194 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



secures the load in its place, but protects the shoulders 

 of the bearer from the continual friction they would 

 otherwise undergo. 



" A large party had preceded me ; but I felt no 

 anxiety to overtake it, as there was little or no danger 

 of my encountering violence on the route. I was 

 armed with a good revolving pistol, in the event of 

 any thing of the sort presenting itself; so that, all 

 things considered, I was just as well pleased to be 

 left to my own society. 



" I proceeded on my route with my sable attendant, 

 and found the commencement pleasant enough travel- 

 ling, the road for some distance being paved with 

 large and regularly cut stone. This, however, soon 

 terminated in abundance of sand ; the route still con- 

 tinuing dry, and comparatively easy to what I had 

 expected to find it. Soon after we had quitted the 

 paved road, the negro stopped and asked my permis- 

 sion to take a few things to his family, who lived in a 

 small hut to our left. Apprehensive that he was 

 meditating an escape with my luggage, I replied that 

 I had no objection, provided he would leave his 

 basket in my care. He accordingly took the frame 

 off his back, and, separating a small bundle contain- 

 ing provisions from my baggage, he took his departure. 

 I took care, however, to keep him in sight and saw 

 him enter a wretched-looking bamboo-hut at a little 

 distance from the route. He remained absent a con- 

 siderable time ; and, having paid him half his wages 

 in advance, according to the usual custom with these 

 people, who are exceedingly distrustful, I began to 

 fear that he was about to desert me, and therefore 

 called out lustily, until at last I saw him reluctantly 

 emerge from the hut, and make his way towards me. 



