202 
CALIFORNIA. 
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. Pie 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 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 situated 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 dimensions so much enlarged as to appear 
like a great tree. The plain at this time was of a dark hue, somewha 
