CALIFORNIA. 195 



more agreeable. Of them, Captain Beechey has given a delightful 

 account. Martinez has now retired to an estancia, where he is living 

 in what is, in this country, affluence. His wife and himself have 

 grown older, but still retain the character drawn of them by Captain 

 Beechey. Near Pinole, Senor Martinez has a large house, but mea- 

 gerly furnished, where he is surrounded by his large family of children 

 and grandchildren. His wife is the same managing body, and keeps a 

 strict eye upon her younger daughters, who are all good-looking. 



The Californians are always inclined for amusement, and dancing 

 is their favourite pastime, so that where a family is large, they seldom 

 fail to pass off the evening pleasantly for their guests. Quadrilles 

 and Spanish dances are the fashion ; and the desire to please is as 

 strongly exhibited in this family as it was during the visit of Captain 

 Beechey. After dancing until a late hour, supper was provided, when 

 the guests were either accommodated for the night, or set out to 

 return to their homes, which, if they be unable to reach, they pass the 

 night in the open air, using their ponchos and saddle-cloths for cover- 

 ing. During the nights there is but little wind, and the atmosphere is 

 generally so dry and clear, that a person may, with impunity, sleep in 

 the open air. 



Three of the daughters and two of the sons of Senor Martinez are 

 married ; one of the former to Don Vitro Castro, and another to the 

 captain of the port, an Englishman by the name of Richardson, who 

 lives at Sausalito, and who supplies vessels with provisions. He was 

 very attentive and obliging in furnishing the ship with supplies, and 

 affording us the means of baking bread for the daily supply of the ship. 



Captain Richardson has an estancia, bordering on Sausalito Bay, 

 prettily situated under the hill, with sufficient fertile land for his gar- 

 dens, or rather fields, where his vegetables are raised. His house is 

 small, consisting of only two rooms, and within a few rods of it all the 

 cattle are slaughtered, which affords a sight and smell that are not the 

 most agreeable. A collection of leg-bones, hoofs, horns, and hides, 

 lay about in confusion, for which numerous dogs were fighting. It 

 was with great difficulty that these animals could be made to cease 

 their strife; and what with this and the barking kept up by others, 

 both without and within doors, there was such a clamour raised as 

 required all the household, consisting of husband, wife, daughter, and 

 slave, to quiet. Captain Richardson's establishment is a fair represen- 

 tation of the manner of living in California, and articles which are 

 condemned elsewhere are acceptable here. However small the apart- 

 ment may be, it is but sparingly furnished, and with no view of 

 comfort, in our sense of the word ; cleanliness, the great promoter of 



