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with Chilians — men,  women,  and  children. The place was called  Little  Chile. The women  appeared  to  be always  washing,  but  the  vocation  of  the  men  was  a puzzle  to  the  passers-by. Neither the  scenery  of  the place nor  its  surroundings  were  very  pleasant,  particu- larly in hot  weather. On one  side  was  a  slnny  bog, and on  the  other  rubbish  heaps  and  sinks  of  offal. Notwithstanding, it  was  home  to  them,  and  from  their filthy quarters  they  might  be  seen  emerging  on  Sun- days, the men  washed  and  clean-shirted,  and  the women arrayed  in  smiling  faces  and  bright-colored apparel. They could  work  and  wallow  patiently through the  week  provided  they  could  enjoy  a  little recreation and  fresh  air  on  Sunday. Whenever a vessel  arrived  from  a  home  port,  the  camping  ground presented a  lively  appearance. Round the  chief  hut or tienda  lounged  dirty  men  in  parti-colored  serapes and round-crowned  straw  hats,  smoking,  drinking,  and betting at  monte. Most of  these  were  either  on  their way to,  or  had  lately  returned  from,  the  mines.

Walk Kearney  street  at  night  from  California street to  the  Plaza. The shops  are  all  closed,  all  but the saloons,  mostly  attended  by  a  French  or  Spanish woman, and  Cheap  John  auction  stores,  whose  cries in husky  voice  and  bad  breath  strive  to  roar  above the jingling  bells,  before  each  door,  where  every  one tries to  ring  down  his  neighbor. Passing along  you step aside  to  avoid  some  reeling  drunkard  running into you,  and  as  you  approach  the  plaza,  the  blazing light from  the  thickly  planted  saloons  glows  in  the thick, murky  air  without,  and  strains  of  mingled  music from different  bands  fall  upon  the  ear. Pouring in and  out  of  temples  dedicated  to  Bacchus  and  to  For- tuna, are  crowds  of  people  of  every  hue,  and  tongue, and character  under  heaven.

Building in  the  autumn  of  1853  was  active,  and  the structures were  of  a  much  more  durable  character than was  the  custom  to  rear  hitherto. Most of  the