118 Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



of tte stream leading from the mission of San Juan de Capristano^' 

 and about two miles from the mission. 



It was so dark I could not see to lay oflf the lines of the camp 

 accurately, and I was glad, in the morning, that an early start gave 

 no time for criticism. Distance 18.8 miles. 



January 5. — The mission of San ,Juan has passed into the 

 hands of the Pico family- The cathedral was once a fine strong 

 building, with an arched cupola; only one-half of the building, 

 capped by a segment of the cupola, is now standing, the other part 

 having been thrown down by an earthquake in the year 1822, kill- 

 ing some thirty or forty persons who had fled to it for refuge. 



Attracted by a house having a brush-fence round the door, as if 

 to keep out intruders, I was told there were four men within, in the 

 agonies of death, from wounds received at the battle of San Pasquah 



We moved to the Alisos (Sycamore) rancheria, where we found a = 

 spring of go6d water, but nothing to eat. Through the kindness of 

 Mr. Foster, an Englishman^ we received here a supply o£ fresh 

 horses. 



The road was principally through the valley of the stream water- 

 ing the mission. On each side were beautiful rounded hills, covered 



with a delicate tinge of green fro^m the grass, which was now sprout- 

 ing freely near the sea-coast. 



p to this point, except a small patch at Flores, I had not seen 

 the mark of a plough or any other instrument of husbandry. The 

 rancherias were entirely supported by rearing cattle and horses. 

 Distance 11.1 miles. ' . - 



January 6- — To-day we made a long march of 19 miles to the 

 upper Santa Anna, a town situated on the river of the same name. 

 We were now near the enemy, and the town gave evidence oi it- 

 Not a soul was to be seen; the few persons remaining in it were old 

 women, who, on our approach, had bolted their doors. The leaders 

 of the Californians, as a means of inciting their people to arms, made 

 them believe we would plunder their houses and violate their 



women. 



Taking advantage of a deep ditch for one face of the campj^^ 

 was laid oiF in a very defensible position between the town and the 

 river, expecting the men would have an undisturbed night^s rest, to 

 be in the morning ready for the fight, which might now be expecte ^ 

 daily. In this hope we were mistaken. The wund blew a ^J^^^^' 

 cane, (something very unusual in this part of California,) and the 

 atmosphere was filled with particles of fine dust, so that one coula 

 Bot see and but with difficulty breathe. 



January 7.~The wind continued to blow violently, which the 

 enemy should have taken advantage of to attack us. Our weapons 

 were chiefly fire-arms; his, the lance; and I was quite certain that 

 in such a gale of wind as then blew, the difficulty of loading o^^ 

 arms would have proved a serious matter. 



The Santa Anna is a fine, dashing stream, knee-deep, and about 

 100 yards wide, flowing over a sandy bed. In its valley are manj 

 valuable vineyards and corn fields. It is capable of affording water 

 to a great many 'more.' On its banks are considerable tracts 



