1 82«. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 57 



ducks. The cottages called Las Salinas are on the chap. 



farm of an old Scotchman, to whom the land was .^ ^" 



granted in consequence of some services which he Nov. 

 rendered to the missions. They rested here, and to 

 the provision they had brought with them very gladly 

 added some pumpkins, procured from the Indians. 

 Here, also, they were surprised with the novel occur- 

 rence of having water brought to them in baskets, 

 which the Indians weave so close, that when wet they 

 become excellent substitutes for bowls. 



The remainder of the plain over which they passed 

 toward Monterey was sandy, and covered with fragrant 

 southernwood, broken here and there by dwarf oaks, 

 and shrubs of the syngenesious class of plants. As 

 they approached the town, pasture lands, covered with 

 herds of cattle succeeded this wild scenery : and riding 

 ownward, trees of luxuriant growth, houses scattered 

 over the plain, the fort, and the shipping in the bay, 

 announced the speedy termination of their journey. 

 At five o'clock in the evening they alighted in the 

 square at Monterey, and met a kind reception from 

 Mr. Hartnell, a merchant belonging to the firm of 

 Begg and Co. in Lima, who was residing there, and 

 who pressed them to accept the use of his house 

 while they remained in the town — an offer of which 

 they thankfully availed themselves. 



Gonzales, the governor to whom the party went 

 to pay their respects, was an officer who had been 

 raised by his own merit from the ranks to be captain 

 of artillery and governor of Monterey : his family 

 were residing with him, and having been educated in 

 Mexico, complained bitterly of their banishment to 

 this outlandish part of the world, where the popula- 

 tionj the ladies in particular, were extremely ignorant. 



