“‘Not muchee bellie good, alle same sick.’
“‘And the cook, in searching for the cause, found a small fragment of pavement imbedded in its gizzard. Holding it aloft with a triumphant grin, she exclaimed to her royal lord and master:
“‘Oh! go way wid ye now, ye ould hathen. Do yez moind this now? For shure, and ’tis mesilf that’s the first one to place me oi squarely upon the likes of this; a bit of the howly pavement and pure vargin gould. It is now, do yez moind?’
“‘And this simple incident, my son, was the first foundation in the structure of this great and glorious empire, California, where it was your good fortune to first see the light of day.’
“‘Well, it was funny, wasn’t it, Pa? for the books tell us that one empire in the olden times was saved by a goose, and here is another one founded by a Shanghai rooster.’
“Daniel, let us enter in yonder open doorway, lean upon the bar, and weep.”
They immediately did forthwith enter therein; and leaning sadly upon the bar, did—smile.
CHAPTER IX.
Sickness in the Mines—Earthquakes—The Steamboat Men—A Miners’ Meeting—Lucky Bill—Kit Carson—The Financial Condition of the Miners—Australian Mike and His Tin Can—Portuguese Jo—The Divining-Rod.
MUCH sickness prevailed among the mining classes, caused, as was generally believed, by the very unhealthy climate; but which, in fact, can be better attributed to their habits, mode of life, and intemperance in eating as well as in drinking. Typhoid and bilious fevers were the usual complaints, from which many died. One fact was remarkable in relation to those who suffered from the various diseases at this time, which was that those among whom the sickness and mortality were greatest were, as a general rule, the most robust and able-bodied men. The explanation doubtless is that the healthy, strong and able-bodied men were more careless in their habits and mode of life; placed less restraint upon their appetites, and therefore suffered the consequences. Those, on the other hand, of a weaker physique were more careful of their habits, took better care of themselves, and therefore suffered but little from disease, proving the possibility that even the invalid, under proper conditions and in the use of his reasoning faculties, may be long-lived.