Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-01-19
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

After our experience with bull lights.
as mentioned in our last. We took trip
into the country that We might learn
something of the people and perhaps,
see some of the animals of this tropical
cline. Travelling Oh foot with the Their
mometer at l02 degrees is not extremely
pleasant. but We pushed out some miles
and discovering path that led into the
thick woods. or jungles, We ventured to
penetrate the wild region for some dis
lance Nature has here displayed its
power in the production Of some of the
most beautiful and wonderful works in
the vegetable kingdom. huge trees, an
endless tangle of vines. rare flowers,
strange plants and mass of leafy curl
oslties that botany can only name and
describe. Here also was 4 countless
number of insects. spiders, flies with
golden wings. mosquitoes that were like
our own only larger and more blood
thirsty; beetles, and many creatures We
did not name and care not to encounter
often. Here were thousand birds of
as many kinds but amidst all the lux
urlance and life, there was no bird sing
ing. all was silent only as chatter
ing monkey that sported among his fell
lows. and performed feats that would
shame the most daring acrobat. gave
cries of rejoicing or made signals of dan
ger. to scare is jolly company to more Sc
cure retreats. The romance of our adyen-
ture came to sudden termination by the
presence of a huge snake that showed
signs of belligerency when We quietly but
co,Tqgeouslg retired Upon the third
day our ship weighed anchor and we
left Panama to skirt along the coast for
some days, constantly in sight of the low
mountains and all the while in calm Pa
ci6c sea- The volcano peaks of Mexico
soon showed their lofty heads and the
mantle of smoke by day and the red glare
at night showed that earth fires we're
burning within these hugh chimneys. As
We scan the shores. there are no traces
Of human habitation for hundreds of
miles along the coast, but perhaps in
these wild regions, golden treasures lie
buried. as they once did in California.
Our first step was at Acapulco. No
sooner had the vessel anchored than a
swarm Of natives, almost naked. gather
ed around Us in their boats, with fruit
of great variety and excellent quality,
which they offered TO sell at low prices.
This fruit was much better than any
that We ever see in the North. as it i:
| perfectly ripe and has matured in its na-
tive country. The Mexican boys were
eager to show their aquatic powers, By
diving after coins which were thrown Il
them from the vessel. and from the
time that they reulaIueI under wateI
and the great depth and distance I.
which they dove, We argued that they
were amphibious. We thought to drown
one Of them and as soon as be appeare,
on the surface. threw In another bit, bu
it was of no use, his wind held out bet
ter than our money. and We gave it up
The natives, mel and women, are nearl,
naked, and as ignorant as they are nude
The women seem to keep pretty we'll in
formed in regard to the fashions, and w
thought. out-rivaled the New York Ia
dies in the style in which they do u
their hair and in The display of jewelry
Mazinillo. small town like the la:
mentioned. has good harbor and fin
| scenery, while Mazatlan is a place
. much more importance, on account
gold and silver mines in the interio
: The American companies. with a cap
, tai stock Of $1,000, 900, are workin
! mines, and from the large amount of 81
: yer and gold that was taken on boar
E our ship, they must be successful in oE
b tanning these precious metals. The Me-
: lean government demands six per cen
: On all silver and gold exported, and r
: eeives at this port large revenue fro
: this source Thus far along the tril
e the weather had been warm, and the s.
: smooth. but as we crossed the Gulf
d California, the winds arose, and hue
< waves tossed Us about like a featbe
and sent sheets Of water across the dec
II We could not stand on deck, and wei
n into the state room, trying. as A. Wa,
/, expressed it, TO keep ourselves inside
:, the cabin and outside Of our stomach
: The Gulf passed, The weather grew coz
and remained 50 until We entered Il
harbor Of San Francisco. We found i
Golden Gate open 70 receive Us, and ca
anchor in this quiet bay after twenty-se
:. en- days had been passed in cur journe
We had experienced a pleasant voyae
: passed the Isthmus, seen something
the tropics and reached California. h
! ing expended but little over sI2
:. whereas. BY rail, the expense won
!. have been much more, and the task ma
severe. n
CT y.
y The Deleware river has washed up /
ID plot Of . novel at Bordenta,rn \