Several Californians came into camp and offered to deliver themselves up.  They were permitted to go at large.  They represented that the Californian force at the south was daily growing weaker from dissensions and desertions.  The United States prize-schooner Julia arrived on the 30th, from which was landed a cannon for the use of the battalion.  It has, however, to be mounted on wheels, and the gear necessary for hauling it has to be made in the camp.  Reports were current in camp on the 31st, that the Californians intended to meet and fight us at San Buenaventura, about thirty miles distant.  On the 1st of January, the Indians of the mission and town celebrated new-year’s day, by a procession, music, etc., etc.  They marched from the mission to the town, and through most of the empty and otherwise silent streets.  Among the airs they played was “Yankee Doodle.”

January 3.—­A beautiful spring-like day.  We resumed our march at 11 o’clock, and encamped in a live-oak grove about ten miles south of Santa-Barbara.  Our route has been generally near the shore of the ocean.  Timber is abundant, and the grass and other vegetation luxuriant.  Distance 10 miles.

January 4.—­At the “Rincon,” or passage between two points of land jutting into the ocean, so narrow that at high tides the surf dashes against the neatly perpendicular bases of the mountains which bound the shore, it has been supposed the hostile Californians would make a stand, the position being so advantageous to them.  The road, if road it can be called, where all marks of hoofs or wheels are erased by each succeeding tide, runs along a hard sand-beach, with occasional projections of small points of level ground, ten or fifteen miles, and the surf, even when the tide has fallen considerably, frequently reaches to the bellies of the horses.  Some demonstration has been confidently expected here, but we encamped in this pass the first day without meeting an enemy or seeing a sign of one.  Our camp is close to the ocean, and the roar of the surf, as it dashes against the shore, is like that of an immense cataract.  Hundreds of the grampus whale are sporting a mile or two distant from the land, spouting up water and spray to a great height, in columns resembling steam from the escape-pipes of steam-boats.  Distance 6 miles.

January 5.—­The prize-schooner Julia was lying off in sight this morning, for the purpose of co-operating with us, should there be any attempt on the part of the enemy to interrupt the march of the battalion.  We reached the mission of San Buenaventura, and encamped a short distance from it at two o’clock.  Soon after, a small party of Californians exhibited themselves on an elevation just beyond the mission.  The battalion was immediately called to arms, and marched out to meet them.  But, after the discharge of the two field-pieces, they scampered away like a flock of antelopes, and the battalion returned to camp, with none killed or wounded on either