380 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, far, that as they were riding peaceably over the Llano de lasi\nimas, 
the clanking of their guide’s huge broadsword, which had been sub- 
Nov. stituted for the long musket of the soldier from the presidio, drew the 
attention of the party to his pursuit of a wild mountain-cat, which he 
endeavoured to ensnare with his lasso for the sake of its skin, which is 
said to be valuable. Two of these cats, which in species approach the 
ocelot, were shot by our sportsmen at San Francisco. Their skins were 
preserved to be brought to this country, but on opening the collection 
they were not found, and we have reason to suspect that a man who 
assisted the naturalist disposed of these, as well as many other speci- 
mens, to his own advantage. 
Twilight approached as the party drew near to the mission of San 
Juan, where they alighted, after a ride of fifty-four miles, just as the bell 
tolled for vespers, and, stiff and tired, gladly availed themselves of the 
accommodation offered by padre Arroyo, who in hospitality and good 
humour endeavoured to exceed even the good father of Santa Clara. 
This worthy man was a native of Old Castile, and had resided in Cali- 
fornia since 1804, dividing his time between the duties of his holy 
avocation and various ingenious inventions. Supper was served in very 
acceptable time to the fatigued visiters, and the good-natured padre 
used every persuasion to induce them to do justice to his fare ; treat- 
ing them to several appropriate proverbs, such as “ Un dia alegre vale 
cien 4nos de pesadfimbre,” (one day of mirth is worth a hundred years 
of grief), and many more to the same purpose. Though so many sum- 
mers had passed over his head in exile, his cheerfulness seemed in 
no way diminished, and he entertained his guests with a variety of 
anecdotes of the Indians and of their encounters with the bears too 
long to be repeated here. Nor was his patriotism more diminished 
than his cheerfulness, and on learning that one of the party had been 
at the siege of Cadiz, his enthusiasm broke forth in the celebrated 
Spanish patriotic song of “ Espana de la gu6rra &c.” Having served 
them with what he termed the viatico, consisting of a plentiful supply 
of cold fricole beans, bread, and eggs, he led the party to their sleeping 
apartment amidst promises of horses for the morrow, and patriotic 
songs of his country adapted to the well-known air of Malbrook. In- 
