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Show 94 PERSONAL ADVENTURES doorway, as if yon had been detected in the contemplation of a burglary. It required the exercise of some nerve, and a more intimate acquaintance with the peculiarities of these noisy animals, before I felt at all at ease as to their capacities for mischief. They are generally ill-shapen and ugly mongrels, fond of showing their teeth, but so cowardly, that one n1an ,vith a good stick can put five hundred of them to flight. It is a rare thing to see a good dog in this part of the country, although several attempts have been made to introduce a superior breed. Monterey, at the period of 'vhich I write, was considered the capital of California, but its trade was exceedingly li1nited, it being rare to see n1ore than one vessel in the harbour until the arrival of the Americans. The shops bear no external evidence of their character, sign-boards being superfluities in a place where each man's locale, occupation, and circnm· stances, are as well known as in a gossiping country village. The articles most in den1and, as is natural with a vain and showy people, IN CALIFORNIA. 95 are wearing apparel, personal ornaments, and firearms, more particularly the rifle, none of which the Californians manufacture themselves. There is very little land under cultivation in the vicinity of Monterey, but still there is no lack of potatoes and other vegetables. That which strikes the foreigner 111ost is the utter neglect in which the soil is left, and the indifference with which the most charming sites are regarded. In the hands of the Encrlish or Americans, Monterey would be a b:autiful town, adorned with gardens and orchards, and ~~rround.ed by picturesque walks and drives. .lhe natives are, ho,vever, unfortunately, too Ignorant to appreciate, and too indolent even to attempt, such im provernents. Education is far from being general, even am_ongst the higher classes, it being considered qmte an accomplishment to read and write. ~here are no schools, either Spanish or AnJeriCan: and it is therefore not to be wondered a~ that, in the absence of men tal, the Calif ormans should devote themselves to the physical |