The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-05-26
a Home nj the Mines.

from the main street, overlooking the
main portion Of the town. and the series
Of - flats on which the main portion Of
the mining is being done. There are min
ing claims all around US, the entire hillside
being dotted with the rock thrown out
from shafts sunk on the various claims
and. in fact, our house stands on q ledge
which is claimed for mining purposes. and
they are blasting out shaft in the street
right alongside Of US. The cabin is built
of rough. knoity pine boards, which cost
800 in gold per thousand feet. battened
on the sides, with cloth roof, covered
over with rough boards. not battened. The
snow is sitting down as | write, and the
wind tlaring the candles so that can
scarcely see. The little cabin has one
door and one window, aud is u feet wide
by l6 feet in length. Six Of Us. all mar
ried men, whose families are in California,
rent this cabin al 500 in gold per month.
We paid $50 for small stove, IS cents
apiece for common plates, S5 for q COM
mon drygOods box. out Of which we made
a rude table. and similar prices for few
more articles of table and diningroom
furniture-the only regular chair, a com
mon cane-seat diGingrOom chair. cost So
here - and commenced housekeeping.
Flour costs Us SIC and 81 per hundred
pounds; Sngar. 10 cents per pound coffee,
- cents tea, 1928: butter. by the keg,
- cents: pickles 50 for tive-gallon keg;
beef - cents per pound pork. do po-
tatoeS. p to 81 cents per pound. and so
sh-,s,srb h. L..
pine. and mountain mahogany, cut only
few hundred rods away-is $50 per cord.
and short cords at that water. melted
from snow. p to 81 cents per pailful. and
bread - to 90 cents for loaf Of one and
two pounds. For beds. we have hunks in
one end Of the room. in which We have
straw maiiresses-mine cost Ss.T5, and it
Is made OF coarse gunny sacks filled with
wild oats hay-and three or four pairs each
of the soft. warm, California blankets.
We need them all !
Then We hire a China boy, is years of
age, named Lee Wing, to do our cooking.
He is an artist in his way ; can cook any
thing from an omeiet to fancy pudding.
or a sponge cake to pot Of beans. and do
it as well as any French cook. Give him
the materials. and he will get up a dinner
which would relish anywhere. He gives
Us breakfast at S A. N, and dinner at 3
P. NJ. and for getting up these two meals,
and chopping and bringing in the wood,
say three hours labor per day at the out
side, be is paid $40 in gold per month.
He earns as much more making beds in
lodging houses, lighting and cleaning
lamps in saloons, etc. and with the in
stiuctive business characteristics of his
countrymen, acts as agent for the washer
women Of his own race. doubtless making
profit of the washing which we intruSt
to him, and for which We pay 80 cents
each shirt. and l21s to % cents for each
collar. handkerchief. etc. He is getting
spoiled already with prosperity. bets away
considerable sums at times on the black
and red and is in negotiation with me
now for the purchase of my gold watch
He is as smart as they make them, talks
English and French passably well, and is a
jokist of the first class in his way. We
live in this manner for about S75 each per
month. and save money BY not patronizing
the lodging. houses or tents and restaurants,
Hotie sefcituiuS cOslS u uOlIdf- ne sulAii-
est change in camp is quarter of dollar
and you can buy nothing, even to a spool
of thread, for less. The least thing you
can buy in restaurant is cup Of tea
and warm roll. and for these you must
pay 90 cents A dinner or breakfast of
the plsinest materials is 81, and if you
indulge in any fancy 6xings. such as
chicken or duck. trout, canned oysters, or
anything in that line. you are out at least
50 before you get up; so you see that We
save money by belonging to the firm of
Lee Wing & Co.
My eOmpa.ires have come in tor the
night, and as the smoking. warm drinks,
pitch and draw are now in order
until midnight. | will close my writing at
once.-Cor. Chicago Tribune,