Polynesian., 1851-07-19
FROM THE (SYDxEY) Peoples ADVOCATE.
GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!!-

Iextended westward, ages before the princely
republics of Italy sent ambassadors into the
regions of the east, before Greece became
lgreat and fell, or Rome rose from the hum
BILE condition of mud walls, to be mistress oi
the world, abounding in palaces, filled to
overflowing with every luxury which could
tempt the appetite of man, we are told that
from some unknown region, the ships of Sidon
brought gold and precious stones to Solo
man.
In these days we cannot but conjecture the
lsituation of the golden land, and all we know
lis, that it was called by the Hebrews, Ophir
But, although tradition has omitted to hand
down the locality yet the existence of land
so favored, was generally believed, and one
70 the chief objects of M. Polo's embassy to
the Khan of Tartary, was to ascertain if by
any fortunate chance he might discover the
Kingdom of Prester John, who was not only
supposed 10 be Christian, but also the
wealth!est and most powerful Monarch in the
world. 1t need be scarcely said that thes allan.
Venetian failed in his purpose, although he
enriched himself and his family, and lived to
a ripe old age in his native city, enved by
some, reverenced, by others and ridiculed by
those who were incredulous ofhis accounts of
the grandeur fthe empires he had visited.
At still later period when those pioneers,
of the ocean, the Spaniards and Portuguese
were extending the realms. power, and great
ness of their countries. gold was their ambi-
ton Commerce was but a secondary object
when compared with that glittering metal the
possession Of which was supposed to the ac-
compartment ofevery blessing.
The wealth of the Americas in time de-
Istroyed the gallant spirits which had former
| ly induced the patient endurance of so many
hardships; easily acquired, it enervated The
mind, and blig: ted the energy of the head
and the hand; when the reverse came, when
Spain and Portugal humbled by the powers
of Europe lost those colonies to, which they
had been indebted for their greatness, they
lost caste and sunk, never more to rise, into
the grade Of second or third rate Kingdoms
Such were the evil results which followed
the influx of riches from the newly discovered
continents of the western world, when their
expenditure was not regulated by purdence
and that plain mater-of-fact, common sense,
which in our day, usually characterises those
who traffic in the world. This question of
the early Spanish adventurers. is the proper
prelude to some illusions to those great dis
coveries which in our day have recalled to
memory many of the scenes Of past ages;
when on the shores of America, gold was
more abundant and much less valued than
iron. For centuries there have been tradi-
tons among the Mexicans, and those nations
which borderd on the Peninsula of CalifOr-
MIA, to the mouth of the Oregon, that amid
the mountains watch encircled them was to
be found, gold in abundance to satisfy the
most adventurous. Hundreds devoted their
lives in vain and frui:less search, some re-
turned to spend their last few years in hope
less and invaiaed helplessness, others per-
in the desert. The mystery still remained
ground, although very slowly among the peo-
| pie, that the traditions of their torefathers
were but a dream to which the lapse Of time
and ardent hope alone had given life and
vigor. 1t is but as an accident of yesterday,
how the great discovery was made, and we
all know. what a sensation it created, not
only in America, but from one extremity Of
the world to the other.
Inspired by that love of gambling, which
seems inherent in the nature of man, thou
sands forsook certain competence for the un
known perils of a wilderness, where their
prospects were in every way precarious.-
Cities and towns arose as if by magic, where
some months before few huts alone showed
that any of the human race had found, in
these regions, home-forests Of masts filed
bays and harbors, wont only to be frequent
ed at long and uncertain intervals, by coast
ers or some struggling wanderer over the
ocean.
In such a community as that which built
up the state of California, peace, law, and
order could scarcely be expected. Where the
children Of so many nations were coDgregated
together, it could hardly he expected that
such dscordant materials could be cordial or
unanimous The wild rider Of Mexico, the
bold frontierman of Kentucky, the half
Spaniard half French gambler of Louisiana,
1.-THE Chilian, the Peruvian. the half-bred In
dian, the keen clear-headed Yankee, the
EngIishman, and his child the Australian,
Together with many others from oil parts of
1.-THE world, all formed an Ola Podrida Of ma
|tions assembled togethers unexampled in the
annals Of the world. Tho natural result fol-
Ilowed-the descendants of the Spaniards of
the new world were passionate3y addicted toI
lgambIing, they easily induced those who had
become their comp1frjots TO follow their ex-
ample, and rapi6es violence and murder.
followed in rapid and fearful succession, Civ
IN 10 the land, in the eye Of the stesdy and
less adventurous, the name Of p Pondemoniupls
Bot those who looked Ilrtllsr could zee, ial
lthe distance, the break Is Tho cloud xhich
Iwas 10 herald ID fairer Weoah6f. or this neW
lempire state ofthe Pacific, allj ke1q}x>11
led the coming eof day wheH zkc1z flsl
would spring forffa goodlY wosid,
L.