called name after name in the tone of a command. At each name you

would see a family gather up its brats and bundles and run for the

hindmost of the three cars that stood awaiting us, and I soon

concluded that this was to be set apart for the women and children.

The second or central car, it turned out, was devoted to men

travelling alone, and the third to the Chinese. The official was

easily moved to anger at the least delay; but the emigrants were

both quick at answering their names, and speedy in getting

themselves and their effects on board.

The families once housed, we men carried the second car without

ceremony by simultaneous assault. I suppose the reader has some

notion of an American railroad-car, that long, narrow wooden box,

like a flat-roofed Noah's ark, with a stove and a convenience, one

at either end, a passage down the middle, and transverse benches

upon either hand. Those destined for emigrants on the Union

Pacific are only remarkable for their extreme plainness, nothing

but wood entering in any part into their constitution, and for the

usual inefficacy of the lamps, which often went out and shed but a

dying glimmer even while they burned. The benches are too short

for anything but a young child. Where there is scarce elbow-room

for two to sit, there will not be space enough for one to lie.

Hence the company, or rather, as it appears from certain bills

about the Transfer Station, the company's servants, have conceived

a plan for the better accommodation of travellers. They prevail on

every two to chum together. To each of the chums they sell a board

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>