42 EAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



tion within a few miles, and the San Lorenzo, and 

 indeed all the streams, abound with trout. The climate 

 is considered the finest in California, which is saying 

 a good deal, and the country is getting rapidly settled in 

 as the beauties of the place are appreciated. If there 

 is one spot where such a rambler as myself could settle 

 for a few years, it would be the lovely Santa Cruz. The 

 temperature is remarkably even, the nights always being 

 deliciously cool; even in the height of summer the 

 heat is never oppressive, the sea breeze tempering it 

 delightfully. The character of the country is here 

 more suited for large game than the San Jose valley, 

 and during our stay in this part of the country, 

 which lasted about three weeks, we killed fourteen 

 deer. The hunters generally use a shot-gun, loaded 

 with buckshot, but I always used a Westley Richards 

 carbine, the practice and handiness of which rather 

 astonished Jim occasionally, as I frequently brought 

 down deer at from 200 to 300 yards. At short 

 ranges the heavy Yankee rifles are good, but over 250 

 I used to beat them with my carbine, " till they did 

 not know themselves." Bears are nearly extinct here 

 now, but within about 60 miles inland there are still a 

 great number. One evening when we were encamped 

 about ten miles from Santa Cruz, a farmer came in and 

 told us that he had had five cows killed in a fortnight 

 by bears, and wished we could come with him on his 

 return from Santa Cruz (whither he was going for pro- 

 visions) to his ranch, about twenty miles off. As it 

 would not have paid my friend to go too far from his 

 markets — Santa Cruz and San Jose — we were compelled 

 to decline the invitation. Jim, however, consoled me 

 by telling me he could put me in the way of getting 



