without seeing our guide, the boy with my satchel, containing my valuables, particularly the bills of lading of my houses.  I was in a quandary and anxiety about it, not knowing what to do, when one day as I was going to dinner, something pulled my coat from behind, and looking around, what should I see to my great joy and satisfaction but the native boy with my satchel, contents there all safe.  It was an instance of honesty that would do honor to any nation.  I gave some honest Catholic priest credit for it.  The boy had evidently been instructed what to do.

The great objective point now was, how to get to San Francisco.  There was no hope for a sailing vessel from this place, for we saw one return for water that had been chartered by a party that had been out three weeks, and scarcely got out of sight of the city.  There is very little chance for a sailing vessel from there until they get west several hundred miles, and strike the trade winds.  The chances were better with the sailing vessel to start from New York and go around Cape Horn.  So the only hope seemed to be the steamer with its sixty tickets and with from one thousand to fifteen hundred passengers waiting to buy them, all seeking to bring some influence to bear to secure one.  I saw in the office of the steamer agent a young man, the book-keeper, whom I took a fancy to, and sought his acquaintance.  I found he was from Hudson, N.Y., and I, from Albany, both from the banks of the Hudson river.  It ripened into a warm friendship.  I explained my situation to him, and my desire, if it was possible, to get off on the steamer, but did not venture to ask his influence to try and get me a ticket.  At this time the cholera and Panama fever was raging in full force.  The acclimatednacclimated Americans were dying in every direction.  I was conversing at 8 A.M. with a healthy looking man, one of our passengers, from New York.  At 5 P.M., the same day, I inquired for him and was informed that he was dead and buried.  He had been attacked with the cholera.  It was a law of the city that they must be buried within one hour after death from a contagious disease.  I was finally myself taken down with the Panama fever, lay unconscious and unnoticed in my room at the hotel for a long time, and then came to and found myself burning with the raging fever, had a doctor sent for, and after a time recovered so I could venture out.  In the meantime, the steamer Panama had arrived, and its day of sailing for San Francisco announced.  Zackary, Nelson & Co. had issued an order that the sixty tickets would be put up to be drawn for.  Those having the winning numbers could have the privilege of purchasing them; that they must register their names on such a day.  Probably one thousand names and but sixty tickets.  The chances were small, but the only hope.  On that day, I went early to register, as I was still very weak from the effects of the fever, and at my best in the morning.  As I entered, there was a great number there registering.