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Show 168 PERSONAL ADVENTURE~ ,vell adapted for furniture and cabinet-work, and many of the doors and sashes of the houses in San Francisco are rnade of it, a coat of varnish imparting to it a finish and a pleasing colour, besides adding greatly to its dura .. bility. IN CALIFORNIA. 169 CHAPTER XXIII. Difficulties of landing-A ruse de guerre-First aspect of San Francisco, as seen from a height-Scene on the beach, on the arrival of an emigrant ship-Dandies at a discount-Friends from the " diggins"-Early history of San Francisco, under the Spaniards and Mexicans- Its rise, present prosperity, and future ·prospects-The Mission of San Dolores. Eagerly desirous as I was to escape from the confinement of the vessel, and to see the town, I beheld the boat and her crew depart with feelings of considerable mortification and disappointment. We were moored far away from any other vessel, and from the landing-place, and at least three hours elapsed before I succeeded in attracting the attention of any of the boatmen. At length two Kanakas, who had just returned from the shore to one of the traders, seemed to understand that I wanted them, though they made no effort to come VOL. II. I |