94 HISTORY OP CALIFORNIA. 



low, perched upon tlie steep hills, or buried in the 

 deep valleys but still tents and canvas every 

 where and any where, their numbers defying calcula 

 tion, their structure and position all analysis. There 

 existed neither wells nor ponds within a very consider 

 able distance ; and what struck me as most singular, 

 being aware that the Spaniards had a mission here, 

 there was no sign of a church. I subsequently ascer 

 tained that the site of the Mission of Dolores, about 

 five miles distant, had been preferred by the Spaniards, 

 and that divine service was performed there still. 



'* As I proceeded along the road leading into the 

 principal street of the city, I was uncomfortably re 

 minded that it would soon become necessary for me to 

 select a place where I could procure refreshment ; 

 and in connexion with this necessity, arose another 

 consideration no less important, namely, where I should 

 lodge ? .There was no other mode of solving the diffi 

 culty, save by an exploration of the localities ; accord 

 ingly, I kept these objects in view, whilst I also grati 

 fied my curiosity by continuing my perambulations. 



" In this same road, but nearer to the entrance of 

 the main street than I should say was, under any cir 

 cumstances, altogether pleasant, stood the correl of the 

 Washington Market, being a spacious area of ground, 

 inclosed with stakes, over which were stretched raw 

 hides. Owing to the large number of cattle slaugh 

 tered here for the use of the inhabitants, the odor 

 from this place was insufferable, and I quickened my 

 pace until my olfactory organs became sensible of a 

 purer atmosphere. 



" I turned into the principal street, and soon came 

 up to the market itself, which is a wooden house, about 

 thirty feet square, kept by an American. To my 



