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Show 198 PERSONAL ADVENTURES takes place, ·which is always followed by a general fandango around the corpse. When a priest can be procured, he usually presides at these funereal festivities ; but more frequently than otherwise his services are dispensed with altogether, for, when all is over, the body is conveyed to the burying-place, and lowered into the grave without any form of prayer whatsoever. Coffins are~ very rarely used by the poorer classes, wood of every description being scarce, and planks and boards of almost incredible value. I have already twice alluded to "Black Jack," in connexion with several deeds of blood, for the commission of which no one had ever ventured to assert that he had any authority. One day, during our stay here, there came an express, which was read to the volunteers on parade, and which proved to be a cornmand from Governor :Niason, that "Black Jack" should be forthwith arrested on the charge of having unlawfully shot two Califor .. nians and two Y akee Indian chiefR, and that he should be confined until he could take his IN CALIFORNIA. 199 trial at head-quarters. The Governor further ordered that this expression of his opinion on the matter should be published in all the Mexican and United States' newspapers, with a view to remove from the American government any stigma that might attach to it, in consequence of these atrocious deeds. The express was received with acclamation, and the redoubtable " Black Jack" at once consigned to durance vile. Whilst we were here awaiting the arrival of the despatch which was to release us from service, news reached us of several extensive and prolific gold mines having been discovered in Upper California, and of large fortunes having been realized in an incredibly brief space of time, by the lucky fe,v who chanced to be on the spot, or in the more immediate neighbourhood. At first, the report was treated very lightly, the majority of our men laughing at the idea of gold being found in abundance on the ground ; and the whole afFair being considered as a hoax got up to induce an emigration into those parts, 've |