Chap. X. NEW ALMADEN. 583 
different plantations of this extensive establishment, where, 
amongst other articles of a nursery, I saw a considerable 
number of young date-trees. 
From San Jose to New Almaden is a distance of four- 
teen miles. Several omnibuses pass daily to and fro 
between the two places. New Almaden, even in a 
country where civilization and the enjoyments of a more 
refined life are so recent, has already become a point of 
attraction for pleasure-parties from San Francisco. There 
is no want of good hotels at that little mining place, 
situated in a narrow valley between the steep hills of 
the coast range ; and so much are the Mexican miners, 
who are exclusively employed there, accustomed to the 
visits of travellers and excursionists, that as soon as you 
arrive, and without much reference to your wishes or 
intentions, you are invited to take place on a sort of hand- 
waggon, moving on rails, and away you are driven into the 
bowels of the earth. 
The road from San Jose to New Almaden passes over 
the continuation of the beautiful plain in which the former 
place is situated, in a southerly direction. As you proceed 
the aspect of the country becomes more and more inter- 
esting by the park-like character which the plain assumes, 
and the proximity of the mountains. Near San Jose the 
principal wild trees are willows and poplars, growing along 
the banks of the little river. Higher up large sycamores 
take their place, and begin to be scattered over the plain. 
By-and-bye several species of evergreen oaks appear 
amongst them ; until, at last, the whole extent resembles 
an immense orchard. Occasionally you encounter a small 
habitation and a tract of cultivated land, with wheat, maize, 
beans, squashes, onions, tomatoes, melons, and other veget- 
able productions. The Rancho de los Capitancillos, then 
