CALIFORNIA. 
203 
resembling a light bronze colour, in consequence 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 we 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 w T as 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 
appearance; but on our drawing near the long line of huts, formerly 
occupied by the Indians, which are now destroyed, excepting a few, 
the ruin and neglect that have taken place are evident enough. The 
church and mission-house adjoining have also a dilapidated look ; their 
tile roofs and whitewashed walls require extensive repairs, as well as 
all the wood-work of the doors, posts, &c. The church flanks the 
mission-house on the north, and is about one hundred and fifty feet 
long by forty wide, and about fifty feet high ; it is surmounted by a 
small steeple. The mission-house is of only one story, with a corridor 
extending its whole length, of one hundred and fifty feet. This dwelling 
is now occupied both by the administrador and the padre, and a wall 
divides the premises into two parts, separating the temporal from the 
spiritual concerns of the establishment. The padre has his own 
servants, cooks, &c. 
As we rode up with Don Miguel, we had no need of further 
introduction, and shared the kind welcome he received, as an old 
acquaintance, who had evidently much to do with the affairs of the 
mission, in the way of business. The administrador and his deputy 
