Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1849-12-12
A LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

FROM VIE IOllOWlng, WHICH we copy from
the Fredericksburg News, the friends of
Capt. Jenifer, Fitzhugh and Company, who
left Fort Smith in April last, will learn that
they have reached San Francisco and de-
parted for the gold regions
SAN FRANcIsco, GAIA.
Sep. "a, lS49.
wrote you from San Diego, informing
you of my safe arrival at that place on the
9th August, and Of my brothers. detention
from i'll health at Santa Fe. AT that time the
steamship was hourly expected, and having
to be in readiness on the beach five miles
from the town, had only time to give you
information of my arrival. now give a
brief description of our long and tolsome
journey, and such information as ] have
been enabled TO gather, regarding The mines,
country, SC.
We LETT Fort Smith, Arkansas, the 11th
April, nine in company, including a servant
boy. Our route for the frs. 200 hundred
miles was through fertile and very beau
tlful country-a succession Of Praries inter
spersed with strips Of wood land along the
ravines and water courses, Inhabited by the
friendly tribes of the Cherokees, Choc,aws,
Chicasaws and Greek Indians. The travel
| ling, however, was very Iaborious, roads
deep and miry. We had no, unfrequen.ly
to unload and prize our wagons on, Of the
mudd several times a day-making on an
average only S or 10 miles a day, some
lines not more than half that distance. On
the "a Of May we reached Grand Prairie. As
we were now on the border Of the Canaan
che territory, We deemed i! unsafe TO 60
farther without making an addition to our
company. The following day we were join
ed by several small parties, making in all
thirty men. with whom we travelled the
whole journey.
From this, for nearly 800 miles, our route
was up the South branch Of the Canadian
River, and was by far the most agreeable
portion of our journey, or rather the less,
unpleasant and fatigueing. 1t is conlnu-
Gus Prairie, covered with luxuriant grass
roads firm and good. and the weather dry
and pleasant. We had also an abundance
of game, Deer, Antelope. Buffalo, with va
Iriely of smaller game, RABBITS, Turkeys, Pra-
RE Fowls, sc. Leaving the Canadian for
the distance Of $50 miles to Santa Fee, the
country is more broken and very barren
scacisy Of wood, wafer and grass, we had
sometimes to encamp without either; the
water with few exceptions. is sal, and brack-
ish. We reached Sonia Fee The 5h June,
having passed through the Camanche ter
Titory without seeing an Indian. Thinking
we could travel more expedien, with pack
mules, we here disposed of our wagons, and
bad necessarily 10 dispense with many of
the comforts of travelling, our tents, cook
ing utensils, SC.
We left Santa Fe the 11th June; taking
| the route OF Gen. Kearney, we travelled
down the valley of Rio Grande, some 300
miles from Santa Fe. The river was high
and very rapid, at -- we swan our ami
mails, and with small canoe crossed our
selves and packs. At Socora we procured
Mexican guide, and about SO or 60 miles
below this place left the Rio Grande. and
struck off due west for the Gila, which we
reached the 9Th day. Between these rivers
we were visited by party Of Apsches, some
forty or fifty in number. They were very
friendly, and assured US that we might pass
through their territory unmolesied. Their
visit was a godsend to US. Some of our
mules were very much faded, but by giving
them a few blankets and shifts, made an
exchange for fresh animals. The Gla is
bold and rapid stream, the valley and the
country, for nearly the whole course Of the
river, mountainous and very barren. On ma
ny places the river seems to have forced its
way through the mountains. AS our guide
Il bod faIl
The course of the river, and the old trail Of
Gen. Kesrney, which in many places was
very ndlslinct. Dung this par! of the
tourney, the weather was very warm, the
heat in the middle of the day almost insup-
portable. Having frequently to leave the river
TO cut off bends, we found the travelling TO
be very laborious, ascending and descend
ing mountains, so deep and rugged that they
compelled US 10 make a great part of The
Journey on foot. Along the whole country
of this river are remains Of lnadian towns,
pottery, and outlines ofdI,ches by which the
soil was once irrigated: evidences Of its
having been once inhabited by race, far
more civilized then any Of the Indian tribes
of the present day. On the 9Th Of July
we reached The Penio village, where we re-
NAMED several days to replenish our stock
of provisions, which was nearly exhausted,
and to recruit, our animals. The Penio To-
dams are very friendly. and nhabit beau
tiful valley, which by irrigation they make
very productive. We procured from them
beef, flour, meal, beans, sc. On the 18th
August we reached the Colorado river, and
were greatly rejoiced to find we should no,
have the difficulty we anticipated in cross
ing, as i. is usually very high during the
summer months, caused by the melting Of
the snow in the mountains. This river is
infested with hostile tribe of Indians, who
have been great annoyance TO emigranls.
We heard of some companies who had all
of their animals stolen by them. The day