Year: 1879

could distinctly see four of the road


over which we had passed. Abou


noon we had gained the top of tn


precipice and still in sight of the plac'
we started from. On our way into thu


valley we had passed one of the grove:


of big trees and stopped to examine


them. One of these trees measured 2;


feet in diameter, IS feet in circumfer


ence, and 800 feet high. On this road


out of the valley we passed another


grove of these monsters of the noun.


tains. A hole had been cut through


one of the largest of these, so that ouI


stage and four horses were driven


right through with us in the stage.


We stopped in the middle of the tree


to examine the solid wood, and took


some of the chips to bring home. This


tree was 80 feet in diameter and 80 feet


in circumference. In defending these


mountains the motion is eXhilerating


in the extreme if you can have full
confidence in your driver. L had this
confidence and enjoyed it, but my
daughter could not divest herself of
the impression that she must do what
she could to keep the stage right side
up. Our team was on the full jump
almost all the way down, sometimes
rounding point or spur of the noun
tain on a narrow track dug into the
side, and it seemed as though nothing
could save us from dashing down l.
900 or 1900 feet among the rocks, but
every time the four horses obeyed the
runs SO perfectly that they kept the
exact path for their feet and the points
were made in double quick time and
in perfect safety. Our driver has per-
fected himself by eleven years practice
in this handling of the lines. The
tracks of wild game on the snow over
the mountains was abundant. Among
these, that of the grizzly bear was
very frequent. The ride from the foot
hills to the Railroad Station, so miles
was over pasture ground. When we
were out week ago, the grass was all
dry and had been SO for months, not a
green spear was to be seen, for there
had been no rain since May. The
two recent showers had walked up the
slumbering energies of the grass, and
now the whole surface was covered
with a velvety green. How strange, yet
it is true, this is the season when the
grass begins to grow for the year, and
when it begins to grow in the Eastern
States then it begins to die here. If
the ground is sufficiently irrigated
here vegetation thrives the year round.
It is never difficult to get in the mar
kets here green peas, cucumbers, or
any other garden vegetable. We have
and other such fruit any
day-some of them every day. The
farms, Oh, how large. #, In going to
Yosemite we passed field of wheat
recently sown, 1 could not see the back
side of the field, but we had travelled
SO long by this one field, I asked how
told that it contained 1000 acres, own
ed and cultivated by one man. An
old bachelor near Merced sows annu-
ally 40, 900 acres sof wheat. A Mr.. Ty-
Ter three miles from Dixon has now
on hand 900 tons of wheat which he is
holding for higher price. Every
thing here is bought and sold by
weight, the wor5 bushels and dozens
are ignored. Wei I believe I must
stop telling big stories about Califor-
MIA, though I pledge my honor have
been truthful in what have said.


The Authors Carnival has just clos
ed on the 1st inst. 1t continued 10
days, the receipts were SAG, 900 net prof
its, to certain local charities $32, 900.
This does not look like hard times.
here except morality
seems to pan out big. They have the
largest kind of seals at the Cliff House.
[ love to see them wallow in the Pa
cific waves-clinch the backs near the
shore, and keep up an incessant grow
ling and barking. We are booked for
4 passage to the Sandwich Islands, on
The steamer City Sydney which sails
November oath. We expect to be alb
sent on this trip a month or more.
Weshould have gone on the last steam
er, but for the temporary illness of one
IF our party. If you desire it I will
give you an account of this journey
when we retura. The weather is
warm and beautiful-have not felt the
need of a fire since have been in San
Francisco. Respectfully yours.


O. C. THOMPSON.