A village of sheet iron huts and clapboard sheds sprang up in the sand, and in these wigwams fashion made display; richly-dressed ladies played on costly pianos, London swells in evening dress and patent-leather boots were abundant, and this fine society drank champagne, and in other ways conducted itself in this capital of humble sheds as it had been accustomed to do in the aristocratic quarters of the metropolis of the world.

The provincial government put up expensive buildings for its own use, and a palace with gardens for the use of its governor.

The governor had a guard, and maintained a court.

Roads, wharves, and hospitals were built.

All this on credit, on paper, on wind, on inflated and fictitious values--on the boom's moonshine, in fact.