

HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



91 



bituated to scanty fare, to exposure to heat and cold, 

 and wet and sudden changes ! Whilst you arc succeed 

 ing in your object, they will grow wearied, disappointed, 

 and home-sick, and long to be back again on the 

 theatre of their former struggles. 



" The human stream ceases not to flow from the 

 vessels in the harbor ; no sooner is one boat-load 

 disposed of than another arrives, and so on, until the 

 town is gorged with new-comers, who, after a few 

 days' sojourn, to recruit their strength, after the 

 fatigues of a long and irksome voyage, depart, and 

 are seen no more for months; many, perhaps, never 

 to return. Very few of this vast multitude deserve 

 the epithet of poor. , To get here at all requires 

 money ; and to maintain one's self after getting here, 

 the emigrant must have some little means. 



" The majority of the emigrants are men occupying 

 a respectable station in society ; some are even 

 distinguished in their calling ; but the eager desire of 

 making a fortune in a hurry has induced them to 

 throw up good employments and comfortable homes ; 

 to leave friends, relatives, connexions, wife, children, 

 and familiar associations, to embark their strength, 

 intelligence, and activity, in this venture. All is 

 bustle where they have landed : boats going to and 

 fro ; rafts slowly discharging their cumbrous loads ; 

 porters anxiously and interestedly civil ; all excited ; 

 all bent on gain ; ships innumerable in the bay ; 

 mountains around ; a clear, blue sky above ; and the 

 bright waters dancing in the sun, until they touch the 

 horizon in the distance, blending their brightness with 

 his golden track. 



" I walked on until I came up to a group of men, 

 who, like myself, were looking on the busy scene 



