The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-01
Life in California.

N The New Orleans Pcayune gives, q
4. the result of an interview with Mr.. Samu
r. MacNavin, Of this city. just returne
from San Francisco, the following anon
!. other interesting particulars OF his VISIT
!. ~ Y. Post.
e CONDITION OF THE SICK-"In Angus
:. and September, the chills and fever an
IF dysentery prevail to great extent Thes
r. diseases proceed from exposure an
q change Of diet, the waters of the rivers be
). ing very active, and they often prove fata
a from want Of attention, and the absenc
o of comforts which cannot be obtained -
q The physicians in the towns of San Fran
cisco and Sacramento charge an ounce {
f visit; but at the mines it is mschievousl,
f remarked, when called to see a sick man
f in feeling his pulse they generally find ou
v the nature of his disease by asking hin
!. how long he has been digging, how mucf
, he has made, and they dose and charge
him accordingly. The sufferings of the
sick are indescribable, as there are little
or no comforts to be had, and young men
who are even lucky in the mines. when
f they fall sick have TO spend their all 20 re-
gain their health: sometimes they are SO
reduced as to be without. even cent to-
60 home with. The physicians, however,
never refuse to attend those who have be-
come unfortunate. 1t is said an illiterate
lrishman passed himself off in the mines
I for docter, and made about 100000
by the successful imposture."
CREDIT AND VEGETABLEs.-"lt is aston
| ishing what confidence exists among the
merchants, and the extent of the credit
system. An utter stranger may come in,
without cent. and ask a merchant for
credit, who never refuses. but merely upon
the mans word ofhonor gives him goods,
provisions, &C., sends him, by his OK
teams out to the mines, and patiently
waits for "a settling day, which is almost
sure to come. A merchant, who said he
had credited several in this way, was on
ly disappointed in one instance, and then
the man was never heard of, and it was
supposed he had died.
"a Dutchman, who has cleared a few
acres Of ground about eight miles from the
city of Sacramento, has made large for
tune by raising vegetables. He sells mel
ons at so to 81 apiece, potatoes at $32
per one hundred pounds, and every thing
else in propotion."
Mr.. AUDUBoN.--"Mr. Audubon's party
had not been heard of at the latest dates;
but as that gentleman went more particu-
larly to examine the country, and 10 make
observations as naturalist, we do not
feel any apprehensions for his safety. Be-
sides, in consequence Of the total want of
grass on the praries, and the danger of
passing those terrible deserts, designated
by the Spaniards jornada,' we learn that
many of the last emigrants had struck off
for Oregon, or would winter at the Great
Salt Lake or Deseret, the Mormon settle.
ment." 1 fa
GAMBLING all the fruitful sources
of industry which flourish now in San
Francisco, that of gambling exhibits the
rankest luxuriance. Faro, monte and
roulette, nightly invite the curious and
thoughtless, IN brilliantly lighted saloons.
On the tables are heaps Of gold, amount
ing to from fifty to one hundred thousand
dollars. In one instance, as our inform
ant assures, $4,000 was staked and won
on a single card! Small pieces of brown
paper, folded up-representing rouleaux-I
marked. and containing from one to two
hundred dollars in gold dust, and staked
and bet, or paid, without the croupers
ever examining the contents of the pa
pers."
Mr.. RIvEs RECOGNIZED AT LAsT.--The |
N. Y. Evening Post, speaking of the re-
cognition of Mr.. Rives by the French gov
ernment, says: m
"Mr. Rives has been recognized by the
French oovernment-hvt the s.Prince - az |