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Show 180 PERSONAL ADVENTURES the other a native of La Paz, 'vho had joined this Indian tribe. His mother and his sister were both kneeling over his corpse, and giving way to their grief in the most frantic manner. The general itn pression wns, that presuming their guilt, they ought to have been at least tried, especially as they had reached head- quarters ; and I remember that the feeling beca1ne very strong against Black Jack on account_ of this sad event, which 've looked npon as calculated to get us a name for cruelty we really did not deserve. I found our old friend W ettermark snugly installed in a hut which he had constructed very neatly of bamboo, and covered with dry leaves, quite in the Indian style. l-Ie had taken this trouble because he neither liked his quarters nor his companions, who were always plaguing him, and because he wanted to place beyond the reach of its tormentors a cub-fox he bad caught in one of his iron traps, and which he had tamed. But the oddest cirCl, unstance connected with this affair was, that he had succeeded, by importuning the colonel, IN CALIFORNIA. 181 in getting the fox its regular rations, just as if it had been one of the corps; a fact which afforded considerable merriment to the wags of the various companies. Our time at La Paz did not hang heavily upon our hands, for we soon made acquaint ... ance with the to·wnspeople, who received us very hospitably, and entertained us; 'veil. Nor can I take leave of this place without bearing testimony to the beauty of its wornen, those of Castilian descent being perhaps the handsomest; although the next caste, namely, that but slightly tinctured with Indian blood, might fairly lay an equal claim to the palm. The pure Indians are coarse and swarthy, as, indeed, are all the Mexicans, but perfect models of forn1, and of most winning gentleness and kindness. The usual dress of the women consists of a white muslin or calico gown, extremely loose to the figure, with a rebosa or scarf of the san1e, which they cast over their beads, and let fall in graceful folds about their persons. Their feet are protected by a tiny slipper, frequently of the most deli- |