398 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. 
XIV. 
Dec. 
I 82 fi. 
degree of dryness being 6°, 6. The particulars of these observations 
are inserted in tables in the Appendix. 
The clear weather occasioned by the north-west wind was favourable 
for astronomical observations ; but many were lost in consequence of 
a haze overhanging the land at night, and from the inconvenience 
arising from a heavy deposition, which, besides occasioning much mirage, 
fell so profusely upon the glasses of the instruments that they were 
obliged to be repeatedly wiped, and sometimes at the most inconvenient 
moments^. Our observations, however, were very satisfactory, and are 
important, as the longitudes of the places between Nootka Sound and 
San Diego are dependent upon the situation of S4n Francisco and 
Monterey ; Vancouver having, in his survey of the coast, rated his chro- 
nometers between the meridians of these places. My observatory was 
erected upon a small eminence near the anchorage at Yerba-Buena, 
from whence the observations were carefully reduced to the fort at the 
entrance of the harbour. The results are given in the Appendix, 
where will also be found some observations on the dip and variation 
of the needle, the tides, and other subjects. 
I shall conclude this imperfect sketch of Upper California with a 
short description of the Indian mode of living, and of the natural pro- 
ductions of the country, derived principally from the information of the 
priests, and from the journals of the officers who went overland to 
Monterey. The Indians who enter the missions with which we became 
acquainted are divided in their wild state into distinct tribes, and are 
governed by a chief whose office is hereditary, but only in the male 
line. The widows and daughters, however, though not allowed to 
partake of this privilege, are exempted from labour, and are more re- 
spected than other women. Each tribe has a different dialect ; and 
though their districts are small, the languages are sometimes so dif- 
ferent, that the neighbouring tribes cannot understand each other. I 
have before observed, that in the mission of San Carlos there are 
eleven different dialects. Their villages consist of wigwams made with 
poles covered with bulrushes, and are generally placed in an open 
* I found this in a great degree obviated by fixing a long paper tube to the field end of 
the telescope. 
