CHAPTER IV.

Scarcity of labouring men--High wages--Want of social restraint--Intense rivalry in all pursuits--Disappointed hopes--Drunkenness--American style of drinking--The bars--Free luncheons--The bar-keeper--Variety of national houses--The Chinese--Chinese stores and washermen--Theatres and gambling-rooms--Masquerades--“No weapons admitted”--Magnificent shops--Grading the streets--Steam Paddy--Raising houses--Cabs--Post-office--Fire--Fire companies--Mission Dolores--San José--Native Californians, 65-93