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he builds his house-floor, wall, and roof-of bamboo.
Of bamboo he makes a bridge and a fan, a scroll and a cart, a pipe and a plough.
Here he must work in cedar, on other principles, and with other tools.
But he is quick to learn.
Watching the carpenter at San Jose with sleepy eyes, moon-face catches up the knack of staking poles and planking wall and roof.
The carpenter swears, but he has no redress.
Ho Ling has not only built his street, but moon-face has become an expert in the builder's craft, and underworks his rival in every builder's yard at San Jose.
In fact, the building trade is passing into Chinese hands.
It is the same in many other trades.
The business of cigar making is the largest separate craft in San Francisco; thousands of persons are employed in smoothing, rolling, twisting the tobacco leaves; and this great business has passed entirely into Chinese hands.
The boot-trade, the woollen manufactures, and the fruit-preserving business are also mainly carried on by Chinese labour.
“You want a pair of boots?”
asks a friend at the Pacific Club; “ then try Yin Yung of Jackson Street, the best bootmaker in California.”
1875.
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