
we hoped to track the courser's flijj^ht, and trusted to find
at least the last sad relics of the luckless practitioner.
Nail following; nail, as they had bounded from their recep-
tacle, guided our search, and fragments of the wreck
strewed along, gradually prepared us for the horrible
tragedy ; and on entering an abrupt defile, about three
miles from camp, we were at once put in possession of all
the circumstances relative to the disaster. Sawbones was
discovered in a recumbent position, and still breathed j
indeed, after a hearty shake, he slowly arose, when wc
discovered to our amazement that he was (juite sound, and
on being begged to explain, he ingenuously unbosomed
himself.

On his arrival at the store, he met with many congenial
spirits — for members of the faculty Avere at that time
much plentier than patients — and had, as was usual with
him, imbibed an unlimited number of whiskey cocktails,
and then proceeded to got his order filled, w^hich was
promptly done. It then occurred to his frugal mind that
wood was also required in the construction of a tom, and
he procured one hundred feet of bonrds, whieh he lashed
on the back of the alrcadv loaded beast, and then com-
menccd his homeward journey. But the Monongahela
sadly bothered hiui, and the road was soon lost ; he then
determined, as a (hr)iirr rc^m-f, to nn»unt IJoney, trusting
to his sagacity and propensity for ])arley as tlie surest
method of finding his mountain home. Now, be it known,
that Honey's appearance was a precise index to ))is char-
acter, which had always been as wormwood, from colthood;
and old age, joined to the vicissitudes of a mining career,
had by no means tended to sweeten his temper. Me had

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

181

by which
cd to find
ictitiouer.
eir recep-
he wreck
horrible
out three
don of all
bones was
breathed j
when we
oimd, and
nbosomed

congenial
that time
isual with
cocktails,
'hich was
mind that
torn, and
he lashed
then coin-
nongahela
; he then
', trusting
lie surest
it known,
> 1)is char-
colthood ;
ng career,
He had

already manifested his disgust to the general proceedings
by sundry kicks and attempted bites, but this climax of
injury was unendurable, and the ''Little Corporal" at
once proceeded to resist the Allies. The last reminiscence
of the disciple of Oaicn were: in the first place an ex-
tremely elevated position, succeeded by the reverse, and a
sound nap, from which we were the lir.-^t to arouse him.

This was thc/i,ia/r' to our medical friend's gold seeking
career. No persuasions could induce him to return, and
he be(|ueathed his claim to the company, as an e(|uivalent
for §200 consumed by his '' little spree."

I have not since heard of him, unless my suspicions be
correct, that I encountered him lately on the wharf in
San Francisco, in the capacity of a hotel runner. He was
at the moment employed in enlarging on the delicacies of
his employer's larder, and depreciating that of his rival
by dark insinuations of cold dry-hash being served up
twenty-one times per week.

JOE.

And shall I banish thee from the recollection of those
memorable days, my honest, gentle, little Joe ? Should I
so far do injustice to thy memory, well might my nights
of slumber in after years, be disturbed by a reproachful
vision of thy (juaint four-feet-uine ligure, snugly appareled
in butternut-dyed garments, from the loom of the thrifty
helpmate, on the banks of the distant Ohio; and thy half
sad, half comical features, anxious and energetic, would
recall nw to a portion uf my duty yet utifuldlled.

ls2

HAMBLIN<}S IN CALIFORNIA.

My lirst ao<(a;iiiitancc with liiiii, occurred in a small
mining; camp in tlio county Tuolumiu!, of which locality
he had been a resident fur more than nine months, prior
to my own arrival. He had not yet attained liis majority,
but was already the protector of a wife and son, in one of
the wc.^^tern states; and his features displayed that sub-
dued and care worn expression, so often set down by the
enemies of the sex, as ilic unfailinii' tjpe of heiipeckinti' ;
and, to say the truth, a dauuerreotype which Ik' much
treasured, displaying the ample bust and eommanding fea-
tures of his buxom better half, served in no way to disprove
the repcjrts, of his submission to a protracted system of
petticoat li-ovennnent. Ik this as it niiji,ht, his search for
i^old — lik(i tliousands of others — had been a vain oiu', and
his bad luck, united to his eccentric system of labor, was
a standinj^ jest to each lazy lounger of the grocery ; and
harsh witticisms, touching his mortgaged corn patch at
home, and the iron rule of his gigantic partner, were bro-
ken unfeelingly, in the presence of the inoflensivc little
man.

doe, hov/ever, appeared to pay no attention to their im-
pertinent inuendoes; he persevered industriously in his
avocation as a diggei', injured no one, and calmly sank his
shafts. His plan of labor, which he had strictly attached
himself to, during his whole residence in the camp, was
the most exciting, yet riskey, of any to which a miner can
possibly apply himself. Ho could always, by working in
the ravines, make small but constant wages, and thus, by
frugality and ^ dustry, eventually save money — but he
had niuch ambition, and he \vell knew, that the deep dig-
irinss, although on the average presenting a dangerous
lottery, were the ones in which the largest strikes were

a small
L locality
-lis, prior
uajority,
n one of
hat sub-
11 by the
[tcckiiiu' ;
K' much
diug-fea-
tlisprovo
y.stcm of
earcli for
one, and
ibor, was
;vy; and
patch at
ivcre bro-
ive little

their im-
y in his
sank his
attached
imp, wavS
liner can
)rking in
thus, by
—but he
leep dig-
angerous
ves we re

RA.MBLI\(i8 IN CALlFuHMA.

1S3

chiefly made; and he had, roasoning therefrom, come to
the determination, of consecrating a year to the speculative
fortunes of a prospecter.

i':ach d:!y, regularly, ;is the sun lirst gilded the massive
eastern brow of the Ta])le mountain, might his unobtrusive
form be seen, treading his way amid the huge holders
of scoria, that lay thickly over the wliuje district, ;is thev
had rolled down in the marcli of time, I'rum tlie mountain
summit— stooping beneath the weight of his pick and
shovel on one shoulder, and his pan supported beneath the
opposite arm ; his meek eyes bent upon the p;ith, beaten
by his own constant footsteps, :ind his mind no doubt re-
calling past scenes of his distant home. At the time I
saw him, more tlian thirty holes had been sunk to the
ledge, but as yet the proceeds had barely sufficed, to pur-
chase for him life's necessaries. Hut still he toiled, through
wind and rain, or scorching sun, as the seasons rolled on
in their relentless course, and gradually the well worn
butternuts exhibited unequivocal symptoms of decay ; for
dark patches of a foreign color and material, already de-
faced the original well-grounded dye.

The last shovelful of the forty-fifth shaft, left him some
dollars in arrears at the store, on a Saturday evening, and
another three weeks would complete his term of probation.
With astonishing pertinacity, he commenced a new one on
the succeeding Monday, and on the same day at noon was
master of 8500. The long wished for lead had been at
length found, jind in four weeks )nore he departed for
his home, with a purse of 812,000~leaving, with charac-
teristic generosity, -S50 with a surgeon, to set the broken
leg of a good-for-n. .thing scamp, who had unceasinulv made
h-m the subject of his carse wit. Fiire thee well. Joseph \

18+

UAMBLINCJS IN CALIFORNIA.

And may thy bulky .spouse deal kindly by thee, and have
charity to all thy failinfrs, for much did you endure and
much accomplish, that you might give the lips you loved,
unborrowed bread.

• Vf

THE ALCTIONKKiJ.

8ix Hundred and Forty Hod Bar, on the lower portion of
a worn out river, had an evil reputation ; the place was,
besides, very unprepossessing in exterior, and not a whit
better than its looks would seem to imply. The gold was
so very fine, that it was scarcely perceptible, and its
proudest boast — for every camp has certain private annals
of its own — was of a famous individual yclept ilardbrcad,
who had, on one solitary occasion, according to tradition,
fallen foul of a pocket on the ledge, and had he not been
attacked with an unnatural fantasy to wash his shirt while
in the very spring-tide of good fortune, would actually
have acquired five dollars, between sun and sun. But
the story is wrapped in much myth, for, though I shame
to write it, the Six Hundred and Forty Rod Barrites were
much given to lying.

A generally unerring guide to judge the prosperity of a
milling camp is the store, and probably few scurvier depots
for merchandize ever existed, than the one that graced the
most commanding position on our bar. For a hundred
feet of a radius it was completely blocked up by a pcr^.ct
chevaux defrizc of empty boxes and barrels, superannuated
mining tools, and the leavings' of every broken minor who
had shaken of!' the dust of his foot airainst the ])lai'>j,

RAMHLINGS IN CALrFORNfA.

ISf)

ind have
Jure and
uu loved,

Portion of
laco was,
)t a whit
gold was

and its
te annals
irdbrcad,
tradition,
not been
lirt while

actually

\u. But

I shame

•ites were

crity of a
er depots
raced the
hundred
a pcr*^,ct
annuated
incr who
he ]>la<'0,

besides dirty hogs and dirtier, squalling, half naked
children, with bleached hair and projecting eyes. Now,
as all these trifling fixings were the reverse of nice, no
visitor in his rational senses, would be prepared to find a
boudoir in the main edifice itself, but here it was worse, if
possible. The hole was about twelve feet S(|uare and
accommodated the patriarch himself, his lean freckled-faced
wife, and the aforesaid pledges of their mutual affection.
It contained also a full supply of diggi.ig utensils, sour
flour, beechnut pork and new whiskey, all jumbled together
on the most methodical system of filthy confusion.

When I first met the lord and master of all this delec-
table property, I made an effort to rouse myself, feeling
almost persuaded that I labored under a hideous attack of
nightmare. I thought it might be a vision of Elshender
the recluse, or maybe the old man of the sea, but it was
actual bone and muscle, and that of the most substantial
description, as I was often convinced of afterwards, by
witnessing its effect, in chastising various delinquent
debtors. He had followed the occupation of mining for
nearly half a century, yet were his great square proportions
still well developed, and his gigantic strength unimpaired.
The bow-like form of his nether extremities, was occa-
sioned by four or five breaks, both arms had becm disjointed
and permitted to set themselves, and finally, a blow-up of
gunpowder had disarranged his features— if 1 may use tlie
term — promiscuously.

But all these personal defects did not appear to disturb
old Tom an atom ; he was remarkably industrious himself
and strange as it may appear, he was the means of inducing
others to follow his example, often under a penalty of
personal punishment. The reasons were obvious, we all

'/a

'^A.

** ^
c?^;

IMAGE EVALUATIOCJ
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

'" IIIIM i||M
If IM 1 22

12.0

i.25 illl 1.4

1.6

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

«^

w:^ 'w

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

V^ ^

186

RAMBLTNGS l.V CAJJFORNIA.

'\ !l

'V#

owed him money nearly, for hardly one in a dozen could
more than settle his weekly dues. Tom's usual course of
proceeding was this— when an unlucky wretch fell much
into debt, he was apt to be attacked with bashfulness, and
a disinclination to show himself at the store ; and in such
cases, the freckled faced fair one was despatched with the
bill and orders to tlie victim, eitlier to settle up on the
spot or to come and labor for his creditor. Non-compliance
with this ultimatum was surely followed by summary ejection
from the camp, while Tom coolly possessed himself of
tent, tools, claim and all things appertaining thereto,
without the smallest consultation of either Blackstone or
Lynch.

For some 'weeks' time had gone on with me in mono-
tonous poverty, and gradually the dreaded ultimatum
lowered blacker and blacker in the horizon. One evening
about sundown, while plodding homeward tired and dis"
consolate, carrying the proceeds of a day's labour,
comprised in the space of a spoonful of sand, I was attracted
by a crowd in the grand plaza of our town and the tones
of a .speaker, who with eloquent gesticulation and bell-like
lungs, appeared — in his own opinion at least— t(j be pound-
ing upon some subject of overwhelming import, to his
whole clay-covered audience, if not to the entire family of
man. Now I had often heard of conventions and caucuses,
and indignation meetings, and squatter riots, and all such
little ebullitions of popular feeling, characteristic of liberty
and this free country in particular; but as yet, I was only
one of the benighted, though burning with laudable
thirst for knowledge, so I also approached, and aided to
enlarge the number of attentive listeners.

Ife was an Eastern man, Connecticut was on his tongue

en could
course of
3II much
ricss, and
1 in such
with the
) on the
inpliance
■ ejection
inself of
thereto,
:stonc or

n mono-
tiniatuni
evening
and dis-
labour,
ittractod
he tones
bell-like
3 pound-
l, to his
aniily of
lucuses,
all such
'liberty
was only
audable
lided to

! tunnuo

RAMBLJNGS IN CALIFORNIA. ]87

and in every twinkle of his sharp g.ey eye; he was
crinkled, attenuated and dyspeptic, and to judge from his
exteriors, the world had gone hard with Jonathan. His
coat and nether garments of a snuff color, were ancient
and tender, his shoes were razee'd boots of an old pattern
and the breezes whispered lovingly through various aper^
tures in his venerable castor, which looked like a fossil
reminiscence of some pious pilgrim forefather. I thou^^ht
at hrst, as I approached, that he was some devoted street
preacher, and feared much for his apostolical success, but
on a closer survey of his intense shabbiness I partly settled
It in my mind, that he was exposing his wretched person
and seedy attire that he might attract the charity of the
weak. But all my surmises were at fault, he was an
Auctioneer ! The agent and representative of a powerful
company, that only required-as he expressed it-- the
sinners of war," to be launched wich, that they might be-
come Croesuses themselves, and the manufacturers of any
desired number of Ilothschilds; provided the candidates
for the company's tavor, only received his disinterested
advice, and hand out ungrudgingly.

He had, literally, a pocket full of rocks, that he ex
tracted so delicately from their capacious receptacle, they
nnght have been eggs, but we knew better for nich an
edible had never yet made its appearance on the bar. They
were all bonajide pieces of quartz rock, brought from the
ground for samples, and labelled to distinguish the repre-
sentative of each particular lead. The chairman-as he
called hin.self-of - The Grand Ophir Quartz Minino-
Company, ' then arranged these tastefully on the head of a
flour barrel, and with the aid of a cracked eye glass, that
had long since done service on the plains, in igniting

188

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

'■ . IM

ii i

pipes — he commenced a keen scrutiny on their respective
merits, that always concluded with an unlimited panegyric
on the untold wealth, contained in the rock bound bosom,
from whence they had been taken.

"And," said he, "only for these sinners, which we
must iraper'tively procure, sich a sacrifice would be even
beyond the philanthropy of the Grand Ophir Quartz
Mining Company. Now, gentlemen, I will expose to your
inspection, this here most lovely individual of the quartz
family ; it is number nineteen, from the Franklin Purse
lead ; and if ever there was r ginooine no mistake article,
kalkilated tu replenish the purse, and tu rejoice the bosoms
of our free people, it is here. You can't but observe,
gentlemen, by the assistance of this magnifying glass, how
deeply it is coated, encrusted and thoroughly impregnated,,
with the precious stuff. Du look, and jidge for yourselves ;
and how much du you bid, fur the sale is a parmtory one,
by express bye-law."

There being no response to his most earnest solicitations,
even after three-fourths of the poverty-stricken crowd,
had vainly examined the geological specimen, he offered
another, which he said had been a peculiar pet to the
company, and been dedicated on its first discovery to a
famous California character.

" It is called the Long Mary Lead, and long will the
lead endure to the spirited purchaser — who will find in
its deep recesses, a plentiful supply of that which we all
came here for."

This failing also to receive any bids, he tried others.
He had them in profusion, named from all the great men
in the country, from Washington to Walker, but still his
toil was useless, and his lungs began to fail him.

RAMBLINGS IX CALIFORNIA.

189

respective

panegyric

iud bosoni;.

which we
Id be even
ir Quartz
)se to jour
the quartz
:Iin Purse
ke article^
'he bosoms
t observe,
glass, how
pregnated,,
ourselves ;
itory one,

icitatious,
3u crowd,
lie offered
)et to the
)very to a

; will the
11 find in
ich we alt

;d others,
^reat men
it still his

Just at this time, a voice in the rear of the crowd ex--
claimed-" Hallo ! old Hardbread !" And the nam'e of
Hardbread was resounded from fifty different throats, for
he had become w. II known as an absconder, in the former
yeai, from the clutches of the relentless storekeeper. The
extreme diffidence and restraint of the recoonized auc-
tioneer, was summarily relieved, by the powerful grasp of
the injured Thomas himself, who approached and seized
him in his grasp of iron, the victini'.s coat partino. like a
cobweb in the first rough salute.

^^\h!ha!" said he, with the cliuckle of a Quilp,
'' How's your health Mist.r Hardbread? You've oau.bled
off your pocket on the ledge, have you ? And after
swindling me, you come back to suck in ; ,, customers, do
you, with stones you have picked up on the road, eh ? I've
a notion to hang them round y.mr neck, when I put you
in the dam. V'e atomy ! ye abortion ! Where's n,y beau-
tiful flr.ur, and my pork, my overalls, my picks, and my
pans? Oh! If ye were worth your beans, wouldn't I
strap a hundred pound boulder to your leg, and work you
like a mule for a year ? But it wouldn't "pay, for there's
nothing of ye, so I'll just chastise ye, and let ye go.

A handsaw was produced at his command, and applied
vigorously and relentlessly, with it flat side, on the stoop-
ing person of the culprit, on the system so much in vogue
among mariners, as a punishment to slovenly cooks. When
the cobbing process was through with, Tom twisted him
as though it was a kitten, on his shoulders, and waddled
off to the river, where he plunged him, hissing hot as he
was, with the advice, to make for the opposite shore direct
on pain of another application of the Shefiield manufacture'
"And,- concluded Tom, adding wanton insult to injury^

190

R\MBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

<< ye noedii't ptivticularly hurry yerself in crossing the riffle^
for there isn't the water in the ocean that could drown ye."
He was right this time, for the old proprietor of the pocket
on the ledge crossed in safety, after which he breathed out
a few vain threats, and disappeared down the ravine, for
parts unknown. Next day I was relieved from all present
inconvenience, and Six hundred and forty rod bar besides,
by the fortunate arrival of Hong Kong emigrants, Avho
purchased my right for a small sum, and thus enabled me
to square ac ;ounts, and proceed in the search of more
profitable diggings.

TOBIN.

''■f

Tobin was a fat lymphatic young man of twenty sum-
mers, with a large head, very unruly hair, and gifted with
an extraordinary appetite. He was a judge when I first
made his acquaintance, and practised law in the city of
San Francisco. As the manner in which he originally
obtained this high sounding title, was the same as th;' by
which numbers of others obtained it, and as it may periiaps
prove useful to those who thirst for the bubble honor, at a
moderate outlay of capital. I will recount it, for their
benefit, as I received it froni the lips of the lucky aspirant

himself.

For all that this county contains the largest amount of
wealth and population, of any in the State, the settle-
ments in the townships, outside the limits of the city, are,
in general, extremely limited, containing neither gold
nor a fruitful soil. A few days prior to the election of

the I'ifflcy
rown ye.'^
be pocket
jathed out
aviue, for
ill present
.r besides,
ants, Avho
labled me
I of more

■enty sum-
;ifted with
len I first
he city of
originally
as th; ' by
ay per naps
lioiior, at a
, for their
ky aspirant

amount of
the settle-
(i city, are,
(ither gold
election of

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

191

county officers, the candidate proceeds to one of these wild
townships, where a few Crusoes vegetate precariously, on
the sale of lirewood and shingles ; but being allowed by
the Constitution, the privilege of electing a magistrate,
the gentleman makes himself gracious, and by his per-
suasive elo(|uence, combined with a few gallons of liquor,
80 wins upon the hearts and sympathies of the free and
independent electors, that he is appointed unanimously to
the vacant post. He then ungratefully deserts his shingle-
weaving constituents, returns to his chamber in the city,
and ever after is respectfully addressed as Judge So-and-
so. Formerly indeed, they stretched their commission so
much, as to try cases on their return from this species of
wildcat election ; but the plan has been discontinued for
some time, chiefly through the envy of the magistrates
within the bounds of the corporation, so that at the present
time, the only advantage accruing from the outlay of so
much spirits, merely consists in a lasting title, par courtesy.
Tobin, it appeared, eventually got disgusted with red
tape, and when I next met him, he was, with myself, em-
ploying his talents in surveying the California coast, in the
service of government. This suiTey has occupied the
attention of the United States, ever since the acquisition
of the territory; and surveyors, under the direction of
officers from the engineer corps, have been constantly
placed at the most important points ; but what they have
achieved, as an equivalent for their heavy demands on the
public treasury, I have never yet been able to find out.
Our governor was amply provided with all the requisite
means and appliances. Provisions, wines, mathematical
and scientific instruments enough to pry into the most
hidden recesses of nature, tents, tools, teems, assistants,

si
f

192

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

and ready mouoy ; all of which comprised the cargo of a
small government vessel, employed for the purpose of
ministering to the necessities of our commander and his
followers.

The captain belonged to that time-honored class, known
throughout the length and breadth of the Union, and ir-
reverently denominated Old Fogeys, in contradistinction
to the spryer party, called Young America, and however
much they may be admired, by those under their imme-
diate control, it must still be allowed that they are rather
unprofitable nephews, to their illustrious uncle. He had
achieved laurels in Mexico by some means, but how they
pitched on him, for this present duty, it would be hard to
say ; for although sufficiently slow in discharge of his
duty, he failed much in the proverbial accompaniment of
sureness. All opinions with regard to his age, amounted
to mere conjecture, for his funny little black eyes, and
turn up nose, were alone visible of his features ; all else
was a mystery, a dreary wilderness of coarse black hair,
indignantly defying all impertinent interrogation. He
was short in stature, very ignorant and self opinionated,
and without more than the elenieiits of mathematical
kiiowledge, his headstrong conceit, and unscientific ma-
noeuvcring, eftectually precluded the least glimmering of
light, to shine through the impenetrable fog of his reports,
even with the hopeless exertions of his assistants.

]Jut, in sooth, the time wore on pleasantly enough, for
the cooks and California wages, were good; and in dry
weather, we mostly waited for rain to clear the atmosphere;
and when wet, we had to postpone our work until it dried.
So that the time was generally filled up both ways in
shooting, fishing, and an inordinate quantity of sleep. A

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

103

cargo of a
lurposc of
r and his

9S, known
n, and ir-
listlaction
1 however
eir imme-
ire rather
He had
how they
)c hard to
ge of his
niment of
amounted
eyes, and
:i ; all else
lack hair,
on. He
inionated,
hematical
itific ma-
niering of
is reports,
s.

uiigh, for
d in dry
uosphere;
I it dried.
I ways in
?lecp. A

peculiar characteristic of our fogey captain, was the tena-
city with which he contended for his own views, oven
after nature herself, had unmistakeably proved his hobby
to be a glaring absurdity. We had an excellent whale boat
for our use, in which we made various aciuatic excursions
around the beautifully sheltered, but shallow bay, upon
whose smiling banks, our la/y canvas village reposed; and
many a comical accident occurred from our soldier officer's
innocence, not only of nautical tactics, but of the simplest
natural results, familiar to most people from childhood.
For instance, one fine breezy morning, our boat close
hauled, and without ballast, we were dashing along in
magnificent style, our lee gunwale slightly dipping in^he
water, receiving it at intervals in bucketfuls. and giving a
bailer sufficient exercise to keep her free; the captain
beginning to feel rather nervous, and doubtless imagining
some nautical expedient requisite, in what he considered a
serious emergency, yet, too self-satisfied in his own
resources, to solicit advice, he proceeded to act in con-
sonance with his peculiar ideas in relation to ..latter and
motion.

I, at this crisis, was snugly ensconced in the weather
stern shoets, and in that dreamy forgetful mood, which
the monotonous pipe of the sea breeze is so apt to engen-
der ; when I was aroused, by a polite request from him,
to remove my person to the lee side, in order, as he said,
to adjust the specific gravity of the boat. One glance at
his eyes informed me that Ye was serious, and another to
leeward told me Avhat would be the inevitable result ; but
a clear pebbly bottom four or five feet deep, on a summer
morning was no way distasteful to me, particularly when
fun was attached to it, so I promptly obeyed, with aa

fill

> 1

194

RA.MBLINOS IN CALIFOHNIA.

heavy a sway as possible. Ah I expected, the bout tilled
at once, and wo soon found ourselves nearly to the neck in
the little billows. Our hero bellowed most lustily for help,
as his short stature <i^uve the briny element rather un-
pleasant access to his stomach. The assistance was given,
and we safely landed him, after an hour's thorouj^h soak-
ing ; yet, strange enough, on the very next day, he gave
a still more ridiculous order; for having discovered, when
about a league from land, some water remaining in the
bottom of the boat, he solemnly commanded one of the
rowers to withdraw the bottom plug, for the purpose of
draining her I The man's refusal to comply, nearly caused
a mutiny, but we were all obliged to side with him, for
this would most probably liave been attended with more
disastrous consequences, than the former proceeding.

What a higglety pigglety mess of triaiKjulation, did wc
make upou that coast? Bluffs substituted for sand spits,
and pretty little islands witli trees on them, placed in
suitable positions, in order to fill up the landscape agreea-
bly. But then the cliaiate is not subject to tempests, and
should a vessel get ashore — as she surely must, if she de-
pend upon our charts— she may, with some expense, be
extricated, without having her brains knocked out, but a
little premium on insurance, would undoubtedly be a safe
investment to traders in these waters.

Tobiii and I shortly united ourselves to another^ party
further up the coast, where wc employed ourselves in the
k'zy occupation of watching the tides rise and fall, by a
graded staff. Many an hour wc passed in the little build-
in", like a sentry box, which was erected on two strong
sticks of timber, that projected from the steep rock, eter-
nally beat by the long rollers of the ocean. The staff

UA.Vni.INOS JN CALIFORNIA.

195

bout tilled
le neck in
V for help,
•ather un-
*va.s given,
)ugh soak-
', he gave
red, when
ng in the
ne of the
)urpose of
rly caused
I hi 111, for
with more
ding.

■jn^ did we
<and spits,
placed io
pe agreea-
pests, and
if she de-
;pense, be
out, but a
' be a safe

:her party
^es in the
fall, by a
ittle build-
;wo strong
rock, eter-
The staff

was attached to a float, and enclosed in a long box, like a
spout, with a small hole in the bottom, that admitted the
tide as it rose, without being aftected by the rush of the
sea; and our duty was to note in a small book, hourly, the
height of the water as delineated on the stall". Tobin
was extremely awkward and incorrect in his observations;
and, only that no substitute could be procured within two
hundred miles, the commanding ofHcer would undoubtedly
have dispensed with his services at short notice. He
would take to his retreat a Spanish grammar, and when
deep in the mysteries of the verbs, would altogether for-
get his present duty, and allow the period for noting the
figures to pass, thus bringing confusion on the whole table.
But it was found better to allow him his book, for when
deprived of it, he comfortably betook himself to slumber,
during the whole six hours of his watch.

A few days previous to our departure for another dis-
trict, we had all our tents removed to a point on the
beach, about two miles from the staff, where it was acces-
sible by the boats of the steamer, that made transient
calls, at rare intervals ; and the watching proce.s.j was a
particularly dreary affair, particularly at night time, for
there was no habitation nearer than ten miles off, except-
ing our one little camp upon the beach. I arrived one
morning about six o'clock, from the camp, for the purpose
of relieving my co-worker, who had kept the watch from
the previous midnight, and who generally at this time
was quite ready for his breakfast ; for eating was the only
occupation he preferred to studying Castilian. A small
platform of plank, had been placed among the rocks in
front of the sentry box, for the purpose of a promenade,
when our cramped limbs required relief, and upon placing

100

UAMItlJNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

my foot upon it this morniriir, I was horrified to nr tico it
«mcaro(l from oiid to end, with ^'oiits of hlood and hraiu.s,
the door closed, and the stillness of (h'ath on everything,
breathless with the fear of some dreadful eatastroplie, 1
cautiously pushed tlu; door ajar, and perceived To))in
squatted in the corner, his face, arms, and chest, crusted
over with blood, and perfectly naked from the waist up-
ward. To my first hurried (|uesti()ris lu; mcndy replied,
by pointini;- with his flnj^or to the ttpposite corner, where,
stark and still' lay the massive proportions of a California
lion, with its head completely beaten to a jelly, and n(>arly
filliu->- up the half of the house. Tobiu was unable to
move, and hardly able to speak ; I was therefore obliged
to return to camp fur assistance, and we soon had him
home, his W(mnds examined — which were all superficial —
and the story of his prowess related, as soon as ho was
capable of speaking v/ith fluency.

About an hour previous to my arrival, and whih; day
had just dawned, he was sitting on the bench reading by
a lamplight, when he thought he heard a 8tep upon the
platform. Surprised at such an early visit, he incautiously
opened the door, and found himself close, and face to face
with the lion. Now, Tobin, although as arrant a coward
as ever breathed, was remarkably gifted with clum.sy
strength ; and like many others of his calibre, would fight
!ike H hero, when retreat was impossible, as in the present
instance. The savage beast bounded on him as soon as it
perceived him, and he had just sufficient time to drop his
grammar, and grapple it by the throat in the first embrace.
For a quarter of an hour the deadly fight continued, and
for all the agile body of the wild animal, threw him round
in every pos.sible direction, breaking the staff to pieces, a

tif tico it
III (I l>raiii,s,
vorything.
•stroplio, 1
'cd Tobin
Mt, cruHtcd

wuiHt up-
\y replied,
or, whoro,
Ciilif'ortiia
ind ri(!arly
unable to
"c obliged

hiid him
)erficiul —
!iK he waH

vhil(! day
jading by

upon the
cautiously
uo to face

a coward

1 cluniHy
)uld fight
e prcHcnt
;oon a,s it

drop his
embrace,
ued, and
im round
piecos, a

KAMHMNUS IN CAMKOHNIA.

107

barometer, and variou.s other meteorological inntrumentu,
bcHidoH dragging him more than once to the very brow of
tho cliff, and ripping his flesh with itH long nharj) claws;
ho still contrived to maintain his desperate grip(! upon its
windpipe, and fairly managi'd to strangle it, eventually,
with no other arms than tlus extn'injdy awkward mms, that
nature had gifted him with. N«.t contented with his
vict((ry, when it lay a corpse at his feet, and wishing,
probably, to make assurance doubly sure, he proceeded to
uniko it (/xn/i r, by pounding th(> head to a mummy with
a larg<> ro(;k ; for which ne(!(|le,%s labor Ik; refH'ivcd some
<.'ensur((, to s(':is(MI the great praise his proW(^s,s had calhid
forth ; for the nnitilation (ilfcetually pr(!vent(;d tlu! stuffing
of the skin, and its exportation to the Smithsonian Insti-
tute at Washington.

A few months after this badle he was caslii(!r(M| (or
incompetentM;. The eommandid" olliccr in <'ivii!<f lijn,
advice for his future guidance, told him ho could not
think of ntainiiig hiin in n s(!rvic(" totiijjy uiisniird to
his talents.

" •''""'," >-iid he, " I am a faitlifu! believer in bumps,
;in(l the doctrine that ' lutthing is made in vain,' and
many a mglit have I lost my golden sleep, in vain .'pecu-
lations as to the caii.sc of your creation ; but,, /'Jinr/.a .' I
have got it, at last, (lo my l>oy, with iuy blessing, exer-
eise your gifts in that calling, l\,y which nature has
-;mphatically marked you out. Vou are a lion-slayer 1 go
on, and prosper in your carccir— and you will, doubtlcHh,
yet attain an honorable corner in tin; nielu! of fame."

'i'obm bade us a melancholy adieu, carrying his ward-
robe uiuler his arm, which consisted of his grammar and a
tooth brush, rolled carefully up in a seedy shooting jacket.

Si .

108

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

Fill

\\'

.V#

and notwithstanding the confidence with whirh the cap-
tain had expressed himself touching his sure success as a
hunter, I had much fear that he would yet encounter dis-
tress ; for like the Italian beggar, laziness was a chronic
disease with him, and his clumsy unbusiness-like exterior,
was extremely detrimental to his probable success, in any
mercantile or literary employment.

Just one year from this, I again encountered my old
friend, in the cabin of a coasting steamer^ and if ever a
man might be said to have shed the old hair, in the com-
pletest style, tltat man was Tobin 1 lie was attired in
faultless black, his thick fingers clogged with precious
rings, and his front adorned with gold chains and brooches
innumerable. Hanging affectionately upon his arm, was
the loveliest little pet of a Spanish woman imaginable, to
whom with a proud and well satisfied air, he introduced
mo. She was his v/ife, aye, actually Mrs. Tobin, was
that sweet little Signora. In a country like this, where
the coarsest of Eve's daughters, may make her choice
among tlie gveatest in the land, ai)d superciliously reject
the very flower of the lords of the creation, this hump-
backed, useless creature, had won one of thu fairest and
richest liciresses, among the landed proprietors of the
State.

He had (juietly marked out the beautifid Isabella long
before, during a temporary halt at a rich ranchero's cam,
in one of our surveying excursions, and mentally resolved
to ac((uire her musical language, that he might woo and
win her, and it was for this object alone that he had con-
sumed so much midnight oil in the lonely tide-house.
"But," concluded he, "my knowledge of the language
would have been insufficient of itself, to bring matters to

K the cap-
iiccess as a
ounter dis-
! a chronic
cc exterior,
ess, in any

ed my old

I if ever a

II the com-
attircd in

h precious
id brooches
s arm, was
i^itiablc, to
introduced
robin, was
his, wliere
her choice
lusly reject
:his hump-
fairest and
)rs of the

il)elUi loni;

IlAMiJLTNOS IN CALIFORNIA.

109

ero s ca)ia

ly resolved
it woo and
e had con-
tido-housc.
[1 language
matters to

a successful issue, had I not gently intimated by reputa-
ble witnesses, that 1 was a judge ; for, one of the greatest
weaknesses of this people is their respect for titles ; and
besides the worthy pafbr of the young lady, no doubt
calculated on my connection with his family, i!s a sure
preventative to the encroachments of ' El squatteros dcs
los An-ericanos,' which I guess will be the case. It only
now remained to convert me to the true faith, and this
was happily accomplished in a twelve hour's sitting, with
a very good-natured, and accommodating priest. 8o, that,
I am now the sole proprietor of an excellent wife, nine
square leagues of a fat soil, and some thousand he:uls of
cattle and horses, branded with a ca -tal T."

THE VOVAGE.

Six or seven years ago, a trip to California, was a very
different affair in expense, consumption of time, and risk
of life and limb, to what the performance of the same feat
is at the present time. Of the three great routes, viz : —
the overland, directly across the continent, the long ocean
voyage around Cape Horn, and the way by the isthmus of
Darien or Panama; the latter, although ori'Jiially the
most dangerous of the three, has gradually gained ground
in the coniidence of the public, and is just now immeasur-
ably in advance of any, for speed, comfort, econcmiy, and
safety. The way across the plains at first, and even now,
presents itself in the brightest colors, to the settlers along
the banks of the Mississippi, and the vast regions watered

ic river. They possessed

!:i

by the tributaries of that gigant

'IJ

200

llAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

^' I

-i J

! -

I;'

«\|

the advantage oi' more tlian one-third of the continent in
the first instance over the eastern eniiarant, and besides u
land journey would bo hy no moans so distasteful to
people ac(iuaintod with no other moans of transport, and
possessing' by tradition a chronic horror of salt water.

The western, and more especially, the south-western,
farmer, collected toi;ether his flocks and his herds, his wag-
gons, his wife, liis little ones, and even his slaves, if he
possessed any, and calmly commenced a journey princi-
pally throut;'li a barren wilderness, peopled by hostile tribes
of savages, warlike and cruel. Month after month, would
he pursue his way, often until six or eight had e:::pircd ;
his weary oattle worn to skin and bone, and perhaps the
whole of his family fallen victims to tlie relentless hate of
the aborigines, or the deadlier effects of fatigue and dis-
ease. Numbers of such instances have occurred annually,
yet still it is preferred by many tn the visionary terrors of
a sea voyage ; but it is not much patronized now, except
by the proprietors of cattle and horses, who often make
the trade lucrative, and many indeed follow it, as a regu-
lar employment, making annual trips, to purchase stock in
the cheap markets of Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, and
finally dispose of them in the higher marts of California
and Oregon.

This is the only course upon which no improvement has
been made ; fc. excepting at a few scattering posts, where
bad provisions are sold almost for their Avoight in gold,
the road is a natural one, and the main portion of the
country still in the possession of the wild Camanchcs,
Pawnees, and Sioux, Yet for all it has received so little
improvement by the great trade between the iVtlantic and
the Pacific, it is destined, eventually, — far above the

IlAMHLlXtiS TN CALIFORNIA.

201

)ntiucnt in
I besides u
tasteful to
isp(»rt, and
water,
h-western,
s, his wag-
aves, if he
cy princi-
stile tribes
itli, would
I e::;pired ;
erhaps the
ess hate of
}■ and dis-
l annually.

terrors of
DW, except
ften make

as a regu-
«e stock in
Fexas, and.

California

'cment has
ists, w^here
t in gold,
ion of the
[imanchcs,
)d so little
lantic and
ibove the

others — to receive tlie most; both from its directness,
and its forming a portion of the common territory. Tt i.s
highly probable that even during the late democratic ad-
ministration — antagonistic as the platform usually is to
internal improvement — assistance would have been granted
from the federal government, for the construction of a
railroad through this region, had not local jealousies be-
tween the different rival states, in expectation of benefits
to be derived therefrom, effectually prevented such a
desirable consummation. Tt can hardly be expected
though, that such a proverbially energetic people as the
Americans, will long permit party politics, and the thun-
derings of office-seeking demagogues, to divert the rich
traffic — still yearly on the increase — from their own native,
through a foreign soil, and three times the distance, in-
cluding a transfer of passengers and merchandise, from
ship to ship.

The great labor and expen.se of stowing and discharging
a cargo twice over, has, despite the desirable acquisition
of the Panama railroad, made the ocean way around the
southern extremity of the American continent, the fa-
vorite one still, to the shippers of heavy merchandise;
and the great improvement.':' in naval architecture, as
exemplified in the graceful and light proportions of the
new style of clipper .ships, aid niaterially in continuing it
as the most practical means of transport. And notwith-
standing that the distance is in the close neighborhood
of 15,000 miles, from New York to San Francisco, the
passage has been made in a less period than ninety days,
little more than one third of the average time consumed
in the transit by way of the desert and the territory of
Utah. Six or seven years ago a large portion of the Cali-

t.l

lis

,9'

202

KAMBLINCiS IN CALIFORNIA.

•!.#

fornia emigrants were conveyed in clippers, and they
principally arrived in the country safe, and in good liealth,
but the quicker passage by the Isthmus, though more ex-
posed to danger and sickness, has gradually monopolized
the entire passenger trade.

At the time I formed the determination of adding
myself to the countless and motley crowd of gold-seekera
who were pouring in, not only from civilized and enlight-
ened, but also from the barbarous nations of the earth,
the Chagres river was the main thoroughfare to the
Pacific, and on my arrival in New York, I found that the
berths in the expected steamors were monopolized for
at least two mouths to come. Now, as backing out of
a project ou the first rebuff, is not precisely my nature, I
hunted diligently around the wharves for some days, with
the hope of finding among the forest of masts some means
of conveyance to the promised land, and at length suc-
ceeded in making an arrangement with the master of
a fine little Yankee bark, who was bound on a voyage to
the port of Chagres, to convey our company — faur in all —
to the port jf his destination. We were soon comfortably
domiciled in the cabin of the vessel, and after a pleasant
run of a month, through the sunny Carribbean, and ob-
taining a splendid view of the black empire of Saint
Domingo, and the much coveted " gem of the Antilles,"
we hove in sight of the bamboo houses of Chagres.

A New York steamer had just arrived with passengers,
and the rush for the river boats wa3 tremendous ; but we,
along with some twenty others fortunately succeeded in
securing a boat to convey us as far as the river was navi-
gable, by paying a very exorbitant price. The first night
we encamped upon the beach, some fifteen miles up, where

, and they
^ood liealth,
:^li more ex-
nonopolizod

I of addin<^
c^old-scekera
uid cnliglit-
f the earth,
fare to the
ind that the
Dpolized for
king out of
ly nature, I
E3 days, with
some means
length suc-
! master of
a voyage to
'our in all —
comfortably
r a pleasant
!an, and ob-
re of 8uint
c Antilles,"
grcs.

1 passengers,
us ; but wc,
uccecded in
er was uavi-
le first night
23 up, where

RAMHLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

203

wc spent a rather sleepless night annoyed by the fear of
snakes and centipedes, and the heavy splashing of the
crocodiles in the river, hard by. The next day we accom-
plished another twenty miles, walking the entire way
through thick brambles, for so shallow was the river, that
our luggage alone was sufiicicnt cargo for the boat; and
at the conclusion of the third day, arrived at the terminus
(jf our river travel. The next day we made our cniree
into Panama, and although New York ajid Chagres were
sufficiently crowded with anxious en(juirers for a par.-age,
the excitement here was ten times more intense. Thou-
sands like ourselves failing in their object of obtaining
through tickets originally, had ventured thus far in
the vain hope that a vacancy would occur somewhere, and
that, perhaps, fortune might be more propitious to
them than to their neighbors, but instead of any such
means of progress presenting itself, thousands even of
those who actually covenanted for the through trip, were
obliged by scarcity of room, to remain for more than two
months, giving precedence to the early purchasers. More
than ten thousand strangers it was supposed were congre-
gated at this period, within the walls of this small and
unwholesome city, crowds of them too, were sick and
utterly penniless, foolishly depending on the chances of
workintjf their passauics, when hundreds of men familiar to
the sea from childhood were begging in the stret'ts. »Some
wild and adventurous sailors after laying in a small stock
of necessaries, proceeded on this long voyage through the
pathless ocean in open whale boats, and some of them
actually reached California by this fragile means of con-
veyance, but the greater number of those who attempted
it, either perished or were forced on the Mexican coast,

204

RA.MIJLINd.S IN' CALIFORNIA.

tliuugli the latter jilternative would be iiiuch preferable to
any, than a lengthened sojourn in this den of horrors, with
food only obtainable at famine prices, and pestilential as
the black hole at Calcutta. ,just at this time an extremely
bold trick was executed by a piratical craft, and the only
sailing vessel in the harbor. She was advertised to take
passengers to San Francisco, and soon had engaged more than
three hundred at a high rate. ]3ut the night previous to
her expected departure, the anchor was weighed and next
morning the dim tracery of her proportions was just visible
in the distant horizon as she took her course seaward
without a solitary pre-p ;id passenger on board. At last a
schooner arrived from "Valparaiso, bearing the high soun-
ding title of a Baltimore clipper. She was called " The
Imhdia Ilcrmosa;' anglicc. Beautiful Isabella, but except
in the name itself, it must have been a sharper eye than
mine to perceive the least particle of beauty about the
graceless little hulk. At what period the lovely Isabel
left the stocks might have been a query worthy the atten-
tion of an antiquary, for the form of her hull had the
peculiarity of no precise age, nor did her present rig cor-
respond to any recognized system of the present. She
was nearly tlat-bottomed, registering about ninety tons and
a small poop at one extremity, was the best guide by
which to discriminate the stem from the stern. She was
owned, manned and commanded by Italians, and a more
awkward boat, managed by a clumsier crew, I trust never
attempted to make an ocean passage. If she had been a
New Zealander's war canoe, however, she could have
no difficulty therein filling up with twice the passengers to
which she was legally authorized, and in just three days from
the time of her arrival she was ready for sea, with a com-

ferablo to
rors, with
ilcntial as
3xtrenicly

the only
d to take
more than
rcvious to
and next
ist visible
! seaward
At last a
igh soun-
3d " The
lit except
eye than
bout the
ly Isabel
he atten-

had the
: rig cor-
nt. She
tons and
>uide by
She was
l1 a more
ist never
i been a
i!d have
3ngers to
lays from
h a com-

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

205

plemcntin precisely that ratio, viz : 130 men and 7 women.
Great delay and confusion were experienced in convey-
ing us on board the vessel which lay about two miles away
in the offing, for the small boats with native rowers were
the only means, and the heavy breakers from the bay made
it a hazardous undertakincr. We had made an arrangement
with one boatman, but on our arrival at the beach we
found ourselves superseded by a party bound for the
steamer, which was also with ourselves just on the point
of sailing. Chafing with the disappointment our only
resource was patiently to await her return, but alas ! we
had to wait in vain. A spit of sand extending beneath
the water from a point had to be crossed with the object
of shortening the distance, and as the water was extremely
shallow, three heavy swells in succession broke over it at
intervals with extreme violence. Whether by neglect or
wrong calculation the boat passed the point precisely at
the most dangerous time. She lifted her stern gallantly
to the two first breakers, but the third, and by far the
heaviest one, made a complete pall for the boat and her
ill-fated passengers, every one of whom were swept into
eternity. What made the scene appear with additional
horror — at least in my eyes — was the cold-blooded indif-
ference shown by the surrounding crowds to the catastro-
phe, for although two boats were within at least one
hundred yards of the spot where the disaster occurred,
scarcely a look was cast in the direction of the drowning
men, and not the smallest effort at assistance, attempted
by any one. The waves rolled on relentlessly as before,
the other rowers continued at their occupations, and a few
scattered hats that floated on the disturbed water were
the last mementos of that lifc-freidited boat.

S 2

206

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

She was ({uito a Republican .ship, was the JuaU/ Her-
mosa, every one did nearly as he pleased on board, and
privilege was at a discount, but the worst feature in this
system was^ that one "gentleman's pleasure did not in all
instances correspond with his neighbor's precisely, and as
a consequence, several little lights occurred each day, cither
with fire arms or nature's arms. And unfortunately for the
cessation of hostilities, the principal weapons on board
were the Allan revolver, or pepper box; this instrument
was then comparatively a new invention, and few people
were aware of the dreadful power it possessed of continuing
a row for a month at a time, for although it would some-
times go ofi, sounding rcvolverish enough, I never yet
knew of an accident to occur from its use, even when the
shot was flying about like peas. It was most likely this
peculiar feature in the weapon that made our adventurers
so partial to sharp practice, no doubt wishing to habituate
themselves to stand fire, preparatory to the more serious
business with Colt's pistol, on their arrival in the El Do-
rado ] few were unprovided with two or three of these
articles, with a bowie knife in reserve, but the latter was
rarely applied to, except when the engagement became
really serious.

Our 130 men were divided into ten e((ual portions,
each forming precisely a baker's dozen, the odd man holding
the office of captain of tlic mess, and was elected daily.
Each individual was provided with a plate and a half pint
cup, made of tin, together with an iron spoon ; but as
many lost these useful utensils, through carelessness, and
had no delicacy in helping themselves from their neigh-
bors, whenever opportunity occurred for the perpetration
of the theft, great numbers had very shortly to perform

ibel Hcr-
3ard. and
e in this
lot in all
y, and as
ay, cither
ily for the
on board
istrunicnt
w people
>utinuiug
lid some-
icver yet
kvhcn the
ikcly this
venturers
habituate
c serious
e El Do-
of these
atter was
/ became

portions,
1 holdint^
xl daily,
half pint
; but as
less, and
r ncigh-
petration
perform

UAMBMNGS IN CALIFORNIA.

207

the nourishing,' process by the natural use of teeth and
claws. The eatables were of the simplest kind, and I must
do the chief manager the justice to say, that although he
was a native of Paris, and mvred with all the volubility of
a Frenchman, the cookery was by no moans complicated,
for, to the best of my knowledge, he never iiiflieted a
ragout or a kickshaw upon us, during the entire passage.
Our staple food consisted of yams and jerked beef, pro-
cured at Panama. The yam is a root, somewhat resembling
a coarse grained potato, and is familiar to most persons —
at least by repute— but the ''jerky," as we contemptuously
termed it at first, may rcciuire some little explanation.
The Spanish cattle are remarkably lank, raw}>oncd crea-
tures, wild as deer. They are invariably captured for the
butcher, by la^mimj^ and the calling of a vaquero^ as the
cowhuntcr is termed, re((uires great skill and experience
both in horsemanship and the use of ^the rictta or rope.
He proceeds upon a horse trained for the purpose, and
after selecting his animal from the herd, he commences to
run it down. After being exhausted by the chase, the
ereature at length stands at bay, and the vaquero cautiously
approaching, throws a noose with great precision over its
ample horns, often at a distance of twenty yards. The end
of the rietta is attached to the high horn of the saddle,
and the fatigued beast is submissively led to the shambles,
where it is soon butchered in the coarsest fashion, blood
rarely flowing to any extent, from the extreme heat of its
system engendered by its arduous hunt.

The flesh is cut from the bones, in tliin narrow strips ;
it is then thrown over a pale to dry in the sun, and finally
packed away in its own hide with some salt sprinkled
among it, the whole carcase thus forming a moderate load

^SBH^SMS^E^^aBti

208

RAMBLINQS TN CALIFORNIA.

for one man. In all the Spanish American towns, this is
the only description of cured meat manufactured, and a
yard stick is used in the retailers' shops, for precisely the
same purpose as we use scales and weights.

Now, I have no prejudice against the Spaniards. In
fact, I rather admire theni; for their politeness, their hos-
pitality, and their enjoyment of the luxury of ease, but
candor compels me to admit, that the institution of jerked
beef adds little to their favor in my eyes, for the recollec-
tion of its mastication gives me the toothache to the present
hour. It is not at all too palatable when taken fresh from
the pole, but sweltering in its leather case, beneath a
tropical sun, for months, sadly deteriorates from the original
flavor, even without the usual accompaniment of worms.
However, as we had nothing else particularly to occupy
our attention, we had plenty of time to chew, and the
exercise was perhaps rather salutary than otherwise, taking
up such an important portion of the day ; for the interme-
diate time was chiefly spent in quarreling with each other
in word!3, or the eternal exercise of the patent pistol.

Water and provisions had been laid in, on the estimate
that the passage would be performed in six weeks, but at
the end of a month we found ourselves just four hundred
miles on our course^ which left the remaining twenty-eight
hundred miles to be performed in two weeks. It had been
almost a dead calm for the whole period, and and we knew
not how long it might continue, yet at a council called by
the master, for the purpose of learning our wish, it was
agreed by tlie majority, that we should persevere in the
attempt to reach California without putting back, and
lengthen our time by reducing our rations one half. Then
was the time to try men's stomachs 1 The black putrid

RAMULINCS IN CALIFOHMA

209

s, this is
!d, aiul a
isely the

rds. In
heir hos-
sase, but
3f jerked
reeollec-
present
esh from
3neath a
; original
' worms.
) occupy
and the
e, taking
intcrme-
ch other
tol.

estimate
i, but at
hundred
ity-eight
had been
we knew
jailed by
3, it was
in the
,ck, and
'. Then
c putrid

water which had previously l)een despised, was now sought
alter with avidity, and became sweet and palatable, while
even the formerly despised >/•%, rose vastly in public esti-
mation, and its unsightly tripelike appearance gazed on
with admiration and respect. But thescarcity of water was
the greatest discomfort; even whiskey was at a discount with
the topers, when unaccompanied with the simpler element
and numy a quart of Otard's best brandy was reluctantly
spilled overboard, accompanied by many a sigh at the un-
congenial dilution, for the purpose of securing the bottle
to hold the daily pint ration of water.

The bottle was suspended around the neck of each, by a
cord, and remained there night and day, for should it be
left a moment in any other position, unwatched by the
proprietor, the contents would be unscrupulously swallowed
by the first thirsty soul who got his eye upon the treasure.
Our tempers, none of the sweetest previous to the scarcity,
became if possible more crabbed than ever, and a spirit of
contradiction and combativeness appeared to be nourished
in every breast. The hold was so very shallow and close,
that no one attempted to rest below, and in consequence,
the entire deck fore and aft, was covered with sleepers
each night, and so predominant is habit in the nature of
man, under any circumstances, that each one was to the
full as persistent in retaining his usual position on the dirty
deck, as ho would formerly have been with regard to his
chair at the family table. The right of first discovery was
chiefly allowed, although many a bloody nose was the effect
of a struggle for a coil of rope, or the greasy bilge of a
pork barrel ; for from the contumaciousness of some, who
persisted in lying in what form thoy pleased, many were
obliged to take their nightly slumbers in a sitting posture,

210

R.VMMLINC.S l\ ("ALlI-'OriNIA.

■

thcro not bcinf^ room for all to recline, unless >villin^c,' to
do tlio agreeable, by trying it spoon fashion. Oh, they
were a sweet set of savages, the Ilennosaitea ! And T have
often thought since, that the rotten old boat was only
saved from the winds and waves, on account of the number
on board, who were certainly born to be hanged.

For more than a week after the allowance system had
been established, we had fair fresh breezes from the south,
and made good progress during that time, fcjr even a hay
stack would sail before the wind, and our vcs.«-el was fully
a match for that. But as we ncared the gulf of California,
the raw north-west breeze so peculiar to that latitude,
forced us to ^ail on a wind for another week, beating back-
wards and forwards, without gaining an inch, until finally
the dissatisfaction became so great, it was determined to
bear up and make a fair wind for the harbor of xVeapulco
in Mexico, twelve hundred miles north-west from Panama,
at which place we arrived in fifty-two days from the time
of our departure.

Aeapulco is a beautiful, well sheltered liti^e harbor, easy
of entrance, and in an excellent position for a flourishing
trade, but the indolent inhabitants make but little use of
the advantages they possess. Its intermediate position on
the California route, together with its convenience to a rich
iidaud country for supplies, have made it a great coal n-.-
pot for all the steamers on the coast, that call reg,:\u'j-
both ways. When we arrived in port, wc found three
more vessels, precisely in a similar position to our own,
filled with passengers, half starved, and nearly destitute.
To our amazement and concern, we were here given to
understand by these unfortunates, that the vessels were
to proceed no further, the captains declaring, they had no

RAMHLIXaS IN rAMFORNlA.

211

illinc; to
)h, they
d I have
ras only
number

[cm had
le south,
n a hay
ivas fully
ilifornia,
latitude,
in"- back-
il finally
mined to
tVcapulco
Panama,
the time

bor, easy
)urishing
:le use of
isition on
! to a rieh
coal d';-

rejTMlir'r

nd three
3ur own,
JcE^titute.
given to
sels were
y had no

fundfj to lay in frc^h .supplies fur the remainder of the pas-
sago, and that the passengers mu^t shift fur themselves as
they best could. Our American friends laughed long and
loudly, at the idea of the Ilermosu's captain attempting
such a trick under the very nose, as they said, of the stars
and stripes, as they floated broadly from the United States
consul's window. But the impartial Itah'an captain treated
the free Americans as though they were no better clay
than Britishers or Dutchmen, for the first night he spirited
himself off, with all his valuables, and next morning we
received a note, implying his intention, with the other cap-
tains, of repudiating all indebtedness; granting his permis-
sion, if we pleased, to sit out the last of the jerked beef,
but accompanied by the significant hint, that if we at-
tempted the capture of the vessel, or to injure her in any
shape during our stay on board, we would be fired at by
the guns of the fort, which commanded our position beau-
tifully.

The indignant citizens of the great republic posted at
once to their Consul with the story of their wrongs, and
when they were at last brouglit face to face with that
official, after he had dodged them successfully until late in
the afternoon, they received a flat refusal of any assistance
from him, accuiiipanied with an insulting command to
leave his presence. And this I have found to be the
general character of these gentlemen in all unimportant
ports, for their salary from government being quite insuf-
ficient for their support, men of talent and respectability
rarely accept of the office, and those who do, are only
approachable by a bribe, which is their real wages.

There was a poor young lad on board of the vessel a
native of Indiana, lying very sick with the Chagres

212

RAMliLIN(;s IN CALIFORXIA.

§>'

"k*

fever, which he liad contracted on tlic rstlinius, and a
friend of miie who took a great interest in his case,
endeavoured to persuade some of tlie Americans to inter-
cede witli tlieir Consul for his removal to the hospital, for
he was at the time dying by inches from unwholesome
food and impure air, but they were much too irritated at
their rebuff to attempt facing his highness once more. He
then proposed to me that we should make the attempt of
softening the heart of the United States representative,
for the sake of the dying youth, to which I con-
sented, and we proceeded at once to the great man's
door. A smart negro wench responded to our summons,
who left us to apprize her lord, of our request to see him,
saying — "Law Massa, ef here aint two more starved
Yankees a-wantingsummat." The inside door was then
opened with a bang, and the fiery Consul strode into the
hall to meet us, looking red as a steamboat light, from the
combined effects of a(/ua dentr and indignation. " Hallo"
said he, " more on you ? Didn't I tell the others to show
their ugly faces no more, or I'd put them on board a man-
of-war, as sure as there's niggers in Baton Rouge '^ Why
don't you speak?" continued he in a voice like thunder,
*' What do you want? Air you citizens?" The fervent
"No tha!ik (»od," in reply, appeared to mollify our fierce
questioner so much, that he heard our simple request
patiently without interruption, and then replied, much
cahucr — " Now ain't you a pretty considerable pair of
green gawneys, I mought have known you were none of
our folks. Du you know what you are, sure ? I'll tell you
and no offence," then fixing his hand up to resemble an
ear trumpet he applied it to his mouth, saying in a loud
confidential whisper, " Yer f-fools ! AVhat on airth is it

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

213

US, and a
1 his case,
lis to intev-
ospital, for
iwliolesome
irritated at
more. He
attempt of
eseutativc,
ich I con-
reat man's
• summons,
io see him,
re starved

was then
c into the
t, from the

" Hallo"
*s to show
ard a man-
-e y Why
e thunder,
he fervent
our fierce
le request
ied, much
le pair of
e none of
.'11 tell you
semble an
■ in a loud
lirth is it

your business if all our folks dies '( Uncle Sam is able to
get them a coffin T guess, without applyin' to onnateralized
forniers. Ciood day," and saying which, he presented a
wooden wall between us, by slamnnng the door ii. our
faces, just as my companion was doubling his fist up in a
very significant manner.

An iron hook on each side of the Consul's door inspired
my partner with a bright idea, and our resolution was
formed upon the instant. We proceeded back to our
dirty craft and after informing the invalid of our intention
we conveyed him ashoi'c, hammock and all, as gently as
possible to the house whose door had been shut in our
faces. We then suspended each end of it to the iron
hooks leaving the body to hang directly across the door, at
a height of three feet. The poor boy was visibly improved
by the change of quarters, for the air was pure and
refreshing to his emaciated frame, and the flaunting flag
of his native laud, as it waved proudly over him, served
one very useful purpose at least, by sheltering his person
from the fierce rays of the sun.

A crowd soon collected in the street opposite to the
mansion, all gazing in wonder at the novel spectacle, and
his Excellency, as he watched from the window, opened
the door to find the cause of so many enquiring looks. One
glance at the obstruction informed him of the cause, and
our presence in the front ranks confirmed it. In speechless
rage at the disgrace we put him to, he shook his clenched
claws savagely, and fiercely shut out the horrible vision.
A few minutes after, however, the wench was seen dodging
beneath the hammock and posting rapidly towards the
hospital, from whence she was soon followed by two stout
men bearing a litter, who shortly after conveyed the invalid
to comfortable quarters. x

■I'

211

HAMRLIN«iS IN ( AMFORNIA.

We then luiido our application to tlie IJriti.sh (\)nsul,
who receivcMl us kindly, and advised us to retain our hold
on the vessel for the present, promising to use his best
endeavours to nial:e the Captain forward us to the desired
port. The Captain had already sent us a supply of such
provisions as the market alh rded, enough for a few days,
and living partly on board and partly ashore, wcs contrived
to pass a week or two in anxious expectation. The time
though passed pleasantly enougli, for the novelty of every-
thinir surrounding us possessed deep interest to those having
a particle of observation or curiosity. The sombre piercing
eyed natives, their sultry brows shaded by their broad grass
hats, every niovemcnt rife with natural grace, even to the
set of the tattered blanket on their slioulders — the sylphlike
forms of the females poising great baskets of fruit on their
heads, tripping to the nuirket, laughing and talking to
each other in their own musical tongue — the broad fringe
of cocoa nut and orange trees in perpetual verdure skirting
the bases of the bleak rocky hills, that surround the haven
— the never-exhausted cock and bull tights, and the ever-
changing interest called fortli in the features of the looker
on — the waters of the bay sparking in the sun.shine clear as
crystal, filled witli strange and uncouth formed fislies — and
tiny children of six years old, floating in luxurious ease
upon its surface close to the ves.sels, watching the descent
of a picayune from some kind hand, and ready to seize it
o'er its descent to the flashing coral beneath.

But the craving desire of reaching the land of gold,
soon overwhelmed every other in my eyes, and tired of
tiring out our Italian commander, I again took passage in
an upward bound steamer, with a complement of 1500.
The crowd was equally oppressive with the smaller vessel

I our hold
e Ins best
lie desired
y of such
few days,
contrived
The time
\f of cvery-
osc having
'c piercing
>road grass
ven to the
?. sylphlikc
it on their
talking to
oad fringe
re skirting
the haven
1 the ever-
tlie looker
ne clear as
slies — and
irious ease
he descent
to seize it

d of gold,
d tired of
passage in
t of 1500.
lUer vessel

UAMBLIN(;8 IN' nALIFORNlA.

215

I had just left, the few berths were of course all occupied,
and as before I had to take my rest on the open deck. It
of course oifered great attractions to an astronomer, to
study the wonders of the starry Heavens, in the deep blue
sky of the racific, or even to the lover who wished to
make sonnets to his mistress' eye-brows; but I blush
to own, a crib of straw in the dark hold hud much
more attraction for me, and had I been able to procure it,
I will venture to say that my projecting bones would have
been no way injured by the exchange. The time consumed
on board of this boat was only a week, but to me it seemed
an age of horrors, Panama fever and cholera were raging
on board, and every hour found a victim. The obsequies
were of the simplest nature — the valuables of the deceased
and the name were deposited with the Captain, and the
body committed to the deep, live minutes after dissolution,
and the shoals of sharks that followed in our wake told
significantly their unerring fate; more than once I was
aroused in the night by the grumbling sailors as they
dragged corpses over my recumbent person, on their road
to the gangway, and many a man on rousing himself found
his bedfellow of the proceeding night to be a stiffened
corpse.

JJut Cape St. Jiucas and the long low sandhills of the
lower peninsula are passed, the lung looked for Farallone
Islands, and the deep fissure of the golden gate present them-
selves to our hanging eyes, the cannon belches forth its
flame as we round Clark's Point, and the (lueen city of the
Western world shines brightly on the slopes of Ycrbu
Buena. In two weeks more all the British and French
subjects of the wretched huhel ILrmom — at least the
living portion — arrived in San Francisco, for more than

ii:

216

RAMBLIN<1S IN OALIFORNIA.

one half fell victims to the pestilence. What became of
the unfortunate Americans and others destitute of funds,
whose governments were unable or uuwillinc: to protect
them, I never learnt. Some inp^cnious fellows no doubt,
contrived to make uood their through trip, but undoubtedly
the greater portion of them met with miserable deaths in
a foreign and unhospitablc land.

THE SALTER.

P,4

I have alluded once to the process termed "' salting,"
and the usual method by which it is performed by a shot
gun, but various other ingenious plans are resorted to for
the perpetration, all tending to the same object, viz: the
change of funds, from the pockets of the green to those of
tlie '' smart." But a great degree of acutcness is necessary
at tlie present day, to cheat ajiy the least suspicious and
possessing a moderate degree of experience.

Alifk Ross, a tall raw-boned North Briton, had long
Ix'on in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and
was a vcsidoiit of (^\lifovnia for several xoars prior to the
discoveries at Sutter's Mill. He had constantly adhered
to mining, and being iiatnrally a slirewd fellow, had of
course ;ie(juired much skill, as well as a correct judgment
of the (jualityof ground from its consistence -iiid the value
of gold in various districts, particularly as he bad tried his
hand iti nearly every camp of the entire region. Our camp,
which was on a branch of the Calaveras, contained very
spotted digginus, und as a eonse(|Uenee, large strikes had
been made at various times, that had the elVect of obtaining

RAMHLIN'its IN CALIFORNIA.

217

became of
of funds,
to protect
no doubt,
doubtodly
deaths in

" salting/'
1 by a shot
fted to for
:, viz : the
to those of
^ necessary
)ici()us and

liad lonii'
ipany, and
\vv to the
ly lidhorod
iw, had of

judgment
1 the v:duc
id tried liis
Our camp,
lined very

, I ii\ v~ Jia'a

;' ol>t;unini»;

for it isome favorable notoriety in the eyes of the public.
We had some very skilful salters, who had plied their
trade profitably for some time, resting on the reputation of
the diggings, and so ably did they manage it, that they
were not obliged even to abscond, the bad luck of the
purchaser being always attributed to the irregularity of the
deposits.

Alick arrived one day, and soon had it gossiped round,
that he was in search of a good claim to purchase, but as
we afterwards discovered, he had not one week's board
ahead, for although he had made money, he took care, like
many cautious ones, to dispatch it home as fast as he ac-
(luired it. \ le put up at the hotel, however, " showed out"
handsomely at the bar, and in an extremely short space of
time, had many tenders of great bargains. The fraternity
tried him with several, but none prospected sufficiently
well to meet his views until he was at last handed over to
the guardianship of the most famous Salter in the whole
neighborhood, that he might try his experience upen him.
This man was well acquainted with all the principal leads,
and at this time was the owner of the best claim in the
camp, but he only performed sufficient labor upon it, as
maintained his right according to the mining laws, trusting
rather to his aptitude for swindling, than the exercise of
his animal strength. It happened, unfortunately for him,
that this really good claim was the only one over which he
had control at that period, having just disposed of a worth-
less one a few days before, at a high price ; but his cupidity
could not withstand the temptation of plundering the re-
putedly wealthy Scotchman, and he formed the resolution
of makin"- it in the end a wor.so purchase than h' had
previously sold. He seeded it down very thick, with the

■ 1

21 H

RAMI51,1N(}S IN CALIFORNIA.

gold dust which had been given to him for his other claim,
and then introduced the wily .Mick to the ground. A
pick, pan, and shovel were presented to him, that he might
try for himself, and he commenced to prospect in every
spot where the proprietor recommended him to test.
Nothing could be more satisfactory than the returns. The
pay dirt was a strata six leet deep, lying on the ledge, over
which was a sand bank of twice the thickness. I'art of
this had been stripped ott', and the whole presented a face
in an excellent position and good order for successful
working.

Every pan that was tried, produced four or five dollars,
and in the course of three hours he had extracted more
than a hundred dollars, which he deposited in a tin tobacco
box of his own.

"Well," said the impatient seller, at last, " I guess
you've given it a pretty good sifting now. How d'ye like
it V

" Vera weel, vera weel," answered Alick, rolling his quid
around leisurely, and examining with the eye of a connoi-
seur, the sample in the tin box, '* An' what may be your
price now, clear cash in your lif '/"

"Six thousand scads, ne'er a red less," said the hopeful
Salter.

" It's a purty penny, a vera purty penny, but I'll nn
gainsay't, the prospect's guid, though ane wee bit o' a
phenomenon T canna get through my auld pate, and that's
tins — Tfow in the name o' Auld Keekie, did Tuolumne
gold get stuck in here ':"'

The operator perceived at once that he was sold, and
that instead of a victim, lie liau fallen in wilii a shark.

All hope of a sale died away at <Hice, and he indignantly

llAMr.MNdS IN CAI.IFORNIA.

219

^hel• claim,
ound. A
it lie might
, in every
11 to test,
irns. The
ledge, over
. I'nrt of
ited a face
successful

ve dollars,
cted more
;in tobacco

" I guess
{ d'ye like

ig his quid
f a connoi-
y be your

lie hopeful

ut I'll n..
e bit o" a
and tliat's
Tuolumne

Sold, and
11 a shark,
idignantly

demanded the contents of the tobacco box, but was foiled
even in this.

" Dinna try tliat, dinna try that," exclaimed Alick,
" you will never handle a pi(;kle of it, and what's more,
I'll advise you as a freen, to pick up your duds and tramp,
for in twa hours iVom now, the boys will all kiiow't, and
you'll have a hempen cravat on your scrag of a n(!ck before
sundown, if they can lay their cloots on you."

The foiled scoundrel knew this Avell, ami left on the in-
stant, before liis last attempt became public, and Alick at
once installed himself (jn the d(;serted premises, wheTe by
hard labor and frugality, he soon accumulated a handsome

sum.

There was another deep old tactician in our immediate
vicinity, who was familiarly named the " mariner." lie
spake little to any one, and appeared so little cognizant of
surrounding affairs, that it was said, his long aquatic ex-
perience had caused his very brains to be encrusted with
barnacles. To another old man of the sea, was he alone at
all communicative, and from him v/erc afterwards gleaned
facts, to prove the mariner rather a smart man than the
reverse. He had worked long in solitude, and a very large
hole was the result of niany months of uninterrupted labor.
It was known that little had resulted yet from it, not even
expenses, for he was slightly in debt at two or three ])laces.

One morning, confused rumors were afloat, that the
mariner had found a rich lead. It was said that he had
washed out on the preceding evening, fifteen ounces of
gold, from dirt he had thrown up on the banl:. Some
showed joy, and some envy, at his success, and next
Uiorniiig a iiTuaL ei'uwd of iiH(uIsili\ u pui'sons, Idlci's, ;Uiii
creditors surnnuided him, as he plied his rocker assiiluously.

'2-li)

IIAMHLINUS IN CALIFORNIA.

His exprcssioiik'ss parcliiucnt euuntenancc betrayed no
symptoms of triumph or tliankfulness at his sueccss. It
seemed indeed, as thouiih fortune's gifts were fairly squan-
dered on sucdi an unimaginative senseless lump of clay,
and I dare say many of the lookers on thought within
themselves, that had fate siiowcred ^ueh a blessing upon
their shoulders, the boon would have been more worthily
appreciated. A large quantity of pay dirt had already
been thrown out on the bank on the previous evening, and
the smooth small gravel of a blue color, mixed with a ten-
acio\f^ lava, somewhat resembling gritty pipeclay, had a
very flattering appearance. But a trifling casualty had
occurred during the preceding night, from an embankment
breaking in, which had the effect of filling the hole with
water, though the disaster could be remedied by the use
of a rotary pump, and the consumption of three or four
days' labor. ]Jut it had the effect of preventing any one
from trying the ground, till the water was removed. Still
the old sailor plied his rocker, fast diminishing his pile of
earth, and averaged three or four dollars at every bucket-
ful. His merchant creditor was there with the rest, who
handed him a letter which had just arrived by the mail,
for he was also postmaster of the district.

The old man stopped his labor, and after looking va-
cantly at the superscription of the epistle, requested the
storekeeper to decipher the contents for him, rs he was
unable to perform that object for himself, having no ac-
quaintance with book learning. The merchant complied,
and they retired a few feet to one side, where he read the
letter in a loud whisper, perfectly audible to a large por-
sion of the bystanders. It was a sliort one, but it wa.s full
of bitter words to the tempest tossed veteran. It purported

RAMIlLlMiS IN rAI.IKORNIA

rayed no
Bcess. It
I'ly s(|uan-
P of clay,
ht within
ling upon
i worthily
(1 already
;ning, and
dth a ten-
ay, had a
ualty had
ban km en t
hole with
y the use
!e or four
o- any one
ed. Still
lis pile of
•y bucket-
rest, who
the mail,

oking va-
csted the
s he was
ng no uc-
complied,
! read the
large por-

li •.■V8.-5 Ian

purported

to be from a clergyman in San Francisco, who impl()re<l
his immediate presence there, on matters of life and death.
His wife and child, that he had long expected, had at last
arrived — as too many did at that period — destitute, and
prostrated with Panama fever. The hospital was the only
resource, to which place they had been removed, and there
in three days the child had expired. His wife was on her
deathbed, and urgently desired him to come with speed,
and cheer her dying hours The unfortunate man stood
as if turned to stone for an instant, then suddenly striking
his forehead with his clenched hand, ho fell heavily to
the earth. Iinniediate assistance was rendered by the
compassionate crowd, and he soon recovered, looking calm
and collected, but with a deep conviction of his hopeless
bereavement. He told those present that he must depart
for the bay that very afternoon, and his only resource
under present circumstances, was to dispos»> of his claim
to the highest bidder, reserving a share to himself. By
this means, he could thus retain a hold on tlie ground,
but should he leave it entire, it would of course be jumped
at the end of tliree days, according to the niining laws.

Hiddors W(>vo numerous and co.upetition strong, for
evei'vtliinL;' hiokt-d pn.pitiuns. A cniupany ])id SlOdO for it,
and were dcclavcd tlio purchasers, after a very animated
sale. Tlu' old man left for the city tliat very aftunm-jii with
the cash in his pocket, to comfort her whom in his youth-
ful days he had sworn lo protect and ehcrisli, and the
pump was busily at work ne.\t morning in omptying the
shaft, it took more than two days to perform this, and
get rid of the waste earth tliat had caved in, but when
this wa.s accon.H.'lisiied their lal'or was at an end, for a cent
prospect was the l^est they could procure. The mystery as

,■ :

:ji'^4:^i-^s:^m!^vs-m^''^^'''-^^''^i^:''?-

', ■^^^gsassJi&^^H-asis-.t

•>■>•>

HAMI{MN(;S IN CAMFOKMA.

to how ho itroeiircd the dust to salt the pile on the bank
wa*) also shortly ex])lained to the dissatisfaction of his
cabin mate, who on niakinfii; search found that the contents
of his buckskin bag had taken wiufi;s, like the albatros with
the ancient mariner. A deputation went in pursuit, but
were just in season to be too late, for the steamer had
already sailed, and on making enquiries for the reverend
gentleman who had written so pathetically of the sick
wonum, he was found to be a mere allegory got up for the
occasion in the brain of the Salter.

SEBASTOPOL IS TAKEN.

Ine old proverb which says " Extremes in nature equal
ends produce" never appeared more fully exemplified than
in the sympathy shown, particularly by the democratic
press and people, for Russia in its late struggle with the
Allies, and in no portion of the world not directly inter-
rested in the engagement, was the news more eagerly read
and commented upon. The British and French residents
of San Francisco are a very important item in the wealth
and population of the place, and unlike the same people
in other States but few of them calculate on a life residence
in the country, and in consequence rarely ac(iuire the
rights of citizens, but retain still a due affection for the
land of their nativity, where they eventually intend to
make their permanent homes. Now the native citizens
can't understand how it is possible for people who have
once tasted the sweets of libertv in such a hannv land, to
sigh foi- nionarcliy. They will at first mildly expostulate

HA.MIUil-Nd.S IN CAMIOHNIA.

'2'i:i

1 the bank
on of his
ic coutents
jiitroH with
Lirsuit, but
3auici' had
; reverend
f the sick
up for the

iture equal
)lified than
leniocratie
witli the
ctly inter-
igcrly read
1 residents
the wealth
lue people
3 residence
(juire the
on for the
iuteiid to
'c citizens
who have
y land, to
xpoHtulate

upon the subject, and tell from the depths of their srliool-
boy lore, of how badly Henry VIII. treated his wives, of
the iniquity of the Starchaniber, but their greatest fields
are the enormities of that dreadful old tyrant (Joor^e III.,
with which they are most familiar, for the lir.st lesson in
the school primer most likely contains a map of the spot
where so many thousand " scarlet minions of despotism" uot
cut into mince-nu'at by a handful of revolutionary heroes,
or a review of the characters of Newton and Franklin,
wherein, althon<;h much credit is p.ivcn to the talents of
the former, it is nevertheless nnide sufficiently evident to
any, having- a spark of patriotism, that the pedlar was a
little ahead of anything ever produced in the olden world.

But this hatred to anything savoring of a crown, will
hardly be sufficient to account for the morbid fancy
felt by the people, to see England thoroughly smashed
by the Russians, and France also, like dog Tray, for being
in such questionable company, for llu.^sia was unfortunate
enough to possess the same hateful emblem. Undoubtedly
the dislike to anything British, so grounded in their
first school lessons, would account for the side taken, even
by a portion of the conservatives, but a far deeper vein
even than this, won the sympathies of the l^oco Focos for
the Panslavist. It was the well defined similarity that
existed between the worst features of llu.ssian policy and
the present prominent essence of democracy, namely
slavery and filibusterism, and the movement of mighty
power uncontrolled by conscientious judgment.

The feeling so prevalent in the metropolis, was equally
rife in the little mountain towns, and many an ounce of
dust and bottle of brandy exchanged owners, when thefall
of the Malakoff became known in the mountains, and many

224

UAMllMNOS IN (AI.IFOKMA.

a |)inm(U»f jtdWticr \v;is l.ivislily Idazcd iiway, )>y (Mitliusias-
tic Fvt'iicli .-iikI I'liiLrlisli. fn (•iiiiiimMiKnati! tlic cNcnt, to
the t'xdciiic (lisLiUst of Aiiiriicaiis in iiciicral. To say
tlio truth, lioWt'ViT, oroiioiiiy was consulted even iu the
ebullitions of joy at l!u' triumph, for the salutes were in
our cam]), chielly perfornu'd hy blasfinu; lariro ro(d<8 tiuit
lYMjuired removal from the diij;u;iuL!;s anyway, and many had
as nuudi as thirty liole-^ drilled a month ahead, in anticipa-
tion of the event.

Nathan Suu^s was a fat <^()od-nature(l old Southerner,
roasoiiabh" in most lhin<;s. excepting; slaveiy and thi;
UusHJan war, with their collat(M-als. He owned a u,()od
claim, and his nearest noiuhbor who held the adjoiiunj^
ground, was his diroctantipodos both iu body and iu politics,
Ilia iiauiG was Louis, and his nation Canada East ; he was a
mass of })onennd muscle, clumsily jiut to;j;ether, but posses-
sing iu his constitution the eleuHMits of uucouuuoii ai^ility
and endurance, althouii:;h slightly beyond the nnddle term
of life. Louis's feelings were doubly enlisted in the great
struggle that was convulsing Europe, he was both a clear
descendant of one of the illustrious allies, and a subject of
the other, yet his chief pride was iu the latter, for once a
person while toasting Napoleon, with a view of pleasing
the supi)osed J^'renchnian, was rudely int(!rrupted by the
Canadian exclaiming, " l*eesh for Napolyaw ! me no care
for France, me Anglicehomme."

Each evening after work did the excited Canadian and
Southerner light their windy battle, without a hope of
mutual agreement, until they finally made a bet of six
gallons of vhiskey, the Canadian affirming that the City
of Sebastopol would be stormed -within a month, which
Nathan Suggs persistently denied. A cessation of hostilities

llAMIHilNdS IN rAMFKllMA.

2iir)

iMitliUHias-

I'VCllt, to

lu say
'II in the
s wi'ic ill
(icks that
many had
anticipa-

luthfiiirr,
and tlic
(1 a l;()()(1
adjuiniii}^
11 politics,
ho Mas :i
ut pnssos-
t)ii ability
Jdlc tcnu
the ^reat
Lh a clear
iubject of
or once a
pleasing
hI by tlie
e 110 care

idiaii and
ho])e of

!t of six
the City

h, which

lOHtilities

foUowed the six <h»llar l)et, hut <;rcat anxiety was evinced
for the arrival of the next mail, and one mornin<i', houis,
who had his eyen constantly (tpeii for the arrival of news,
Haw a courier with a Imndle of newspapers on tin; road
approaidiiipj the camp, lie; met him hidore he arrived,
and on learnint; the eonsiiinniation of his dearest hopes,
jrallaiitly purchased the whole stuck, and sent tlu^ news-
vender back rejoieinu, to i.nuure a fresh supply. His
firHt visit was to his old oi.j)onent, to whom makiiiji; a low
bow, h(i handed a paper, saying, [' Sar Monsieur Su<r}j;s,
allow im- d(! extreme felicity of beinu; ue tirst to present
you with de lati^st and de greatest news from tiie Crimea,
l)e walls you said were inveenci))le liave crumbled into
do Icetle <irains, by de powd(;r of <le -^reat allieH, and
the Tri-oolour and Union .Jack tly from the Malakoff and

Rodan."

Nathan took the paj)er very sulkily from him and very
smni convinced himself of the loss of his whiskey, and at
once proposed to adjourn to his cabin for the purjxjse of
cxtractint;' tin; precious fluid from the barrel, but Fiouis
iuana<.^ed to commute it for a promise from Suggs, tliat he
would treat the crowd at the bar of the hotel in the even-
in"- when^ a miiuM-'s meeting was to be held for tlie
adjustment of a claim. AVhen the business of the evening
was concluded, Louis who had retained all the papers and
thus prevented the circulation of the news, solemnly arose
and informed the meeting — which numbered more than a
hundred— of the great victory achieved, in a confused
speech of French, Spanish and Knglish, " And now Men-
sieurs," said he, "as this is the greatest achievement of
modern times, my mooch respected amigo, Monfrere Signor
Suggs, has kindly consented to treat all de gentlemen here

tSBBSSasimi

226

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

to celebrate dc great prosperity of de grand nations of
John Bull and La Belle France. So let us all now adjourn
to de bar and liquor up."

For all that, the news stunk in the nostrils of many and a
hiss had been with great difficulty suppressed, thirst finally
triumphed, and the conclusion of the Canadian's address
was received with three times three and a tiger. The dis-
comfitted Nathan had no opportunity of denying the
sentiments imputed to him by his political antagonist, but
his honour being pledged, he was obliged to disburse for
the refreshment of the whole, to the unpleasant little sum

of S2o.

But the joy of the allies in San Francisco was to be
celebrated in a more substantial manner. A banquet on a
truly magnificent scale was prepared at their expense, to
which not only the corporation was invited, but also all
the principal Americans in the place, and iixleed so large
were the supplies and so general the welcome, that the
whole city was privileged to partake of the repast, which
consisted of all the delicacies the bounteous market aflforded.
A level space in a new park was chosen for the scene, and
the day was ushered in by cannon, music and flags, in
gorgeous profusion. The English and French vessels in
the harbor were adorned with the flags of their respective
nations blended together, but no American flag was visible
except on the banquet ground, where it floated at an equal
height with the others. All went on smoothly until the
dinner was half concluded, when the suppressed feelings
of the sons of liberty could no longer endure the desecra-
tion. The allied flags were first depressed a few feet lower
than the stars and stripes, but, even this failing to Boothe
their feelings, they finally hauled France and England

RAMBLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

227

nations of
>w adjourn

lauy and a
irst finally
's address
The dis-
lying the
;onist, but
sburse for
little sum

was to be
nquet on a
cpense, to
it also all
(d so large
, that the
ast, which
it aflforded.
scene, and
1 Hags, in

vessels in
respective
NHS visible
it an equal

until the
id feelings
10 desecra-

fcct lower
y to goothe
1 England

down by the run. Some foolish policeman, who attempted
to dispute the will of the people by arresting the perpe-
trators, was knocked down for his presumption and a
general row was the result. The patriots won the day for
they were prepared previously, and they made short work
of the crockery and glass. The full bottles were spared
however, and as soon as the ground was thoroughly cleared
of the impertinent foreigners, they sat down and enjoyed
themselves in the camp of the foe, singing Hail Columbia
and the Star Spangled Banner, until daylight coming in
with empty bottles, compelled them to adjourn. The law
never even dared to notice the affair, and foreigners have
no doubt learnt the lesson, that although Fourth of July
may be celebrated in other countries and responded to by
their authorities, the rule won't work both ways, as it is
now a maxim that America is only for the Americans.

WAR IN CHINA.

In the same district where I held the office of Recorder
of Claims, the rights of the Asiatics were well respected ;
for as the new ditch did not make fortrncs for people,
quite so fast as it was originally supposed, it w;is found
particularly haudy to dispose of their claims for a con-
sideration ; and as the Chinese are the easiest satisfied,
with regard to paying ground, they were always the l^ost
customers for these indifferent claims, and by these means
rose vastly in public estimation. As is customary with
them in all the other places, they arc perfectly submissive
to white authority, and scarcely over attempt to resist even

'■>•■> S(

UAMHLINOS IN CALIFORNIA.

ft.

oppression^ except in expostulation, and their eUxiuence
is sometimes very touchint^ and effectual in this line of
oratory. IJut for all so submissive to the " red haired
barbarians," the ease is ((uitc the reverse with each other,
for people from different sections of their own wide spread
empire, sometimes keep up an eternal feud with each other.

Two rival districts were the candidates for public favor
in this camp ; one party was from Canton, the other from
Hong Kong, and really their undying rancour towards each
other, could hardly find a parallel, unless perhaps between
the Far-downs and Oorkonians, or the Yankees and Border
RulRans in the Kansas Territory. Although they originally
kept as far divided as possible, so fast did they pu chase,
that the} ;uched at last on each other, and then com-
menced that bickering between them that finally led to
most disastrous consequences on the whole. Their nuiii-
bcrs were about 150 in each^ ;md generally once or twice
a week they hod a turn out to fight. When the fortunes
of the day had turned, a runner from the defeated party
would invariably proceed to me, and implore my assistance
to <iuell the riot, with a five dollar piece in his hand. As
this operation rarely consumed more than five minutes, I
usually complied, unless very particularly engaged, as I
seldom fell in with a more profitable and safe investment
of time, for so afraid were they of general expulsion on
account of their pugnacious spirit, that a truce invariably
followed my presence on the battle field.

There was a sort of mandarin on the weaker side, whom
we called cajyfdin, on account of the power he seemed to
wield. He was rather a gentlemanly good looking fellow,
for one of his race, and did little besides ssnokc opium ,
which luxury cost him, he said, three dollars per day.

HAMIJL1\(?S IN CALIFORNIA.

eliMiuonce
is line of
ed haired
acli other,
ide spread
ach other,
ibllc favor
)thcr from
nn'ds each
IS between
ad Border
oriojinally
pu 1 chase,
ihen cora-
illy led to
leir nuiii-
3 or twice
c fortunes
ited party
assistance
and. As
iiinutcs, I
igcd, as I
ivcstment
)ulsion on
invariably

ide, whom
iicemed to
u<^ fellow,
ic opiuin ,
I per day.

The captain lived by advancing money to his countrymen,
on interest, for the purchase of claims, and was, as all cap-
italists generally are, a man of peace, and much opposed
to anarchy. Seeing the troubled spirit of his people, he
consulted mc upon the subject, fur he spoke English pretty
well, and wanted to know if a policcusan could be supplied
to them, as they were .luitc willing to pay fifteen dollars
a day for the use of such a functionary, armed with all the
terrors of the law to the violators of the public peace.
Pondering upon the subject, I recollected that our nearest
magistrate, who lived ten miles off, had just resigned, and
wa^ preparing to turn his attention to piracy in Nicaragua.
I informed a' youthful friend of mine from the Eastern
States, of the Chinaman's proposal, together of the vacancy
requiring to be filled, for I knew Zaddock Green abhorred
labor, most religiously, and a well timed application to the
Board of Supervisors at the county town, would in all
probability secure him an appointment to the vacant ofhco,
for the unexpired time of his predecessor.

A week bad expired, and I had almost forgotten the
circumstance, wbcn one morning 1 was handed a billet by
Zaddock, bearing an official look, which on opening, I
found to my extreme surprise and humiliation, contained
an appointment for mc to the judgeship. Shades of my
ancestors, blush for your unworthy descendant 1 I who
had always valued a good reputation, and conducted my-
self ' dcrly and peacefully, to be thus disgraced. In what
unguarded moment had I left myself open to such an in-
sult, I could not recall. But I determined to decline, and
returned an answer to that effect to the board, urging in
palliation, that I was not qualified for the office, there
beinti' no prospect that I should ever aequire the lionors
citizenship. uj

230

RAMBLINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

Ifr

SI !t!
f i ■

Poor Zaddock was luucli ufieiided at my resolve, for he
haVl taken the trouble, unknown to me, of carrying round
the petition that finally led to the appointment, and he
built his hopes on being made a speeial con>stablc; for as
the judge and constable ;tre invariably partners, it would
have been a good speculation, between the daily allowance
of the mandarin, together with absorption of all fines and
the profits resulting from transient business. I left this
place a few days after, and did not return again for more
than five months, but great doings had occurred during
the first month of my absence.

The Hong Kong and Canton riots burned with exceeding
fury at first,, and so deadly did the animosity finally be-
come, that a challenge to mortal combat was given and
accepted. Couriers were dispatched to all adjacent camps
for the respective friends of the belligerents, to make their
appearance on a certain day oi a certain moon, ''armed
and equipped as the law directs," and some thousands
were shortly in motion carrying their rations of boiled rice
to the Chinese stamping ground. The following is some-
thing near a literal translation of the challenge from the
one Chieftain to the other.

" The high and mighty man of power, Sam Yap, con-
descends to speak to the woman-hearted spotted dog, Ah
Whop, to tell him that his people are nothing but as dung
beneath the feet of Sam Yap's men of war; you think
you can light us, and you are welcome to try. We will
use our weapons to punish you, but we will not load all
our muskets, for our bare hands would be quite enough if
we liked, to chase such yelping curs. Your puny efforts
will no more affect us than the ocean waves do a rock
bound coast. You will smash as an egg, thrown from the

n s'

IlAMBLINtiS IN CALIFORNIA.

231

hand of a strong man against the walls of a fortress.
You may tight us if you please, but we will exterminate
you ; and, if like cowards as you are, you will not tight us,
we will cut off your hair and make you work tor us; we
will also take your claims, and your tools, and your large
footed women, and feed you on snakes and the refuse of
our tahles,— so you see we are generous, for we give you
a choice, hut we would rather destroy you, for you consume
meat that should be applied for the nourishment of better
men, and we want to be benefactors to the world."

Such a billet as that, was enough to irritate the people
of Ques, to whom it was dispatched, and soon the rival
armies met in desperate combat with all the panoply and
imposing sound peculiar to eastern warfare. During the
height of the preparations, an observant citizen got himself
quietly installed into the magistracy, but bided his time
to make it profitable. He made no attempt to interfere
with the coming struggle, but along with some neighbour-
ing brethren of the bench, secretly encouraged it ; and
then with a few mounted constables, he and the others soon
divided the armies and commenced to capture. This oc-
casioned the most serious riot of the day, for, although
the Chinese attempted no resistance, the different magis-
trates fell out about the prisoners, one imagining the
other had more than his rightful share; but as they had
several hundreds each, they shortly came to an under-
standing after a few pistol shots and a broken arm or two.
Each conqueror then led his prisoners to his own home
for trial, and fined them from $100 down to a dollar,
according to their several resources, keeping the whole
amount to themselves, and my honorable successor made
the comfortable little thing of ^15,000 for his services in
preserving the public peace.

CONCLUSION.

Gentle Reader, who has followed me thus far in my
wanderings, I will now release you, for my pleasant task
is ended. No more shall we breathe together the life-giving
atmosphere of El Dorado's shores, or pry into the deep
mines, where the coarse gold lies imbedded in the cool
crevices of the slaty bed-rock. No more shall we tread
with each other o'er the far reaching flower covered
prairies, and smile at national characteristics or quaint
individual peculiarities. You will soon forget both these
and me. The grim mountain, the water-fall and the
brawlins river, with the careless lives of the generally
happy gold hunters, which I have endeavoured to picture
for our mutual amusement, will soon fade from your mind
like an artificial panorama. More courtly drawings will
-.soon obliterate the coarse daub from your recollection; but
long must be my life before the scenes that called forth
these Ramblings will be forgotten. But in truth, much
as there is of the romantic in the wild vagaries of nature,
I acknowledge that with me, the recollections of the lu-
dicrous will loncv outlive the sublime, and the eccentric
motions of animated nature, chiefly overshadow the

IIAMI{MN(JS IN CALIFORNIA.

4
•..J

beautiful thuugli scjloiun scenes of the iiiaiiimatc. 1 must

still laugh when I think of the way my poor friend D

sprained his ancle, and was lame for a month in conse-
quence. He was a boarder with a fanner in Santa Cruz,
who had a ranch close to the foothills of the Coast Ilanire,
which at this point was a great resort of grizzly bears.
The house was built near the brow of an elevated flat, from
whence the ground gently descended to a broad bottom
land; the wheat had just been taken off, and the cattle
were feeding in j)leuty on the rich refuse of the stubble
field, close to the fence of the garden which occupied a
portion of the slope. One evening after the whole house-
hold had for some time retired to rest, the family were
aroused by the agonized bellowing of an unfortunate
"critter" in the flat. So constant and severe were the
sounds, that all were soon convinced a grizzly had made
the milky mother Kate, liis prey, who was last seen quietly
chewing the cud and surveying the good things within the
garden fence. The farmer not being a sporting character,
handed 1) — . the venerable flint-lock musket, which had
been loaded but not discharged for three mouths previous,
and accompanied him to tlie field to dispute possession with
Bruin, who by the weaker complaints still growing fainter
through tha pitcliy darkness, was evidently coming to the
tender steaks. I.) — . cautiously approached the bloody
ground, stealing along by the fence, his companion (jacking
him, but a good way off, and on seeing the outlines of the
struggling animals he boldly presented and blazed away at
the centre of the lieap. The chief mischief was probably
done by the rebound, for it knocked the musketeer flat,
who on uaininu' his feet saw his backer makino- aroat nro-
gress up the hill towards the bosom of his family, D — .

RA RULINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

2n5

emulatca his example as well as he was able, still elin-ing
tenaciously to the clumsy weapon, and the muscles of his
legs were further strained to.their utmost capability by the
sound of feet in pursuit. At length he reached the house
and tumbled in through the doorway, just in time to shut
out his grim follower, who fairly roared with the disap-
pointment, and kept his head close to the door, as they
could see through u chink in the temporary walls of the
building. The farmer's nerves were so shaken, he was
utterly unable to make the smallest exertion, and D— . de-
termined in spite of his disjointed ancle to try another
shot at the bloodthirsty beast. He took as accurate aim as
the outward gloom would permit, and this time a loud
roar, falling to a gurgling, sound, told that the last shot
was more successful than the first. Another bullet was
fired at the body to make all sure, and then he ventured
along with his nervous companion, to limp out and examine
the proportions of their spoil. At this ^ment the pain
was unfelt, and the state of his feelings might be envied
by the proudest monarch, for the objects of many a heart-
felt wish was gratified on that eventful night, and he
might now take his place among his fellows, to boast that
he'too had slain a grizzly. Keenly did he approach and
turn the lamp upon the prostrate monster to gloat upon the
conquest, but alas ! the light but revealed a meek graniv-
orous beast, being neither more nor less than the sucking
calf of the murdered Kate, that had fled for protection to
the very hand that slew her at the threshold. The cow and
calf made fair veal and beef, the grizzly still roams in his
native hills, and the wounded limb recovered, but the
adventures of that night form an unpleasant theme for
conversation to the would-be bear slayer, even unto this day.

230

RAMHLIN<;S IN CALIFORNIA.

[

i'h s

1^.

Nor can I fusily forLTc't tliat Sunday uiorniiif;', that wo
lost all our rockers and tools, on tlic banks of Littlo John
Creek, by the rapid risintr of this mountain torrent. The
lari;e creek had declined to a rivulet during' a loii^' dry
spell, and although a heavy rain had fallen on Saturday
night, the rise was so imperceptible in the morning, we
did not deem it e.'^scntial to remove Our implements any
further from the waters ediie, than we had left them the
night before. It had been noised around for a few day&,
that a young lady had made her appearance at a neigh-
bouring ranch, and as such commodities were rare in our
parts, the greatest ladies' man in our company made up his
mind to pay her a visit. He consumed four dollars in
the purchase of a complete new suit at the store, consist-
ing of a pair of cow-hide shoes and cotton pants, a shirt
and a fifty cent stra\v hat, and being rather a good looking
fellow when his hair and beard were oiled with some pork
dripj)ings, it was generally supposed that the sucker girl's
heart would be carried by storm. While the gallant was
away, time hung rather heavy upon our hands, particularly
as there were no shirts worth mending, and Uncle Ben —
a funny little fisherman from some region contiguous to
Cape Cod — was deputed to cross the river on horseback,
in pursuit of a bottle containing something to cheer the
drooping spirits of the party.

The bed of the river, although so nearly dry, was up-
wards of a hundred yards across, and Uncle Ben — who
was rather deaf, by the way — had just entered it, success-
ful in his mission, and on his return. While watching
his progress, I detected the roaring of waters, and looking
hin-lier un, saw a body of water lookincr nioro than five feet
deep, rushing furiously down towards the old man, and

IVAMUL[N(JS IN CALIFOUNIA.

•J37

;ilmidy within (ifty yards uf him. i haUued to him as
loud as I was able, but idthDiigh my voice was drowuod by
the rushing of the cataract, his inlirmity prevented him
from hearin- either, and horse and rider were soon bat-
tlin- with tiie iiercc clement. P»en nobly retained his seat
for some time, but was iinally uidiorscd, and we feared his
career was ended, f/ittle dohn was uui to master him,
however, who, he said, had been once within the jaws of
H living whale, and he reached land safe and sound, not
only with his own little person, but the bottle of whiskey
also, .luitc uninjured. The horse escaped, by grounding
oil a high sandbar, but our implements, which embraced
nearly all the capital we po.sscssed, were caught by the
current, and were soon rapidly journeying on their road
to Han Francisco bay.

The whiskey sufi'ered severely by the disaster, but failed

to comfort, and the luver who returned at night with a

very sour visage, contributed but little to restore the usual

eheerfulness of the party. "It was a most confounded bad

road," said he, " for it t(;oi; me above the ancles several

times, and llile<l my shoes with mud, and as the pants

were short, and 1 had no socks, it sadly deteriorated from

my general good appearance, but I stuck to it till 1 reached

the cabin, which was nothing but an old patched mainsail

of a fore and after, with the reef points still fast to it,

thrown over a line attached to a couple of trees. As the

place had no door, L rattled my stick on an old ^cracker

tin, and a sharp voice sung out— ' Stop that, you V So I

stopped, lifted up the rotten duck, and exposed myself and

the occupant to each other at the same time. She was all

alone, and rigged nut in the ye'^owest fui'iiituie eottuu

dress you ever set \nur eyes on, which hung lMo>e on her

'S.iH

HAMHI-irj(».S IN CAI.irOKNlA.

liir^c porson, like, [ii Mcxic^an's scnippa, bat not half so
i^rAooful. I [or hair was dono up a la Impt^raisc, I tliink
they call it, which exposed lior piinpled rorcheiid, and a
j)air of iiveat brass earbobs that liuiiu; down below her chin
njost uid)eeoniin<ily. Slie was s(>ated on an old li(juor
barrel, with two feet like brieks restinji on a tall oak
.stunjp in the very nnddle of the tent. In her left hand
.she held a little live cent circular shavinp;-^lass, and in hor
right was a bowie knife, a good fourteen inches long, with
whi(di she was pieking her delicate teeth. I bowed and
bid her good day, but she would'nt look me in the face,
my dirty feet had alone attraction for her, for she stared
at them for a c(»uple of minutes before! she w<mld speak a
word, then .siys ,she "(Marl We haint got nothin' for
ourselves, and ef you don't dar right smart, I'll loose Tag
on yon." So 1 " elared " as the angel commanded me,
and I'm right sorry now (hi.t ! laid out so much money on
dress, for it was only wasted on the meal-fed baggage, and
besides it will all be wanted now to help in ju'ocuring a
new lot, oi' tools.

Hut it is too late to become locjuacious iu>w, for 1 am,
as I said, at the eonclusion of these my recollections. I
drop the pen with regret ; but 1 fear to weary in recount-
inti' scenes, that Imwevcr amusing in their origin, with
loeal circumstances attached, may fail to interest in the
repetition, with no such accompaniments to give /est.

My talc is t(tl(l, of California and the vicissitudes of its
people, and much as 1 have endured of the \inpleasant in
my experience, L lan truthfully say, that pleasing remem-
brances most pvedomimite ; and whatever my after fate
may be, in the great game of life at whit>i we arc all
playing — some staking golden nuggets, and son»o copper

RA.M1U<1N(JS IN CAMFUllNlA.

'SM

pfiicc, aiul suiiic iiuTo I'iippiM-s, buckiiij,' fur show at the
Olid of tlu! tabic — 1 fur one, shall hok not, hack with
reirrct, on my voyauc to the healthy shores of the Nt»rth
Pacific.

THK KNl).

TOUONT'):