208 CALIFORNIA. 



in what is, in this country, affluence. His wife and himself have 

 grown older, but still retain the character drawn of them by Captain 

 Beechey. Near Pinole, Senor Martinez has a large house, but rnea- 

 gerly furnished, where he is surrounded by his large family of 

 children and grandchildren. His wife is the same managing body, 

 and keeps a strict eye upon her younger daughters, who are all good- 

 looking. 



The Californians are always inclined for amusement, and dancing 

 is their favourite pastime, so that where a family is large, they seldom 

 fail to pass off the evening pleasantly for their guests. Quadrilles 

 and Spanish dances are the fashion ; and the desire to please is as 

 strongly exhibited in this family as it was during the visit of Captain 

 Beechey. After dancing until a late hour, supper was provided, 

 when the guests were either ^accommodated for the night, or set out 

 to return to their homes, which, if they be unable to reach, they 

 pass the night in the open air, using their ponchos and saddle-cloths 

 for covering. During the nights there is but little wind, and the 

 atmosphere is generally so dry and clear, that a person may, with 

 impunity, sleep in the open air. 



Three of the daughters and two of the sons of Senor Martinez are 

 married ; one of the former to Don Vitro Castro, and another to the 

 captain of the port, an Englishman by the name of Richai-dsoti, who 

 lives at Sausalito, and who supplies vessels with provisions. He was 

 very attentive and obliging in furnishing the ship with supplies, and 

 affording us the means of baking bread for the daily supply of the ship. 



Captain Richardson has an estancia, bordering on Sausalito Bay, 

 prettily situated under the hill, with sufficient fertile land for his 

 gardens, or rather fields, where his vegetables are raised. His house 

 is small, consisting of only two rooms, and within a few rods of it all 

 the cattle are slaughtered, which- affords a sight and smell that are 

 not the most agreeable. A collection of leg-bones, hoofs, horns, and 

 hides, lay about in confusion, for which numerous dogs were fighting. 

 It was with great difficulty that these animals could be made to 

 cease their strife ; and what with this and the barking kept up by 

 others, both without and within doors, there was such a clamour 

 raised as required all the household, consisting of husband, wife, 

 daughter, and slave, to quiet. Captain Richardson's establishment is 

 a fair representation of the manner of living in California, and articles 

 which are condemned elsewhere are acceptable here. However small 

 the apartment may be, it is but sparingly furnished, and with no view 

 of comfort, in our sense of the word ; cleanliness, the great promoter 



