Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-09-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
HUNTING IN CALIFORNIA.

The following interesting sketch Of Sport in Caf,r-
MA is taken iroma letter. we find in the Columbus GA
Inquirer:
After leaving the hills, our way lay throuyh baan,i
tu valley with the mountains on The one hand and the
Susnn bay the other There thousands Of snipe
cnfl'w, ducks and geese, but noticed not such small
game, for we had IN onf minds gazccs, deer elk and
bear. 80 We piled heavy spurs and were carried
In sweepng canier through oats and clover bfeas hph
10 our horses As approachrd within about two NIL
"i lhr rancho to which we had been nv ed discover
I'd herd of gazrlles Of not less than 500 in number
Our plans were mmedrt'ly laid, 10 dcpluy and fnre
the game up the by aud the bfiuq them t., onariafs
as they were TOO swift to be overlaen by horses But
our plan OF attnck failed for the beautiful animals were
two shtewd to be thus brough ht into close action which
must have re- nej in their total defeat Being oled in
the first attempt. tried another plan If tactics which
proved more successful 1t was by playing ~ on the
same weakness through which the serpent tempted our
common mother. VIZ by erciing their c,uiosihj lis it
fact. Me,srs Editors that gentle creaurs with soft eyes
are peculiarly curious? If not. then please explain why
so strong coincidence between beautiful pazolles and
lovely women Some of dsmonne ed and concealed our
some distance Of some Of us ie behind attached our
handkerchiets TO our Tauruds and raised them alo 10
utter in The breeze. The game very noticed the
signal aud attracted. They approached first very
cautiously; as lheY came they grew bnder, until
they were IN gnnshot, when we could Their large
ST eyes dancing with much eager curiosity as was
evnced by lady Of ga certain age and blue stock
ngs" At the word, fired and three of the graceful
creatures lay welering in thrir blood Having secured
our game, halfh1nrs ride brought to the house of
our friend Doctor Long. So arrived a run
dispatched 10 an old Spaniards rancho, to ap-
prize the rancheros that were IN the uephborhoad
and would be before day gb in the morning to SEE
them iosso bear. Our horses being picqueed and
large quantity Of elk eaten, spread blankets upon
the fl preparatory for sleep. We little too crowd
ed, ii is true, 10 'led natures sweet restorer
halmy sleep" When any OF The party shed 10 turn
over. "a hands" had To be called. and the Commands
were given, "ready, about" "mainsa haul, - and we
brought abos the ''oher tack" Thus the nig t was
spent in spinning yarns, uterpered with small sprinkle
Of sleep.
Ere the rosy fingered gode had displayed her blush
had again mounted and ii den To The night hauuls
OF Bruiu. We Were attended by body guard consis
ting of score Of Spaniards-each OF whom was
armed with lassa the national weapon of native Cali
fonias. both for purposes ofoence aud defence by whom
this instrument, is used for every imagnabl purpose;
for catching wild animals and other things too numerous
10 mention. In truth, Cafornian without his lassu is
| no Californian than a Georgian is Simon pure
without shirt collar and spurs. II is his natural attaehee
a, bull bait b AZ hnnr, wedding, funeral.
As before SAID, we on the ground where The
great Grizzly Went about during the night seeking what
| he mil gh devonr Very the game sprung in The
person. of huge frll1w. In moment all was excite
ment. and the assos were 1ouushng IN great rapdty
around The heads OF attendants. and vigorous onset
nade the animal. The frs effort ,sed the
old f'lluw, but the ms ruHrn was Immediately knocked
of by the powerful paw Of the bear. The next efforts
eurcassfll. and Immediately, if not sooner,
the game living "supinely upon his back while the
enemy bound him hand and feet. with the lasss he
was drawn t. the rancho where large number from the
surrounding saltleme had collected IN witness the bear
aud bull engage in deadly conflfc'. This did not at
tend, my better ersgs revued against such cruel
port. Arong the COLLECTION number Of heaniitul
senoritds. whose rngles dark, anguishng eyes
hrale hands aud feet. aperlng waists, &c, formed
sttong temptation to make young bachelors oblivous Of
the girls they left behind hem and douby sure
that M professional services may yet be needed
Sulsum valley
] hat afternoon we had fine shooting and being
fagned by The days exercise, repaired 10 The Doc
tors and turned in tor the night. Early the
ing were in saddles and ready for the hunt We
paired of he game here is obtained by ''s" hun
ling. My companion in arms was Lieu. r.. generally
known in tie Squadron by The familiar spubr.que of
'Legs," being SIX feet three inches IN the clear. W q
riding elsurey along at the mouth OF glen keep
ing ght look oui, only ahead but in every quarter,
when discovered animal than thousand
feet above u.s. up the unalns side, half mile of
We reconnu ered and from all appearances, concluded
the object be buck. Our horses then brought
ed up the leward slope # he gnlch. BY dnt Of hard
climbing and much resting. we found ourselves. accor
ding 10 landmarks, abreast the game. We then held a
council Of war. "Lrgs" was ordered t. place his rifle
in shooting lrl and r,connote. He accordingly. in a
cautious manner raised his head above ledge OF
rocks with paor covering hscountenance, upon every
feature of which was legibiy written, GRIZZLY. We
took anxious and "hasiy paieo of council, what was
hest 10 be done in this great emergency. The wind
had hauled and the enemy from his actluns according
to the report # Legs" had evidently sme. no, rat.
but dainty human flesh. 1t was quickly determined iG
retreat; did it with Tapdity which fear alone could
impau-to me trees which fortunately stood near by