A singular custom prevails at these fandangos.  It is this:  during the intervals between the waltzes, quadrilles, and other dances, when the company is seated, a young lady takes the floor solus, and, after showing off her graces for general observation a few minutes, she approaches any gentleman she may select, and performs a variety of pirouettes and other Terpsichorean movements before him for his especial amusement and admiration, until he places on her head his hat or cap, as the case may be, when she dances away with it.  The hat or cap has afterwards to be redeemed by some present, and this usually is in money.  Not dancing ourselves, we were favoured with numerous special exhibitions of this kind, the cost of each of which was un peso.  With a long journey before us, and with purses in a nearly collapsed condition, the drafts upon us became so frequent, that at an early hour, under a plea of fatigue and want of rest, we thought it prudent to beat a retreat, leaving our fair and partial fandangueras to bestow their favours upon others better able to bear them.  The motions of the Californian females of all classes in the dance are highly graceful.  The waltz is their favourite measure, and in this they appear to excel as much as the men do in horsemanship.  During the progress of the dance, the males and females improvise doggerel rhymes complimentary of the personal beauties and graces of those whom they admire, or expressive of their love and devotion, which are chanted with the music of the instruments, and the whole company join in the general chorus at the end of each verse.  The din of voices is sometimes almost deafening.

Our host accompanied us to our lodgings on the opposite side of the way.  Beds were spread down under the small porch outside, and we laid our bodies upon them, but not to sleep, for the noise of the fandango dancers kept us awake until broad daylight, at which time it broke up.

Hiring fresh horses here, and a vaquero to drive our tired animals after us, we started about 9 o’clock in the morning, and, passing through San Buenaventura, reached Santa Barbara, 45 miles, a little after two in the afternoon.  We stopped at the house of Mr. Sparks, who received us with genuine hospitality.  Santa Barbara presented a more lively appearance than when we passed here on our way down, most of its population having returned to their homes.  Procuring fresh but miserably poor horses, we resumed our journey on the afternoon of the 2nd of February, and encamped at the rancho of Dr. Deu, situated on the plain of Santa Barbara, near the sea shore.  The soil of this plain is of the most fertile composition.  The fresh grass is now six or eight inches high, and the varieties are numerous.  Many of the early flowers are in bloom.  I noticed a large wheat field near the house, and its appearance was such as to promise a rich harvest.