CALIFORNIA. 201 



cigar as a token of friendship, he called up the whole family, consisting 

 of a mother, two daughters, and several other children. These, after 

 dressing themselves, came forth, and greeted us with genuine hospi- 

 tality, with such pleasant faces and cheerful talk, that it was really 

 delightful to find ourselves in such quarters ; and our surprise was the 

 greater, in consequence of the exterior having proved so uninviting. 

 They immediately set about providing us with supper, consisting of 

 tea, tortillas, valdivias, ollas, with eggs and a steak ; and while this 

 was in preparation by some, others were arranging the beds and 

 changing the furniture of the sleeping-room. All this was done whilst 

 the mother was talking and waiting upon us ; and after supper was 

 over, she pointed to our room, and then excused herself, by saying she 

 must provide something for the sailors who had accompanied us; 

 whilst we retired to rest, much fatigued with our jaunt. 



The room was furnished differently from what we had been accus- 

 tomed to, yet it was quite comfortable. The only piece of furniture 

 that was not new to us was a high-post bedstead, evidently from our 

 own country, though bedecked with old Spanish tapestry, in the way 

 of tester, curtains, and valance. Instead of drawers, there were huge 

 trunks, that put to shame those of modern construction. These con- 

 tained the household linen and the finery of the females of the family, 

 and were raised from the floor, that a broom might be passed under- 

 neath them. Here and there on the walls hung a new-made dress, of 

 ample dimensions, and several Spanish sombreros, those that were of 

 more recent date hanging highest; at least I judged them to be the 

 best ones, from the careful manner in which they were covered up. 

 There was no wash-stand; but a French ewer and basin, of the lozenge 

 shape, of white and gold porcelain, were placed on a chair. A single 

 looking-glass was hung high over it, its head inclining outwards. The 

 dimensions of the frame were small, and the glass still smaller, owing 

 to a figure of a patron saint occupying the larger part of the upper 

 surface. Of chairs we had five, two with leathern seats and high 

 backs ; the others were of home manufacture. A large grated win- 

 dow, well barred with iron, with the thick and massive walls of an 

 adobe house, gave it the look of security for confinement within, or 

 against attack from without. Half a dozen coloured prints of the 

 saints, ten inches square, in black frames, graced the walls. 



Our beds, and every thing connected with them, were comfortable ; 

 and the manner in which we had been provided for made the enter- 

 tainment doubly welcome. We found in the morning that we had 

 occupied the sleeping-room of our hostess and her daughters, and that 

 they had given it up expressly to accommodate us. 



vol. v. 26 



