The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-18
DAILY CRESCENT.
An Indians Description of CALIFORNIA;.

The Cherokee Advocate contains long lettel
from Of the Nation. We select a few passages
Persons, however, who intend coming to Cali
iornla with the view Of making sudden fortunes
by gathering gold-like pebbles or the sand on the
sea-shore, had better remain where they are, for
can assure them they will be sadly disappointed
the day is past and gone for this, and never did
exist to the extent represented that many fiat
tered themselves it did, when they left good COM
Portable home, to secure fortune In months or
years time in California. Thousands have returned
home worse of than when they came, and thou
sands are mot able to return for want OF means. A
few are making princely fortunes, hundreds are
rapidly making geenteel fortunes by trade ; while
thousands are slowly realizing business that will
in few years make them independent. But
indeed every man, who is either not too lazy to
labor, or too proiigate to save; is here doing well
much better than he could do with the same
means in any other country, now known to us, on
the face OF the earth.
The spontaneous productions of this country
excel all have ever seen any where. The bios
SONS, and the great variety Of flowers that cover
the plains next the mountains, are really magnifi-
cent OF almost endless variety, kind, and colors
The wild poppies have appropriated to themselves
thousands Of acres next to the mountains. We
could manufacture opium here with vengeance
Judging from the quantity Of the material. The
grain, grasses and vegetables, that grow without
cultivation, are superior to any thing ever saw
not so much from the great number, and variety Of
the articles, as from their perfection and quality
Grapes Of most delicious flavor, and of several
varieties, grow here in great abundance. Parsnips
Of excellent quality grow all over the southern
mines, the banks of the creeks, and in the
ravines, being much used by the miners sub
stitute for the cultivated article | have eaten of
them, and found them good. l am told that there
are many other vegetables growing wild, that
resemble those cultivated, and are used for food
and found to be excellent, but as l have not seen,
OF partaken OF them, will defer naming desert
II nm rfnf hoyyo IAv.s. I~tlT
The prevailing feed for animals in this section is
wild oats with clover on the coast and occasion.
ally extending far back in the interior. This is
superior feed both in its green and dry state
Timothy and other nutritious grasses also found
here, on the rivers and the plains but the wild
oat takes precedence of all Others in the upper
part Of the State, and clover in the lower part
The oats cover every hill and valley, and nearly
every foot of open land in the whole State VARYING
IN height and quality according to soil and location
have seen them as high as the back of the tales
horse frequently, with large strong stalk and very
good gram, and to all appearance, in size and quail
ny OF grain, quite equal to the domestic article vet
the heads are quite small in proportion to the stalk
On the hills and more sterile soils, it grows from
Knee to waist high, makes excellent pasturage and |
Perects its grain. Timber in the valleys and plains
Is scarce, amounting in places to an entire absence
OF the arcle and what there is in these situations
is fit for nothing but frewood The prevailing tim
per lwhen any IN the valleys, plains, and water
- - ni"u VI Sei upoy i've OAK, win lew
other varieties not worthy of mention. |
party of my acquantances have been to Hum |
boldt Bay this summer, and they say is certainly
true that four OF them rode their horses abreast into
the hollow of one Of these trees, (redwood) wheeled
In 1t, and rode out again, still abreast | have
never seen any SO large that, but have seen
many that would grit thirty feet very tall and hand
some; this timber is only found in the mountains,
and on spots up and down the coast. There are |
red-woods north and south of this place, within |
twenty miles, Humboldt Bay (near the line o, |
Oregon? abounds in this timber it is good build.
ing timber, and equal to cedar for fencing, being
much like it in quality and appearance.