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Show 266 PERSONAL ADVENTURES a fair opportunity for indulging their love of plunder. It appeared that the unfortunate volunteer had gone into the store in company with another man, on the previous evening; and they were drinking together, when a dispute arose, which resulted in the Spaniard's orrlering the two Americans to leave the house. Their blood was up, and they refused to comply; when the Spaniard snatched up a gun, and shot Beattie in the back. But neither the • affair of the murder, nor that of robbing the tent, ever became a subject of inquiry; afford· ing another flagrant instance of the negligent manner in which the laws were administered, and of the contempt in which they were held. Amongst the various emigrants who daily flocked into the city-for each day brought its fresh arrivals-were numerous Chinese, and a very considerable number of Frenchmen, from the Sandwich Islands and from South America. The former had been consigned, with houses and merchandise, to certain Arne· ricans in San Francisco, to whom they were IN CALIFORNIA. 267 bound by contract, as labourers, to work at a scale of wages very far below the average paid to mechanics and others generally. The houses they brought with them from China, and which they set up where they were wanted, were infinitely superior and more substantial than those erected by the Yankees, · being built chiefly of logs of wood, or scantling, from six to eight inches in thickness, placed one on the top of the other, to forn1 the front, rear, -and sides; whilst the roofs 'vere constructed on an equally simple and ingenious plan, and were remarkable for durability. These Chinese had all the air of men likely to prove good citizens, being quiet, inoffensive, and particularly industrious. I once went into an eating-house, kept by one of these people, and was astonished at the neat arrano·ement 0 and cleanliness of the place, the excellence of the table, and moderate charges. It was styled the "Canton Restaurant;" and so thoroughly Chinese was it in its appointments, and in the manner of service, that one might have easily fancied one's-self in the heart of N2 |