190 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



soon began to descend a nearly perpendicular preci 

 pice, the only pass, down which was a narrow mule- 

 way, where, step by step, these animals had worn a 

 passage, over rocks, loose stones, sand and mud. We 

 at length reached the bottom of the ravine, and, cross 

 ing a brook, which in some parts was a wide and deep 

 chasm, we commenced a toilsome ascent on the oppo 

 site side, over a similar pathway, surrounded by 

 scenery of wild and unknown plants and trees, on the 

 mountain and glen, through whose dense foliage a 

 breath could scarcely penetrate. The fervent atmo 

 sphere produced an almost stifling sensation, while the 

 deathlike silence that reigned throughout, disturbed 

 only by the audible footfall of our animals, as we 

 slowly wound around the tortuous ascent, made the 

 journey peculiarly toilsome and solitary. 



" For the first few miles I followed closely at the 

 heels of our guide, and would often pause and turn to 

 examine the apparently almost impassable route I had 

 traversed, watch the progress of the rest of the party, 

 and wonder at the security with which their cautiously- 

 stepping and sagacious animals would gradually over 

 come seemingly insurmountable obstacles. These 

 mustangs and mules, early trained to travel ' in the 

 wild mountain track,' are capable of great endurance, 

 and certainly possess much more knowledge than most 

 of their riders, when exercised upon what they consider 

 the safest and surest stepping-place, and best mode 

 of proceeding. I urged mine repeatedly, to make him 

 choose a path, which to all appearance was preferable 

 to his own, but to no purpose. He would turn half 

 round, and in a slow, solemn way, put his nose to the 

 ground, and looking keenly about the place, would 

 cautiously put one foot forward, then another, then a 



