.CALIFORNIA. 207 



deadly rifle. Considering the quantity of game, the success attendant 

 on our tyro hunters was not equal to their anticipations, and convinced 

 them that it is much easier to bring down an elk in anticipation than 

 in reality. The accidents were few, and only one annoyance was 

 experienced, in the chase of a skunk, which obliged the officer to part 

 with his clothes. The wild-fowl scarcely claimed attention, the elk 

 and large animals being so abundant. The flesh of the elk was much 

 preferred by the party to that of the deer. 



On the 6th, the survey being finished down to this point, they 

 descended the river, on their return to the ship. On the 8th, they 

 had arrived at the mouth of the river, and the Straits of Kaquines. 

 On the 9th, at midnight, they reached the Vincennes, after an 

 absence of twenty days. Subsequent to this date, on the 20th, 

 Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold proceeded again, with six boats, 

 to examine the bay of San Pablo, and the streams that flow into it, 

 and also up the San Joachim, until it branched off to the southward 

 and eastward. This party returned to the ship on the 29th. 



Whilst the Vincennes was at Sausalito, the officers made visits to 

 the different places around, and received many persons on board, 

 priests as well as laymen ; and as their estancias or mission-houses 

 were far removed, they became guests for a longer time than was 

 agreeable to most of the officers. A Californian needs no pressing to 

 stay, as long as he is pleased with the place ; and that he should be 

 so, it is not necessary to furnish him with luxuries : he is content 

 with coarse fare, provided he can get enough of strong drink to 

 minister to his thirst. I have already spoken of the great consump- 

 tion of spirits that is said to take place in this country ; and from the 

 experience we had of it, the accounts certainly are not exaggerated. 

 The palm for intemperance was, I think, generally given to the 

 padres, some of whom, notwithstanding their clerical robes, did 

 ample justice to every drinkable offered them ; and so well were 

 they pleased, that some of them made a visit of three days' duration, 

 and were even then disinclined to leave. It is not to be denied that 

 they left the same impression of their characters on board that it has 

 been heretofore said they bear on shore. The officers all seemed dis- 

 posed to draw a veil over the conduct to which they were witnesses, 

 and I will not be the one to raise it, as it can be of little benefit, and 

 might perhaps be applicable to only a few of the order. 



Our intercourse with Senor Martinez and his family was much 

 more agreeable. Of them, Captain Beechey has given a delightful 

 account. Martinez has now retired to an estancia, where he is living 



