PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
377 
shrubberies, which afforded a retreat to numerous coveys of Californian CHAP, 
partridges, of which handsome species of game the first specimen was 
brought to England by the Blossom, and is now living in the gardens of Nov. 
the Zoolomcal Society. 'I’hey are excellent food ; and the birds, in the 
country now under description, are so tame that they would often not 
start from a stone directed with Indian skill. 
The sun went down before they reached Santa Clara, which was 
to terminate that day’s journey, and being unaccustomed to ride, the ^ 
whole party were thoroughly fatigued. Indeed, so wearying was the 
journey even to the animals that bore them, that but for the relays of 
horses, which were now brought in with a lasso, they might have been 
compelled to pass the night upon the plain among the geese, the jackals, 
and the bears, which in the vicinity of Santa Clara are by no means scarce. 
The pleasure of removing from a jaded horse to one that is fresh is not 
unknown probably to my readers, and our party rode in comparative 
comfort the remainder of the journey, and reached the mission of Santa 
Clara at eight o’clock. 
Santa Clara, distant by the road about forty miles from San Fran- 
cisco, is situated in the extensive plain before described, which here, 
however, becomes more marshy than that part of the ground over which 
they had just travelled. It nevertheless continues to be occupied by 
herds of cattle, horses, sheep, and flocks of geese. Here, also, troops 
of jackals prowl about in the most daring manner, making the plain 
resound with their melancholy bowlings ; and indeed both wild and 
domesticated animals seem to lose their fear and become familiar with 
their tyrant man. The buildings of the establishment, wEich was 
founded in 1768, coUsist of a church, the dwelling-house of the priests, 
“‘ and five rows of buildings for the accommodation of 1400 Indians, who 
since Vancouver’s visit, have been thus provided with comparatively 
comfortable dwellings, instead of occupying straw huts, which were 
always w'et and miserable. Attached to these are some excellent 
orchards, producing an abundance of apples and pears. Olives and 
grapes are also plentiful, and the padres are enabled to make from the 
latter about twenty barrels of wine annually. They besides grow a 
great quantity of wheat, beans, peas, and other vegetables. On the 
3 c 
