Cjjaptu Ctndtu. 
SUTTER’S FORT—A HERD OF CATTLE—“ LASSOING ”—RIO DE LOS AMERICANOS—A DIS¬ 
APPOINTED HUNTER—A CAIFORNIAN SERENADE—A MULE AND HIS RIDER—PARTING 
COMPANY—THIRST—SERENADES SUPPORTED BY DIRECT TAXATION—SIERRA NEYADAS. 
We drove out a mile, to the margin of an extensive plain, 
where we stopped at a well, filled our flasks, and moved on, 
a gentleman who had a friend in the hospital at the fort, and 
myself, going in advance of the team. The fort at the time of 
its construction, was an extensive work, but now it is all in 
ruins excepting the inner inclosure, in which are situated the 
dwelling, hospital and out-houses. (See Plate). It is constructed 
of adobes, or unburned brick, prepared and laid up by Indian 
labor; and I will here remark, that the Indians on the ranchos 
in California, are considered as stock, and are sold with it as 
cattle, and the purchaser has the right to work them on the 
rancho, or take them into the mines. They are extremely 
squalid in appearance, and in the most abject servitude. I have 
never found the natives, anywhere, in a condition so degraded. 
We found the sick man in a very feeble state, having been in 
the hospital six weeks with dysentery, which he had contracted 
in the mines; and at this time there was but little hope of his 
recovery. 
The fort is situated in the midst of an extensive plain, three 
miles from Sacramento city, and the same distance from the 
ferry and ford of the American river, (Rio Del Americano). It 
is said the proprietor, in one season, harvested nearly two 
thousand acres of wheat. At some distance back of the fort 
we saw grazing one of those immense herds of cattle for which 
California has been celebrated, (see Plate,) estimated at from 
two to three thousand head. Before the gold was discovered 
hides and tallow were the only articles of export, and cattle 
were raised and slaughtered for these articles alone. They run 
