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[[underlined]] 81 [[/underlined]]

from 10,000 to 30,000. no specified number can be accurately decided upon. The number of permanent residents. to the mighty, mass that are in the City daily. and those who make it their abode for a space of time. before leaving for the Mines. is comparatively small. Building material is scarce. and the price placed it beyond the reach of many. Lumber when we arrived was selling at $375.00 per [[strikethrough]] M [[/strikethrough]]. Mechanics were scarce and demanded extravagant wages $12 and $16 - per day was asked and readily given. The immense cost of Building at present greatly retarded the progress of improvement. although a visible change was observed daily. and the clattering dim of the carpenters hammer a& saw. could be heard amid the bustle of this magic-like scene. labour of every description, Provisions. staple Goods &c commanded high prices. and money, or gold dust at $16 - per ounce which is properly speaking the currency of Country, was in abundance, which was equivalent to the exhorbitant prices demanded. Gambling is carried on to a great extent in all its different branches. "Monte" the favourite of the Mexicans, is the principal game, large Fortunes have been quickly made at the Mines, and more speedily lost at the gambling table. This is San Francisco which but a short time ago contained but a few old and dilapidated Spanish dwellings. one which I observed was still standing. it ^[[insertion]] was [[/insertion]] constructed of Adobes or sun burnt bricks, one story high. The roof was covered with Tiles, and looked as ancient as antiquity itself. the Bay and harbour has been celebrated. from the time of its first discovery, as one of the finest in the World. and is justly entitled to that character. even under