Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/156



for place,  which,  before  the  seats  are  allotted,  some- times rises to  a  downright  fight  whenever  the  bell rings. I never  saw  the  Darwinian  theory  more  aptly illustrated than  before  these  table  tickets  were  p-iven out ; in  a  voyage  to  California,  the  survival  of  the  fit- test was a  foregone  conclusion. At meal  time  partic- ularly the animal  was  let  loose ;  the  strong  prevailed, and (obtained  a  seat  at  table,  while  the  weak,  or  such as  did  not  choose  to  exercise  their  strength  if  they  had it,  waited,  and  took  what  was  left.

As the  strong  man  fed,  he  lapsed  into  a  state  of semi-unconsciousness;  his  manners  were  unstudied, and his  abandon  perfect. He could  sweep  the  dishes of their  contents,  far  as  the  arm  could  reach,  quicker than a  prairie  fire  sweeps  the  ground  of  grass. The movements of  a  starved  dog  over  the  cat's  saucer  of milk  were  slow  as  compared  with  his  movements. He appeared wholly  unaware  of  the  presence  of  women and children  who  likewise  were  hungry  for  food, thouofh I  have  seen  females  who  could  flight  for  their survival with  the  best  of  the  men. When his  hunger was satisfied,  he  came  to  himself,  gazed  wistfully about, picked  his  teeth  with  his  pocket-knife,  and slowly retired.

Steamers for  the  Californian  passenger  trade  were usually built  with  three  or  four  decks ;  they  were  at this  time  all  side-wheel  and  carried  small  masts. Sails were  sometimes  spread,  though  little  depended upon them  in  navigating  the  ship. The larger  ves- sels employed from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  men, officers, seamen,  and  servants. Of all  the  employes the firemen  were  the  greatest  sufferers ;  working  be- fore a hot  furnace  down  in  the  hold,  they  were  fre- quently so overcome  of  heat  that  they  had  to  be packed  in  ice  to  cool  them  off. On the  upper  deck, above the  ship's  hull,  was  a  double  row  of  state-rooms, with ample  space  between  them  and  the  guards  for sittinof and  walkingf,  and  for  the  managfement  of  the ship. On   this    dock,   forward,   were    also  the  pilot-