igg CALIFORNIA. 



worse. During the residence of the old Spanish priests, the people 

 were kept under some control ; hut since the change I have narrated, 

 priest and layman are alike given up to idleness and debauchery. 

 One thing they are said to be remarkable for, which is their ex- 

 treme hospitality : it is alleged that they will give up all business to 

 entertain a guest. They put no value whatever upon time, and in 

 entering into contracts they have no regard to punctuality, frequently 

 allowing two, three, and four years to pass by before payment. This 

 does not proceed from dishonesty, or any intention to evade their 

 debts, for eventually they pay, if they can, and do not object to the 

 amount of interest. They in fact regard the inconvenience to which 

 they may have put their creditors as of no sort of consequence. 



I understood that to offer money for entertainment was considered 

 as an insult ; but I did it notwithstanding, and although it was refused 

 from myself, yet, when made through my servant, it was readily ac- 

 cepted. While one is entertained by them, if he should want to hire 

 or purchase any thing, the landlord will league with those about him 

 in schemes of extortion to be practised upon the stranger, and appear 

 vexed with those who are the prominent extortioners. Instances of 

 this will be given hereafter. 



The Californians, as a people, must be termed cruel in their treat- 

 ment to their wives, as well as to the Indians ; and in a still greater 

 degree, of course, to their slaves and cattle. They are exceedingly 

 ignorant of every thing but extortion, riding horses, and catching- 

 bullocks. 



Having thus thrown together the general information I was able to 

 procure, I shall proceed to speak more particularly of our operations 

 in the country, and intercourse with the inhabitants. 



On the 20th of August, Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold left the 

 Vincennes with six boats, accompanied by Dr. Pickering, Lieutenants 

 Alden and Budd, Passed Midshipman Sandford, Midshipmen Ham- 

 mersly and Elliott, and Gunner Williamson, with provisions for thirty 

 days, accompanied by an Indian pilot. They first passed the islands 

 of Angelos and Molate, next the points of San Pedro and San Pablo, 

 and ihen entered the bay of San Pablo. 



This bay is of a form nearly circular, and ten miles in diameter ; 

 many small streams enter it on all sides, from the neighbouring hills. 

 On the east side of this bay, the river Sacramento empties into it 

 through the Straits of Kaquines. The land is high, and the sand- 

 stone rock on each side of the straits, resembles that seen about the 

 Straits of De Fuca. The hills are thickly covered with wild oats, 



