eighteen miles brought us to the pretty village of Sonora, at about half-past eleven o’clock, and 
the prospect of a good dinner seemed encouraging, for we drove up to a commodious, neat and 
apparently well-kept hotel. Observing a striped pole, indicating the location of a professor of the 
tonsorial art, we thought a little shaving and washing and brushing would be a fitting preparation 
for a good dinner. On returning to the hotel we found our party at the table, and noticed 
they did not appear cheerful, and were not long in discovering the cause. They were enjoying a 
cold lunch, and of all the miserable things in the world, a California cold lunch is the most mis¬ 
erable. We took a vacant seat at the table, and soon the waiter brought us a plate of meat that 
might have been designed for corned beef when it was cooked, but which appeared quite aged, 
and of about the color and toughness of sole-leather. We asked for something a little better, 
when the acommodating waiter, after diligent search, appeared with a dish of greasy pork which 
he deposited on the table before us. We indignantly inquired if he was not aware that we were 
of the Jewish persuasion and held in abomination everything of the swine kind. We also 
indulged in a little flattery, stating that we had good reason for believing that this was a well- 
kept house, and had expected the best meal on the route, and could not think of leaving 
without a warm “ square meal,” suggesting that a tender beef-steak and potatoes would*be accept¬ 
able. W e had no idea of getting much to eat, our main object being to make a little fun for the 
gloomy company. 'I he waiter expressed his willingness to try for a beefsteak, and started for 
the kitchen. We allowed him to reach the kitchen door, then re-called 
him, expressing doubts whether in our starving condition we could sur¬ 
vive until that beef-steak was cooked, and suggesting a little soup or 
something of the kind. In a few minutes he returned with a stew which 
was really good; and soon an excellent steak and potatoes were placed 
before us. We stated that this confirmed our good opinion of the charac¬ 
ter of the house, and asked for some business cards — a whole pack — as 
we intended to recommend all our friends to stop there, particularly for 
dinner. For dessert, strawberries were 
the only dish, and while these were 
placed upon the table pretty freely in 
oval dishes, they were served to the 
company in diminutive sauce-plates 
holding half-a dozen. When one of 
them was brought to us we objected 
to its shape declaring we had a great 
dislike to those round plates, and 
always preferred strawberries in oval 
dishes, so one was produced, holding about a pint, or more, and after securing sugar we inquired 
for a table-spoon, whieh was brought by the smiling waiter, amid the laughs and cheers of the 
company, who were beginning to feel rather merry over our success in obtaining a good dinner 
under unfavorable circumstances. 
On retiring from the table we expressed some concern for the company lest they might starve 
before reaching the Valley, as impudence was quite as essential as money in traveling, a quality 
in which they seemed to be fearfully lacking. Hastening to the telegraph office, I sent a mes¬ 
sage to “ Priest’s,” twenty-four miles further on, which was to be our stopping-place for the night, 
ordering a good supper for twenty-three starving people, and a more glorious supper than Mr. 
Priest provided no mountain travelers, ever enjoyed. With Mrs. Priest, and her neat and 
pretty daughters for waiters, we could have enjoyed a much poorer supper; but with such a sup¬ 
per and such waiters our cup of happiness seemed to be full. 
Trom Sonora to Priest’s we experienced the warmest weather on our route, except, perhaps, 
a day or so at San Jose. The country was broken, the wild flowers and shrubbery abundant, 
but very few large trees. On this route we crossed a river, the Tuolumne, we think, on a 
peculiar ferry propelled by the force of the stream. For a mile or so after crossing this river the 
route followed the bed of a dry creek, and as it was sunset, we inquired how long before our 
stopping-place would be reached, and were somewhat surprised to learn that we had some two 
hours of travel still before supper and rest. Surprised at the time required, as we knew the dis- 
4 
TARAN 1ULA CAVE. 
TARANTULA. 
