The Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet in California, Sonora, and Western Texas | Page 2

into the interior, to examine
the remains of the ancient cities of the Western World; and impelled by
his thirst for knowledge and love of adventure, he at last arrived on the
western coast of America, and passing through California, fell in with

the Shoshones, or Snake Indians, occupying a large territory extending
from the Pacific to nearly the feet of the Rocky Mountains. Pleased
with the manners and customs and native nobility of this tribe of
Indians, the Prince remained with them for a considerable time, and
eventually decided that he would return once more to his country, now
that his term of banishment had expired; not to resettle in an ungrateful
land, but to collect his property and return to the Shoshones, to employ
it for their benefit and advancement.
There was, perhaps, another feeling, even more powerful, which
induced the Prince Seravalle to return to the Indians with whom he had
lived so long. I refer to the charms and attraction which a wild life
offers to the man of civilization, more particularly when he has
discovered how hollow and heartless we become under refinement.
Not one Indian who has been brought up at school, and among the
pleasures and luxuries of a great city, has ever wished to make his
dwelling among the pale faces; while, on the contrary, many thousands
of white men, from the highest to the lowest stations in civilization,
have embraced the life of the savage, remaining with and dying among
them, although they might have accumulated wealth, and returned to
their own country.
This appears strange, but it is nevertheless true. Any intelligent
traveller, who has remained a few weeks in the wigwams of
well-disposed Indians, will acknowledge that the feeling was strong
upon him even during so short a residence. What must it then be on
those who have resided with the Indians for years?
It was shortly after the Prince's return to Italy to fulfil his benevolent
intentions, that my father renewed his old friendship-a friendship of
early years, so strong that their adverse politics could not weaken it.
The Prince was then at Leghorn; he had purchased a vessel, loaded it
with implements of agriculture and various branches of the domestic
arts; he had procured some old pieces of artillery, a large quantity of
carabines from Liége, gunpowder, &c.; materials for building a good
house, and a few articles of ornament and luxury. His large estates were
all sold to meet these extraordinary expenses. He had also engaged
masons, smiths, and carpenters, and he was to be accompanied by some
of his former tenants, who well understood the cultivation of the
olive-tree and vine.

It was in the autumn of 1833 when he was nearly ready to start, that he
fell in with my father, told him his adventures and his future plans, and
asked him to accompany him. My father, who was tired and disgusted
with everything, _blasé au fond_, met the Prince more than half-way.
Our property in France had all been disposed of at a great sacrifice at
the time of the Revolution. All my father possessed was in money and
jewels. He resolved to risk all, and to settle with the Prince in this
far-distant land. Several additions were consequently made to the cargo
and to the members composing the expedition.
Two priests had already engaged to act as missionaries. Anxious for my
education, my father provided an extensive library, and paid a large
sum to the Prior of a Dominican convent to permit the departure with
us of another worthy man, who was well able to superintend my
education. Two of the three religious men who had thus formed our
expedition had been great travellers, and had already carried the
standard of the cross east of the Ganges in the Thibetian and Burman
empires.
In order to avoid any difficulties from the government, the Prince
Seravalle had taken the precaution to clear the vessel out for Guatemala,
and the people at Leghorn fully believed that such was his object. But
Guatemala and Acapulco were left a long way south of us before we
arrived at our destination.
At last everything was prepared. I was sent for from the
Propaganda--the stock of wines, &c., were the last articles which were
shipped, and the Esmeralda started on her tedious; and by no means
certain voyage.

CHAPTER II
.
I was very young then--- not thirteen years old; but if I was young, I
had travelled much, and had gained that knowledge which is to be
obtained by the eye--perhaps the best education we can have in our
earlier years. I shall pass over the monotony of the voyage of eternal
sky and water. I have no recollection that we were in any imminent
danger at any