Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-01-25

large cabins, you find now an exchange, a
theatre, churches for all the Christian secis,
and a great number of handsome houses-
Some Of them are built of stone, but the most
part of wood and adobe. The fronts of the
houses are white-washed or painted, the
streets well laid out, and the whole presents
a sufficiently fine effect. From the two sides
of the town following along the bank there
stretch out ranges of tents far as I, c eye can
see, forming town of new scrt, which is
not deficient of certain originality. There
come to repose for an instant before they Lr--
take themselves to the mines, the emgrants
of the two worlds, as well as the Chinese,
the Malays, and all that loose population
which swarmed lately in the diverse grou, s
OF Polynesia, and to whom B.iany Pay has
served as the point of departure. There is
to be found the ex-Innistrr of Jusiicc* of King
kamehameha, now the most redoubtable
brigand of California, the same who drew UP
that famous code of laws which the bible So
cieties Of England and the United States
have proclaimed a master piece OF human
sagacity. There, arc to he found collected
assassins, parrcides, highway robbers. buc-
cancers, upon whom the hand of divine JUS
tice has not yet been laid Comedy and the
drama, the latter principally, may there find
ample matter to draw upon. Incredible es-
capes, and adventures such as the imagina-
tions of our most fruitful novclists have not
dreamed of, there await their future histo-
rian.
Already the town of San Francisco rcsem-
bles vast hive in which there reigns per-
petual buzz. Coaches, cars, wagons driv-
ing along pell nell, cross and run against
each other from all sides; pity the phiosO-
pher, the dreamer who finds himself bewild-
cred in the streets Of San Francisco, for be
Is exposed at every step to the danger of be-
ing trampled down, while he delivers himself
up TO his meditations, and without any one
even crying to him, take care. Great hulk
ing fellows strong and bOny, the head sur
mounted by a sugar loaf hat, whip and strain
their teams along without paying the least
attention to foot passengers. On each side
OF the street you see pass along crowd
silent and thoughtful, with hurried steps,
either towards the customhouse great erec-
tiOn at the foot Of the town, or towards the
exchange, an edifice situated between two
gambling houses, and before which are per-
manently stationed groups of eager specula-
tors.
All the nations of the globe are largely
represented in the commerce Of San Francis
CO, but as might be expected the American
element predominates there. American Leg
islatiOn permits every one to establish ac-
cording to his own idea. Every one in con-
sequence is Stock Broker, Consignee,
Banker, Money-changer, Auctioneer, many
even exercise all these professions smulta-
neously. / am ignorant il the ship owner OF
the merchant of Havre who sends goods on
consignment to San Francisco makes bril-
liant affair Of it; but it is certain that the
consignee who receives them does not ruin
himself. The list Of their different charges
under the titles of brokerage, change Of
moneys, and warehouse rent, would greatly
edfy their brethren in Europe
We may without exaggeration estimate
them at about fifty per cent Of the gross pro-
ceeds of each sale. 1t is just, however, to
remember that the consignee in San Fran
cisco has, on his part, heavy expenses to
sustain. Thus besides the dearth price Of
daily provisions in country where they Oft
en- pay as much as five francs for an egg ,and
three francs for a potatoe, the rents vary
from one hundred and fifty thousand to three
hundred thousand francs per annum. There
are a considerable number of houses that
bring their proprietOrs as much as eight
hundred thousands francs per annum.
However important may be the results OBJ
tanned from the mines of California and how
ever numerous the resources Of San Francis
CO, as a centre Of commerce may be, il is
impossible such state of things can long be
maintained The Yankee is jobber by ma
ture; nobody understands putting better than
he Give a citizen of Massachusetts a hun
dred roods of morass, he will baptize it by
the seductive name of Eden Fields, then he
will give value to them in so many ways,
and with such perseverance, that more than
one innocent will not be long in falling into
his net. This is what is called in the United
States pIGying Yankee trick, and certainly
general jackson was not more proud Of his
famous victory over the English at New Or
leans, than one Of these players when he re-
counts to his enthusiastic cOnpatrlots any
instance of his prowess of this sort. Throw
three Americans upon desert isle where
there is but one spring of water; two Of them
will seize upon il, and levy by this means a
tribute upon the third; then they will loudly
vaunt their Yankee trick.
Herba Buena otherwise called San Fran
cisco lies to the right in entering the bay,
little beyond the old Spanish fort. II is at
the present time town Of fifty thousand
souls, and promises to become in a few years,
the capital of the Pacific. The forest Of
masts which opens to the view all round re-
minds one of Havre and Marseilles. There
are at this moment upwards of;hree hundred
and forty merchant ships anchored near the
town, without counting considerable num-
Der of brigs and small craft. All without
exception have lost their crews, and many Of
them have been deserted by the Captains
themselves. An American corvette carry
ing the flag of Commodore Jones, keeps sole
watch over this mass property,
We landed without difficulty at jetty just
run out at the foot Of the old fort. No Gus
tomhouse officers here to search your pock-
cts, or to probe, iron in hand your mails and
your packets.
AT San Francisco where fifteen months
.cosrosb;oo waa to he met hut n half dozen