Year: 1859

! ~N''N''"'SN'l


Watsonville Cal, Nov. 31st, 1858


In taking hasty glance of San Juan
VIII lie the couch is waiting, we find it a
place not very interesting here are lots
of old Spanish houses, some of them fall
ing down-they are very old. These
houses are built of adobcs, which are
made of a sticky kind of mud. They
are different sizes. They are not burn
ed like our bricks; only dried. The
walls of the houses unless they are white
washed, have the appearance of clay
They build the walls from foot to three
feet in thickness. Leaving San Juan,
and following winding road for few
miles, we come into the Pajaro valley.
Pajaro is Spanish word, moaning bird i.
The wild geese are very thick at this
season of the year. They come hero in
very large focks just after harvest, and
engage in the business which Ruth of
old did. There are thousands and thous-
ands Of them. There seems to be two
kinds, black and white. I don't think
they associate at all together. have
seen acres of land all covered with them
and the air seemingly full of them. while
they are pouring forth the most discord
ant and changing cries: This is a fine
chancefor the sportsman-game is abun'
dant. In the mountains are found deer
and any quantity of "grizzlies." They
are not apt to interfere with men, cspcc-
tally if they DO not get in their way
but it seems they understand the art Of
''serl.defsass ywsn. for they quite
aIten Leave fheir antagonist in severa
pieces. The mustard COWS very large
here; probably tits thas kind spoken Of
in scripturs.SIn some places the road
passes through it where it is higher than
stage coach. This valley Is surroand-
ed northward by mountains and on the
south by the bay Of Monterey. The bay
Is about sixty miles long. and twenty
wide. Santa Cruz valley and also the
town of the same name is situated at the
point of land made by the bay and the
great Pacific. This is called one Of the
finest valleys in the State. The dry
season is quite long. Just five months
previous to the 2lst of October was 8
STUART rain, which was the only rain
during five months. It seorne as f ma
ture has arranged everything about right
The grass grows large in the spring, and
when the dry weather comes on it dries
up and is very sweet, which if it was
wet occasionally, would spoil. Since
the time spoken of, there has been rain
enough to keep the roads muddy part
of the time. Now everything looks like
Spring. The hills are green and the
scatterings of the grain in harvest arc
growing, which makes coed feed fol
stock. There is quite difference be-
tween these green hills and the white
ones of New England. The nights are
frosty, have been for few nights past
Thanksgiving day has passed with us
it is not thought so much of as at home


There are great many people in this
part of the State from Maine. There
are a great many all over the State. One
hundred came from Maine at the same
time did. In the village where l am
it seems quite like being at home, there
are so many Mainites, or as some call
them Maniacs. The Frazer river hum
bug has brought ma y from the Allan.
tic States. l suppose many who come
here get disappointed. l have not yet.
did not make such extravagant calcu-
lations as some do before starting. The
question is often asked at home, "Is it
best to 60 to California; should say,
from the little experience have had, a
man who has family had bsttsr stay at
home and take care Of them. l nave
seen enough of men here who ~re sepa.
rated from their families, who do not
wish to go home without money, and
cannot get their families here, to satisfy
me. consider young men differently
Those who have none but themselves to
look out for, or young men with their
wives, l think this is a good place for
them as far as money is concerned
Women get nearlya as much pay for their
services as men. There are great
many more men than women. To see a
dozen young men with their carriages
to take one young lady to ride, is not
very uncommon occurrence. l believe
some of the chaps make fools of them
elves in relation to this matter. was