160 CALIFORNIA. 



such small quantities as to be hardly sufficient to supply the wants of 

 the country. 



There are in California only two or three water-mills for grinding 

 flour, and these are owned by foreigners. The mills in general use in 

 the country, are composed of no more than two burr-stones. To the 

 upper stone a cross-beam is secured, to which mule-power is applied. 

 In most of the estancias there is to be found a mill in an apartment 

 adjoining the kitchen, if not in it. The whole is as primitive as well 

 can be, although I have no doubt it answers all the wants of this rude 

 and indolent people. 



From all accounts, besides cattle, the country is well adapted for 

 the raising of sheep, which simply require watching, as they can find 

 plenty of nutritious food the whole year round ; but there has been no 

 attention paid to this sort of stock, and the wool is of very ordinary 

 quality. The mutton is thought to be of very fine flavour. The usual 

 price for a sheep is from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars, when 

 a choice is made for killing. 



Hogs are raised in some parts, and might be fed to great advantage 

 on the acorns which are abundant on the hills where the land is not 

 susceptible of cultivation. Pork may be packed at three dollars the 

 hundred-weight. What adds to the facility of doing this business, is 

 the fact that large quantities of salt collect in the ponds in the dry 

 season, which may be obtained for the expense of carting it. 



As respects trade, it may be said there is scarcely any, for it is so 

 interrupted, and so much under the influence of the governor and the 

 officers of the customs, that those attempting to carry on any under the 

 forms usual elsewhere, would probably find it a losing business. 

 Foreigners, however, contrive to evade this by keeping their vessels at 

 anchor, and selling a large portion of their cargoes from on board. 

 Great partiality is shown to those of them who have a full understand- 

 ing with his excellency the governor; and from what I was given to 

 understand, if this be not secured, the traders are liable to exactions 

 and vexations without number. The enormous duties, often amounting 

 to eighty per cent, ad valorem, cause much dissatisfaction on the part 

 of the consumers : the whole amount raised is about two hundred 

 thousand dollars per annum, which is found barely sufficient to pay the 

 salaries of the officers, and defray the costs of the government feasts, 

 which are frequent, and usually cost a thousand dollars each. These 

 emoluments are shared among the heads of departments at Monterey, 

 whilst the soldiers are often for months without their pay, and are 

 made to take it in whatever currency it may suit the government to 

 give. Besides the above duties, there is a municipal tax on many 



