194 CALIFORNIA. 



the cause that led it to risk destruction. This seems to be the great 

 and all-powerful instinctive passion of these wild animals, and frequently 

 retains them within reach of the deadly rifle. Considering the quantity 

 of game, the success attendant on our tyro hunters was not equal to 

 their anticipations, and convinced them that it is much easier to bring 

 down an elk in anticipation than in reality. The accidents were few, 

 and only one annoyance was experienced, in the chase of a skunk, 

 which obliged the officer to part with his clothes. The wild-fowl 

 scarcely claimed attention, the elk and large animals being so abundant. 

 The flesh of the elk was much preferred by the party to that of the 

 deer. 



On the 6th, the survey being finished down to this point, they de- 

 scended the river, on their return to the ship. On the 8th, they had 

 arrived at the mouth of the river, and the Straits of Kaquines. On the 

 9th, at midnight, they reached the Vincennes, after an absence of 

 twenty days. Subsequent to this date, on the 20th, Lieutenant-Com- 

 mandant Ringgold proceeded again, with six boats, to examine the 

 bay of San Pablo, and the streams that flow into it, and also up the 

 San Joachim, until it branched off to the southward and eastward. 

 This party returned to the ship on the 29th. 



Whilst the Vincennes was at Sausalito, the officers made visits to 

 the different places around, and received many persons on board, 

 priests as well as laymen ; and as their estancias or mission-houses 

 were far removed, they became guests for a longer time than was 

 agreeable to most of the officers. A Californian needs no pressing to 

 stay, as long as he is pleased with the place ; and that he should be so, 

 it is not necessary to furnish him with luxuries: he is content with 

 coarse fare, provided he can get enough of strong drink to minister to 

 his thirst. I have already spoken of the great consumption of spirits 

 that is said to take place in this country ; and from the experience we 

 had of it, the accounts certainly are not exaggerated. The palm for 

 intemperance was, I think, generally given to the padres, some of 

 whom, notwithstanding their clerical robes, did ample justice to every 

 drinkable offered them ; and so well were they pleased, that some of 

 them made a visit of three days' duration, and were even then disin- 

 clined to leave. It is not to be denied that they left the same impres- 

 sion of their characters on board that it has been heretofore said they 

 bear on shore. The officers all seemed disposed to draw a veil over 

 the conduct to which they were witnesses, and I will not be the one 

 to raise it, as it can be of little benefit, and might perhaps be applicable 

 to only a few of the order. 



Our intercourse with Sefior Martinez and his family was much 



