Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-10-24

aIcmcntocs of Flower California,
A racy letter to the B,aiefin, dating from Lo'

A racy letter to the Buliefin, dating from Low
er California, contains the following:
One now gets q view, far away to
the southwest of the Indian Flaco, one OF the
coast mountains whose front here presents the
head and breast Of q human being, and so perfect
is it, that one. for miles. can scarcely keep his
gaze from of it, The Indians have another
strange legend attached to this most curious sight
of the traveller. The face looks directly west
ward, aud the story runs that, before The white
man came, q chiet of large and powerful tribe.
for some reason, became unpopular with hIs peo
pe and they appointed another in his stead, and
drove him from among them. Before departing,
he spoke thus Il so to the sea, where sets the
sun. watch, from the mountain top for the
coming of strange people, whose voice Is Ike
the thunder and whose arrow is like the li2ht.
ming. The Great Munto is their friend, and has
told me these things And the chict came to
this mountain, and kept his loney watch till the
white sails of the strangers canoe met his sight.
The chief was revengcd the Great Manlto was
just aud the spirit of the poor Indian went to
the hunting grounds of his fathers and his body
became part OF the mOuntOln, and It's lace Is sun
looking to the west
Passing the Indian Flaco. the trail cutters n
forest of cedros. II species OF cactus growing from
fifteen to forty feet in height, with seldom over
one or two limbs or branches. y beautiful green
leaf shoots out from its trunk and limbs, aud Mt
the very top of the tree or limb, in the proper
season, springs forth II crown Of sweet scented
flowers. This forest is some twenty miles IN
length, and ten Ia breadth. 1t may yet be con
vertcd to some useinl purpose.
Looking to thc left, one sees the old
stone nume winding its way along The side OF the
mountain, in as good condition rs when urst
made. Slill further up. we pass the oqueducts,
still in good preservation aud now before us
lies tho valley of San Fernando. turn to look
back, and directly above me- towering high up
amid the clouds, are San Pablo and san Pedro. -
| made each low bow and squirting my mule,
dashed away up the old trail toward the distant
ruins which knew to be the Old Mission OF San
Fernando. quickly left my party far behind
me- aud after n league had been Travelled over,
came to Il small grove Of pomegranate trees all
that is now left Of n large orchard OF ounce,
pear, fig. orange and pomcgranate. Following
the crumbling adobcs Of the orchard wall came
to an Indian rancheria. Two bells were hanging
to poll, one end in the gablo OF the rancherla
and the other resting on the old wall. | dis
MOUNTED, and scjlinR The tongue of one, rang
out loud clear tone that WOKE up old saint Pab.
10 and Saint Pedro from their long sleep. then
seized hold Of the tongue OF the other, and gave
two or three quick blows, but it only gave II base
growl ! stopped to ascertain the dililculty' ana
read, San Lorcn2o l167,' and turning The old
chap around, found hole Ia the side OF his ca,
besa large enough to put my hand through |
now turned to San Lorcnzo's better half, and
more noisy companion, again, aud read Santa
Barbara. l1Gl.' could not resist giving another
pull nt Santa Barbara, when Charley Gage. old
Rafael aud Ramon, and the other two Dons, aud
all the pack camo up Mt full gallop, with hurrah
for old San Fcrdando.
San Fernando, sixty years ago, was one OF the
largest aud richest Missions in the country. Now
hut little is to be seen but ruins and ~ beautiful
valley. with u iine stream Of water meRndering
through it. few Of the old Mission Indians
lived here till within the past five years. 1t was
they who took down the bells and placed them
near the ranchora, or perhaps they had fallen; ;
the tower OF the church was prosIrate, and these
bells only had been saved from the wreck. Since
then not a living soul has tarried here more than
a night, and he has boon the courier, or some
traveller going 10 or coming from Mclele.