California | Page 6

The Author meets with
Lieutenant Sherman Receives from him a letter of introduction to
Captain Sutter Napper Valley Sleep at the house of a settler
Troublesome bedfellows Wild-looking scenery Bradley is injured by a
fall from his horse Difficulties in the way of pitching a tent A hint to
the bears Supper and bed Resume the journey Sacramento valley Elk
and wild fowl A long halt A hunting party A missing shot.
Sonoma.--May 24th.--This morning at last saw us off. We left San
Francisco shortly after seven, and embarked with our horses and
baggage in a launch, which landed us at Sausalitto before ten. From
thence we made our way to Sonoma, where we put up for the night. We
formed quite a cavalcade, and presented a tolerably imposing
appearance. First came the horses (six in number), which carried our
baggage, camp equipments, etc. After these came José, Don Luis's
Indian servant (who seems to be a far more lively fellow than Indians
are generally), having these extra horses in his charge; and he really
managed them admirably. For what with whistling, and coaxing, and
swearing, and swinging his "riatta" over their heads, he had them as
much under his command as ever a crack dragsman had his
four-in-hand in the good old coaching times of my own dear England.
We followed after, riding, when the road would admit of it, all abreast,
and presenting a bold front to any gang of desperadoes who might be
daring enough to attack us. There was little fear of this, however, for
we hardly rode a mile without falling in with scattered parties bound to
the gold mines.
We made our way but slowly during the first portion of our ride, for the
road wound up steep hills and down into deep hollows, but when at last
we came upon a winding valley some miles in extent, our horses got
over the ground in a style which only Californian steeds could achieve
after the hard work which had already been performed. Towards
evening, we crossed the hills which divided the valley from Sonoma
plain, and on reaching Sonoma put up at an hotel recently opened here

by a citizen from the United States, who coolly told us, in the course of
conversation, that he guessed he didn't intend shearing off to the gold
mines, until he had drawn a few thousand dollars from the San
Francisco folk who pass through here to and from the diggings.
May 27th.--We stopped at Sonoma the greater part of Thursday, to give
our horses rest. At the hotel, I met Lieutenant Sherman, who had
brought dispatches to the officer in command here from Colonel Mason.
I was much delighted in again meeting with this gentleman, and we had
a long talk together over the merry times we had when we were both
slaying at Washington. When he heard our destination he kindly
offered to give me a letter of introduction to a very old friend of his,
Captain Sutter, the proprietor of Sutter's fort, and one of the earliest
settlers on the Sacramento. I availed myself of his offer, and about
three o'clock we started off across the plain, and made our way through
the groves of fine oak trees which cover it in every direction. We next
ascended the hills which lay between us and Napper Valley, and, after
crossing them, made for the house of an American settler, a friend of
Bradley's, who provided us with the best accommodation his house
would furnish for the night. We turned in early, but the legions of fleas
which were our bedfellows exerted themselves to such a degree that for
hours sleep was out of the question. The country is terribly plagued
with these vermin. I do not know how the settlers get on; perhaps they
are accustomed to the infliction, but a stranger feels it severely.
The next day we travelled over the corresponding range of hills to those
crossed on Thursday, and were soon in the midst of a much
wilder-looking country--a rapid succession of steep and rugged
mountains, thickly timbered with tall pine-trees and split up with deep
precipitous ravines, hemming in beautiful and fertile valleys, brilliant
with golden flowers and dotted over with noble oaks. While we were
riding down one of these dangerous chasms, Bradley, who was
showing off his superior equitation, was thrown from his horse, and fell
rather severely on his arm. On examining it, I was surprised to find he
had escaped a fracture. As it is, he has injured it sufficiently to prevent
him from using the limb for several days. I bandaged it up, put it in a
sling, and he proceeded in a more cautious manner.

To-night we used our tent for the first time. We were somewhat
awkward