The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-12-18
soJOURs IN LOWER CALIFORNIA.
lContinued.l

party, we left the cape about p. m. en-
route for the mining town of San An
tonic. The face of the country for ma
ny miles from the cape is monotonous
in appearance. 1t is a plain ascending
gently as we proceed until we find our
selves among the Sierras. Ii is cover
ed with an enormous growth of cactus,
also thick under-brush, the last of which
IprOtects fine growth of tender wild
grass from the whitening influence of a
Etropical suH-the latter affords excel
tent food for domestic animals. At
this season of the year (November) the
brush are covered with green robe,
and where there is no grass the cattle
and mules live quite well by browsing
alone. The soil for some distance is
very fertile; think it will yield fine
crops of wheat. Water is very scarce
here, hence this section is uninhabited.
1--WE were told that the first house on the
route was about seven or eight leagues,
or twenty-one miles distant The night
grew dark and the road seemed to take
a zigZag course through brush and bri-
ars over rocks and bitches, so that we
were obliged to dismount and lead our
steeds. We soon found ourselves fol-
flowing down the bed of ravine, which
finally led us into the main stream DRY
Ihowever) and taking our road in the
bed of sand we followed down stream
until the baying of half dozen Cayota
dogs announced the fact that we were
near rancho, situated on the right
bank of the stream. They evidently
respected travellers, and as soon as we
ldismounted they assisted our guides in
ldispOsing of our animals and baggage
for the night. Being the only one of
the party who understood Spanish it
fell to my lot to act as spokesman. Soon
came the inquiry, ''What for supper p
''Gallina cocido, was our reply. While
we were busily engaged in arranging
saddles, blankets, ETC., for beds, the sup
iper was under way, and in about an
hour we found ourselves surrounding
a bare table with two or three dishes of
smoking chicken, couple of dishes of
: tortillas or corn cakes, cooked beans,
milk, and plenty of Chill pepper to sea-
son with. Our first meal was novelty
to many of our number; our forks
were our fingers, and as the dish came
round each one took what he could Sc
cure. Hungry as wolves, we ate freely.
and our relish was only equaled by our
appetite. Midnight, supper over, we
lay down to our rest with the blue can
opy of heaven for shelter.
About daybreak our guides reused
US, and after considerable sharp look
ing and some guessing to find the an
imals we had the night before, we were
oil the trail again. We went on until
about noon, when three or four of our
party i'll advance of the guides came to
where the roads diverged, and in their
haste took the wrong road, which led
to farmhouse, where they refreshed
themselves with cheese, sugar, milk and
such things as could be produced on
short notice. After considerable anX-
iety and riding through the brush they
again joined the train. We were now
upon high table land and could see the
About five o'clock p. m. we found our
selves upon quite an eminence over
Hooking deep valley about mile wide.
The trail winds along the side of the
hill until we reach the bottom, then turn
ing sharply to the left we find confront
; ing us an old Mexican house that had
been built probably before the eXpul-
10 ~,
an old Roman priest and bis family,
which, including his illegitimate off
spring, was told number about TWEEN
ty. Some eight or ten were about home.
some white and seemingly intelligent,
: others as black rs the ace of spades.
We took supper here, and when the ia
bic was spread and we gathered round,
wry faces could be seen, for after an
hours notice, carne seco Cierked beef
beans, tortillas, ETC., was the fare, while
some of us had eaten last at midnight
previous; however most went to work
with a will. Myself and two others
however watched the progress of the
: meal and as the Reverend Father went
to the table we managed to get around
to the kitchen, and seeing tender young
maiden we inquired if we could get a
little milk TO drink, but she replied that
there was none; but not being satisfied
we spoke in tender accents to the maid
; and insisted, when she concluded there
, might be a little. She went and soon
returned with bowl of nice sweet
milk. She shall long live in our graf
titude. The old man was not very So
Gladly inclined; treated us with much
reserve, and seemed greatly rejoiced al
our departure, as we handed him a hall
dollar each i'll silver for his supper. ]
am sorry to say our esteem for Mex,
lean priests was seriously crippled.
AS we started and crossed the valley
near the north side we came to beau
Etiful little stream vending its way qai-
city along among huge granite boulders
and over beds of clean sparkling sand
like thing of life, here giving drink
: TO a grove of orange or pomegranate
there quenching the burning thirst OF
the herds as they come from the plateau
and finally reaching the gulf it loses it.
self in the eternity of waters. Now