248 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



hospitality and good living, since it has fallen into the hands of the 

 administradors or agents of the government. The remains of a fine 

 garden are also perceptible, where there is yet good fruit ; and near by 

 are extensive fields of Indian corn, which were formerly cultivated by 

 irrigation. 



The reception of our gentlemen was in keeping with the place, 

 neither polite nor friendly. No civilities were tendered, no offers of 

 accommodation made, although they brought a particular letter from 

 Captain Suter. Our party were inclined to believe that this was 

 owing, in part at least, to the condition of their wardrobe ; their whole 

 appearance, it must be admitted, was not much in their favour, dressed 

 as they were in the deer-skins that had been worn on their journey, yet 

 they thought that their characters might have been discovered through 

 their buckskins. 



The administrador told them there was no accommodation for their 

 horses, and showed them none, except a miserable hole without any 

 furniture. The letter of introduction bore the superscription of Don 

 Jose Antonio Estrade. They met with the tailor to the establishment, 

 Ephraim Travel, an American, of Philadelphia, who showed them the 

 lions of the place with great politeness, and as far as in him lay, made 

 amends for their otherwise cold reception. He took them round the 

 gardens, through the churches, and told them that the Indians under 

 the care of the mission were at the present time about six hundred, 

 which was only one-third of the number they had two years before. 

 In consequence, there was but little cultivation carried on, compared to 

 what there had been formerly. 



The harvest at the mission had been very small, from the great 

 drought. No rain had fallen for upwards of a year. The vintage, 

 however, had been very fine, and forty barrels of wine had been made, 

 besides a large supply of grapes for the whole establishment. The two 

 vineyards comprise about four acres, and beside vines, are filled with 

 apple, pear, and other fruit trees. The buildings of the mission are all 

 constructed of adobes, and covered with tile roofs. 



Fortunately for the party, Mr. Forbes, the agent of the Hudson 

 Bay Company, residing a few miles farther on, happened to be at the 

 mission, and very kindly offered them accommodations, which they 

 thankfully accepted. They found him lodged in a comfortable two- 

 story adobe house, situated on the border of an extensive prairie, but 

 without any trees or cultivation around it. He entertained them very 

 hospitably. 



The party visited Santa Clara the next day, where their reception 

 was very courteous, and furnished a strong contrast to that at San 



