CALIFORNIA. 225 



We were up betimes, but were threatened with disappointment 

 in our horses. The kind and attentive Donna Aliza served us with 

 chocolate and toast, and prepared cold tongues, chickens, and ample 

 stores of bread for our use. At last the horses, together with the 

 Indians who were to accompany us, made their appearance, and out 

 of the number, I recognised at least three that belonged to the ad- 

 ministrador, as I had been led to believe would be the case the 

 evening before. His good wife ordered us their best saddles, but 

 without the pillions or saddle-cloths. 



After an hour's preparation, we took our leave and galloped off, in 

 company with Don Miguel, who proposed to accompany us some six 

 or seven miles, on our way to visit some of his herds, that were then 

 feeding on the prairie. We had not proceeded far before we were 

 overtaken by the person who had them in charge, coming at a 

 furious gallop. He was mounted on the best horse I had seen in the 

 country, and dressed after the Californian fashion, in a dark brown 

 cloth jacket, thickly braided, both before and behind, with slashed 

 sleeves, showing his shirt elegantly embroidered, both on the breast 

 and sleeves ; velvet breeches of bright blue, secured around his waist 

 with a red sash, and open at the sides, ornamented with braid and 

 brass bells, in abundance ; below the knee he wore leather leggins, 

 fastened with garters, worked in silver, and below these, shoes, over 

 which were fastened large silver spurs, with the heavy rowels of the 

 country ; on his head was tied a red bandana handkerchief, and over 

 that a huge broad-brimmed sombrero, with peaked crown, covered 

 with an oil-silk cloth ; the whole decorated with cords, aiguillettes, 

 and ribands, with a guard-cord passing under the chin. His horse 

 was equally well caparisoned, the bridle being decked with silver, 

 as were the tips of his large wooden stirrups ; with pillions and saddle- 

 cloths in abundance. Few riders had so gay an air, or seemed to 

 have so perfect a command of the animal he rode ; and until we 

 arrived at the wood where his Indians were looking out, he was an 

 object of great attraction, assuming all the airs and graces of a person 

 of high rank. 



After galloping for several miles, we reached a few trees and 

 bushes, that are designated as the " woods." Near by was a large 

 herd of his cattle feeding. The Rancheros we found lying about, in 

 huts of hide, with a fire in front, and the leg-bone of an ox roasting 

 over it ; the skulls, bones, and offal, lay about, with hides here and 



vol. v. 57 



