CALIFORNIA. 200 



entertained us with wine and beer of his own making, and showed us 

 the copy-books of his children, who were in pot-hooks and trammels, 

 which he looked upon as a wonderful advancement in the education of 

 the country. Some half-dozen books were all they owned in the 

 pueblo ; but to make up for this deficiency, the alcalde told me they 

 were all very happy, and that there were but few quarrels, for those in 

 which stabs were inflicted did not occur oftener than once a fortnight. 

 We took our departure a short time before sunset, amidst the gathering 

 in of the villagers, with their goods and chattels, to a place of safety. 

 There are two Americans settled here, who own mills, but I was not 

 fortunate enough to meet with them ; the alcalde, however, gave them 

 good characters. The evening was a beautiful one, and we had a 

 delightful ride back to the mission ; and our horses, knowing they were 

 on their return, were quite mettlesome. 



The mode of conducting business in this country is peculiar. Ves- 

 sels, on reaching the coast, employ as a supercargo or travelling 

 agent, some person well known throughout the country, who visits all 

 the pueblos, missions, and estancias, as a traveller, passing from place 

 to place without any apparent object of business. He thus has an 

 opportunity of inspecting the worldly affairs of those to whom he 

 desires to sell ; and if he finds them apparently thrifty, he produces 

 his card of patterns, and soon induces a disposition on the part of his 

 host or hostess to buy, being careful to secure in payment as much of 

 their worldly goods as he can, and trusting them for the rest of the 

 indebtedness. A few live cattle delivered by each purchaser at the 

 neighbouring pueblo, become by this means a large herd, which is 

 committed to cattle-tenders on shares, who in due time slaughter them 

 and deliver the hides. A large amount of goods is thus disposed of, 

 to a very considerable profit. Large cargoes, consisting of a variety 

 of articles, of both American and English manufacture, are thus sold. 

 From the state of the country, it has been difficult to obtain payments 

 or returns in money ; but the debts have been paid in cattle, and pro- 

 bably will turn out well, when the rains return and allow the animals 

 to be again slaughtered. When hides are given in payment, they are 

 valued at two dollars, and are at all times the common currency of the 

 country. No money is in circulation, unless what is paid out by the 

 foreign merchants ; and in lieu of change, an extra quantity of goods 

 is taken, which excess is usually to the disadvantage of the buyer. 



On our return to Santa Clara, we had to procure horses for our 

 journey back by land. We had been told by the administrador and 

 nis deputy, that there would be no difficulty in the mission providing 

 us with horses and saddles ; and under this assurance, we had de- 

 void v. S 2 27 



