New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-19
HUNTING, MINING md FARMING IN
CALIFORNIA.
nndeIse Of The ". Y. Tnbune.

MARYsvILLE, Cal, Dec. Is, 1857.
In these times Of commercial disaster and sus-
pended industry throughout the Atlantic States,
there are many longing eyes turned to the sunny
shores of the Pacific. Those who have experienced
the advantages Of California are crowding back,
while many who have no ties here are wishing,
hesitatDg and wanting more information. To such
few lines from here would not be uninteresing.
1t is seven years since left California, az sup
posed for ever; and since that time have seen
much of distant lands, and now, as witness the
astonishing success which has attended the efforts
to develop the agricultural of the country
in this short time, hazard nothing in saying that
the world presents elsewhere no such inducements
to immigration In the Fall of l549, crossed the
site of this city on my return from unfortunate
adventure to the Upper Sacramento. 1t was
then a hopeless waste wretched adobe
house stood on the most sterile portion of it.
At this moment look down from my window upon
garden that would be an ornament to any city.
Acacia trees are in full flower, and the walks are
burdened with the fragrant blossoms OF the
migniOnette. Roses pale and red look in at the
window, aid droOp from the garden wall. Grass
has grown two inches on the open PLAIN, where
month ago the ground was hard aud dry. The hol-
lows OF IHe g1OuHu are Ulitu Win Ndtci liOi INC
recent rains; but the sky is to-day without cloud,
and the air is so pure that the highest peaks
of the Sierra Nevada and the coast range shining
like rising clouds on three sides of me- and away in
| the north Mount Shasta, with its eternal SHOWS,
peers over the wooded mountains like guardian of
| the valley. scene of more enchanting beauty it
| is difficult TO imagine; and this is mldwiEter. In
month or two more the blaze of flowers will OBJ
the grass and throw all the gardens into the
shade.
Yesterday we returned from hunt in Butte
Creek. There had been slight fall of rain and
the sky was overcast when we started, four in num-
ber with a twOhOrse team and a covered wagon.
The Buttes lay in our course. These are group
of mountains about midway between the Sacra-
mento and Feather Rivers, and eight miles from
Marysvlle We crossed the intervening plain dur
ing the afternoon, and reached the hard undulating
road that skirts the base of the mountains toward
SHUTDOWN. Many claims are taken up around these
mountains for the purpose OF stOck-ralslng, and
if their settlers titles are proved ultimately
to be covered by some Mexican grant, they have
only to move or sell their stock, which IN many III
stances before the question of title Is settled will
have increased to such an extent AS to make the
settler independent. Fortunes will be made in this
way for long time to come. In the raising OF
poultry many people with small means are realizing
fortunes The only difficulty to be encountered in
this is found in the mountain regions from skunks
and the like ! am informed that a lady in this
city realized from two hen turkeys, this year, the
sum of S400 beside having increased her stock for
the next year. She raised all that she Matched.
This fact is interesting because there no turkeys
found indigenous to California. We approached
the Buttes Oh the south side and had to drive half
way around them to reach ranch as every farm
il called in California, where We designed to pass
the night. Notwithstanding the long twilight, We
found ourselves overtaken by the night before we
reached our destination. The road became quite
ndistnct, andlwe were driving among the oaks. A
small cabin showed itself which one OF the party
recognized as that of an acquaintance, but Is was
tenantless We found in il, however, cook stove,
| and attached to it a shed for our horses, and We
resolved to pass the night in it, and considered our
selves fortunate for we had scarcely arranged our
selves and stores when we were assaled by the
seyerest gale that has occurred this season. Aged
| oaks were torn up or broken down, and the wind
blew through our shelter so as TO extinguish our
| candles We prepared our supper from mushrooms,
which We had found in great prOflson on our way,
| and coffee, with water which We obtained from
well near by that had the appearance of being aban-
| doned and which gave out in boiling strong odor
of skunk. but which we managed TO use for the
want of better. We were Ovial party, and trfes
were not allowed TO mar season which we had
| devoted to sport. Ira, our leader, even ventured
to drink Of the water i'll its natural state Dut
| he found it necessary TO take portion OF whisky
water to alay the thirst that ardent spirits always
creates small desk on each side OF the only
| ROOM with a few spelling books indicated that
| we bad invaded a temple devoted to Minerva,
| but our necessity was our only excuse, ana
we spread some hay on the middle OF the
| floor and all lying down together, we COW
| cred ourselves with blankets and passed Inc
night in listening to the howlngs Of the Storm In
the morning the wind had abated, but the ram sun
andty froIn the for
coffee but before We could get ready to yacste the
premises, two or three boys came in. inquired
whether they used the water in the WE'LL and he said
"No, it was too full Of dead pOlecats!" We drove
three miles to the Butte Creek and notwithstanding
the heavy RAIN many ducks were killed as they flew
over our wagon. 4 small house had been built for
| shepherds cot on the bank Of the creek, and we
| built fire under the lee of it, and succeeded IN
driving our clothes for the night, which We passed
as the preceding. The following morning, while
| the others were preparing breakfast, took with
me mstletoe bough, and repaired to slue where
the game flew thick, and planting it in the ground
| to cover me, brant responded to my gun,
and fell with broken wing. While the noble dog
dashed of after him. male mailard was making on
| in the same predieament The brant was deposited
at my feet and away went the dog alter the draAe'
The first bird seeing the dog well out OF the way,
broke for the water; FIVE teal killed and wounded
at the next FIRE, added to the dogs confusion, and
| the excitement soon became general. My compah'
ions could longer restrain themselves but came
| down. each dragging bush Of misetoe, and TOOK
their station; and still the ducks came on III CLOUDS
unconscious of the havoc that had been made IN the
| ranks Of their predecessors. The geese and maj
lards few in their peculiar angular fOcks, ana inc
teal in wild disorder with noise hke the whisthg VI
| gale among the rigging Of a ship. We hred a'
fast ss We could load guns, and they seemed 10
l IN fha numhers anal TO nv IDNfst