216 CALIFORNIA. 



in every direction, and the ground was indented with the feet of 

 cattle. Ducks, dogs, and fowls, were picking at the bones and offal. 

 There were one or two ox-carts, of clumsy proportions, a bee-hive, 

 and a ley-vat, formed of hide and suspended to four stakes, in the 

 shape of a large bag, hung near by. At a short distance from the 

 house was the vegetable-garden, where every thing grew in profusion, 

 although without care. The only trouble in gardening was to put 

 the seed into the ground, and await the result. This estancia is situ- 

 ated between two copses of wood, that grow on the banks of the 

 brook that winds past it, and nearly join in the rear. In front is a 

 plain, extending fifteen or twenty miles to the foot of the Sierra, 

 which forms a pleasing and bold contrast to the flat surface, on which 

 nothing is seen but here and there a small group of cattle, and 

 immense flocks of wild geese ; or some shrub, which, owing to the 

 refraction, appears almost detached from the surface, and with dimen- 

 sions so much enlarged as to appear like a great tree. The plain at 

 this time was of a dark hue, somewhat resembling a light bronze 

 colour, in consecpience of the vegetation having been scorched up for 

 many months. 



About nine o'clock, five horses arrived instead of the eight we were 

 in need of. These were literally the lame, halt, and blind, having 

 sore backs, and being withal half starved. One had an eye protrud- 

 ing from its socket, another was without a tail. In any other country 

 and place w r e should have refused to mount such horses ; they were 

 indeed sorry beasts, and compared with that of Don Miguel's, that had 

 been in waiting for him, truly deplorable. Of the caparisons I shall 

 only say, that sheep-skin and raw-hide predominated, although I re- 

 gretted before the league was passed over that I had not had more of 

 the former under me. I felt ashamed, even in California, to be thus 

 mounted. We took leave of our kind hostess with many thanks for 

 the attention she had showed us, and engaged her to provide an ample 

 supply for the boats' crews during our absence. 



The league between the Embarcadero and Santa Clara occupied us 

 somewhat over an hour, for it was unbearable to attempt to ride faster 

 than a walk. After ten o'clock, we came in sight of the mission of 

 Santa Clara, and as we approached it the little ponds and damp places 

 on the prairie were literally covered with wild geese, which would 

 but barely open a way for us to pass through. They were far more 

 tame than any barn-door geese I ever saw, and I could not easily 

 divest myself of the idea that they were not domesticated. 



The mission of Santa Clara has, at a distance, a respectable 



