Mexico to the Mountains 87 



is an improvement on the other Mexican towns 

 we visited, but full of foreigners of all nations 

 come to prey on the ignorance of the poor inhab- 

 itants. All now seems well regulated, but I dread 

 shortness of provisions and we have to be very 

 careful. I have not heard from home since the 

 date of February 19th and now must wait, I fear, 

 until we reach, if we ever do reach, the Pacific 

 coast. 



The company are all tired, the work is new and 

 it takes time to become accustomed to the broken 

 night's rest. At midnight I take the rounds of 

 our camp in moonlight, starlight or darkness, to 

 see that all is well, and that none relax in vigilance, 

 so requisite to safety in this country of thieves. 

 This gives me only six hours of sleep, for after we 

 have had supper, it is eight o'clock, and we get 

 up at four a. m., so that taking out the two hours 

 nightly, reduces me to that amount, but "habit 

 is second nature." If you hear of any more men 

 coming to California overland, tell them three 

 shirts, six pairs of socks, one coat, one great coat, 

 two pairs of trousers and two pairs of boots, should 

 be all the personal luggage. No man should bring 

 more than he can carry. 



I have had quite a scene with the Alcalde here. 

 Our camp was infested with pigs, which came 

 from every direction every morning and evening 

 when we fed our horses and mules. Of course, 



