IN THE MINING DISTRICT 219 



ever, and lie has proved himself to be such indeed, is and 

 always will be that sailor from Dantzig, whom I men- 

 tioned before, Charley , commonly called Charley 



Long Tom, because he works with me on such a machine; 

 a square shouldered fellow, face and mustache a brownish 

 red; "an old miner," which is to say, that in his whole 

 appearance he resembles more a highwayman than any- 

 thing else. I am certain that if ten or twelve of us were 

 to show ourselves on the road anywhere in Prussia, 

 dressed and equipped as we are here, with blankets rolled 

 up and rifles on our shoulders, the military would be 

 called out at once to place the dangerous vagabonds be- 

 hind locks and bars. 



Our dress is sailor-like, suitable to the hot climate; a 

 red or blue flannel shirt, gray corduroy trousers fastened 

 above the hips with a leather belt or silk scarf, wherein 

 also a long knife is carried, or— when away from home— 

 a revolver; high waterproof boots, and either a broad- 

 brimmed brown felt or a straw hat. Now think of such a 

 suit being tattered and patched up everywhere, for in- 

 stance on a blue shirt a red patch, or on gray pantaloons 

 a black and next to that a light green patch; the whole 

 person from head to foot bespattered with mud, and you 

 have the miner in his nevertheless highly picturesque 

 costume. 



Notwithstanding all this, I am satisfied, more than sat- 

 isfied, with my lot. This free life, so full of charm be- 

 cause free, and without the slightest restraint, the sur- 

 rounding country a perfect paradise, the work heavy, but 

 in a manner voluntary— as one day's labor gives me 

 enough to satisfy my wants for a whole week— this same 

 free life refreshes me physically and mentally! Day by 

 day I feel more vigorous, more easy and more cheerful, 

 and if this is to continue I shall within a year be as 

 healthy a man as there is in God's world! Even tooth- 

 ache I have not had since I put my foot on California's 

 soil. And indeed how strong have I become! You ought 

 to see the rocks I have to move or lift every day; some 

 of them are large enough to scare the devil — if he were 

 compelled to lift them! 



