were fortunate in the time of our arrival, the 16 Sept., for on the 17th com- menced the Grand National Festival of "Dias Ocho" (8 days) in celebra- tion of Chilean Independence during which period the people give up all business and have a perfect carnival. Masquerades, Horseracing, Fandangos, and Bullfights being the order of the day. Well, thereby hangs a long tale about our doings and adventures which I must reserve, I have so much else to tell you. We left there on 3d October, had a beautiful passage of 50 days to this port. All I can say is, if some of the Boys don't see the Elephant here be- fore they leave, I am very much mistaken, a twin brother of the one seen off the Horn. There is plenty of gold, ay, heaps of it (on the gambling tables), but those who get it earn it, not only on the passage here, but after they get here. A man without capital must dig for it, he may get a fortune, he may only pay expenses, it is much of a lottery, although I have heard of few who have not done well. I can tell you nothing new about mining, you have the whole story home. I have committed the mistake which thousands of others have, in leaving my capital home. True I have my claim on the Bank, but the bond is not due under three months, and meanwhile I must wait pa- tiently though every hour I see a chance slip through my fingers. A man with five thousand dollars can make a fortune here in a year, at least such a fortune as I want; and I would agree to come home in that time if I had that sum in my pocket at this moment. I left N.Y. with only $250 in my pocket, invested that in flour while in Valparaiso and landed here with two dimes in my pocket; sold my flour today and put $500 in my pocket clear of all ex- penses. I have written to Chubbs for funds, if he has any of mine left, and hope I shall receive some remittances; if so, shall invest in real estate. Not one man who has invested in real estate but he has made his thousands. John, there never was and probably never will be such a chance as there is here for acquiring a fortune, but everything is in proportion: flour $30 a barrel, eggs $1 each, cabbage $15 per head, potatoes 50c a pound; rents are enor- mous, indeed they are rather out of proportion; any sort of a room large enough to place a bed in costs $100 a month; C. F. Hotchkiss pays for his store, a three story rough frame building, built upon piles, $31,800 per an- num; carpenters are earning from $12 to $16 per day, and some of our boys are now at work storing coal on board the steamer at $1.50 per hour. Yet with all this, many, very many are returning home broken down in health and spirits. As for myself, I am as independent as possible, plenty to eat and a good home on board the Barque and weigh 20 lbs. heavier than when I left home. I may be idle for 3 months, but I don't care a fig. I shall visit the mines next season if it is to stay only a week or so. Nearly all the boys are up the river at Sacramento City or in the mines, Frank and Dan Phillips,. . .with many others. John Atwater is here with Cook Baker & Co.,'^ Leonard Hotch- kiss^ is with Charles at the store, also the two boys . . . Web and Walt Thomp- son are both dead. It is very sickly, scarcely any escaping an attack of
