war, in the course of which I learnt that Mr. Bradley has been a resident in California for the last eight years, and that he was one of the officers of the volunteer corps attached to the army of the United States, while military operations were going on in this country.  I told him of my desire to enter as a surgeon in the service of the States, and he promised to speak to Captain Fulsom on the subject, and obtain from him a letter to Colonel Mason, the new governor; but he is afraid there is little chance of my meeting with success, as nearly all the volunteer corps have been, or are about to be, disbanded.  Both Mr. Bradley and Captain Fulsom speak very favourably of the climate and soil of California, and say that an enterprising agriculturist is sure to make a speedy fortune.  Mr. Bradley, who has agreed to accompany us on our trip, strongly advises Malcolm to shift his quarters from Oregon, and settle here, saying that he is sure my friend will do so when he has once seen the farms in the Sacramento valley, whither we are to start early next week.  McPhail left us to-day, to make a trip to Sonoma.

San Francisco, although as yet but a poor place, will no doubt become a great emporium of commerce.  The population may be about a couple of thousands; of these two-thirds are Americans.  The houses, with the exception of some few wooden ones which have been shipped over here by the Americans, are nearly all built of unburnt bricks.  The appearance of the native Californian is quite Spanish.  The men wear high steeple-like hats, jackets of gaudy colours, and breeches of velvet, generally cotton.  They are a handsome swarthy race.  The best part in the faces of the women are their eyes, which are black and very lustrous.  The Californian belles, I am sorry to say, spoil their teeth by smoking cigarettos.

CHAPTER II.

  Start for Monterey
  Horse equipments in California
  The advantages of them
  Rifles and Ruffians
  Californian Scenery
  Immense herds of cattle
  Mission of Santa Clara
  Pueblo of San Jose
  A Californian farm-house
  What it is like inside and out
  Prolific crops of wheat
  Saddle-sickness
  The journey is resumed
  Mission of San Jose
  Arrival at Monterey
  The Author’s visit to Colonel Mason
  Surgeons not wanted in California
  Rumours of gold being found on the Sacramento
  Characteristics of Monterey
  Don Luis Palo and his sisters
  What all Californian dinners consist of
  The party return to San Francisco.

Monterey.—­May 4th.—­Started off early on the morning of the 2nd on our journey to Monterey.  We found our horses in readiness in the hotel yard, in charge of a servant (here called a vaquero) of Mr. Bradley’s.  The latter, having business to transact at Monterey, accompanied us.  My horse was equipped after the Spanish fashion, with the usual high-pommelled cumbrous saddle, with