Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-08-21
California and its Resources.


is full of interest and we therefore proceed to Gull out
few more facts and statements The visit, it should
be remembered, was made IN l541. Capt. w. says
that the greater part of the wealth of the people of
California consists of live stock. The exPortaons
on the average of years, about one hundred and
fifty thousand hides, and two hundred thousand AFRO
bas of alIow The standard price for the former is
two dollars while the latter is worth dollar and
fifty cents the arroba. few beaver skins obtain
ed which do not exceed two thousand, and valued
at dollars piece From four to FIVE hundred sea
otter skins brought in by American hunters
which are valued at thirty dollars each.
Wheat has been exported TO the Russian posts, to
the amount of twelve thousand bushels, of which the
average price is about fifty cents bushel Of late
however it has risen dollars and fifty cents In
consequence of the great drought that has preveed
Among the exports may be enumerated about three
thousand elk and deer skins, which valued at from
fifty cents a dollar each. The whole merchantable
products may be estimated at less than million of
dollars. The yield of wheat il remarkable and In
some places where the land is well situated very
large returns are received Mr.. Spears, Of Yerba
Buena informed Capt. w. that he had delivered to an
active American farmer thirty bushels of wheat for
seed, at time when it was difficult to obtain it, I'M
der agreement that he should have the refusal of
the crop at the market price. In the July following
he delivered him three thousand bushels, and on its
delivery he discovered that the farmer had reserved
six hundred bushels for himself; and this, without
estimating the loss from bad reaplng and treadng out
with horses, would give one hundred and twenty for
one This is not considered fair criterion aver
age as the land was remarkable for its richness and
was well attended to; but MIR. Spears and several
others assured him that the average would be high
as eighty bushels yielded for one planted.
Indian yiolds well, also potatoes, beans and
peas. The cultivation of vegetables is increasing
rapidly and Supplies id these latter articles may be
had in abundance and of the finest quality. The
country appears to be well adapted grapes. Those
that have been tried at the missions yield most abund
anty and about two hundred casks, each of eighteen
gallons, of brandy, and the quantity of wine,
are made. The cultivation Of the grape increases
yearly but is not sufficient for the supply of the coun-
try, large quantities of foreign wines and liquors
are imported, which pay enormous duty.
| The salmon fishery, if attended to. would in the
opinion of Capt Wilkes, be a source of considerable
profit. But the people are said to be indoent, and
to live with little trouble possible At the mis-
sons, coarse articles manufactured such blan-
kets and wearing apparel for the Indians Soap and
leather also manufactured There are in Califor-
MIA, only two three water mills for grinding flour,
and these owned by foreigners. The mills gen.
eral use In the country, are composed of than
two burr stones To tie upper stone a cross beam is
secured, to which mule power is applied. In most of
the instances there is TO be found mill in an apart
ment adjoining the kitchen, If not in it. The whole
is as primitive as well be, although the captain
has no doubt 1t answers all the wants Of this rude
and indolent people.
|
well adapted to the raising of sheep, which simply
require watching, they find plenty of nutritious
food the whole year round but there has been nc at
tenon paid to this sort of stock and the wool is of
very ordinary 5nality. The mutton is thought to be
of very fine flavor. The usual price for a sheep is
from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars, when
choice is made for killing. Hogs raised in some
parts, and might be fed to great advantage on the
acOrns which abundant the hills where the
land is not susceptible Of cultivation. Pork may be
Il al
adds to the facility of doing this business the fact
that large quantities of salt collect in the ponds in
the dry season. which may be obtained for the expense
of carting ii.
| The number of Indians is variousy estimated at
from 1000 to $1,000, while others place them az
low as 5000 or 5000. The principal part of these
are the tribes the Sacramento. The whites, Capt
w. estimates at about 5000, with about 20OO more OF
mixed blood The whole population of Upper Cali
ornia at the date of the visit is given at about 49,
600 souls. The health and robustness of the wild in
habitants remarkable and must be attributed to
the fine climate, we'll as to their simple diet This
consists of beef roasted upon the Goals, few vege-
tables and the tortila, which is thin cake made of
meal, and baked upon sheet of iron Through
the country, both with the rich and poor this is
the general fare ;-but some few luxures have been
lately introduced, among which rice and tea. The
latter Is used sParlngy, that the diScooration of
the water is scarcely perceptible.
At the missions they live after the Spanish fashion
Fbe children are, for the most part, left take
Of themselves, and run about aked and dirty They
generally robust and their relative number seems
to be very great; thus, II is by means uncommon
to families of fourteen fifteen children and an
instance mentioned of woman near Yerba Bu-
ena, who had had twenty-six. large number die
from accidental falls from horses, with which from
their earliest childhood they are accustomed to be en-
gagged. They early become expert and fearless riders
and this skill is not confined altogether to the male
sex; the women are almost equally expert. Faml-
lies with numerous members are seldom met with
who have not had to mourn the loss of several of
their number from casualties of this kind
Although the Californans comparatively few in
number, yet they have distinctive character. De-
scended from the old Spaniards they unfortunate
y found to have all their vices without proper share
of their virtues they are exceedingly fond of gam.
bling, which is equally in favor with the male and
femal portion of the community. Their games con-
sist In cards, dice, &c.
Their amusements are cock6ghting, bull and bear
batting, and dancing these the predominant oc
equations of their lives, always accompanied with
excessive drinking. Parties of amusement, to which
the surrounding population is invited are frequent
these generally last for three days. and rarely break
up without some quarrel
Weddings are particularly liable to these disorders
and each of the three last that took place at and in
the vicinity of Yerba Buena previous to the visit
there, life lost by the coceillo This weapon is
always worn and is promptly resorted to in all their
quarres.
The female portion Of the community are Ignorant
degraded, and the slaves of their husbands. They
are very fond of dress, and will make any sacrifice
even their own honor, to crafty it. The men have
trades, and depend for every thing upon the ndi-
at the missions, some of whom are quite inpe-
NOUS, both as carpenters and blacksmiths. The
whites are indoent, and withal have 50 much PRIDE
to make them look upon all manual labor as de- |
grading IN TRUTH they regard all those who work as