CALIFORNIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume V, Issue 429, 21 November 1849, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

We (Geelonif Advertiser,) have been favoured with the perusal of a-letter received in Geelong, direct from San Francisco, and 'have been allowed to make a few interesting extracts which we hasten to lay before our roaders.— The letter is dated "18th July. "It is all true about the gold region ; but those who sent out goods here will find it no-go in speculation. There are now lying in the port upwards of 200 sail of vessels, with one half of their cargoes on board, the other half on the beach, without shelter, and one might take as much as he pleased, if inclined to be a thief. The. crews have- bolted, and in mauy cases the captains have followed. •There are 170 sair due from New York, and many from the other states, parts : b'f Europe, and the rest of the'world. The arrival of passengers are at the rate of 100 per.day. I pity the unfortunate owners, who, with all those who sent out goods from Austi alia must be clean done. Flour and most other goods are cheaper here than elsewhere. There are no places to' put goods when discharged from the vessels. We are living on the oold ground'in tents, and what we shall do when the wet season (December) comes on, I can't say.. The climate is fearfully changeable. The night dews are heavy, but there are no rains except in the regular season. When we arrived, the crew mizzled, and left the supercargo with his- goods, which were only saleable at a dead loss. I could only, "hook" it too. We, gentlemen passengers, with a hundred others,,found that we must drop the gentleman, And turn Yankees, so I got the loan of an old blue shirt, and with smutted face found work at seven dollars per day. Labour is much required, and the poor man is the most independent. T am at work discharging a vessel, and hope to save abound a day. As for comfort the man is a happy one who can find a wooden roof to sleep under. Washing is six dollars a dozen; but linen is often thrown away when used, and boxes of clothes, if not actually required, are thnwn away as encumbrances. There is a desperate set of all nations here. Gambling is going on Sunday and Monday, day and night, as open as a billiard-room, and the ssnis which change hands are incredible. I Rave seen" 120 ouiieeTof'gotfr depend-' ing on the turn of a card. I will never risk a dollar. Strangers are sure'to lose. With regard to gold-digging, it requires 150 dollars for an outfit. lam thinking of getting a craft, and going up the Sacramento. The Yankees are the queerest fish you ever saw. ♦ Go-a-head—dang it,' is in all their mouths, and they certainly are duced smart.

'• P.S.—The work is very hard, and has 1 nearly finished me, sol have made my nob take it into how to relieve the body. To be short,'! have entered into the service of the Customs of San Francisco, and am now a sworn supporter of the United States Government. I get 120 dollars per month and live on board vessel. My duties are very easy, and as the reports from the diggings are most miserable, with regard to climate, I find this suits me better. The life is dreadful to those who are not used to it. I am now a gentleman officer, and mean to stick to it."

California.—News fr&ni that ananer to June 23, has bee»i received at Adelaide. The only extract worth immediate notice is the following— " Sanguine-adventurers oy hundreds are daily flocking to the El Dorado, and some of the disappointed turning their backs on scenes, which a few week ago, seemed to their eager fancies the consumation of all their hopes." Outrage* by the Indians in Texas. —From' Texas we learn that numerous bands of Indians had made a descent upon Palq-Altb, -and committed the most savage Sets of brutality. The stage from Point Isabel had been interrupted on its way to Palo Alto, and Mr. Bangs, the proprietor, and Mr. Lombardo, a passenger, were taken prisoners. A train of transport waggons, containing valuable merchandise, had also been captured between Brownsville and Point Isabel. Before the Indians retired, they had committed acts of barbarity, the mention of which would curdle the blood, and but partial accounts have reached of the acts of the savage marauders. We learn, however, that Mr. Dorestes Zamora, a most estimable citizen, was among the slain. Mr. Z. had just decided upon citizen of the United States, under the provisions of the treaty of Mexico. A-son of Mr. Z. was also killed, another wounded, and his daughter, about fourteen years old carried off. At Rancho Santiago two men were killed, and a woman with; two children taken captive. . From Rancho; De Los lndios, Mrs. Wilsey (wife of Capt. Wilsey) "with her brother and sister-in-law, were token prisoners. The aged mother of Mrs Wilsey followed her children for some distaace, regardless of eavage me-

naee, and-finally the Indians seized her, tied her hands,, and pierced her body with lauces and arrows, leaving lier upon the ground apparently dead, but thu poor woman recovered herself sufficiently to alarm the neighbouring rancho. She, was most shockingly mutilated, and was, at last accounts, a maniac The destruction of property along the Rio Grande is immense, as many as seventy : houses having been burned. A company of emigrants, under the command of Mr. Bangs, had fortunately escaped from the savages, buMt is stated, they were reduced to a mutinous condition. The above, says the Brownsville paper, is but an outline of the savage outrages that are reported to have been committed Leeds Mercurii June 23. J