Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/224



sliell-work, and  are  often  paddled  by  a  woman  with  a cigar  in  her  moiith,  while  a  man  or  boy  attends  the floating shop. Traffic is  conducted  in  this  wise: Ransrino; themselves  alonof  both  sides  of  the  steamer the dark-visaged  venders  lift  up  their  eyes  and  voices to those  above  inviting^  trade. Armed with  a  basket or mat  bag^,  to  which  is  attached  one  end  of  a  loner line, they  throw  the  other  end  up  over  the  guard. Whoever wishes  to  make  a  purchase  takes  the  line, draws up  the  basket,  and  puts  into  it  a  piece  of  money. Then lowerino;  it  to  the  boat  and  intimatino;  what  is wanted,  the  seller  takes  the  money  and  puts  in  the basket its  equivalent  in  wares  which  are  then  drawn  up on  board  by  the  purchaser. Tired of  this  you  may amuse yourself  by  throwing  dimes  or  quarters  over- board, and watching  the  naked  tawny-skinned  urchins ; who float  about  the  ship  as  in  their  natural  element, dive and  scramble  down  into  the  transparent  water ten or  twenty  feet,  and  come  up  porpoise-like,  puffing and blowing  the  water  out  of  their  heads,  with  the glittering coin  between  thumb  and  finger. Seldom or never  do  they  fail  catching  it  before  it  sinks  very  far, and holding  it  up  to  view  for  a  moment  they  throw  it into  their  mouths  and  watch  for  more. These boys will thus  remain  in  the  water  for  hours  without  any support save  that  which  a  slow  fin-like  motion  of arms  and  legs  gives  them,  and  despite  the  sharks  to which  one  of  them  is  now  and  then  sacrificed. To him who  has  made  the  voyage,  the  bare  mention  of these  little  incidents  will  call  up  a  thousand  associa- tions which will  enable  him  in  some  degree  to  live again the  time  that  formed  so  important  an  epoch  in the  life  of  every  Californian.

While the  steamer  is  taking  in  coals,  cattle,  fowls fruit, and  water,  which  occupies  several  hours,  you may if  you  like  go  ashore  in  a  boat  and  visit  the town, less  than  a  mile  distant,  in  a  recess  of  the  bay. Near the  landing,  and  on  the  shady  side  of  the  plaza, you will  find   spread  out  on  tables  and  on  the  ground