Chap. IV. THE SMALL-POX. 477 
not resist drinking spirits, and when drunk he was like a 
wild beast. During the journey he had no opportunity of 
yielding to this weakness, as we resolutely refused to let 
him have a drop of the dangerous fluid. As soon, how- 
ever, as we reached the first Californian settlement, he 
freed himself from this control. Having got drunk, he 
insisted on my drinking with him ; and on my refusal he 
flew into such a rage, that I thought myself fortunate to 
escape without serious injury. People of this kind are 
met with very frequently in North America ; and this, 
amongst other things, should be taken into consideration, 
in giving just credit to the efforts of the Temperance 
party. 
Mr. W v who had lived in Santa Barbara, had often 
come in contact with the Copper-mine Apaches, who at 
that time lived on a good understanding with the North 
Americans, and were frequently seen in the settlements. 
He brought us the unpleasant tidings that a misunder- 
standing had recently broken out between them and the 
whites. A son of the old chief, who went by the name 
of Ponce, had been ill with small-pox, and the commander 
of the neighbouring fort, it was said, would not allow 
the army surgeon to visit the patient, who afterwards died. 
The old man hereupon removed with his tribe, threatening 
that in future travellers should not find him so friendly as 
hitherto ; and, in fact, a few days after, we became aware 
that this threat was made in earnest. In our party were 
some North Americans, with their Mexican wives, who 
were in the habit of journeying in advance of our caravan, 
partly in a travelling-carriage and partly on horseback. 
When we approached within a few miles of Cook's Spring 
a Mexican servant of these people suddenly returned in 
the greatest haste, telling us that his master and mistress 
