74 RETURN FROM SAN FRANCISCO 
need not fear a comparison with our own ladies. In 
deportment they are exceeding gentle and ladylike, 
with all the natural grace and dignity which belong to 
the Castilian nation. Their complexion is generally as 
fair as the Anglo-Saxon, particularly along the sea coast, 
with large black eyes and hair. In this respect they 
differ much from the Mexican ladies of the interior, 
who are generally brunettes. In form too they differ 
from their Mexican sisters. The latter are too often 
short and stout, while the Californian ladies are as 
slender and delicate in form as those of our Atlantic © 
States. I was struck too with the elegance and purity 
of their language, which presented a marked contrast 
with the corrupt dialect spoken in Mexico. 
The Californians as a people appear superior to the 
Mexicans, which may be attributed to two causes. 
Both countries, it is true, were colonized by the same 
race ; but I think a superior class of men came to Cali- 
fornia,-who have preserved their Castilian blood from 
all admixture with that of the aborigines. There were, 
doubtless, fewer of the poorer class too who came 
here, owing to the greater length and cost of the joul 
ney, and the increase by immigration has been trifling 
since. The original colonists possessed large tracts of 
lands, and have ever since continued in an isolated 
state, marrying among themselves, and enjoying 4 life 
of luxury and ease. The climate, unlike that of Mex 
ico, is healthy and invigorating; while the humid — 
atmosphere of the coast gives a fairness and brilliancy 
to the complexion unknown to the dry and burning 
plains of Mexico. 
_ Although San Franciecqagal always rank first 1” 
