und. Incense of the
pungent member of the lily family. Arrival of other storm-bound trains,
and sudden collapse in prices. A horseback-ride on dangerous
mule-trail. Fall of oxen over precipice. The mountain flowers, oaks,
and rivulets. Visit to Kanaka mother. A beauty from the isles. Hawaiian
superstition. An unfortunate request for the baby as a present.
Consolatory promise to give the next one. Indian visitors.
Head-dresses. "Very tight and very short shirts". Indian mode of life.
Their huts, food, cooking, utensils, manner of eating. Sabine-like
invasion leaves to tribe but a few old squaws. "Startlingly
unsophisticated state of almost entire nudity". Their filthy habits.
Papooses fastened in framework of light wood. Indian modes of fishing.
A handsome but shy young buck. Classic gracefulness of folds of
white-sheet robe of Indian. Light and airy step of the Indians
something superhuman. Miserably brutish and degraded. Their vocabulary
of about twenty words. Their love of gambling, and its frightful
consequences. Arrival of hundreds of people at Indian Bar. Saloons
springing up in every direction. Fluming operations rapidly
progressing. A busy, prosperous summer looked for.

LETTER _the_ EIGHTEENTH PAGE 247

FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVAL--SPANISH ATTACKED

Fourth of July celebration at Rich Bar. The author makes the flag. Its
materials. How California was represented therein. Floated from the top
of a lofty pine-tree. The decorations at the Empire Hotel. An
"officious Goth" mars the floral piece designed for the orator of the
day. Only two ladies in the audience. Two others are expected, but do
not arrive. No copy of the Declaration of Independence. Some
preliminary speeches by political aspirants. Orator of the day reads
anonymous poem. Oration "exceedingly fresh and new". Belated arrival of
the expected ladies, new-comers from the East. With new fashions, they
extinguish the author and her companion. Dinner at the Empire. Mexican
War captain as president. "Toasts quite spicy and original". Fight in
the barroom. Eastern lady "chose to go faint" at sight of blood. Cabin
full of "infant phenomena". A rarity in the mountains. Miners, on way
home from celebration, give nine cheers for mother and children. Outcry
at Indian Bar against Spaniards. Several severely wounded. Whisky and
patriotism. Prejudices and arrogant assurance accounted for.
Misinterpretation by the foreigner. Injustic