40 . VOYAGE TO THE 



omission of these preparations was of less conse- 

 quence. 



In order to reach a tolerable halting place for the 

 night, the first day's journey was necessarily long, and 

 consequently by daylight on the 9th November the 

 three officers were on their road to the mission ; hav- 

 ino" found horses and an escort prepared in pursuance 

 of previous arrangements. 



Setting off at a round trot, they made the best of 

 their way over three or four miles of ground so over- 

 grown with dwarf oaks and other trees, that they were 

 every moment in danger of being thrown from their 

 horses, or having their eyes torn out by the branches 

 as they passed. In half an hour, however, they 

 reached the mission of San Francisco, and soon for- 

 got the little annoyances they had hitherto met with 

 in the hospitable welcome of the good priest, who re- 

 galed them with excellent pears and new milk. Nor 

 was his conversation less palatable than his cheer ; for, 

 notwithstanding the introduction of half a dozen un- 

 necessary si senors in each sentence, he contrived to 

 amuse the vacant time with a flow of most genuine 

 humour, for which Tomaso was always prepared, till 

 the rattling accoutrements of a Californian dragoon 

 announced the arrival of the passport from the go- 

 vernor. Intrusting their baggage to the care of two 

 vaqueros (Indian cattle drivers) who were to accom- 

 pany them, and receiving each a blessing from the 

 padre, they set off with their escort about ten o'clock 

 in the forenoon. The cavalcade consisted of three 

 officers of the Blossom, the two vaqueros, and their 

 champion the dragoon, preceded by nine or ten loose 

 horses, driven on before as a relay, to be used when 

 those they mounted should become fatigued. These 



