CALIFORNIA. 215 



lozenge shape, of white and gold porcelain, were placed on a chair. A 

 single looking-glass was hung high over it, its head inclining outwards. 

 The dimensions of the frame were small, and the glass still smaller, 

 owing to a figure of a patron saint occupying the larger part of the 

 upper surface. Of chairs we had five, two with leathern seats and 

 high backs ; the others were of home manufacture. A large grated 

 window, well barred with iron, with the thick and massive walls of 

 an adobe house, gave it the look of security for confinement within, 

 or against attack from without. Half a dozen coloured prints of the 

 saints, ten inches square, in black frames, graced the walls. 



Our beds, and every thing connected with them, were comfortable; 

 and the manner in which we had been provided for made the enter- 

 tainment doubly welcome. We found in the morning that we had 

 occupied the sleeping-room of our hostess and her daughters, and 

 that they had given it up expressly to accommodate us. 



Before going to bed, we had made arrangements to send for horses 

 to take us to the mission of Santa Clara, some three miles distant. 

 None were to be obtained here, as the head of the family was now 

 away, and had taken with him all those that were kept about the 

 premises; the rest, we were told, were "muy lejos" (afar off). 



The name of the family is Peralto, which is connected with the 

 early settlement of California, and one of the most respectable in the 

 country. 



We arose about eight o'clock, and consequently missed our choco- 

 late, which is given at an early hour, and could get no breakfast until 

 eleven o'clock. Our horses had not arrived, and whilst we were 

 waiting for them, Senor Don Miguel Felesfore de Pedrorena arrived 

 from Yerba Buena, who at once made our acquaintance. He very 

 kindly offered us his services to arrange matters, and to assist us on 

 our way to Santa Clara, where he was then going. To this gentleman 

 I feel myself much indebted. We found him a lively, intelligent 

 companion, and well acquainted with the. country and people. He is 

 supercargo of several vessels on the coast, and extensively engaged 

 in the peculiar manner of trading, of which I will have occasion to 

 speak presently. 



While horses were sought for us, we spent the time in looking 

 around the premises. The house was a long one-story adobe building, 

 with a thickly thatched roof, forming, by its projection, a piazza in 

 front, supported by columns. There were many enclosures about 

 the house, that gave it the appearance of a farm-yard and slaughter- 

 house combined. Bones, hoofs, horns, and pieces of hide, were lying 



