78 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA, 



addicted. Instances are not few of their having 

 staked the produce of their labor during some weeks 

 subsequent to the game. Many of the Indians desire 

 no other pay than as much pisco as they can drink, 

 with a little acorn bread. 



The native Californians form a goodly proportion 

 of the gold-seekers. Many of the men are accom- 

 panied by their wives, who are attended by Indian 

 girls. The graceful Spanish costume of the Califor- 

 nians adds quite a feature to the busy scene at the 

 mines. There may be seen the long, lank forms of 

 the Yankees, with their wide white trousers and straw 

 hats ; the half-naked Indians ; the native born Cali- 

 fornians, with their dusky visages and lustrous black 

 eyes. The latter are generally clad in a short, tight 

 jacket, with lace trimming, and velvet breeches, with 

 a silk sash fastened round the waist. With regard to 

 the appearance of the women, and, also, for the sake 

 of the description of one of the evening entertainments 

 in the gold region, we quote from a recent tourist, to 

 whom we have been indebted before.* 



"The appearance of the women is graceful and 

 coquettish. Their petticoats, short enough to display 

 in most instances a well-turned ankle, are richly 

 laced and embroidered, and striped and flounced with 

 gaudy colors, of which scarlet seems to have the prefer- 

 ence. Their tresses hang in luxuriant plaits down 

 their backs ; and in all the little accessories of dress, 

 such as earrings, necklaces, &c, the costume is very 

 rich. Its distinguishing feature, however, is the 

 reboso, a sort of scarf, generally made of cotton, 

 which answers to the mantilla of Old Spain. It is 



♦ Four Months Among the Gold Finders of California, by J. Tyr- 

 whit Brooks, M. D. 



