Miscellany: California

Horses and catile are raised here without any feeding ; even when we ride a horse, at any season, he gels no other food than what lie can get of grass, staked out with a long rope ; so lliat it requiresnoothcrtrouble about horses and cattle, but to mark and brand tliem, and lo break the colts whon large enough to ride. The old settlers in this country, some of them, have severa] thousand licad of cattle and horses. The prices of horses are from $20 to .$50, mares from $7 to $25, cattle 3,50 to $15 ; American cattle and horses generally nre nbout 25 per cent higher than the stock of California. Every thing else is very high. - Plows, such as wc have in St. Louis at $7, are worth $35, and even $'50, and very hard to get ot those prices ; axes $5; spades $5 to &G, scarce ; cooking vessels about thirty cenls per lb.; all sorts of ron tools or vessels very high; clothng of every description about five or six mes what th'ey cost in St. Louis; coramon yarn socks $2 a pair. Labor is also high ; common hand $1,50 per day ; mechanica S2 to $3 ; mill-wrightá $4 'per day. So that aliho' ve pay high for clothing and all wc want br use, yet we get high prices for labor nnd for what we raise. Wheat is worth now $2,50 per bushei, usually $1,50 ; ieas $1,50 ; potatoes 50 cents per robe 25lbs.) The climate is pleasant, seldom any ce - occasional frost from December to April. Up to the 25th of December, the ime of our arrival, there had been no rain, and but liltle frost, and the weathcr vas about ns pleasant as usual in the States in September and October. The rain began Christmas day, and there was ome ice. The rain usually fal!s for two or three days and then we have plcasant veather. In a week or two after the rain sets in, the plains or high lands become what we caïl itcsky ; that is, a horse wil) ink in to his knecs, and sometimos dceper, so that it is not practicable to travel on horseback, except in the bottomsvhich remain firm all winter. But ihey are crossed by gulfs which we must swim. Our travel, is, therefore, confined to the )otioms ; the high hills are impassable during the rain, except on foot. Itmay be truly said that thcre are but two modes of travel here during the winter, that is, either fly or swim. The game is becomng scarce, but during the winter the re are a great many water-fowls. They eave in the spring fora more northern atitude, and do not stop to breed here, as ïas been reported ; nor is it true that 'you can gither a feather bed in a day on ealhcr Rircr. Mnsquetoes, flies, nnd insects of every lescription are here in innumerable myrinds - flpas and-mice, bui nu chinches. Lands have been obtnined by persons vho have resided here some years and become citizens, in grants ; some three, 'our, and sometimos Shirly to fifty leagues. 3ut the Governtnert has hecome olartned, nnd changed its policy. They are nt few who cannot obtain grants of any size ; and those who have lands are not luthorized by their titles, to sell ; there being no such thing as fee simple titles, except in a few special instances. The grants are only loans from the Government, which is the main reason why the people live in tents or little shantees and at the same time own several head of stock. They will not improve the lnnds unlil there is some securtty for the title. I would like to write you more at length, but my time and your patience admonishes me to stop. The people I am but ill qualified to give you a descripiion of, from personal infercourse, for I took charge of the first plar.talion I saw in the valley, and have travelled only in that valley ; and the ranches are generally from ten to fifty miles apart. I have, therefore, seen but about 100 men since my arrival, ond those entirely forcigners, most of them persons who either retired from the sea, or run away from the shi(ping. Some of them are clever men, and others scamps. Most of them give each other bad characters ; many not only confess that they steal horses and cattle, but boast of it. boughl a horse tlds morning that the man is to stcal for me in a day or tioo. You will think thisstrange conduct, but this same man was not onlv robbed, but beaten by the other, and there is no law topunish him ; so that he has to make himself whole in the coin of his opponent. The Spanish portion of this population are represented as a thieving, cowardly, dancing, lewd peoplo, and generally indolent and faithless. The history given of them by Capt. Hastings, in his uEmigrant's Guide," is confirmed by general report here. It may be truly said, we havo priests, n governor, anc : aleados, but we have neither law no gospel.The Indians of the valley are numerous, and live in small villages. They have a chief and an aleade, who are in the habit of selling thcm to the w hites for mere trifles - a few beads or a handkerchief. The men are entirely naked, and he women have a bunch of grass or vecds tied round their waists. Those vho are employcd by the whitcs generally getshirtsand pants for their work. They are entirely inofiensive, but very vild. Those who are bought by the whitcs whcn young, learn to do very wel!, )Ut the wild ones live on acorns and oots. They catch fish at some seasons, wt many of hem live on dover, like