44 ALL ABOARD FOR SUNRISE LANDS.

he was a bungler, for his foot slippéd. Fortunately he did not tum-
ble. The people saw it, and laughed at the man who if a Jack Tar,
was plainly just out of the tar-pot. Well, a great many came here to
California from every quarter, and California became a famous place.
A big, fine city has grown up here.” |

Frequent excursions were made by Uncle Nat and his nephews from
their hotel. They visited the Presidio, Seal Rock, Woodward’s Garden,
Lone Mountain Cemetery, Golden Gate Park, and climbed the ao
hills that wall off the city from the Pacific.

“O uncle, take us to the Chinese quarter!” besought Ralph.

“Chinese quarter, Ralph? All right, I will,’ and Uncle Nat took
them the very day he was asked. They saw the little shops where
the butcher sells his pork cut in such queer pieces, displaying also
his chicken and fish, where the tea dealer peddles his choice herb, and
the clothier his funny tunics or blouses.

“ And—what is that?” asked Rick. “My!”

“That’s a joss-house,” said Uncle Nat.

“ Joss-house? What do they call it that for?”

“The Portuguese for God is deos, and De imperfect pronunciavion OnLy
this by the Chinese gives the word joss.”

They looked inside. It was some festival-day, for many people were
there. On the walls of the house were queer decorations, and near the
door, was a big bell that a Chinaman struck. There were ugly images
to represent the good and the evil powers, also the man cast out of
heaven, and before these, sandal-wood tapers were burning.

“The Chinese,” explained Uncle Nat, “believe in two powers, good
and bad. The good, they reason, will be friendly any way. It is the
‘bad that will harm them, and must receive -special attention and be
propitiated. Consequently they try to keep the latter quiet and well- .
disposed. Knowing how powerful is the influence of a good dinner,