Volume 7 



May 15, 191 1 



MUHLENBERGIA 



HARTWEG'S EXPLORATIONS IN CALIFORNIA— IV 

 By Alice Eastwood 



(Couclusion of narrative) 



"Finding- it impracticable to prosecute my journey to the 

 south along the coast, from the numerous ravines which descend 

 from the mountain range, I returned hence to San Antonio, and 

 crossed by the farm of El Piojo, where the ridge is less elevated. 

 A small pine wood, which became visible on our descent, ex- 

 tending along the beach, looked like an oasis in the desert — the 

 dark green of the Pines forming a beautiful contrast with the 

 parched-up fields. Upon a nearer examination I found the wood 

 to be composed of a variety of Pinus insignis with larger cones 

 than those about Monterey, from which it also differs in their 

 being produced in less abundance. Following along the sea 

 shore for nine miles, we struck inland again, and arrived at the 

 mission of San Luis Obispo, from whence we proceeded over a 

 flat and uninteresting country to the mission of Santa Ines. 

 The whole of this route is but poorly wooded by a few stunted 

 Oaks. On the ascent to the mission of La Purissima, the mo- 

 notony of the bare hills was somewhat relieved by a small forest 

 of Pinus Edgariana, which attains no larger size than those ob- 

 served near Monterey. 



"Previous to leaving Monterey, I was told by several per- 

 sons that a kind of thin-shelled pine nut is occasionally brought 

 for sale by the Indians to Santa Ines and Santa Barbara, with- 

 out being able to learn any niore respecting it. Upon making 

 further inquiries at Santa Ines, I was told that the Indians bring 

 them from a great distance, that the harvest then was over, but 

 that I might procure a few of the mission Indians. Proceeding 



(49) 



