Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/98



and diet, are rough, and simple, as their furniture; even those who are not of the lowest grade, live almost entirely on beef; and after the manner of their brother aborigines, a wooden stake, sharpened at both ends, so as to form a spit, answers the purpose of pot and platter. The principal business of all classes, is attending to animals; there are some, however, who cultivate small patches of ground. In doing this, they use plows of the most simple and primitive style. Their plows are nothing more than the fork of a tree, so cut and trimmed, that one of the prongs answers as a beam, by which it is drawn, the other prong is the plow itself, and the main stem, with some trimming, makes the handle. The Spaniards do not, however, often engage in laborious exercise. They are generally content with merely living; and in a country possessed of so mild a climate, as California has, it requires very little exertion to live. Where labor must be performed, they usually employ the Indians, who are obtained for a mere nominal compensation. In fact, a great many of the Indians in California, are little else than slaves. A wheeled carriage is seldom used by a Californian; a horse and rope answers his purpose. Often, when he goes to any of the towns, to purchase an article, he fastens his money—which is a bullock's hide—to one end of his lassoo; and then mounting his horse, winds the other end around the horn of his saddle, and putting spurs, dashes off at a furious rate, over hill and plain, with, or without a road, to the town. Their saddles, which are made very strong are loaded with various trappings, have large heavy wooden stirrups, and altogether, frequently weigh sixty or seventy pounds. The plan of the saddle tree, is an excellent one, and the saddles are very safe and pleasant for the rider; and when they are well constructed, with the exception of their weight, are easy on the animal. It is difficult to find a people, or even an individual, who has not some good trait of character; and even these Californians, with all their faults, are hospitable at their houses. If a stranger goes to one of their houses, he is made welcome to whatever it affords, and as comfortable as their limited means will allow; he must, however, furnish his own bed. It is always extected that a traveler in California will carry that article with him. When he departs, nothing is demanded, and nothing will be received by them, as a compensation; the almost universal and beautiful reply is, when payment is proffered: “No, God will pay.”