OR, THE WORLT) HAS CHANGEt). 117 



SHIRT-TAIL CANYON, CALIFORNIA. 



w 



'hile there is nothing wicked or improper in this narra- 

 tion, yet it is with a feeling of temerity and shame- 

 facedness that I pen it. This sketch is not intended for the 

 eyes of the ladies (for men only); had rather they would not 

 read it, but if through curiosity any of them should do so, 

 then they ought not to call us hard names. 



Shirt-tail Canyon is a deep, rough gorge, more than a thous- 

 and feet down to the creek bed, and the gold-diggers in 

 descending its rough slopes have to submit to frequent falls 

 and slides, in consequence of which the seats of their corde- 

 roys suffer divers abrasions, and in the course of time 

 and the frequency of these slides, the lower or other 

 end of their shirts become exposed, and not unfrequently 

 even obtrude from their proper indoor position, and this 

 common custom of dress from this particular section gave to 

 the canyon this inelegant name. 



It was an inconvenient portion of the mining region, the 

 nearest trading point being Yankee Jim's, a smart mining 

 town, and it got its name from the hanging of a man on the 

 spot, of that name. It was no little job for the boys to get in 

 and out of Shirt-tail Canyon, therefore they made as few trips 

 as possible, so when not engaged in work they were often 

 taxed to find amusement ; of course gambling of every kind 

 was prevalent throughout the mines, and the most common 

 and convenient games were with cards, but tiring of cards 



