144 LIFE IN THE FAH WEST. 



the valley. The huts of the Indians are scattered here and 

 there, built of stone and adobe, sometimes thatched with 

 flags and boughs, but comfortable enough. The convent 

 itself is a substantial building, of the style of architecture 

 characterising monastic edifices in most parts of the world. 

 Loopholes peer from its plastered walls, and on a flat por- 

 tion of the roof a comically-mounted gingall or wall-piece, 

 carrying a two-pound ball, threatens the assailant in time 

 of war. At one end of the oblong building, a rough irreg- 

 ular arch of sun-burned bricks is surmounted by a rude 

 cross, under which hangs a small but deep-toned bell the 

 wonder of the Indian peones, and highly venerated by the 

 frayles themselves, who received it as a present from a 

 certain venerable archbishop of Old Spain, and who, whilst 

 guarding it with reverential awe, tell wondrous tales of 

 its adventures on the road to its present abiding-place. 



Of late years the number of the canonical inmates of the 

 convent has been much reduced there being but four 

 priests now to do the duties of the eleven who formerly 

 inhabited it : Fray Augustin, a capuchin of due capacity 

 of naunch, being at the head of the holy quartette. 

 Augustin is the conventual name of the reverend father, 

 who fails not to impress upon such casual visitants to that 

 ultima Thule as he deems likely to appreciate the informa- 

 tion, that, but for his humility, he might add the sonorous 

 appellations of Ignacio Sabanal-Morales-y Fuentes his 

 family being of the best blood of Old Castile, and known 

 there since the days of Ruy Gomez el Campeador 

 possessing, moreover, half the " vega " of the Ebro, &c., 

 where, had fate been propitious, he would now have been 

 the sleek superior of a rich capuchin convent, instead of 

 vegetating, a leather-clad frayle, in the wilds of California 



AltU 



Nevertheless, his lot is no bad one. With plenty of the 

 best and fattest meat to eat, whether of beef or venison, of 

 bear or mountain mutton ; with good wine and brandy of 

 home make, and plenty of. it ; fruit of all climes in great 

 abundance ; wheaten or corn bread to suit his palate ; a 

 tractable flock of natives to guide, and assisted in the task 



