Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-09-11
From the Exploring Expedition" undcr Capt Wilkes
,CALiFORNlA-THE IMPORTS-CROPS--
MANUFACTURES--A MUSEMENTS-p


STOCK. The expectations, on the average of years
are about one hundred and fifty thousand hides
and two hundred thousand arrobas of tallow. Th,
standard price for the former is two dollars. while
the latter is worth dollar and fifty cents the ar
roba. a few beaver skins are obtained. which i,
not exceed two thousand, and are valued at tw,
dollars apiece From four to five hundred sea OF
ter skins are brought in byAmerican hunters which
are valued at thirty dollars each.
Wheat has been exported to the Russian posts o
which the average is about fifty cents bushe O
Iate, however, it has risen to two dollars and eff,
cents, IN consequence Of the great drought tha
has prevailed Among the exports may be emu.
lnerated about three thousand elk and deer skins
winch are valued at from fifty cents to u dollar
piece The whole mcrchanlablo products may BE-
estimated at less than a million Of dollars. The
/ ylcld OF wheat IS remarkable, AMI in some places
where the land Is well situated very large return.
/ are received. Mr.. Spears, of Yerba Bucaua in.
formed Capt w. that he had delivered 10 am actiy,
American farmer thirty bushels of wheat for seed
ut a time when it was difficult to procure it, under
IN agreement that he should hlyc the refusal n
/ the crop at the market price. In the July follow
ing, the farmer delivered him three thousand bush
/ els and on It's delivery he discovered that the far
! mor had reserved six hundred bushels for himself
and tins, without estimating he loss from bad reap.
/ ing and treadng out with horses, would give ont
| hundred and twenty for one. This is not consd
cred far criterion or average, as the land was re
lnarkablc for its richness and was well attended
to- but Mr.. Spears and several others .dssurcd hin
that the average would be as high eighty bush
els yielded for one planted.
Indian corn yields well, as also potatoes beans
and peas. The cultivation of vegetables is in
creaslng rapidly, and supplies IN these latter arti-
Giles may be had in abundance and of the finest
quality The country appears to be well adapted
to grapes. Those which have been tried at the mis-
sons, yield most abundantly and about two hun
dred casks, each of eighteen gallons Of brandy,
and the same quantity of wine, are made The
cultivation Of the grape increases yearly but is not
sufficient for the supply of the country, as large
quantities OF foreign wines and liquors are import
ed which pay an enormous duty.
The salmon fishery if attended to, would, in the
opinion of Capt. Wilkes, be a scource Of consid-
reabe profit But the people are said to be inlo-
lent and to live with little trouble as possible -
Al the MISSIONS coarse articles are manufactured,
such as blankets and wearing apparel for the lndi-
ans. There aie in California, only two or three
water mills for grinding -four, and these are owned
. by Foreigners The mills in general use in Cali
tornla, are composed of no more than two burr
stones. so the upper stone a cross beam is secur-
ed, to which mule power is applied. In most of
the estancias there is to be found mill in an apart.
ment adjoining the kitchen, if not in it. Their ap-
paratus Is as primitive rs it well can be, although
the Capt has no doubt that it answers all the wants
of this rude and indolent people.
From all accounts, besides cattle, the country is
well adapted to the raising Of sheep which simply
require. watching, they can find plenty Of nuirl-
cious food the whole year round but there has no
attention been paid to this sort of stoch, and the
wool IS of worry idinIly Qualify. 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 a choice is made for killing. Hogs
are raised III some parts, and might be fed to great
advantage on The acorns which are abundant on the
hills whore the land is not susceptible of cultiva-
ton. Pork may be packed at three dollars per
hundred weight. What adds to the facility Of do
ing this business, is the fact that large quantities
Of salt collect in the ponds in the dry season. and
may be obtained for the expence Of carting it.
The number Of Indians is varousy estimated at
from $4,000 to l5,0O0 while others place them as
low as 5000 or 1000 The principle part of these
are the tribes on the Sacramento. The whites
Capt W. estimates at about 5000, with about g.
0O0 more Of the mixed blood The whole popula.
ton of Upper California at the date of the visit is
given at about $1,000 souls, The health and 70
business Of the Wild inhabitants seem remarkable,
and must be attributed to the zine climate, as well
their simple diet. This consists Of beef roasted
upon the Goals, few vegetables, and the tortla,
winch is a thin cake made Of corn neal and bak-
ed upon sheet Of iron. Throughout the country,
both with the rich and the poor, this is the gencr-
al fare but some few luXurles have been lately in
troduced, among which, are nee and tea. The lat
water is scarcely preceptibe.
AT the missions they live after the Spanish fash
ion. The children, for the most part, left to take
care of themselves, and run about naked and dirty
| They are generally robust and their relative mum.
Der seems to be very great thus, it. is by no means
! uncommon to see families Of fourteen or fifteen
or sixteen children; and an instance was mention
! ed Of woman near Yerba Buena, who had had 90.
large number die from accidental falls from
| horses, with which from their earliest childhood
! they are accustomed to be engaged. They early
become expert and fearless riders and this skill is
not confined altogether to the male sex the wom-
| en- are almost equally expert. Families with nu-
merous members are seldom to be met with, who
have not had to mourn the loss Of several Of then
| number from casualties Of this kind
Although the Calfornans comparatively few
| in number, yet they have distinctive character.
Descended from the old Spaniards,- they are unfor
! tunaely found to have all their vices without n
proper share of their virtues they are exceeding
ly fond of gambling, which is equally in favor will
the male and female portion Of community. Their
games consist in cards, dice, &c.
7 Their umusements are cock fighting, bull anC
bear batting. and dancing these are the prlncipa
occupations Of their lives always ACCOMPANIED viii
excessive drinking Parties Of amusement ID which
the surrounding population is invited are frequeut
these generally last for three days, and rarely ge
through without some quarrel.
u w Weddings are particularly liable TO these dsor
ders. and at each of the three last that TOOL, nlac
at and in the vicinity of Yerba Buena, previous t,
the visit there, life was lost by the occelllo Th
weapon is always worn, and is promptly resorto,
; to in all their quarres.
The eUale portion of community are ignorant
degraded, aud the slaves of their husbands The,
are very fond Of dress, and will make any sacrifice
even their honor, 10 crafty IT. The men have n,
trades, and depend for every thing upon the Indi
ans at the missions, some Of whom are quite inqen
uous, both as carpenters and blacksmiths Thu
whites are so indolent, and withal have so muel
pride, as is make them look upon all manual labo
as degrading in truth they regard all those VIII,
work, as beneath them; they in consequence, cal
never be induced to labor. An anecdoe was rels
ted to me of one who had beeen known to dispense
with his dinner although the food was but a few
yards Off because the Indian was not at hand t
bring it to him. Philadelphia Inquirer