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Show 278 PERSONAL ADVENTURES As to the climate of California, so many conflicting statements concerning it have been hazarded, that persons who have not visited the country may easily be led into error on this point, and can scarcely hope to form a correct opinion. Independently considered, it may justly be pronounced as the healthiest in the world ; for it presents every variety of atmosphere within a great extent of latitude. If the emigrant's object be simply to find a congenial ten1perature, he can easily gratify his taste; but should circumstances compel him to reside in a locality the air of which is not suited to his particular constitution, the evil effect of living in it can only be effectu· ally remedied by a due attention to diet and dress. Too many persons neglect, or scorn to observe the requisite precautions on this head, exposing themselves to the sudden ex· tremes of heat and cold peculiar to the climate, and, in their reckless pursuit after gold-heed· less of every other consideration-contract diseases during their labours, which, if they do not always prove fatal, so undermine the IN CALIFORNIA. 279 frame and constitution, as to render even an opulent life a burden. Thousands of emigrants, Americans, and others, have thus been cut off by disease, since the discovery of the mines. I have no hesitation in asserting that the neglecting of proper precautions on the part of the miners, has, by causing a large mortality amongst them, tended to propagate the belief tlJat the climate is in itself unhealthy. When, however, California shall have become thoroughly settled, and an abundance of good houses, of adobe or wood, shall have sprung up in its towns ; when the people shall have returned to the legitimate pursuits incidental to a healthy state of society; when agriculture shall be practised more extensively, and the search after gold no longer be the absorbing passion of the emigrants, there will be fewer railers against the climate. Even in San Francisco where during one entire sea- ' ' son of the year, the weather is more intoler-able and severe than in any other town along the whole coast, the carrying out of a regular system of building, drainage, and ventila- |