200 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
3iad a quantity of shells, for which he demanded $25, but imme¬ 
diately fell $20, and I think would have taken two. 
During the afternoon the Cherokee came in and commenced 
coaling up. This delicate duty is performed by the colored 
girls of the place, and the modus operandi is as novel as it is 
laborious. Some fifty girls are engaged, each with a vessel re¬ 
sembling a half barrel, holding sixty pounds of coal; this, when 
filled, is placed upon the head and carried up the gang-plank to 
the deck. As laborious as this duty may seem, it is performed 
with the greatest alacrity, accompanied by songs, dancing, and 
peals of laughter. (See Plate). The Idle of the party, luxuriat¬ 
ing in the name of “ Flouncy,” is seen on the deck, dressed in a 
pink muslin, flounced almost to the waist. She is in the act of 
taking one of those extraordinary steps for which the colored 
population are justly celebrated. The mate seems to have taken 
in charge a small specimen of humanity who pertinaciously in¬ 
sists upon coming on board to sell parrots. He is now receiving 
a “ dose of sprouts,” and will go off no doubt, with a pair of 
stogys vividly impressed upon his imagination. A colored 
gentleman is seen laying against the wheel house counting the 
tubs as they are borne along by the “Bloomer ’’-clad girls; near 
him stands an individual who looks very like a returning Cali¬ 
fornian. A party of ladies and gentlemen are promenading the 
upper deck. Cocoa-nut trees with fruit are seen, with a range of 
mountains in the background. Boats with fruit, cactus, shells, 
parrots, &c., are being rowed about to tempt the passengers. 
