HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 107 



spires. The presiding priest of California resides 

 there, and a number of the converted Indians still 

 remain and cultivate the surrounding soil. The mis- 

 sion is in a better condition than any other in the 

 country. 



Ciudad de los Angeles, or the City of the Angels, 

 is situated a hundred and ten miles south of Santa 

 Barbara, at the end of an immense plain, extending 

 from the city twenty-five miles, to San Pedro, its port. 

 This is the garden spot of California. Before the 

 discovery of the gold mines, the City of the Angels 

 was the largest town in the country. It contains about 

 two thousand inhabitants, most of whom are wealthy 

 rancheros, who dwell there to cultivate the grape. As 

 in all the towns of California, the houses are con- 

 structed of adobes and covered with asphaltura, which 

 is found in great quantities near the town. The 

 northern section is laid out in streets, and is occupied 

 by the trading citizens ; the southern section is made 

 up of gardens, vinyards and orchards, which are made 

 extremely productive by irrigating the soil with the 

 water of a large stream running through them. Many 

 acres of ground are covered with vines, which, being 

 trimmed every year, are kept about six feet in height. 

 In the fall of the year, these vines are burdened with 

 rich clusters of grapes ; and, in addition to these, 

 great quantities of fruit of various kinds are raised. 

 The surrounding country abounds with game of all 

 kinds. In the rainy season, millions of ducks and 

 geese cover the plains between Los Angeles and San 

 Pedro, while the neighboring hills abound with quails, 

 deer, elk, and antelope. The vineyards produce such 

 quantities of grapes, that many thousand barrels of 

 wine and aguardiente — the brandy of the country — 



