peoples--Turks, Arabs, Negroes, Chinese, Kanakas, East Indians, the
gorgeous members of the Spanish races, and nondescript queer people to whom
neither Nan nor Keith could assign a native habitat. At every step one or
the other called delighted attention to some new exhibit. Most
extraordinary were, possibly, the men from the gold mines of the Sierras,
These were mostly young, but long haired, bearded, rough, wilder than any
mortal man need be. They walked with a wide swagger. Their clothes were
exaggeratedly coarse, but they ornamented themselves with bright silk
handkerchiefs; with feathers, flowers; with squirrel or buck-tails In their
hats; with long heavy chains of nuggets; with glittering and prominently
displayed pistols, revolvers, stilettos, knives, or dirks. Some had plaited
their beards in three tails; others had tied their long hair under their
chins. But even the most bizarre seemed to attract no attention. San
Francisco was accustomed to it.

Indeed, the few fashionable strollers were much more stared at. Most of the
well dressed were in some sort of vehicle. The Keiths saw many buggies like
their own. A few very smart, or rather very ornamental, double rigs dashed
by. In these sat generally good-looking but rather loud young women, who
stared straight ahead with an assumption of supreme indifference. Hacks or
omnibuses careered along. In these the company was generally merry but
mixed, though occasionally a good-looking couple had hired an ordinary
public conveyance. Horsemen and horsewomen were numerous. Some of these
were very dashing indeed, the women with long trailing skirts and high hats
from which floated veils; the men with skin-tight trousers strapped under
varnished boots, and long split-skirted coats. Others were simply plain a-
horseback. The native Californians with their heavy, silver-mounted
saddles, braided rawhide reins and bridles, their sombreros, their
picturesque costumes, and their magnificent fiery horses made a fine
appearance. Occasionally screaming, bouncing Chinese, hanging on with both