A SPANISH SETTLEMENT. 5 



by a Spaniard, who obtained it from the Mexican 

 government by the payment of twenty dollars, 

 and held it at a rent, or tenure, of one dollar per 

 annum. He applied it to the purpose of an estan- 

 cia, or grazing-farm, for supplying bullocks to the 

 numerous South-Seamen frequenting this coast. 

 Since his death, the management of the estate 

 has devolved upon his son-in-law, an American, 

 named Fisher. 



The village or settlement consists of about 

 eight dwellings, erected at a distance from the sea, 

 beneath the shade of some mimosa trees. They 

 are small, built of adobes, (or unburnt bricks,) 

 and thatched with flags, obtained from the 

 neighbouring town of St. Jose. Each hut 

 usually contains one or never more than two 

 apartments ; and is faced with a portico, which 

 affords a favourite lounge for the resident 

 family. Their furniture is scanty, and rather 

 more useful than ornamental. The hairy sur- 

 face of a dried bullock's hide, spread on the hard 

 earthen floor, is the usual bed ; and the ta- 

 bles and benches are very rudely constructed. 

 Beneath the portico are deposited dried or 

 tanned hides; the horse -furniture of the far- 

 mers, including the cumbrous but luxurious 

 saddles, saddle-bags, (capable in themselves of 

 containing a horse-load,) and spurs of mur- 

 derous length ; whilst on lines passing across 



