TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 
91 
rusty swords and scabbards, the jingling of loose gun-locks, 
and the right-about-face-forward-march operations of these 
bandy-legged, pale-livered, disconsolate sons of Mars, pray¬ 
ing to the saints that they might not be annihilated by such ter¬ 
rible events, told a story of valor, which future ages ought to 
hear with appalled ears! The times which try men’s souls 
have always been remarkable in some way ; and this day 
was chiefly conspicuous for beef and beans. The quantity 
of these articles which they devoured at breakfast, was in¬ 
credible ; and the grease and dirt which they consumed, 
the glare and quick twinkling of the eyes for more, and the 
panting obesity of their persons when the meal was ended, 
indicated great perseverance, if not indomitable bravery. 
As in other countries talent is measured by impudence, 
moral worth by long faces and stereotyped solemnity of coun¬ 
tenance, and rank by the elevation of the nose and the suc¬ 
cessful villainy of ancestors, so in California, with the same 
unquestionable good sense, do the cavalieros measure their 
manliness of character, their bravery in arms, their civil and 
social elevation, by the capacity of their stomachs and their 
eloquence in boasting. Never were men happier or more 
thoroughly self-content than the troops of Monterey at their 
beef and beans. The events of The Revolution were dis¬ 
cussed with full mouths and laboring throats. LosEspanioles 
del Alta California, to wit, every Indian with a drop of Span¬ 
ish blood under his filthy skin, were muy bravos , extremely 
brave, and their conduct in the late troubles was second to 
nothing recorded since the siege of Mexico under Cortes ! 
It is said by some one who pretends to know, that the 
world generally estimates us by the value we set upon our¬ 
selves. Whether this opinion be founded in truth or not, I 
am unable to determine. But certain it is, the Genius of 
Glory in these days seems to be in her dotage. Homer, 
Socrates, Luther and Washington, wear her laurels with so 
much grace, that the old jade appears to think it a mere 
amusement to make immortal men. Accordingly she 
