a 
* 105 ; 
cation of. the elevation of the range, and, indeed, the barometric 
reading was but an indifferent index of the height of the pass, as 
the day was stormy. We are still to look for the glowing pictures ~ 
drawn of California, As yet, barrenness and desolation hold their 
reign. We longed to stumble upon the rancherias, with their flocks 
of fat sheep and cattle. Meat of horses, may be very palatable 
when fat, but ours are poor and tough, and it is hard to satisfy the 
cravings of hunger with such indifferent food. — 
Early in the day’s march, we met two Indians, a man and wo- 
man; they. could give us no information of what was passing on the 
western side of the mountains. They continued.on with the ut- — 
most indifference, exhibiting no signs of fear or astonishment at this 
sudden apparition of ragged blue-coats. They had fine athletic 
figures, but were prematurely wrinkled from poverty and exposure 
to cold. ? + 
December 2and 3.—We commenced to ascend another “divide,” i 
and as we approached the summit the narrow valley leading to it. 
was covered with timber and long grass. On both sides, the ever- 
green oak grew luxuriantly, and, for the first time since leaving the. -— 
w t would even there be. ‘called large trees. 
Emerging from these, we saw in the distance the beautiful valley . 
of the Aqua Caliente, waving with yellow grass, where we expect- — 
ed to find the rancheria owned by an American named Warner. — 
14 
WP oe ae & 5 
aa >. 
aes 
= oie 
” . 
Wem. 
we were now in pOssessio 
n eat, at one_sing 
camp was pitched on the road to the Pueblo, rtho:. 
of west. ‘Tothe south, down the valley of the Aqua” Uahente; 14@y 
‘the road to San Diego. Above us was Mr. Warner’s backwoods, 
American looking house, built of adobe and covered withathatched 
roof. Around, were the thatched huts of the more than half naked - 
Indians, who are held in a sort of serfdom by the master of the = 
rancheria. I visited one or two of these huts, and found the ae 
tes living in great poverty. The thermometer was at 30°, they, 
had no fires, and no coverings but sheepskins. They told me, tha 
“a a i 
