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Show 378 PERSONAL ADVENTURES Pacific coast, which must have cost the early Spaniards enormous sums of money and an extraordinary expenditure of labour to erect. Many of them are exceedingly picturesque, being partially covered with ivy and vines; whilst rising far above the exterior walls are to be seen countless tropical plants and flowers. Even the private houses are not exempt from the appearance of decay. On visiting several of them, I was surprised at the great height and spaciousness of the apartments, and at the solidity of the walls. Many of then1 are twenty feet high, and nearly as many in width. This mode of construction evinces no economy of space, but is admirably adapted to the comfort of the inhabitants, as it renders the dwellings infinitely cooler and more agreeable, during the greater part of the year, than any place that can be found out of doors. The eaves of the houses are generally made to project as far as possible, and are supported by wooden posts. Some of them have verandas in front the wood-work of ' which, as well as the building itself, is white- 'vashed. The Inajority of shops in the town are small, but they are nun1erous. So1ne of the Yankees had recently established a few hotels and eating establishments, but very few were located here in any other branch of business. The climate is, IN CALIFORNIA. 379 no doubt, the cause of this, being little adapted to the constitution of the Anglo-Saxon. Four-fifths of the population are of the negro race. They had probably come into the country in the capacity of slaves to the Spaniards, but their masters had long since .lost their supremacy. A few of pure Castilian descent were still to be found; and, though these pride thenlselves on the fairness of their complexion, and their superior intelligence, they are utterly insignificant in point of influence. In the bands of the people of the United States, tbi~ town could easily be rendered prosperous. The majority of the edifices are susceptible of cheap and effectual improvement, and it would require but a comparatively small outlay of 1noney to put the whole town in complete repair, Inany of the n1ost substantial buildings being entirely deserted, owing to a deficiency of wood-work, which seems to have rotted, or been torn away. When such improvements shall have been effected, and a better road cut across the Isthmus, this neglected place will assume a charming appearance. The black, woolly population will, however, remain a pronlinent characteristic of the town ; and it perhaps \viii be maintained by some, that their presence will prove a great obstacle to its restoration; for it may be asserted hy those who |