202 CALIFORNIA. 



Before going to bed, we had made arrangements to send for horses 

 to take us to the mission of Santa Clara, some three miles distant. 

 None were to be obtained here, as the head of the family was now 

 away, and had taken with him all those that were kept about the 

 premises ; the rest, we were told, were " muy lejos" (afar off). 



The name of the family is Peralto, which is connected with the 

 early settlement of California, and one of the most respectable in the 

 country. 



We arose about eight o'clock, and consequently missed our choco- 

 late, which is given at an early hour, and could get no breakfast until 

 eleven o'clock. Our horses had not arrived, and whilst we were 

 waiting for them, Sefior Don Miguel Felesfore de Pedrorena arrived 

 from Yerba Buena, who at once made our acquaintance. He very 

 kindly offered us his services to arrange matters, and to assist us on 

 our way to Santa Clara, where he was then going. To this gentleman 

 I feel myself much indebted. We found him a lively, intelligent 

 companion, and well acquainted with the country and people. He is 

 supercargo of several vessels on the coast, and extensively engaged in 

 the peculiar manner of trading, of which I will have occasion to speak 

 presently. 



While horses were sought for us, we spent the time in looking 

 around the premises. The house was a long one-story adobe building, 

 with a thickly thatched roof, forming, by its projection, a piazza in 

 front, supported by columns. There were many enclosures about the 

 house, that gave it the appearance of a farm-yard and slaughter-house 

 combined. Bones, hoofs, horns, and pieces of hide, were lying in 

 every direction, and the ground was indented with the feet of cattle. 

 Ducks, dogs, and fowls, were picking at the bones and offal. There 

 were one or two ox-carts, of clumsy proportions, a bee-hive, and a 

 ley-vat, formed of hide and suspended to four stakes, in the shape of 

 a large bag, hung near by. At a short distance from the house was 

 the vegetable-garden, where every thing grew in profusion, although 

 without care. The only trouble in gardening was to put the seed into 

 the ground, and await the result. This estancia is situated between 

 two copses of wood, that grow on the banks of the brook that winds 

 past it, and nearly join in the rear. In front is a plain, extending 

 fifteen or twenty miles to the foot of the Sierra, which forms a pleasing 

 and bold contrast to the flat surface, on which nothing is seen but here 

 and there a small group of cattle, and immense flocks of wild geese ; 

 or some shrub, which, owing to the refraction, appears almost detached 

 from the surface, and with dimensions so much enlarged as to appear 

 like a great tree. The plain at this time was of a dark hue, somewhat 



