48 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
occupied by Americans and Chilians. Two hundred ships are 
lying at anchor, displaying their various ensigns, comprising 
almost all the commercial nations of the world ; and looming up 
conspicuously in the offing, is the man-of-war, “Gen. Warren,” 
her majestic appearance proclaiming the superiority of Ameri¬ 
can naval architecture. But the most striking feature in the 
scene is this beautiful bay; surrounded by mountains which 
protect it from the winds, it sleeps in perfect calm, the flood and 
ebb tide carrying vessels in and out, at from seven to eight 
knots an hour. At this moment, although the wind is blowing 
in the mountains, the bay is as placid as a mirror. In the centre 
of the bay is a beautiful island, as if nature had set in pearl one 
of her choicest emeralds. But “night has let her curtain 
down, and pinned it with a star.” In the evening I strolled 
about with my friends, and was surprised to see that all of the 
best houses on the main streets were gambling houses. The 
rooms were brilliantly lighted, and each contained several monte 
tables, loaded with gold and silver coin, together with many 
rich specimens from the mines. To allure their victims, they 
were usually furnished with music, a bar, and an interesting 
senorita'to deal the cards. Gamblers understand that the only 
sure way of making a man courageous is to get him drunk, conse¬ 
quently, at about every second dealing of the cards, all the 
betters are “treated.” A man bets on a card and loses. His 
last drink is beginning to effervesce, and, of course, he is too 
shrewd to let the gambler have his money. He doubles the bet, 
putting the money on the same card, thinking that a card must, 
at least, win every other time. I have noticed that gamblers 
are very considerate, always managing to throw out just the 
card the victim wishes to bet upon. Again he loses, and again 
is “ treated.” His courage is up : the third time his card must 
certainly win. The “ deal” takes place, and, strange to say, his 
card is turned up, and seems to say, in its very face that it is to 
win. In order to win back his former losses, he stakes, this time, 
half his purse. The other betters and bystanders now begin to 
manifest an interest in the affair. The gambler now begins to 
draw the cards, and, lo! the victim’s card don’t win. He is 
excited; he sees that others are looking at him, and displays 
the greatest amount of courage by taking another drink, and 
