Note Footnotes — Front matter

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Captain J. B. Frisbie.

[2] From Vacca or Vaca—cow.

[3] Sun-dried brick.

[4] Lasso.

[5] I am supposing the case of an unarmed person suddenly meeting a she-bear, a not unusual occurrence in California.

[6] Query:—(Printer’s Devil.)

[7] As it would be inferred from this that champagne must have been cheap, I may mention that at this period the prices ranged from 2l. to 4l. the bottle, and the quality was execrable.

[8] This fact alone proves the truth of my remarks.

[9] The intelligent reader will observe that this was not the same house that was thrown overboard.

[10] In which it will be observed they were more merciful than I was; but the “coyote” comes under the head of vermin.

[11] “Drinks” are not necessarily composed of intoxicating liquors: on the contrary, the principal ingredients are ice, syrup, and herbs. I mention this, because we mean by a man who “drinks,” a drunkard, or the next thing to it.

[12] Looking, in fact, for new diggings.

[13] Deposits of Gold.

[14] Scalp.

[15] Gold washers.

[16] But when a couple of Chinamen make a demand for sam-schou, then the bar-keeper is puzzled.

[17] The reader will observe, if he pleases, that in erecting this hotel I had no view to becoming its landlord: had I taken any situation in it, it would have been in the capacity of “boots,” which berth a “handy young man” can turn to better account in this country than even the head cook. That a cook’s situation, with or without tea and sugar is lucrative, the following anecdote will attest:—In ’49 the captain of a merchant brig at San Francisco having engaged a crew, regardless of expense, in lieu of that which had run away, regardless of their contracts and arrears of pay, found himself still in want of a cook. Meeting a negro on the beach he offered him the situation, and to the enquiry of the latter respecting salary, the captain said he could give but two pounds a day. Having cocked his hat, folded his arms and adjusted his legs as niggers do, this fellow laughed musically and said, “dat if de capten wish to hire heseff out for five pounds a day to fill dat occupation, jes walk up to the restaurant and he would set him to work immediently.”

[18] In Mexico.

[19] Independent of the probability of there having been more than one formation.—See Appendix.

[20] Obsolete term revived.

[21] A converted Budhist will address his prayers to our God if he thinks he can obtain any temporal benefit by so doing; but if not he would be just as likely to pray to Budha or to the devil.—Baker’s “Rifle and Hound in Ceylon,” page 85.

[22] If the reader will refer to the “Times” of the 29th of September, 1854, he will perceive that a liberal collection was made at St. James’s, Piccadilly, for the Borneo Mission. In the same journal, three days earlier, the police magistrates express their regret that want of funds compels them to deny assistance to surviving sufferers from the cholera! All have, of course, a right to do as they like with their money; but after the hat had passed round at St. James’s, I should have liked to have seen its liberal contents transferred at once to Bermondsey instead of to Kuchin. And for this reason, that I know, from personal experience, that my old friends the Dyaks are as fat and sleek a people as any in the world, well fed, well housed, and free from disease, whilst the stomachs of those at Spitalfields, charitable sir, are aching with the hunger that drives man to crime!

[23] Rich deposits were discovered, but I am not aware of the value of the quartz generally at Carson’s Creek.

[24] Our object was still only to experimentalise.

[25] The reader will perceive the bitter irony conveyed in this expression as contrasted with the complimentary one of “some pumpkins.”

[26] The best use to which an India-rubber sheet can be put, is to protect during the day that part of the ground on which you sleep at night.

[27] Since this was written, an election has taken place, calculated to give satisfaction to the Reform Party.

[28] A little paper called the “Sun” deserves great credit for the courage with which it has attacked existing abuses!

[29] I beg to forestall the remark that may here be applied to me, that I am myself a know nothing, and defend the sect from fellow-feeling.

[30] Air-boats with life lines and floats suspended from their gunwales.

[31] As this goes to press I add a few extracts from a report in the “Times” of December 8, 1854, of the loss of the troop ship “Charlotte” and 117 lives in Algoa Bay, September 20th:—

“*** On the life-boat coming alongside it was found that every one on board was completely paralysed, or overcome by the calamity. *** Three separate times the life-boat pulled alongside, but there was no one in a position even to cast a line to it. *** A great number threw themselves overboard. Some were fortunate enough to reach the shore, but the majority were drowned.”

This ship was apparently in a position favourable for the preservation of life, had confidence existed.

[32] These remarks were written previous to the loss of the “Arctic.”

[33] I trust the reader will understand that if I omit to write seriously of my feelings on recovery from a death-bed, it is because I consider a work like this no place for them.

[34] Extensive fields of good serviceable coal have been discovered in Southern Oregon.—Author.