more than their Iving, and some not then getting go Sus z vel af at being able to per to tom duraris; but i at first a pernel of raia vah se of it, i where they found vage foregom is places they to w

winding, drove them out of them scoetimes even where the electors had arrived in those parts. to give them at least a chance of taking out a Love an

The French got up a perfect revolution jos at this time, and a war nearly broke out in the mines, wale murders were already committed dally; and a this only on account of a parcel of men who could not see farther than their own noses, passing an impossible law, and strutting about and saying, "We have done a great thing, we have brought millions into the treasury."

Some foreigners, who had just at that time good claims, or such at least as they thought rich, had to pay the enormous licence for the first month, but the law had to be repealed directly, and was altered afterwards into twenty dollars a-year, and the first paid monthly licence was taken into account for the whole year.

CHAPTER VI.

THE INDIANS OF CALIFORNIA.

IN the neighbourhood of Murphy's New Diggings, a large tribe of the Wynoot Indians. camped; and though Americans not unfrequently tell dreadful stories about the treacherous character of these natives, I never found a more quiet and peaceable people in any country than they were.

When I reached the camp, the squaws-and a little warm water and soap would have decidedly improved their complexion-were busied in getting the sumptuous meal ready for their lords and husbands, and I had a beautiful chance of seeing the simple, but also most peculiar way in which they prepare their dinners. The main part of this seemed to consist of a soft mush of pounded acorns. They had dug—or, I rather believe, stamped—a small flat hole in the ground, in the shape of a round and deep dish, or a Java hat, or something like a Californian washing

till he had nearly finished half the basket. The thumb looked on all the time, accompanying the other four fingers down and up again, and only acting as a kind of preventative to hinder the hand from disappearing entirely.

When he had finished his meal-that is, when he could eat no more he leant back groaning upon his seat. I thought then that a sip of brandy would aid his digestion, but he took the bottle rather distrustfully, and swilling twice at it-the second time far more carefully than the firsthe handed it back to me, trying to make me understand by signs that he would tumble about if he drank that stuff, and become sick. To show me his gratitude, however, he pushed the basket with acorn-mush towards me, to benefit by a similar application of my fingers to the poe; but I declined the hospitable offer with partly the same fears as he entertained about the brandy. The squaw and the children soon afterwards took the basket between them; and it was a treat to see the way the large and little fingers went into it and out again.

While I was standing there, a couple of pretty young girls came from the woods, with flat baskets full of flower-seed emitting a peculiar fragrance, which they also prepared for eating. They put some live coals amongst the seed, and swinging it and throwing it together, to shake the coals and