war, in the course of which I learnt that Mr. Bradley
has been a resident in California for the last eight
years, and that he was one of the officers of the volunteer
corps attached to the army of the United States, while
military operations were going on in this country.
I told him of my desire to enter as a surgeon in the
service of the States, and he promised to speak to
Captain Fulsom on the subject, and obtain from him
a letter to Colonel Mason, the new governor; but he
is afraid there is little chance of my meeting with
success, as nearly all the volunteer corps have been,
or are about to be, disbanded. Both Mr. Bradley
and Captain Fulsom speak very favourably of the climate
and soil of California, and say that an enterprising
agriculturist is sure to make a speedy fortune.
Mr. Bradley, who has agreed to accompany us on our
trip, strongly advises Malcolm to shift his quarters
from Oregon, and settle here, saying that he is sure
my friend will do so when he has once seen the farms
in the Sacramento valley, whither we are to start early
next week. McPhail left us to-day, to make a
trip to Sonoma.
San Francisco, although as yet but a poor place, will
no doubt become a great emporium of commerce.
The population may be about a couple of thousands;
of these two-thirds are Americans. The houses,
with the exception of some few wooden ones which have
been shipped over here by the Americans, are nearly
all built of unburnt bricks. The appearance of
the native Californian is quite Spanish. The men
wear high steeple-like hats, jackets of gaudy colours,
and breeches of velvet, generally cotton. They
are a handsome swarthy race. The best part in
the faces of the women are their eyes, which are black
and very lustrous. The Californian belles, I
am sorry to say, spoil their teeth by smoking cigarettos.
CHAPTER II.
Start for Monterey
Horse equipments in California
The advantages of them
Rifles and Ruffians
Californian Scenery
Immense herds of cattle
Mission of Santa Clara
Pueblo of San Jose
A Californian farm-house
What it is like inside and out
Prolific crops of wheat
Saddle-sickness
The journey is resumed
Mission of San Jose
Arrival at Monterey
The Author’s visit to Colonel Mason
Surgeons not wanted in California
Rumours of gold being found on the Sacramento
Characteristics of Monterey
Don Luis Palo and his sisters
What all Californian dinners consist of
The party return to San Francisco.
Monterey.—May 4th.—Started
off early on the morning of the 2nd on our journey
to Monterey. We found our horses in readiness
in the hotel yard, in charge of a servant (here called
a vaquero) of Mr. Bradley’s. The latter,
having business to transact at Monterey, accompanied
us. My horse was equipped after the Spanish fashion,
with the usual high-pommelled cumbrous saddle, with
