The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-09-12
LErrER FRoM CALIFORNIA.


A friend has furnished ~ with letter from
Dr.. C. C. PAaRy, Of this place, dated IN July At
San Diego, Caliiornis, from which we make the
exsrscs:-
~ dear Friend A quiet Saturday evening,
how could spsnd il better than in writing to
you, You sec according to my last have
brought up sgain in the old place, the same dry
brown hills saw when first landed; the same
delightful elm, te; the same dull society. BY
the way San Diego has got antiquated since
left, two ssnesc San Diegos" have sprung up
within miles Of cold San Diego" - il now
called. Speculation has been here with her
transforming wand and found out that the town
hiss been put in the wrong place. But oil towns
old and new in this region are pretty much alike
to me who care more for the weeds that grow
about their streets, than town io.s.! Finding on
my return every thing in the vegetable limo done
broUn, and longing to see soncthing green besides
human verdancy, persuaded Maj. Emory 70
send me on ! trip 10 the mountains, from which
I returned some weeks since having had most
interesting tme-being boss OF the expedition
which numbered two persons, armed only with
tho necessaries Of bed and board. struck di-
rectly into the heart Of the mountains, two days
brough. me TO the divide, here stumbled upon
the ranch Of an old deserted sailor, well ac-
quainted with the mountain passes, and under
his guidance searched many an odd nook and
vale, culling unnamed flowers, eating strange
fruits, and sleeping with strange bed fellows
The Indians were quite friendly, and even hos
pitsble, they fed Us with pounded acorn bread,
and grass seed nush. We cracked pine nuts
around their social hear,hs, and pulled the true
Vi,yinia under their bush wigwams. found
many strange treee, the pines were the moot in
serssting; imagine a stately tree with burrs more
than foot long hanging like overgrown cater
pillars from the ex,remities Of their spreading
branches; or others with fruit like large pine
apple stuck on their upper trunks; others COW
cred with sparkling yellow lichen, and al waiv-
ing their broad arms 10 the deep surges Of the
western breeze. One OF the mos, singular things
noticed was to see trunks Of trees stuck full Of
fresh acorns the work OF industrious woodpeck-
ers. They are driven in so tight that they are
picked out with difficulty with the poin, Of
knife-this looks like a new instinct of birds,
but wise provision where SHOWS cover the
Indians frequently avail themselves
Of the work Of these little creatures to replensh
their own lsrder.
Having pretty well explored the ridge we de-
seconded on its eastern slope TO the edge OF the
desert, here was fortunate enough to fall in
Cactus, with dsliciously favored fruit A spc-
cies Of Century plans grows abou, the dese,,
bills, At this time in full flower, its root furnish
Is staple article Of die, to the Indians Of that
region, by process. Of cooking, un-
der the name Of Mezcal, it affords quite dain-
y dish. can compare it to nothing but moa.-
ses candy without i,s sickness. Some Of the
lone canons present 4 scene Of strange desola.
ton. should no, know how to picture them,
bris,ling with huge Cacti and scattered with die
located rocks, over by dusty lizards, they pre-
sent scene that belongs moro properly to the
pencil than the pen, so forbear.
We washed for gold in the dried up stream
beds, and scrsped over the gravel for precious
gems, but without finding enough of either TO
make finger ring or nose jewel, and 50 for
bore; content to say that the country ought to
afford both gems and gold, for villa. else can il,
Returning home explored new and more
direc, route than any have yet travelled, lead.
ing in two days short journey to the vicinity Of
San Diego. We here found = ranci Gas the Cal.
ifornan farms are iermed) enlisened by the
If Ia
ded to partakc Of their hospitality for day.
Our Spanish was called into serious reques, and
before the flashing eyes Of the senori,as we had
to extemporize some strange sounding compl-
ments no doubt.
A description Of an old fashioned ranch in C Al.
ifornia might interest you, SO here goes. A mud
house with rush roof must Sc your dwelling
in this few rooms parttioned off with muslin
or calico, the corners occupied with stick bed
steads, and rude benches make up the furniture
The kitchen part is distinct, and under the aus
pieces OF Indian women, black as their own pots.
You see conspicuous the stone corn grinder and
tortillia baker-earthen pots and in strange con-
trast genuine China ware deck the rough table
aud you sit down to or courses in which YOU
will find assis lance to your appetite in q liberal
allowance Of red pepper seasoning.
But in the out door operations-you see rag
ged and nearly naked Indians under the true ii.
tie Of poems performing all the menial work about
the premises. The overseer superintends on
horseback. Is there field Of grain to be cut,
some 40 Indians armed with knife and bask g,
cut wide swa'h proceeding onward to the mu-
SIC Of . grunting chan; The grain is deposited in
* hide carts and conveyed to the threshing
ground, this is a circular enclosure, the ground
'leaniy swept and when strewed with the groin-
ID ears drove of wild mares are driven in and
" shou, and halloa, great ssamper is kept up
ill the grain is pretty we'll beat out, i, is then
in baskets by hand, and this is har-
resting in California. A very important part Of
arming Is in the distribution Of the irriga,ing
water and occupies many hands-then the cattle
nus. be seen to and this il generally emf rustcd
II. I'LL